Early Ford Thunderbirds

[Dean Lowe]

Knott Farington's Hel's Angle '56 Bird, it's last year on the salt. One of the most beautiful cars to ever run Bonneville. Doesn't show in the B&W pic, but the paint was a gorgeous deep candy red. The entire car was detailed like an AMBR winner. The car was named for his wife, Helen.

The 427 in Joe Walden's Bird belonged to Verne Houle, a long time friend, and employee of Bill Stroppe. Verne actually drove Joe's Bird on the salt. First 200mph run, the rear window blew out of the top. Completely un shaken,Vern said, "OK, I guess there is too much pressure inside the car". Made the rest of the runs without the rear glass, and it went faster. Verne was about as laid back as they come.

[gnichols]

The early Birds are some of my favorite looking cars. They might have not been the greatest of cars, but they sure looked good. Gary

[deadbeat]

If you are a big person sure as shit you cant drive them comfortably.Cant really see what all the fuss is about,but chicks really dig em! Down here they fetch HUGE money but im lucky cause my doll has a 63 & she is happy,,deadbeat

[roadkillontheweb]

Originally Posted by deadbeat

If you are a big person sure as shit you cant drive them comfortably.Cant really see what all the fuss is about,but chicks really dig em! Down here they fetch HUGE money but im lucky cause my doll has a 63 & she is happy,,deadbeat

What you mean big guys can't fit in em?

This guy fits just fine in his 63 and he looks comfortable?

[296 V8]

[QUOTE Ryan) That aside, there are a couple of vintage examples I really love. The first is Doane Spencer’s rarely photographed and rarely mentioned ‘55. It was built to be a street cruiser, B-Ville streaker and a road course straightener and did all in style with a slammed stance and Halibrand knock-offs. I searched the world over for an image and couldn’t locate one. If you’ve got the goods, post it as a reply.[/QUOTE]


Iv always for some reason had a thing for all things Doane Spenser.
Iv also looked and looked for photos of that car.
I remember the bird being in a Hot Rod feature and I spent many hours lookin at that one.
I’m surprised TRJ hasn’t done a full story on the man.

[Scumdog]

Originally Posted by deadbeat

If you are a big person sure as shit you cant drive them comfortably.Cant really see what all the fuss is about,but chicks really dig em! Down here they fetch HUGE money but im lucky cause my doll has a 63 & she is happy,,deadbeat

I've got a '66 - most people look at it and say "Wottisit, who makes it?"

Not many non-car people down here know what a T-bird of any sort looks like.

[koolkemp]

Originally Posted by Dean Lowe

Knott Farington's Hel's Angle '56 Bird, it's last year on the salt. One of the most beautiful cars to ever run Bonneville. Doesn't show in the B&W pic, but the paint was a gorgeous deep candy red. The entire car was detailed like an AMBR winner. The car was named for his wife, Helen.

The 427 in Joe Walden's Bird belonged to Verne Houle, a long time friend, and employee of Bill Stroppe. Verne actually drove Joe's Bird on the salt. First 200mph run, the rear window blew out of the top. Completely un shaken,Vern said, "OK, I guess there is too much pressure inside the car". Made the rest of the runs without the rear glass, and it went faster. Verne was about as laid back as they come.

I know this is an old thread but what the hell ...do you know if this ' Bird still exists??

[toml24]

Early Thunderbirds seen at the Barrett Jackson Orange County 2010 show.

[1934coupe]

This is a very longshot butI bought this T-bird from John Fabella of Corona NY he raced it all its life. The picture is from 64 (I think) at Westhampton Dragstrip. It had a Nailhead in it by this time pictured is a young Henry Wilko driving, Johns nephew Ronnie Famigletti(sp) also drove and they all worked on the car. I bought the car from John around 1973 and by that time it had a one piece fiberglass tilt nose, Willys chassis and front axle and a ladder bar set-up that was more like a torque tube with the driveshaft through it. These guy were talented and even made their own hilborn style injectors for the Buick motor. I sold the car to someone from Old Bethpage LI NY it was Blue w/ no lettering. I would like to know if the car is still around, any pictures etc. It was pretty much a race car by this time73/74 so I dont think it went back to stock.

Thanks Guys and Girls

Pat

[tomcurnow]

That was the Cannon-Chriman Thunderbird, it was on the cover of the January 1958 Hot Rod Magazine. I was lucky enough to attend the Goodwood Festival of Speed in England, in 2008. We took several top fuel cars including two of Chrismans, I told Art I always loved that car and he said, why don't you build one. 3 years later I took his advise, it will be a tribute car not a replica, The engine has the old style Hiborns, but now have electronic injectors, the original car was a stick , mine is using a modern L460 I auto. I hope to have it completed and sorted out prior to a March event where Art attends and usually brings the Husler that he and Frank Cannon build, using the engine out of the T Bird. I would post some photos but have figured how to that yet

[50Fraud]

Since this thread has reappeared, I'll mention that the Doane Spencer 'Bird is in the Petersen collection now. It's not currently on display, but it is in the vault.

[Jimv]

The 2 seaters are such beautiful looking cars, the lines are perfect, performance wasn't bad & they were very simple cars.
Biggest problem with the ones that are around now are the owners!!lol
Saw this "re-pop" at lead east.Nice car.
JimV

[tomcurnow]

Hemi Thunderbird Allmost finished with the Cannon Chrisman Tribute Should be on display at the Winternational with the Cannon Chrisman Husler dragster