Projects 60 thunderbird custom

I wouldn’t have it any other way. It’s more than enough power for this type of car especially with the cruise o matic transmission.

 

Not wanting to steal @Hammurd thunder but here are a couple more pics from Troy Ladd's Instagram.

 

No problem, I didn’t see these photos. Thanks for following and posting

 

I looked through my photos. Since there was a long gap in the build of this car, and I didn't do any sheetmetal work on this car, my photos are pretty limited. But this is what I found.

This is with quite a bit of work done, I have to admit I don't remember exactly where this was in the build. I can't tell from this photo, if the front end work had been done yet.



Here is one of the guys who did the sheetmetal showing off the car and his own "assets"



One of the thing I did do for the car was the sail panel and rear window trim. The car has a mild chop, but the rear window has no chop and was laid forward. So I started with the rear window trim. I made some Pullmax dies to shape it out of stainless sheetmetal, and dies to make the dimples for the screws.





Then I did the trim for the windsheild. When the car was chopped, we widened the roof to keep all the side windows in line, so the windshield trim needed to be widened. I had two sets of trim, so I was able to make a wider trim with just one weld rather than adding a piece in the middle



Test fit


And welded and finished


I then chopped the A pillar garnish molding. Here is a comparison between stock and chopped.


I had not completed the rear window trim before it was decided that we would instead make the rear trim out of brass and then chrome it. This was nice because while the rear window trim was a bit challenging, the sail panel trim would have been much more difficult. It was still quite challenging to do it out of brass, and I'm happy with the results. I don't know if I would have been able to pull this off if we had stuck with stainless.
Apologies for the photo quality on these ones.




Completed sheetmetal and trim work




A little paint detail



Some skirt and rear bumper detail




Got the tail lights and bezels installed.



And these are some shots before it went off to upholstery.

 

hats off..great build and you stuck it out to get it done...

 

Holy Jeebuz, that is nice! Bit of a Bird guy myself and if I get another one this would be the template - if I had the skill.

 

Wow that is fantastic! Never really been into those but man that car is superb! Hats off to @cretin and everyone else involved!

 

Love it. All of it. Engine compartment, Sweet.

 

Okay, you did ask...on customs I like white interiors, at least as the dominant color.
Your car is beautiful...nicely done.

 

Just gorgeous!

 

Cool Kyle! Your work is impeccable as usual.

 

Great Car - these "T" birds were good performing cars too. Get up and go.

 

Absolutely Beautiful...

 

I was a mere youngster when Ford brought these out.
I loved them then and 60+ years later!
Suh----wheeet!
6sally6

 

Very nice car... I was looking at one of the same year for sale here local hmmmmm

 

Thank you for sharing this, I have always been a fan of square birds. They were like a factory custom car to me and most people that try to make them a "KUSTOM" just F them up in my opinion. I like what this car looks like, it just looks right! If you would have described the modifications to me verbally I would have said no way but seeing it finished it looks cool! Ditto on keeping the FE as well, great torque engine that will make that thing cruise as fast as you want to go without working hard at all.

 

Beautiful execution overall, but that engine compartment is too 'billet-y' for my taste. Serpentine belt? Really?

 

Very Kool, Thank you for posting the additional pics. Good luck finishing it up.