Thunder Flite Bubble Top T Bird

Here are some photos of Thunder Flite built by Dino Arnold, and is now on display at the Ford Worl Head Quarters. After the SEMA show Dino and I re worked some of the body work. I laid out the black before the chrome paint. I wanted to spray the chrome so bad, but its Dinos car and he got the honors. The interior was re done by Randy and Tina at Interiors Deluxe in Mojave, Ca. Also some pics from GNRS 2009 after a few days with little or no sleep. Ahhhh what a good time!
Dewey

 

Saw the car at the Detorit Autorama and it was a show stopper for sure. That paint may just become the new flat black, except most probably can't afford it.
The black stage looks pretty cool also. Thanks for posting the pictures.
Tell Gene, Bob Nugent said "hello".

 

cool pic's dewey. keep them coming. ........... mark

 

Hell of a rod. Should get raves for years to come.

 

I saw the car at SEMA, and was not real impressed with the quality of the refinish. Is that why it got redone? It's a neat car and not bashing, but wondering, since others who saw it after SEMA thought the paint was stunning. Thanks for posting. Stu

 

The black is not a refinish it is the base for the chrome paint.

 

The guy who started this thread just stated that he "re-did" body work on the car, which in turn would require "refinishing". So the black is both the refinish and the underbase for the second chrome job (at least the way I read it).

 

I'm well aware of the refinish process. I'm just curious as to exactly why it was being redone after SEMA. Possibly had some flaws that needed to be corrected? Stu

 

Maybe. Was the whole finish not great or just some spots?

 

sweet...I dig that thing

 

Yes the black was complety re shot. I did myself. We re did the whold car after SEMA, and before the GNRS 2009 in January. Dino also had the interior re done and added the belly pans, and cleaned up the engine bay. The black is the base for the chrome to be put over top. It was HOK base coat black then four coats of HOK Clear.

 

This thing looks like a Ford concept drawing come to life. Like one of the first sketches for the T-bird design that they couldn't send to production. I love it, I think it's fantastic.

 

this car is amazing - I was lucky enough to interview Dino at the GNRS - very nice guy - and obviously very talented as well

 

Very cool car, I was lucky enough to see it at Detroit this year as well. Certainly does look like something out of the Ford concept studio of the time.


cheers
Ed N.

 

Saw it at SEMA and Again at the GNRS and just want to say "KUDOS" to all that worked on it! Period!

 

Saw it in Detroit. That thing is RAD.

 

Sweet...what else can ya say!

 

I have mixed emotions about that car, but it grows on me more & more everyday. Definetely a different breed, and a fine execution, kudos for that.

 

I recently saw that the car sold at the Kruse Auburn auction (May, 2009) for $235K. Anybody know where it went? Stu

 

What are those seats from? Or are they fully custom-built? They look great.

 

Awsome car!!

 

Hi !
What a fantastic car , Im a traditionalist when it comes to custom cars BUT this is something else , like taken out of Jetsons and the imagination crave it to hover . My dad have a -62 Thunderbird that he is planning to restore all original , got to print pictures of this an sneak up on the wall of his shop hehe ........... my hat of to this spaceship !
Wolf

 

Old Thread Lives... The Old Bird is Up here.. Color changed.. But still a Very Cool Piece..

 

Beautiful Car. That '61-'63 Bird Bodystyle just begs for a bubble top! The Bullet shape is so futuristic and this custom is Awesome.

 

Ill try to get the pictures off my phone... and get those posted.. It does need a little TLC though from what I could see..

 

Heres the Current State... our World of Wheels had this near the Back wall,, Sad to see,,


The Photo was takin this evening... I knew it looked so familiar..

 

I love it !! Awesome bird !!

 

Why was it repainted? It looked killer in chrome...

 

Im not sure why it was repainted... theres a few changes on the car that kind of made it look different when I first saw it.. It clicked in where i had seen it before.. The interior looks the same as first done.. the wheels and tires are changed.. there are Breather vents on the sides of the Bubble top.. my guess for cool air to enter inside..