Mod vs. No Mod poll

[TBirdNoob]

Re: Mod vs. No Mod poll

No true mods yet, and undecided. As I've said elsewhere, I'm infatuated with the fender skirts, but the price is eye-watering.

Some of the chrome "bling" catches my eye from time to time, but so far I have always ended up deciding to leave things original. I just don't think the merlot needs any dressing up.

[BLACK BEAUTY]

Re: Mod vs. No Mod poll

How about 1/4 inch chrome around the rear view mirror? looks good! I've finally found the archive.....nice tool admin!

[Banar]

Re: Mod vs. No Mod poll

Mine came with the car....mixed emotions here too. One fits perfectly and the other a tad askew. I have tried several times to sit it in place, but it always ends up in the same manner. I also have the surrounds on all the lights and handles. These look okay on my MSG- but I am not sure how they would fare on other colors. I love the car and the looks, even if some of it is a stick on performance product. The best chrome upgrade is honestly the hood scoop, pricey but worth it.
The last bit of stick ons that I have is the inner door covers and the convertible top guard strips.....these are still in the decision making mode. I need to make/acquire a new door sticker for the driver side, I do not want to cover up the facts there. The destructions that came with the kit say to leave the adhesive backing where the sticker sits, but you would have to just be shy of destroying the chrome piece to get it off to read the sticker. I would love to get another sticker and place it elsewhere on the car. This is a slow decision to make to have the visibility of an open door reflect something shiny for others to see, as I have made my red door reflectors LED lit.
All said and done- most of the mods are done here too. Unless something real nifty comes along.
Tom

[BLACK BEAUTY]

Re: Mod vs. No Mod poll

Really really struggled with whether to put the chrome taillight caps on the beast. Have put short chrome caps on the headlights, chrome hood scoop, chrome top protectors and a honey burl dash kit. Very satisfied with the look but thought the taillights were going to be the straw that broke the camels back. They sat on the shelf for months. Put them on yesterday and still was undecided. Today I walked to the car a different angle and liked 'em.

Absolutely positively done with mods! Finished! Very happy with this car. I know that sends some purists off the deep end!

Bill I'm gonna quote you on that! I too have them on too (one seems crooked) and really feel the factory taillights were plain ugly. They reminded me of a 70's VW bug. Now Bill how about chrome sills! I got them but not on yet. Dino ships to me on the 17th...6 months in Mexico is way enough....

[Sandman]

Re: Mod vs. No Mod poll

I feel the same way. Have had mine on and off numerous times. Sometimes I like them other times I don't. Luckily,there on with only tape.

[007Cruiser]

Re: Mod vs. No Mod poll

Really really struggled with whether to put the chrome taillight caps on the beast!

I fully understand your situation. I have them on. Some days I like them and other days I want them off. I keep them on because my daughter likes them.

[wcoates]

Re: Mod vs. No Mod poll

Really really struggled with whether to put the chrome taillight caps on the beast. Have put short chrome caps on the headlights, chrome hood scoop, chrome top protectors and a honey burl dash kit. Very satisfied with the look but thought the taillights were going to be the straw that broke the camels back. They sat on the shelf for months. Put them on yesterday and still was undecided. Today I walked to the car a different angle and liked 'em.

Absolutely positively done with mods! Finished! Very happy with this car. I know that sends some purists off the deep end!

[wcoates]

Re: Mod vs. No Mod poll

Wish wish wish I could remember who the member was that provided the explanation for a mod(ification) that I am hanging my hat on. Really wish I could give them credit.

If it isn't as (different from) how it came off of the assembly line, it has had a modification. Mats, modified-take 'em out =not modified. Wheels, tonneau cover, fender skirts, whitewalls=modified. But as such as can be turned back to completely original.

Mods and accessories can be interpreted in different ways.
What about an owner that ‘swaps’ a different color hardtop, say white hardtop on an ‘Evening Black’ T-Bird? is that a mod or an accessory? If the hardtop is off, the T-Bird is original, right? But does a different hardtop color constitute a ‘mod?’
LA PHIL

Hardtop /body color match IMHO becomes a question that needs the original window sticker to answer. Color match=original until proven otherwise. Top and body differ but in combinations that were factory options need the window sticker to tell. Color and top differ in combinations that weren't available from the factory= modified.

Sure experienced folks with knowledge of how a T-Birds sticker reads can correct any of my false/limited info.

Re: Mod vs. No Mod poll

Mods and accessories can be interpreted in different ways. For instance, does a set of custom floor mats constitute a ‘mod’ or an accessory? You can put them in or take them out anytime or every time you get into the car.

Tonneau covers? Put it on, take if off ... is it permanent? NO. Does it change the car when it’s on? Is the T-Bird still ‘original’ when it’s off and it’s hanging in your garage?

What about wide whitewall tires? If you put your stock tires back on is it a mod or is your T-bird forever changed?

Fender Skirts? Install them, maybe they’re a ‘mod.’ What happens when you take them off? Original T-Bird or permanently ‘modded’ because you had them on once?

Most ‘mods’ are removable, thereby restoring the original car. A few mods are permanent or ‘semi permanent.’ Tail fins for example, which require some minor body work to ‘blend’ into the original body. That’s probably a ‘mod.’

What about an owner that ‘swaps’ a different color hardtop, say white hardtop on an ‘Evening Black’ T-Bird? is that a mod or an accessory? If the hardtop is off, the T-Bird is original, right? But does a different hardtop color constitute a ‘mod?’

How about wheel changes? If you put a set of Neiman-Marcus wheels on a non Neiman Marcus car is that a mod or just an accessory change? What happens if you put the original wheels back on? Is your Thunderbird ‘tainted’ forever? I think not.

What about adding a Continental Kit? NO permanent drilling, cutting or body work. So if you put one one and then decide to take it off, is your ‘original’ Thunderbird ‘modded?’

Exterior trim items are removable, albeit with some effort. If you put a set of tail light bezels on and then decided to take them off, have you permanently ‘altered’ the original car? I don’t think so.

Chip Foose’s one-off custom first seen at the 2002 SEMA Automotive Aftermarket show was permanently ‘modded.’ Windshield cut down, no top, hardtop or convertible, and numerous other changes that were virtually irreversible.

All subject to interpretation and personal preference.

I say, do whatever you want ... all or nothing, or anything in between. The only real issue is if YOU like it. Don’t expect everyone to like everything you do or did. And don’t worry about resale value. Mods can be removed if you want to sell your car. You may even get a higher (or Lower) price with or without mods.

No matter what you drive, or what you do to it, some will like it, others may not. What’s important is what your personal preference is. We should all be happy there are so many accessories to choose from.

LA PHIL

[4LOWBIRDS+8]

Re: Mod vs. No Mod poll

Now I'm confused. When my wife rides in the T-Bird with me, she definitely adds to the character and appeal of the car, but is she a mod or an accessory? And will the lump I receive on my noggin if one of you tells her about this post be a mod or an accessory?



Kevin

Kevin, the Thunderbird is a two person vehicle, so you and your wife are required to complete the car.

[BirdWingsToo]

Re: Mod vs. No Mod poll

Now that is an excellent question. What makes an item an accessory & what makes an item a mod? Seems to be a very fine line between the two. ...

Now I'm confused. When my wife rides in the T-Bird with me, she definitely adds to the character and appeal of the car, but is she a mod or an accessory? And will the lump I receive on my noggin if one of you tells her about this post be a mod or an accessory?



Kevin

[4LOWBIRDS+8]

Re: Mod vs. No Mod poll

Please share your ideas! Maybe start a list of 'possible mods'....I'm done posting for today...off to Chetumal, MX shopping trip...remember boys..."VALENTINE DAY" is coming up!

Thanks for the information.

[BLACK BEAUTY]

Re: Mod vs. No Mod poll

Bill,
This is a controversial topic. I've gotten some bad responses to my opinion, but if you want it, I would be glad to give it to you. As a long-time "car guy"/"car enthusiast" who has owned a lot of different cars both foreign and domestic that included European, Asian , American classics, sports, grand touring, etc., I have some ideas about mods, and it would not hurt my feelings if you did not want to use or agree with them. Just PM me, and I will tell you what I think. It is your car do so I really think you should do what appeals to you, but since you are asking about what is "too many" or maybe you want to know what in my opinion is over the top. I would be glad to share my ideas.

Please share your ideas! Maybe start a list of 'possible mods'....I'm done posting for today...off to Chetumal, MX shopping trip...remember boys..."VALENTINE DAY" is coming up!

[wcoates]

Re: Mod vs. No Mod poll

Have stated before that I read on this site (wish I could remember who stated originally) that a modification was any change to a car that made it different from how it rolled off the assembly line. Like that definition.

That makes the OEM '04 16 spoke wheels a mod to my '03 car.

[steelblue5505]

Re: Mod vs. No Mod poll

Now that is an excellent question. What makes an item an accessory & what makes an item a mod? Seems to be a very fine line between the two.

I am hoping this does not start people, in attempt to answer the question, begin listing all of what they have done to their cars. But there must be a logical answer to the question.