Sun visors

[Grimmo]

I’m a Ford guy and I love my 02 Red TBird. But, as I look around the vehicle, the cheapest looking item has to be the sun visors. They look and feel like refugees from a 70’s era Pinto. Has anyone swapped them out with improved visors? Thanks.

[carntz]

Hi Mike,
Yes, the later models have a fabric wrap (kinda) rather than the the cheap vinyl. I purchased a set from a fellow TBN member, but the ones I got and now I have seen many others that have a tendency to split at the heat seam. Some are worse than others. The split is more noticeable when they are in the down position. Ford cheaped out on the visors and i have not owned a car since my 72 Capri that didn't have Sun visors that move to the side window,

Side note the member took them back, but I had to pay return postage which I was not pleased about.

[RustyFrye]

I was thinking about swapping mine out for visors from one of these 401 cubic inch Gremlins, but couldn't find them reasonably priced.

https://blog.caranddriver.com/what-m...lin-worth-60k/

[carntz]

I was thinking about swapping mine out for visors from one of these 401 cubic inch Gremlins, but couldn't find them reasonably priced.

https://blog.caranddriver.com/what-m...lin-worth-60k/

I am thinking that would be something like owning a 63 split window with a 6 cylinder. In another words..... WT?

[RBIRD]

Save us, Bunny Lou!!

[BLACK BEAUTY]

Boy am I lucky! I had a 63 Split Window and the complete Bunny Lou interior package! Back in my NDSU days there was a fellow named Bill Powers that had a Gremlin that he drove ALL over campus..until the campus cops took his car...bad boy

[Guest]

I had my Retro’s sun visors recovered which meant completely disassembling the visor. I didn’t want the built-in mirrors. My upholsterer was none too pleased with this job. But the results were excellent.

[BLACK BEAUTY]

Yes Mark the mirrors are kinda funky to put it mildly. I went the Bunny Lou route...but either way they do not swing out

[428PI]

With such a low roof line visors perhaps aren't needed and I don't even need sun glasses!

[wcoates]

With such a low roof line visors perhaps aren't needed and I don't even need sun glasses!

Keith, I have to agree with you.

I did however have mine covered with material that were embossed with the Thunderbird emblem. Turned out well IMHO. I posted about the gentleman selling the skins but our old friend LA Phil at Thunderbird specialties bought them all up and they are now at least quadruple what I paid.
http://www.thunderbirdspecialties.co...panel-inserts/ EACH panel is $199 not per pair.

IMG_0461.JPG

[wcoates]

I went the Bunny Lou route...

Hey Greg, Keith just joined this month so might not know Bunny Lou or the products he provided. Any pictures from anyone and words of wisdom?

[RetroGeorge]

I will admit, the first time I tried to swing my visor over to the left side, my initial reaction was "WTF ??!!"

That said, my next reaction was to defend Ford. Two of the initial "gigs" on the Retrobird were overpriced and cheap interior. Personally, I don't see any cheap interior with the exception of the non-swinging visor, which is a VERY minor complaint. The car was grossly overpriced - for what it provided - so Ford had to cut some corners someplace. The interior was a perfect place to start. Hence, the stationary sun visor.

As I never had a "luxury car," my 2004 interior is the most luxurious interior I have ever owned. Folks who have had experience with higher-end cars may find all kinds of things "wrong" with our interiors, supported by the initial complaints.

Having driven my car for 3 years, I just wish it had (1) a deeper trunk and (2) a little more space behind the seats.

Epilog: Next month, I have to get a tooth crown; so, in March, I will make my FOURTH attempt at getting my "check engine" light to extinguish. Then, in April, I will tackle my air conditioning. Why am I reminded of my British car ownership?

[Welker]

I bought ours new and have replaced just about everything at least once. At 125K miles the car still is holding up. I have a mechanic whose job is to see that the car outlasts me. I have challenged my doctor with that and he is trying to outdo my mechanic. As they say, time will tell. That said, I have experienced just about all the problems I have read about over the years and the car, while a daily driver, gets about 100 miles a week since we live out of town with a 20 mile round trip to the grocery. I have noticed that after all the work the car does seem to be working on immortality. I haven't had to do much of anything for the last 25k miles except replace some seals and do regular maintenance. The only unsolved problem is the radio knob which no longer works the volume but the steering wheel controls work it fine. Nobody can, or will, repair the volume control so I am living with that. I have often thought the visors were cheap looking but they work if you don't mind the lack of the side swivel.

[007Cruiser]

Most convertibles also have a coupe version (think Mustang). Rather than use two types of visors, the convertible gets a swinging visor. The retro is convertible only so no swing.

[steelblue5505]

If no swinging visors is all you have to grump about you are indeed blessed.