Custom Roy Brizio Thunderbird from SEMA

[JohnA]

Several years ago we had a discussion here on the nest about custom T-Birds that were shown at SEMA around the time that the Thunderbird was introduced. There was Chip Foose's Speedbird, and there was a George Barris Thunderbird in blue with a vinyl top. In the background of some of the pictures was a black Thunderbird with a chrome bumper, but at the time we couldn't seem to find more information about it, who customized it, or even a really good picture.

Well, today I stumbled on a reference to it in an article (frankly a somewhat inaccurate article) about the Speedbird, I found the attached picture and a bit of information (confirmed in the comments section) that the black bird in question was done by Roy Brizio and is owned (or was at the time of the article in Jan 1988) by a gentleman named Buddy Prepp.

Some of you may know all this already, but it was news to me and I thought I'd share the photo with you. I'd still love to see more of this car.

John A

[BLACK BEAUTY]

headlights from a VW?

[JohnA]

Not sure Greg, but in addition to the chrome on the bumper and the headlight changes, it looks like they removed the portholes from the hardtop, blacked out (or replaced) the grill, changed to 5-spoke chrome wheels, and changed the trim around the windshield. Of the four birds that I think were done, Foose's was the most modified, followed (I think) by this one.

[007Cruiser]

Grill has definitely been replaced. Would like to see what they did to the porthole. Not a fan of the bumper.

[JohnA]

For completeness, here are the other three Thunderbirds that were customized for the SEMA show when the 'bird was introduced. As best as I can sleuth, anyway.

Chip Foose, George Barris, and Pete Chapouris.

[Sierra977]

Grille on the Barris car is... interesting.

fetch?photoid=1069918.jpg

[BLACK BEAUTY]

Interesting, but not practical.........