An Interesting Gallery Appeared Overnight

[Vintage Merlot]

cobrajeff has posted some very interesting pics in a new gallery.
Welcome Jeff
http://www.thunderbirdnest.com/membe...=500&password=

[55Birdman05]

Re: An Interesting Gallery Appeared Overnight

WOW That is a very nice mod

[steelblue5505]

Re: An Interesting Gallery Appeared Overnight

Do you want a retro Bird or not?

maybe yes...........maybe no

can't decide

[Sandman]

Re: An Interesting Gallery Appeared Overnight

Jeff, looks like the same Bird that was parked outside the restaurant in Sanford,Fl where we had Tom's Cruise last year.

[cobrajeff]

Re: An Interesting Gallery Appeared Overnight

Probably the same car. I first saw it at BJ in Scottsdale in Jan., 2007. It was raining then, and I couldn't get any decent pictures of it. The shots I posted here were taken at "Cars for the Cure" in Orlando. Still didn't get to talk to the owner, but a friend of his said it was a one-off (I had assumed when I saw it at BJ, that somebody was planning to introduce a kit for it) and there were no plans to duplicate it.

It had a 342ci 5 liter engine in it, too. Was hoping I could talk to him about how difficult that swap was - looked pretty neat and tidy.

I believe the owner is from the Sanford area.

Jeff

[PaulD]

Re: An Interesting Gallery Appeared Overnight

I really like the concept but I am not sure I care for how it was executed. The original 57 bird had fairly straight lines when viewed from either end. This mod does not keep those lines...it has a curve/bow to the bird when viewed end to end. The design of our retro bird may have forced that compromise but I would like it a lot better if they could have kept the lines straighter.

[Sandman]

Re: An Interesting Gallery Appeared Overnight

The guy owns the Route 46 Restaurant in Sanford,Fl. We spoke to him and he told us it was a real bear to put that create engine into the Bird. It had to be installed from the bottom with a lot of frame and support work.

[FUN X 3]

Re: An Interesting Gallery Appeared Overnight

Didn't notice the engine before, that's got to be the most radical mod on this car. Imagine trying to get it to work with all the advanced electronics? How'd they do that???

[jerrym3]

Re: An Interesting Gallery Appeared Overnight

Never thought I'd be saying this.

The rear end needs bumpers.

[snowbird]

Re: An Interesting Gallery Appeared Overnight

Back in January that car was sitting in a Ford Dealer showroom up here in Kitchener, Ontario. Asking mucho money for it. Think he is stuck with it.

Think if I wanted that look I would get a '57. Lots of them on the market these days.

[billm]

Re: An Interesting Gallery Appeared Overnight

Would you call the person who created this, a tinkerer?! It is neat, one of a kind and represents a big dollar conversion. Obviously, the guy wasn't satisfied with what he bought stock. All said and done, I like what Ford engineers built, so I will keep mine as is. It is a neat car.

__________________________________/// Bill

[Blue Heaven]

Re: An Interesting Gallery Appeared Overnight

I've been wanting to do that hood mod for years! Wonder how he did it...??

[HKS]

Re: An Interesting Gallery Appeared Overnight

If you must change the New Tbird, this is the way to do it. Must have cost a lot of money. The engine does not look original either.

Out of my league.

HKS

[HKS]

Re: An Interesting Gallery Appeared Overnight

Yes, the hood mod is the one I would do.

HKS

I've been wanting to do that hood mod for years! Wonder how he did it...??

[Vintage Merlot]

Re: An Interesting Gallery Appeared Overnight

It would be very interesting to know more about what was done under the hood and how it changed the performance. Did greater HP require a different transmission as everyone here has speculated was necessary.