First and last Bird owners

[Rondor]

I really would like to hear comments from the few of you who are lucky enough to own a :|"Baby Bird and a Retro" bird and how you use them and constantly compare them. I would guess the retro get's a lot more use but ????

[Steve Legel]

Re: First and last Bird owners

I have a 57 and an 02...last of the little birds and first of the retro birds. I alos have a 70 Challenegr and an 08 Challenger. I told Dodge Enthusiast, like my children, I love them the same, just differently.
For eye candy and attention getting, the Dusk Rose 57 wins hands down. For around the town comfort and ease, the 02 Thunderbird, for a long road trip with comfort, the 08 Challenger, need to pump testosterone...70 Challenger RT Magnum 440

[dvhbird]

Re: First and last Bird owners

I have a 57 and an 02...last of the little birds and first of the retro birds. I alos have a 70 Challenegr and an 08 Challenger. I told Dodge Enthusiast, like my children, I love them the same, just differently.
For eye candy and attention getting, the Dusk Rose 57 wins hands down. For around the town comfort and ease, the 02 Thunderbird, for a long road trip with comfort, the 08 Challenger, need to pump testosterone...70 Challenger RT Magnum 440

Sweet!!!!!!

[Southern Dad]

Re: First and last Bird owners

While the '57 may have the eye appeal... I'll bet the '70 attracts the attention of all the law enforcement. That deep throated roar when you barely press down on the accelerator.

I had a 440 in a Plymouth Fury, of all cars. Think Blues Brothers. It was hard to keep that thing under the speed limits. Since it did start out its life as a highway patrol car it was made to run.

[PITTBIRDS]

Re: First and last Bird owners

I have a 1957 red Thunderbird and a 2003 black Thunderbird. The term that I use the most to describe the difference is: "Creature Comfort". My 1957 Thunderbird is rare in that it does not have any power options, no power steering, brakes, windows or doors. It has a three speed manual transmission. I have a hard top and a soft top, the convertible top is manually operated. It takes about ten minutes to put it up in place, about five minutes in the rain. No key fob, no automatic door locks, no light sensing head lights, no day night mirror, and no air conditioning. It is truly a joy to drive. It’s small, about the same size as the Reto birds, and easy to maneuver. It provides a decent ride, and handles like a sport car of the 50’s. With the hard top on, it can be very hot inside on warm days, so I usually drive it with the top down. The 1957 Thunderbird is easy to work on and parts, other that the shiny parts, are easily available. I do all the work on the car myself. This winter I replaced the clutch. I’ve owned the 1957 Thunderbird since 1988, and enjoyed every year that I’ve had it. I purchased the 2003 Thunderbird in 2006 and also truly enjoy driving it. I drive the 1957 Thunderbird about 2,000 miles a year and drive the 2003 Thunderbird about 5,000 miles a year. I drive the 1957 to places where it will most likely never leave my site. I drive the 2003 on most other pleasure events. With the 2003 Thunderbird it’s nice to put the top up or down in a minutes notice, enjoy the auto-climate control, and not give a second thought to reliability issues when I am far away from home. I plan to keep both Thunderbirds for as long as I can. As the 2003 Thunderbird get older with more mileage on it, I plan to do most of the work on it; I’ve already bought the service manuals.

Along with enjoying the two cars, I most enjoy meeting other Thunderbird enthusiast. I belong to a few Thunderbird organizations and I always look forward to spending time with other members.

[2Redbirds57/02]

Re: First and last Bird owners

I have a 1957 thunderbird and a 2002 thunderbird, both red with red hard top. The `57 has a white soft top and the `02 has a black soft top of course. Optional equipment on the `57 includes P/S, P/B, P/Seat and A/C. We put about 2,000 miles per year on the `57 and about 5,000 miles on the `02. Both cars get a lot of attention. I do most of the mechanical work on the `57 as it is easy to work on. As for the `02 I only do the basic service and leave any other problems to the experts.

Both birds are fun to drive, but on long trips I prefer the `02. We have owned the `57 since 1996 and the `02 since Nov. 2001. I must say, we have made a lot of friends with both tbirds and plan to keep both for as long as we can enjoy them.

[55Birdman05]

Re: First and last Bird owners

I have a Red 55 and a Cashmere 05. I can ditto about what everyone else has already said about new verses old. I do have p/s p/b and air (not working at the moment) and both tops for the 55. I've done alot of the work on the 55 myself, but no major work on the 05 (hasn't needed anything except a new EGR valve), and it has only gone about 1500 miles a year thus far, same for the 55.

[DudleyM]

Re: First and last Bird owners

We also have a '55 Full Custom (GoldenBird) and an '05 Cashmere. The '05 is my car while my husband has owned and loved his custom since the late 50's. We drive our cars. They're not trailer queens. We took a long vacation trip in the '55, MI to MO and back. Since there were some shows we wanted to enter the GoldenBird in, I suggested the Cashmere for more extensive travel. Yes, as Jerry & Barb said, 'creature comfort'. Love them both!

[Bill Brown]

Re: First and last Bird owners

We have a 55, 56 and the 02. All are drivers and we, like most others, use the 02 for long trips and the classics for local. We don't drive during the winter too much salt on the roads. The reactions by people is not what I expected. The older generation like the 02 and the younger (under 40) like the classics for the most part. I would think it would have been the other way around, and again it could just be So. Maryland too.

[MerlotBlue]

Re: First and last Bird owners

I have a 57 and an 02...last of the little birds and first of the retro birds. I also have a 70 Challenger and an 08 Challenger. I told Dodge Enthusiast, like my children, I love them the same, just differently.
For eye candy and attention getting, the Dusk Rose 57 wins hands down. For around the town comfort and ease, the 02 Thunderbird, for a long road trip with comfort, the 08 Challenger, need to pump testosterone...70 Challenger RT Magnum 440

I'd love to find a good deal on a 55-57 T-Bird but for now the the retro-Birds are it for T-birds.........closest I can come to identifying with you here is an '08 Corvette and a '79.

My thinking on the two of such wide age differences is much the same as you with your Chryslers. While the '08 has all the muscle and creature comfort you'd have in your '08 Challenger my '79 Corvette probably can't turn the heads or come up as high on the "Cool car" factor as a '70 Challenger. There is one thing that you probably can relate to the same way though. I do love the idea of the Crate motor that drives it. High Compression pistons and a "lumpy" high lift long duration cam shaft with an high rise aluminum intake and Holley carb all making that special sound through a set of hooker headers is the ticket back to high school for me that I hope I NEVER have to give up.

Let's face it.......new performance cars are BETTER......they are generally speaking faster, safer and get better gas milage.......but as polished and fast as the new cars are they just don't have the ....."I'm wrestling a BEAST out of the parking lot against it's will!" feeling of driving a car that has so much "breathing" capacity. The six speed in the new car shifts so smoothly my grandmother would have been comfortable driving the car. The old car with a best of the day Hurst super shifter requires finesse and a little strength to bang out some quick shifts.

Imperfect and impractical? You bet but........ I wouldn't have it any other way when the mood to drive it hits me on a sunny, summer day.

[birdfan]

Re: First and last Bird owners

I have a '55 and a '04. Unfortunately the '55 is not currently running (needs some work and with my second child in college there are higher money priorities). However, I have owned the '55 since 1981 so I have lots of experience with it.

For the '55 - nothing can compare (IMHO) to driving a classic icon. The instant recognition and attention is fun and I also enjoy it as the original interpretation of what the brand was supposed to be. For the driving experience it sure is different than today's cars since it has no power steering and no power brakes. You really have to pay attention when you drive it - you sure won't catch anyone texting while driving it! Since the exhaust exits above the rear bumper with the top off you can really hear the fantastic sound of dual exhaust from a V8. I think one of the most noticable things from the drivers seat with the top off is that in the '55 my head is actually slightly above the top of the windshield and, since the windshield is a reverse angle, it is quite far away from you. In the '04 you actually sit tucked under the windshield. So the '55 gives a much more open air feeling.

For the '04 - as said in another post - Creature Comfort. The ride and handling are of course in a whole different class (which is really not surprising). Since everyone here has a retro, I know I don't need to elaborate, it is a modern car and feels like it in comparison. It still has the same appealing top down cruising fun as the original, and gets just as much recognition.

[Rosebud]

Re: First and last Bird owners

We have a 56 and a 04, and enjoy them both although we have only had the 56 for 2-1/2 years. We feel the 56 has a smoother and quieter ride, I think because of the taller side walls of the tires and maybe worn suspension. But like the others have said the creature comfort and safety features gets us in the 04 for any long trip. Also we feel the 56 is more valuable (even with insurance) we pick when to use it. We do drive the 56 at least weekly weather permitting. Our insurance and license limit us on mileage (except for shows and maintenance) (but who’s counting) on the 56 so the 04 gets more use. And the 56 is in a covered trailer for now (our 36 ford pickup is in the garage and is getting restored with help from others) and is harder to get on the road.

[Rondor]

Re: First and last Bird owners

Great stories ,all. I pretty much agree in that my last "toy" was an '88 SL Benz. impractical 2 seater like out birds. I was astounded at how far cars have come just since '88. This was my first and only non USA car and I thought way over-rated. I have always had Fords except during the '60's when I had several " bad " Mopar musclecars. I would still love to have a '57 bird but for a whole different reason than the '04. It appears that every one here who hs both like each for it's own sake and I am sure I would too The late model dodges and comaro's and mustangs have a lot of appeal but I haven't seen any that give me that feel when I sit in them that my retro does. Must be an old guy thing hunh?

[MerlotBlue]

Re: First and last Bird owners

Great stories ,all. I pretty much agree in that my last "toy" was an '88 SL Benz. impractical 2 seater like out birds. I was astounded at how far cars have come just since '88. This was my first and only non USA car and I thought way over-rated. I have always had Fords except during the '60's when I had several " bad " Mopar musclecars. I would still love to have a '57 bird but for a whole different reason than the '04. It appears that every one here who hs both like each for it's own sake and I am sure I would too The late model dodges and comaro's and mustangs have a lot of appeal but I haven't seen any that give me that feel when I sit in them that my retro does. Must be an old guy thing hunh?

Hey......who you callin "old"?!?!?!?!!?!?!?!?!??


Still, it's not hard to understand the appeal of older cars vs the newer models.

Someone said earlier in the thread that for a long distance drive...... who in their right mind would ever opt against Navigation in the dash board, cruise control, climate control 300-500 smooth horse-power and better than 20 MPG on the high way that is available in todays latest and greatest?

Ahhh.....BUT....

Not every ride is more than 50 miles is it?

For a cruise round town on a Sunny 70 degree summer day an older car sure can be a trip back in time that no new car, no-matter how "retro" themed it may be, can truly replicate.

As I said, there sure is something just SOOOOOO....cool still about a real "fender shaker" under the hood. That "stumble" at idle at the traffic lights through a perfectly sealed set of long tube headers is a sound so sweet I turn the radio off so I can hear it. The entire imperfect experience has been tweaked and massaged away in modern cars and thats a good thing over-all. Better gas mileage and more power down low in the RPM range is the result......... but lost in the transition is the "feeling" of driving something "racy" as we defined it way back when.

[billb]

Re: First and last Bird owners

We have a Goldenglow Yellow 56 and a Inspiration Yellow 02. Bought the 56 in 1988, the 02 was on the first trailerload of retro birds going to Canada-November, 2001.

Love driving both of them, but I really get a thrill when I floor the accelerator on the 56 while traveling over 80 MPH and the front end lifts up as she downshifts and goes like hell. Wouldn't do that without my radials with tubes though.
Both cars get a lot of attention, but small children are attracted to the 56, while women seem to like the 02 more. I also think they both attract more attention with the porthole tops on.