Anyone up for a weekend project?

[BITWTB]

http://www.thethunderbirdconversion.com
(personally, I think they are a little misguided)

[merlot4]

Re: Anyone up for a weekend project?

I am not of that era, so I wouldn't want to try that. Everyone has their own opinion, which is fine, but I like the look that was achieved with the retrobirds and don't think the lines lend themselves enough for this treatment. It would be interesting to hear from anyone who has undertaken this, it looks like a good bit of work to make something look that smooth.

[Gobird]

Re: Anyone up for a weekend project?

Saw two of these and didn't empress me at all.

[V8 Cat]

Re: Anyone up for a weekend project?

The black one looks like a Bat-Mobile. I like the fins on the 1957 Tbird, but either the angle of the photo, the black paint, or the fins themselves look twice as big on the retro bird. I just don't think it works.

[JAB02LHS]

Re: Anyone up for a weekend project?

Needs chrome bumpers front & rear to give the car balance.
It looks top heavy the way it is.

[CoastieN70]

Re: Anyone up for a weekend project?

Pass...

[WyrdBird]

Re: Anyone up for a weekend project?

http://www.thethunderbirdconversion.com
(personally, I think they are a little misguided)

Watch this space for a variation on that theme.

[Southern]

Re: Anyone up for a weekend project?

John is probably right.
I had a 57 Ford Fairlane 500 convertible when new. Black. I absolutely loved the looks.
This? Not so much.


But I won't criticize those who do like it. Strokes and folks.

[BITWTB]

Re: Anyone up for a weekend project?

When designing the '02-05, Ford bought a 1957 and 1955 Thunderbird and parked them IN the design studio to get the feel (literally) and flavor of the original 'Birds. If they wanted fins and eyebrows over the headlights, they would have put them into the new 'Bird. The result was just right, IMVHO.

[V8 Cat]

Re: Anyone up for a weekend project?

John is probably right.
I had a 57 Ford Fairlane 500 convertible when new. Black. I absolutely loved the looks.
This? Not so much.

I had a 57 Fairlane 500 2Dr HT metallic green (my second car). Somehow the fins looked much better on that car. Maybe it was because that car was longer.

[birdfan]

Re: Anyone up for a weekend project?

I agree with the others here. The additions are not in proportion with the rest of the design. I like the new one just the way it is (that is why I bought it). If you want a '57 get one, there are really some nice ones available for decent prices now.
On the other hand, it looks like they put a lot of time and effort into it and did a good job. Just not something I would do to mine.

[WyrdBird]

Re: Anyone up for a weekend project?

I agree with the others here. The additions are not in proportion with the rest of the design. I like the new one just the way it is (that is why I bought it). If you want a '57 get one, there are really some nice ones available for decent prices now.
On the other hand, it looks like they put a lot of time and effort into it and did a good job. Just not something I would do to mine.

I'm not thrilled by the headlights, I'm working on a much more elegant treatment for Wyrdbird. And I have LA Phil's fins, which I like much better than these and look to be a whole lot easier to install, but it might be a while before I can get them fitted.
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and a work of art is never finished, only abandoned.

[BUCK ROGERS]

Re: Anyone up for a weekend project?

When designing the '02-05, Ford bought a 1957 and 1955 Thunderbird and parked them IN the design studio to get the feel (literally) and flavor of the original 'Birds. If they wanted fins and eyebrows over the headlights, they would have put them into the new 'Bird. The result was just right, IMVHO.

That said... there MUST have beem a version similar to this revision that ended up being foresaken as TOO Retro maybe ??

[BITWTB]

Re: Anyone up for a weekend project?

That said... there MUST have beem a version similar to this revision that ended up being foresaken as TOO Retro maybe ??

Yes, there are some photos of proposed designs in Michael Lamm's book,
"Thunderbird 2000". After these, I really appreciate the final design.

[Bruce]

Re: Anyone up for a weekend project?

Not my cup of tea.