Grandpa's Thunderbird is here!

[ledhedsymbols]

For most of my life, I have been in love with my grandpa's car. It's a 1961 Thunderbird that was discussed in another thread. To keep it short... He's been talking about selling it for the last ten years. I keep telling him that if he ever did, please call me first before he sold it out of the family. When I visited him a month ago or so, he told me to make him an offer on the car. I did, and we struck a bargain. The car was dropped off this morning, and I gave it a quick wash and put it in the garage.

Fresh off the truck





After a quick bath

[Shaun @ Tru6]

That is one COOL car! Congratulations!

[Gogar]

AWESOME

I love how the front end is so reminiscent of . . . well . . . a bird.

[Shaun @ Tru6]

1961 FORD THUNDERBIRD FACTORY SHOP MANUAL

[JavaBrewer]

That is totally awesome. Beautiful T-bird. A couple interior shots too please.

[fastfredracing]

Wow, cars really were something special at one point in time. I will second the awesome.
My buddy who a body man restored a t bird for someone, then he somehow got tied into the club, and restored 5 or six different cars from within the local chapter of the t bird club. I always enjoyed checking them out when he was working on them.
Does this car have the steering column that would swing out of the way to make for easier ingress, and egress?
Super cool to have Grandpas car, cherish it.

[Rick V]

My dad hod one of those when I was a wee tot. He loved the car but got tired of replacing front end bushing so he sold it. One of the few I remember from my early time here

[Nostril Cheese]

Nice score! The 390 is an awesome engine. Are you going to get the correct wheels for it?

[ledhedsymbols]

Interior shots will have to wait until tomorrow, but I'll make sure to post a couple of them.

FastFred- it does have the swing-away column. This was the first year, and it was a popular option. They made it standard in '62. I don't know when they stopped making it that way. Incidentally, my grandpa's name is Fred. He likes to tell people that he used to be called "Fast Freddy" but he has slowed down with age. Now they call him "Half Fast Freddy."

Nostril Cheese- I have one correct hubcap and all the chrome beauty rings. One of the first things I will do is get the other four correct hubcaps.

Shaun- Thanks for the link, I'll get in touch with the CL seller.

[Shaun @ Tru6]

if he won't ship it, I could probably get it.

[johnco]

it's a barge.. but a very comfortable barge.. beautiful car.. I have a 64

[John Rogers]

You need to get it out of the rain!

[pc100porsche]

I remember your thread on Car Carrying Companies.
May I ask who you used and what the service level was ?

[vash]

i love it!! congrats to keeping it in the family..

[ledhedsymbols]

Originally Posted by john rogers

You need to get it out of the rain!

I washed it and parked it in the garage.

[ledhedsymbols]

Originally Posted by pc100porsche

I remember your thread on Car Carrying Companies.
May I ask who you used and what the service level was ?

I worked with a broker called Mercury Auto Transport. Their service was fine, but in retrospect, I think I would use a different broker. Their broker fee was very high when I saw the cost breakdown and I think that had I used a broker with a lower fee I would have been able to move the car either A) much faster or B) much cheaper in the same time frame.

The carrier was great though. It was "Sam Newby Trucking" out of Caldwell Idaho. Sam is the owner/operator who runs a 10 car hauler, he has a couple family members that operate 1 ton trucks with two-car goose-neck trailers. He took good care of the car on the trip, and was very careful unloading at my house. My grandfather was very impressed with him too when he picked the car up.

[A930Rocket]

Very cool car! Congrats!

[onewhippedpuppy]

That's awesome. I inherited my grandfather's 1970 Mustang a few years ago after he passed. The memories are far more valuable than the car.

[Buckterrier]

Originally Posted by john rogers

You need to get it out of the rain!

He's in Washington, that's not possible!!!

Great car, congrats.

[Porsche-O-Phile]

Outstanding!