Grandpa's Thunderbird is here! - Page 4

ledhedsymbols · 10-19-2014, 07:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by campbellcj

Cool! My FiL just dragged-back his T-Bird from Nebraska where it was stored for 25 years. It's a total rust-bucket and squirrel nest at this point. I believe it's a '59 but not sure. It's definitely not one of the popular and valuable years. Fugly car IMO.

It's not my favorite body style of Thunderbird either for sure. They can be OK looking cars once complete. 1961-1963 have always held a special spot in my heart. I think the only really "valuable" years are 55-57, the original 2-seater 'Birds. After that, Ford and McNamera decided that they could sell more as a four seater instead of a sports car. They created a "personal luxury car' concept that sold well for quite a few years.

The 58-60 Squarebirds actually sold much better than the 61-63 Bulletbirds. Except for the rag-tops, neither garner much collector attention. It's a shame really, they were a real everyman luxury car with lots of neat features.

pavulon · 10-19-2014, 07:54 AM

Beyond owning it, I hope you can find a way to explicitly and permanently show your grandpa that the car symbolizes his connection to you. I'd imagine seeing it spelled out for everyone to see would go quite a way toward validating a man's feelings for his grandson, that he means something to you and that won't go away after he is gone.

Nickshu · Nickshu's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by scotricker

Maybe not exactly correct, but how about Kelsey-Hayes wire wheels. That's what I would do. !

http://i.ebayimg.com/01/!BhM!uTQ!mk~$(KGrHqYOKiYErzMofhmhBLIBSOg09w~~_35.J PG

oops, just checked... that would cost a few bucks more than just a few...

Wire Wheels Thunderbird Ford Mercury Edsel T Bird New | eBay

True KH wire wheels are awesome, but pricey! I have two original sets for my Corvair. The good set was almost $2000 and another $4000 to have restored by Dayton Wire Wheel. But they are super rare and sweet!!! At least for Corvairs there were less than 600 sets ever made (out of almost 2 million cars built!), not sure if they were equally rare on Tbirds, but probably were b/c for most cars in those days the KH wire wheel option was around 1/5 the total cost of the car!!

Steve Carlton · 10-20-2014, 10:06 PM

I think we know where this needs to go...

johnco · 10-21-2014, 02:09 AM

link to 1961 ford thunderbird brochure

Directory Index: Ford_Thunderbird/1961_Ford_Thunderbird/1961_Ford_Thunderbird_Brochure

onewhippedpuppy · 10-21-2014, 04:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ledhedsymbols

Thanks again for all the kind words. I've ordered up some seat-belts and a couple of manuals for it. I've got a few other things I'm working on, but I'll be going through the car over the winter. It's the last car my grandfather worked on.

He is a lifelong mechanic, both professionally, for fun, and to make a little money on the side. He had a stroke a few years ago, and it's like there is a disconnect between what he knows he can do and what he can actually do.

As a result, the car has a lot of little issues throughout that need addressed. Between the difficulties he had and his age, he is in his early 80's, I think he just ran out of steam on the car. He's coming out to fish with me next summer, so I would like to have it purring by the time he gets here.

My grandfather was in a similar state with his Mustang. He was in good health for early-80s but still working 40+ hours per week at the company that he started. I think he was getting overwhelmed, so the car just got neglected. As an example, the ignition switch was shot so he just jumpered at the starter solenoid.

I bet yours would love to get a ride in the car. Enjoy the time that you have, my grandfather was a huge influence on my life and I miss him every day.

ledhedsymbols · 10-23-2014, 07:23 PM

Thanks for you thoughts OWP. I'm planning to have it completely roadworthy by next summer. I think he'll be coming for a visit then.

I got a couple of photos that were e-mailed to me by my aunt. She took them for me right before it shipped out. Half-Fast Freddy is in one, a couple of underhood shots as requested, and the lighting in Utah is much better than it is here in the soggy northwest.

Steve Carlton · 10-23-2014, 07:27 PM

Car needs a whale tail.

ledhedsymbols · 06-06-2015, 07:09 PM

After some work to get it in shape mechanically so that I felt safe to drive it, I took the car to it's first car show. I don't know if I'll be attending too many, I'd rather be driving, but it sure was fun today. It's running much better, and has seat belts for the whole fam damnly now.

As it looks today

Evans, Marv · 06-06-2015, 10:12 PM

The '61 is my favorite of the four seaters. My HS GF's family had a '59 like the one in prior posts, which we used to tool around in occasionally. My absolute favorites were the two seaters. My dad always liked going to the LA auto show. I remember at the one in '54 or '55 they had the new T-Bird in robins egg blue. I still have a vivid pic of it in my mind.

wdfifteen · wdfifteen's Garage

Lucky you! I love that body style, it's my all-time favorite T-bird. Ford had some good ones in those days. The '63 Galaxie was awesome.

Arizona 911 · Arizona 911's Garage

I was born in 1963 and my dad bought one brand new right before I was born. I have a picture of my dad sitting in it right after he bought it. After my sisters were born he drove Oldsmobile Vista Cruisers.