History The Don Ellis Thunderbird

I’d like to see an under hood shot. Pretty neat car.

 

Sweet little 'bird. The quad headlights look well thought out. A lot of the cars that had quad headlights installed look like an afterthought.

Does anyone know if it's still around? @Marty Strode?

 

So glad it's survived. It's a shame it doesn't have the Borranis on it still.

 

I'm not a custom fan for the most part....the front must have been used as a model for the later Packard Hawk, which I sorta like, just because it is different. Not a fan of the extended quarters either
The quality of the work appears to be excellent but this is a case I should have listened to mom when she said "say something nice or nothing at all".

 

The car is still here in Vancouver Washington and is owned by one of our Club members.

 

I thought that might be the one Dennis has.

 

A friend of mine, Dennis Bradford owned this for years and he really brought it back to running, driving, show and race condition. He sold it and I am unsure where it ended up.
Here's a few shots of it I have on my Instagram, I wish I took more when I was local:

https://www.instagram.com/p/CoH4qbOL2bu/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
https://www.instagram.com/p/CEZcwB5noz6/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

 

Gorgeous. The wheels make any car.
To a young mind ( My first encounter ) the T Bird evokes dreams and desire.
Thank You

 

I like the little birds, owned my first one in the late 60’s, my current one almost 25 years. I’ve liked them as customs better, the only one that really became a sports car (ignoring some like the battle birds) was the one Doane Spencer built originally. Not just the engine, the suspension and detail modifications. A canyon carver and a bonneville racer, and still a street legal car.

 

This is a textbook example of blending period parts from other cars to enhance the exterior design - Taillights, side trim, headlights, etc. from GM & FoMoCo models, all period correct and don't look 'jammed' on the car with lead.

 

He sold it to a mutual friend, it is still in the area a few miles from me.

 

The Bird has what looks to be the original Ford 292 in it now, I helped Dennis reseal it just after he bought it. The Cad engine is long gone but the frame still has the Caddy mounts in place.

 

This Bird has floated around the PNW for many years. Years ago another one of our Slo Poks members who is an ace metal man owned the car for several years, he hated the headlight treatment and actually bought a pair of nice front fender halfs with the intention of switching it back to the factory single head lights, before got around to it someone came along and offered to buy it as-is otherwise it would have been converted back long ago.

 

I'm glad it stayed in the PNW.