Art & Inspiration School me on 55 thunderbirds

Dodge made a Tbird?

 

Is that currently owned by Yaba Doo?

Nice looking car but I’d prefer a ‘56. Great year for births, cars, and wine! Bad year for the Suez Canal...

 

I only drove one once. They are different, but Hey I'd do it again if I could.

 

There was a red one around here, except for the polished TTO’s and 60 series radials and maybe lowered a bit, it looked stock. The seats had been reworked to give more back room as well as leg room, red leather. Under the hood was a wicked 351W connected to a 5 speed transmission. At idle it was pretty quiet, get on it and it came alive! It had been on a couple of power tours about 10 years back. Haven’t seen it or the owner in a while, don’t know where they got off to. I had some pics of it but lost them in a hard drive crash….

 

The 56 vent windows are more of a wind deflector than an actual vent window, and 55's still have fresh air ventilation the have ducts that run from the grille over the front tires and into the kick panels.

 

as stated above, how flexible that your body is makes a big difference. without power steering will help build your arm muscles. take a long arm mirror along to check under car for rust/ old damage & to see trans pan to figure out which one in there

 

I think you change your mind on what car you are looking at getting more than you change your underwear.

 

You have no idea , if I had space and money I would be like Jay Leno and own ALL the cars


I have been somewhat offered a 54 olds 2 door that’s just gorgeous
Loooked at a 68 vette 427 4 speed
And now this thing
Also found a 55 Chevy kinda “ pro street “ that I could easily change up to my liking if I wanted .

biggest hurdle is trying to sell my merc to find the next one .

the 55 bird my wife just loves , she found it . Made the suggestion at keeping both as she could drive the bird for work also

I dunno what I’m doing , but must be doing something right

 

That second to last paragraph is the answer. So, why you bothering us?

 

I agree! Any time we get the wife’s approval is a great time! That’s why my wife has a 82 C3 Vette, she wanted it, so she got it! She does let me drive it too, so that’s a plus!

 

if I only bought cars my wife wanted me to buy, I would have to walk. if it does not have power steering, she probably won't like driving it

 

I always thought those T-Birds, were something special. But you are going to have to go drive it and inspect it and really think it over as to if your ass really feels comfortable in it, etc, etc, etc.

By all means, don't let something as cool as this picture and all that it was meant to be, have any real influence on your decision!
Every ones results may vary greatly !

 

I am familiar with the '57 but I think my observations apply to the '55 as well. First be sure you get a top with portholes. Without the portholes there is one heck of a blind spot. The portholes were a no cost option, you could get it with or without at the same price. Second check the integrity of the frame. The original transmission went into a tunnel in the center of the X member of the frame. You had to pull the engine and transmission as a unit to work on the transmission. If they cut the tunnel to clear the transmission you may have frame rigidity problems now or later.

I had 3 '57's over the years and loved them.

Charlie Stephens

 

My wife wanted a 57 bird, that worked out pretty good
now she’s saying those 57 corvettes are pretty nice
pinch me please!!!

 

I think @VANDENPLAS needs a good bitch-slapping to get him back to Dodge Country!!

 

Changed my 55 T bird trans out with another one awhile back …no need to pull the motor and trans just to replace or repair the trans. At least not for me with a 3 speed manual as that is what was stock in ours.

 

This guy fits just fine

 

Funny story,, Bill and Henry were in the office, Henry turned to Bill and said "I hate that Zora Duntov!" "He thinks he's better than me because he's tall", so, Bill came up with a plan to make the car small enough that a taller person couldn't fit! Henry was so excited about that idea. He was like "that tall Zora Duntov can kiss my ass! " (imagine an evil laugh) and "he'll never drive one of my baby birds!" Now you know

 

Better keep your day job!

 

Now you did it, stay tuned. Need to find a picture of Carina and I cruz’n a drop top Bird at George Barris’s birthday party very near his end.

 

So....ummmm...is it in your garage yet?

 

i am 79 and 250 lbs 57 bird 15 inch steering wheel pull it all the way back and lock it down move the seat back 3 inches from sock location ...all is good...u tube video ...jims 428 thunderbird...

 

Found it.

 

man little car like this with a 428 4 gear ?!?!
That has to be a handful to drive !!!

 

I have a 55 Pontiac rear end someone narrowed for a 56 t bird back in the sixties and ran behind a 390 and manual transmission

 

Indeed, this is truly a handful to drive!
Everyone's results may vary greatly!

 

I just crawled outta mine a few minutes ago. Mine has the original stock steering wheel. It looks like they have possibly cut this one down, a really nice job. Not for sure but it looks smaller. This can help if you a fat guy or to tall!. As some have said they can have rust in them but most old cars that have been around have it hiding some where-just hafta fix it. The 302 that's in isn't the best choice for a swap As far as that goes the y-blocks a better one to stay with. Like most old stuff flatheads, olds, pontiacs, buicks. Hard to build anything cheap. Just a lot more interesting than the easy way out.

 

Check with your insurance agent. The last I checked (probably 1970) they went crazy with fiberglass cars and it was reflected in their pricing. I got the bird.

Charlie Stephens

 

Well I went and looked at it .

it’s a clean honest 70 year old car . Frame has a couple repairs . Body is clean , but is hiding some bondo .

Runs and drives great , a great “ Driver “

wife liked it , on the way home she asked what I thought , told her “ I’m not sure “ at the price he’s asking , while “ fair” it’s not a steal , the frame repairs , 302 and C4 hurt the value big time in my books .then told her if I bought it I would change this , this and this oh and modify that also .
She looked at me and asked why I wanted to get rid of the merc , told her I’m not completely sold on how it drives and I hate blue paint !!
She then said ( always the voice of reason ). Then why look at other cars that will still need improvement, get yours up to a level you will enjoy and keep it !
Dang she’s a keeper !

anyways I’m at a horse back riding competion with my daughter right now , when I get home will be looking at front suspension upgrades and some better wheels , my biggest issue , is the front wheels are pushed out due to the disc brake kit , i would like them recessed back into the fenders like they should be .
Mustang 2 isn’t totally out of the question , but am looking at more traditional options right now . And a repaint in black would be the cats payjamas !!!

this black 40 tickles my fancy big time !!

I would keep the WWW and bubble skirts , or swap back and forth between those and these wheels .