check out the new ride! 63 t-bird

Check out the new car! What should i do to her?
63 T bird. RUNNING 390 FE, she has a couple of dings and some workable rust around the rear window like all 63s. drove her home from
Costa Mesa today! she idles a little funny, I think it's because of the new carb that the guy put on it. but the engine is a fresh rebuild. I got away with her for $3100.
what do you guys think?

 

awsome score bro! i like the stock look, but hey, some new ones wont hurt, that would be the only thing id do, well that and pulling that large trim piece thats mounted on the pillars

 

Love those T-birds. I like the early 60's birds far better than the more popular mid 50's birds.

One of the coolest interiors ever to come in a car on top of that.

 

I think Im going to toss a set of moon disks on her. And fake me some wide whites with this stuff that i saw in OSR
http://www.mbzponton.org/valueadded/other/tirepaint.htm

I dont have the cash for some real whites yet. Do you guys have any experience with this stuff? Any Reccomendations?


I'm thinking of painting her "Rattle can" with some nasty flat black to set off all that chrome. I know its kind of gay to make a 60's rod squeeze into a 50's look. But to be honest Id rather have that than this gloss red. Am I off base?
this is my first pre 70's car. I'm here to learn!

 

Yeah, do all that stuff.


That way, when I park my '62 next to yours, my car will look AMAZING.



Seriously, you're way off base. Do some research on that year, era, history, and styling. There are plenty of resources here, so you're in the right place. But yeah, your plans suck. Don't ratrod that beautiful car. I mean...I guess you could. It's yours to ruin.

 

Could you point me in the right direction? Im new to these boards, I want to do her right. But shes gotta look mean too. Know what i mean?

 

Got some pictures of your 62?! postem!?

 

Cut the top off of a mid 60's Vista Cruiser and meld it to the back. Makes a killer T-bird wagon. I like the red and white but not crazy either about the S trim either.

 

Fix the rocker on the passenger side, I see bondo and rustpits. Nix the landau trim. Find some pinner whites and lose the blackwalls.

Save your pennies for some chrome reverse, Astros, or Radirs. Put a set of those on.

Don't flat black it, that's 8 ways of lame.

 

I know what you mean. Lots of people here will say that wheels and stance make the car. I believe this to be true.

To understand what looks good on this car, first you should look at pictures. See what other people have done and are doing. There a re quite a few really nice Bullet Birds out there. Also take a look at history. Nobody was running moon discs on a flat black Tbird in 63...or thereafter. It isn't that kind of car. The mid to late 60's was all about custom rides. Custom paint, chrome wheels, clean interior, etc. By 1963, wide whites were a thing of the past on "new" cars(although some people still run them on these birds). You'd never see disc wheel covers on a Tbird, because those originated for racers. There would be no point in putting a set of those on a 63 Bird. Your car is meant to be a custom, not a hotrod. Think low and sleek.

Do searches for "bullet birds" and "60's customs".

Here are some pics to get you started, grasshopper.

 

chrome reverse, Astros, or Radirs???! I have no clue what you are talking about.. I'm sure that I am showing my Inaptitutude. but please.. please elaborate?! I work on aircraft. not cars.. This is my first adventure..

 

HAHA. you're right im sure But the spun moon disks are like the definition of sleek.. I realize that im new. and i know shit. And since in have no real grasp of the history of these cars, I cant really make a " loyal to history custom" out of this fine lady.
From what i've heard, Those moons were made to aid aerodynamics for old salty rods. right? I realize that they worked for that.. but why cant they serve to make this 63 mean? are you following me?
I really apreeciate your responses. Shit. I know NoOne that digs these old rods.

 

They're wheels. The pictures Eryk posted show Astro Supreme 5 spokes, Astro's for short. Radir is a different type of 5 spoke. Chrome reverse referrs to what customizers used to do to their stock rims, which was remove and reverse the center to get a deep dish look, and then have the wheels chromed.

 

Allright.. well theres a quick photoshop "ratty" mockup. And im thinking that you guys are right.. It looks cheap and shitty.
But In my defense It does look mean! Shitty though..
Now what am i going to do to her?!!!!

 

Fix the rust on the rocker/door.
Touch up the red.
Nix the Landau trim and vinyl top.
Flake the roof.
Astro Supremes or a set of Radirs with skinny whitewalls.

Do it in stages and stick to your plan.
If you hate red....paint it....anything but flat black.

Do a search on here for T-birds, thunderbirds, bullet birds, customs...
There is a wicked one in the UK that came to the states for Viva Las Vegas.
Killer looking paint and interior.

 

I love those birds. everything you should know about stylying is in this picture.

 

How about gloss black, white top, lowered. Chrome reverse wheels and wide whitewalls. It would have a clean and mean look.

 

"everything you should know about stylying is in this picture."

No it isn't....

 

DAMN, if the 390 is rebuilt (and not a krylon rebuild).. the rebuild alone would cost $3100. good buy.

 

Eryk is 100% right. It is not a hot rod. Mild custom tricks is the way to go. I was looking at buying one myself. The modifications have to be subtle for it to really look good. Good score and good luck on your project.

 

There's one of these down the street I've been eyein' for awhile that just grew a for sale sign...might be bad news for my HOA if I can't resist the urge to go look at it.

Have to agree with the anti-flat black messages here. These things were meant for pearl paint, and even some flake. BUT, seeing that you have some metal repairs to do, why not go with a flat/semigloss red on the lower part of the body until it's "done," with a nice silver bass boat style flake on the roof when you get rid of that ugly vinyl top (assuming there's no rust under it)? Later you can paint it with 8 dripping coats of candy red and find someone to help you figure out a scallop scheme (wrong era maybe, but it still looks good!).

As for wheels, how about some wide wires with those wide whites?

Cool car, I'm really hoping the one I'm going to check out is beyond rusty...otherwise I might not be able to resist it, just for the back seat alone!

 

These cars look good with COLOR. Eye-popping color.

Whitewalls are pretty much a must, and it has to scrape pavement.

 

Uglier than those Mustang station wagons. a waste of a good 'Bird.

 

This Tan '63 is my stock T-Bird with Astro Supremes
Then there is a picture of Bo Huff's '63
Then a shot of a '62 and a '61 taken at Paso a few years ago.

 

Congrats on stealing an awesome car!

These guys pretty much got ya covered on what a bullet bird needs. De-badge, lower, metalflake. At least that's what I'd do.

 

I'm not on here that much, but my plan of attack would be:

Get rid of the side trim and the landau top and that funky S-shaped thing. Fill the holes and while you have the welder out (plus fixing the rust back of the rear window) figure out what's up down there on the rocker.

Lower it.

Get some nice period-appropriate wheels.

Paint it and get the chrome updated/polished/replated as needed.

Drive the hell out of it.

Flat black? I guess it could look OK, and you probably wouldn't be the first, but I'd save for a real nice paint job on that particular car. That'd be the difference in "hey, look at that nice Tbird that somebody shot flat black all over" and "holy shit, look at THAT."

Looks like a good start to a great custom, though- looking forward to seeing it.

There's my 2 pesos.

 

All i can say is clean clean clean. Go through the car, fix what needs fixin and spend some time cleaning it up. Address any rust etc. Once the car is cleaned up and can get you from point a to b then keep it simple. You can adjust the look of the car with 3 easy items.

Stance wheels sound

lower it, pinner whitewalls and rims mentioned above and a nice dual exhaust with glasspacks and thats a good start. But of course its your choice. Added some images for reference, this one is on air bags.

 

MAN!! that one is really hot! Thanks for all the advice and photos guys, Keep em coming.

 

Put it in the dryer on high until it looks like this!