How come we don't see many Thunderbird's? You see Tri Five Chevy's like crazy, but hardly any 58 to 60 T-Birds. I'm normally a Chevy Guy, but now I have this 59 T-Bird. Why aren't they as popular
Asthetics probabl;y ahs a lot to do with it. I like them but most don't. A buddy owns what has to be one of the ugliest ones built. Beige with matching interior. At some point I'm going to put a crank in it for him. Mike
For one thing, they built a LOT more tri-5 Chevys. I always liked the Squarebirds, but I think the vast majority of them (at least the ones in the snow belt) rusted away decades ago.
My friend and I were just having this conversation earlier this week. He'd found one on some local online marketplace that he was thinking about picking up. I had to admit I'd never really given them much consideration but I wasn't quite sure why. After some talking we agreed this particular one probably wasn't for him. Later that night I looked some up online to better acquaint myself with those models. I think they might be a bit of an "acquired taste". The ones I was finding pictures of weren't exactly my cup of tea but I'm sure there are some better examples out there that might make me a believer. Maybe some people can post up some pictures of theirs and shine a bit of a light on why they like them so much. Jay
I always liked them since I was a Teenager. My next door neighbor was dating a guy that had a new 1959 Thunderbird Convertible. It was White w/ red interior. I loved that car. This year I came across this 59 Convertible, and the deal was right. I had to have it. I just sold my 56 Belair, and wanted another project anyway. I was surprised that I don't see many Square Birds out there. I'm going to make it a total Kustom, and be different from everybody else around here.
I agree most of the picture of Square Birds I've seen I don't like either. I want to make mine more appealing than those. I have some great ideas.
I have to say it's the best years made . Ran up on a few listings but they where gone by the time i called . Clean one's are hard to come buy at entry level .
Someone please set me straight if I'm wrong... I seem to recall the production figures for the 'Birds being something like: 10-15k per year for the 2 seaters 15-20k per year for the square-birds 30-50k per year for the slab-sides 50-70k per year for the bullit birds 30-50k per year for the beak-birds If those #'s are anywhere close to right, there were more 55 chevy's made than ALL the birds produced before '70
Aquired taste for sure.. have some cool lines, but I dont think I would own one. I guess maybe their not too popular cause theres alot of nicer models out there.. Anthony
Here's mine. I like mine a lot but I would never own another one. Hardly any after market parts are available for them. If you have to replace any panels, the only available panels are very poor quality. The front end is all one piece with the fenders welded on. If you need to replace a fender, it's hard to find one and a pain in the ass to replace it. Maybe thats what turns a lot of people off with these cars.
I have always like 'em. Have cool stock interiors as well. Really like this one...great job dirtybird!
Yea, I don't like the uni body construction either. At least I have the leaf springs in the rear, not the coils like on a 58. And mine is a convertible. The deal for it was if I do $1,500.00 worth of labor on my friends 40 Ford Woodie he would give me the 59 Convertible. The car was sitting with the top down for about 30 years, so the floors are rusted out. The body has almost no rust. I have another customer that has a 59 also but a hard top. He said $2,000.00 labor on his 48 GMC truck, and I can have his T-Bird. So for no money out of pocket, and just part time labor I will have 2 T-Birds. I'll make the convertible interior complete with parts from the Hard Top, and sell the extra parts from the Hard Top. I started stripping the roll on paint job on the Convertible, and have been cleaning it up to see the rust damage. I haven't seen the Hard Top yet,but if the interior is good enough, I take it.
I have always liked them. Watson's was kool as was Andy Southards. Done right they are very cool cars and very smooth. Talk about a factory custom, try to find a seam on those Birds. Slammed , a set of wires, Steelies with spider caps and some fogging, or astros with skinny whites, shaved up and you got a nice ride
Watson lives up here in Hesperia. I ran into him at Osh Hardware. He sounded excited when I told him I had a 59 Convertible. He said Franklyn Mint, or Danbury did a die cast of one of his cars.
Here's what it looked like after I cleaned it up a little. I put some used tires on it so it will roll. This doesn't show the rust that bad, but it is really bad. You can see it needs everything.
I like mine. '59 hardtop with the roof removed and made removable. Folding convert to too from a '64, modified to lift of when stacked and stows in the trunk. 87 5.0/AOD. Currently awaiting repainting after a little parking lot shunt which customized the rt rear quarter. I was tired of the candy black cherry paint anyway. I made a steel tonneau cover from 20 ga. and conduit.
Those are my favorite Birds! Always reminds me of "77 Sunset Strip" on TV when I was a kid. Ring-a-ding-dings era of being cool.
My Dad had a beautiful '63 in the mid '70s that was my favorite car of his! Once he got that, I looked around at the earlier cars and decided I liked them, too! Had a chance at a '60 that was advertised in the local craigslist, but it was much rougher than the seller claimed. One of these days, I'll have a '58-'60 or a '61-'63 of my own.
Production figures here: http://vintagethunderbirdclub.org/prod.htm Alan H. Tast, AIA Past President, Vintage Thunderbird Club Int'l. Author, "Thunderbird 1955-1966" & "Thunderbird 50 Years"
After the body work, and replacing the floors I have to figure what color to paint it. I want all red interior (no white at all) I was thinking of silver two stage paint with candy burgundy flames. and a black canvas top, What do you guys think? Like this but with Acura Buckets How about some more pictures.
I've got one. I'd never seen one before until I found this car. Seems they are pretty rare and getting more rare every day.
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