Hey guys, I know its been thrashed around before, but I can't locate any recent threads on this topic. I have seen heaps of this fits, that fits and that doesn't, but not all the options on wheels have been clear. In the family we have a 61 T bird and the wheels aren't quite right. We want to keep the rear spats on and its a drum all around bird. Ive got a feeling that 14 or 15" wheels 6-8 inches wide would fit under the spats without rubbing if the rear backspace is say 4 1/2 to 5". Fronts are much more forgiving on this dimension. No where have I seen anyone really confirm this combo will fit with say 225 narrow whites tyres. Does anyone have a bullet bird with this rear wheel set up or very close to. Cheers for any help it would be great to sort this question after several decades of guesswork. We don't live near any big wheel outfits that would likely stock a wheel like this and would likely have to bring them in from the states. NZ does not have the parts fest you guys enjoy over there. Vintique Smoothies look like they could be ordered to fit but Summit or ebay doesn't have that particular combo that I have seen. Thanks
I like the wheels you have on it now, was never a fan of the skirts on the bullet bird thought they covered too much of the wheel. While it's not a bullet Bird I had a 60 square Bird that I ran 14 x 6 chrome wheels on with the stock skirts. I also had a set of Torque Thrusts and the rears were 15 x 8 1/2 that came off a Mustang, they barely cleared the fender lip.
Hello, One of our high school friends had borrowed his mom’s classic new 1962 Thunderbird for many local cruises and ones to far away Hollywood on Friday or Saturday nights. Did we feel awful that the Thunderbird was not a street race car with a powerful motor? Not for a couple of teenagers in this classic car. It looked streamlined, powerful, custom and racy all at the same time. It was obviously not a drag racing car or pretended to be, but it was just a chick magnet, custom cruiser from the factory. For one that has always liked all Thunderbirds, raced against several supercharged ones and almost bought one, they are in a class by themselves. With the wheels that you have put on your Thunderbird, the look has obviously changed from the classic style to one that is a “want to be” racer with fake 5 spokes wheels. Your white Thunderbird would still look good with stock Thunderbird wheels, such as the Kelsey Hayes wire wheels. That definitely would give your car attitude and style. Jnaki My wife and I grew up in the era of the older Thunderbirds and those have the classic style that does not go out of favor. If I were to drive up in the red Thunderbird pictured above, she would immediately tell me to sell my fast, sporty coupe. Then, we would definitely go for an open- air, top down, cruise up/down the So Cal coast line. The wind in the hair and all of that scenario. Even our granddaughter would love the red Thunderbird with the Kelsey Hayes wheels. It is a look that never goes out of style. If you are still thinking tires and wheels, here is a very old HAMB thread that might work for you, it is about wheels that fit a T-Bird. https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/help-i-need-wheels-that-fit-my-t-bird.228571/
A little time with a tape measure and a writing pad and you can tell what will fit. Just remember to allow for tire bulge when figuring width and offset.
The Jalopy Journal
