Back on the T'bird!

I mentioned to my wife that I'd decided to get rid of the T'bird, said I was going to sell it or give it away if somebody would finish it. She said, "I wish you'd work on it, you did so much work on it already, and it's not that far from finished. I'd like to see you do it."
With approval like that, how could I get rid of it? So, today I spend most of the day cleaning and re-arranging the shop, pulled it out of the back of the garage with my little 4WD tractor, swung it around into the "work bay", shoved the lift under it and even ordered up $1,000 worth of stuff to make it a car again.
In the 17 years it's been apart I changed my mind about the Hirohata paint scheme (the stumbling block that stalled me on the project) that Eric Black used in the inspiration artwork. I've seen several squarebirds tu-toned following the body lines like his rendering (different colors, but same paint line break), and honestly, they don't look good this way. In the back of my mind has always been Candy Lime Gold, like the A Brothers used on several early 60's customs, and I think I'm gonna try it. It'll certainly be the period correct, and my wife approves (although she balked at an all white pearl interior idea) I think it's a go.
Here's how it looks tonight...

 

i guess after putting up w/ you --a squarebird ( for her?) isn't the worst thing!

 

Right? I've worn her down...

 

fun times

 

If you showed the good parts, it doesn't look terrible. That was the 1st bird to have the cockpit style interior. I likes those. If a guy updated the suspension so you good drive it and not float everywhere, I think it would be a fun car. Any car is a big project anymore.

 

I posted this on the OT convertible thread. Here it is for inspiration. Check out that windscreen and side glass.

 

I want the option to put the (chopped) top on. I'm not cutting apart again.

 

I really like this build.

 

Always liked this style of bird. Very nice lines and lots of interesting body features.

 

Glad you’re back at it. I always thought this was kind of a neat project for a ford.

 

Kool! Looking forward to you finishing this! I’ve always been somewhat partial to these since my dad had a 59 convertible when he was in high school. Then, I had a 60 as a daily driver for a while. And, I like customs.

 

Memories of "77 Sunset Strip"! Efrem Zimalist Jr tooling around in that drop-top square bird was a must-watch as a kid, waiting for Kookie to show up in the T-Bucket!
I like it!

 

Subscribed,,,,,,,,some pics for inspiration.Not my car!

 

I have the same Salt Flats wheels!

 

Here’s mine. Emerald green with a black and white interior. I wanted to use ‘62 headlight rings and level the headlights but it had already spent too long in the body shop. I made new backgrounds with ‘59 Pontiac taillights and some little chrome accents for it. One lens was more faded than the other so I held off installing them while I searched for two good ones. Had a fresh 390 in it and it scooted for such a heavy car.
Glad to see you back on the T-Bird, looking forward to following along.

 

My favorite

 

Good looking car. Drivers side rear skirt appears a little low, body lines lines mismatch

 

Brian if you get stalled again call me! I'll come get it if your giving it away! I promise I'll finish it!

 

It’s an obstical delusion.

 

I dig these “ugly ducklings”

 

"In the back of my mind has always been Candy Lime Gold, like the A Brothers used on several early 60's customs, and I think I'm gonna try it. It'll certainly be the period correct, and my wife approves (although she balked at an all white pearl interior idea) I think it's a go."

I agree w/your wife - no solid/all white pearl interior. The piping should be dark black, or Candy Lime Gold. Maybe white Pearl pinstriping?

Although I prefer the Roth Gold, w/seriously large 'flakes in it. . & I do like the backseat cover/headrests/etc on the car...
Marcus....

 

^^^^I FULLY AGREE^^^

 

Since there's no backseat, easy peasy!

 

Put a big "DONE" stamp on the front brakes. I ordered a kit from Speedway Tuesday night, on the doorstep at 0800 this morning. Straightforward install, as the instructions noted I had to grind a relief on the caliper brackets to clear the spindle and steering arm, and the left rotor kissed the steering arm with the spindle nut torqued. Clearanced the arm with the grinder, all good. Now I have run brake lines and bleed them.
The 14" wheels didn't clear the calipers, so the Salt Flats are back on.

 

Oh Man! I'm gonna have to have a talk with the guy that made those damned things! He's a complete hack! Maybe I'll just have to sell it now since you noticed that, I can't live with it now. On second thought, it looks OK from this angle, so maybe I'll just have to keep it off the lift so you can't see it from below...

 

I always liked those cars with the Watson style paint like the maroon and silver one above. Any candy color works as well. They look like custom cars from new.

 

Oh man it looks so good with the top!

I love the lime gold idea, maybe you can do some accents in darker green, like the late (better to me) version of the hirohata merc?

OH! and I second marks vote for a full white pearl interior.


.

 

Thanks. I like the top on with the tonneau, although I never had it on when we were driving the car. I have a convertible top that I modified for it (also removable, stowed in the trunk) but it's really awkward mounting the hardtop. I need to make a lift for it if I'm gonna use it. It mounts into hood latch bases in the top of the quarter panels, convertible top latches at the front. Chopped two inches.