'70 Grande

Excellent looking build... has a great overall "look" to it! I have always liked this kit as there's alot of different looks that can achieved when building it. Your paintwork is exceptional!

Looking really good so far! What chassis are you using... it looks terrific!

Great looking group; I'd like to see each one in its own separate post with more up-close pics... they each deserve it!

Of all the various builds I have seen of this kit over the years, this one is probably my favorite. Beautifully done!

Very nice build! We had this same car in 1:1, in the same color but with a White interior in my hometown. You'd only see it one day every year, in our town's 4th-of-July parade. The same girl riding in the backseat waving to everyone... I think she was the owner's grand-daughter. Thanks for bringing back that memory!

Excellent build! I'm curious where you sourced those wheels and dog dish caps.

I like this build so far... has all the look of a base- model '57. I might suggest using 5-lug wheels on it; a good set can be found in the AMT '58 Chevy Impala kit which shouldn't be difficult to find.

Stunning build! These Trans-Am race cars are my favorite race cars of all, and your build is a stunning example! Well done!

Well, my wife has known that I'm crazy for over 30 years! I guess I had this image in my head of these Thunderbird's being a "personal luxury car" meaning they were in a much-smaller-format than the full-size sedans of the same era. I've been to dozens of 1:1 car shows over the last couple of years with my eye out for these early/mid-1960s Thunderbird's just to see how big they are in the real world, but in all that time, I haven't seen a single one! Guess I need to just keep looking and when I finally see one, my mind will be set-straight... (or at least a bit less off-center)!

Okay, I'm gonna ask the same question here that I posted in your '63 Thunderbird kit contents post: To my eye, these AMT early/mid-1960's Thunderbird kits all look like they are too large overall; like they were produced at 1/22nd scale instead of 1/25th scale. When I see these built Thunderbird kits at contests, they look as large as a 1/25th full-size Ford Galaxie... am I crazy?

There's some really interesting decals on the decal sheet in this Thunderbird kit. Thanks for posting these images!

Excellent conversion! That is not the original kit's chassis is it?

That is quite a save! What a great transition from that pile of parts to what you have now... nice job!

I can't explain why, but to my eye it has always appeared that these early-1960's AMT Thunderbird kits were produced in something more like 1/22nd scale... every built-up that I've seen just appears to be "too big" overall to be a standard 1/25th scale kit. When I see them on show tables, they look longer than a same-era Ford Galaxie to me... am I crazy?

Answered my own question: I see now that the wide-track rear is a result of using the Nissan rear suspension.

Nicely done. The weathering and minor battle-damage looks excellent as well as the detail-painting on the interior! Did you modify/widen the rear-track so those rear tires would stick out from under the fenders more?

Wow! This is one exceptional build!

Agreed; a terrific looking build! I'd be very proud of that one! Nice work!

Your hard work and diligence paid off; this is a stunning build of such a rare modeling subject! Wow; nicely done!

Nice! I'm curious how you achieved that dull Blue paint finish?

Stunning build!

Beautiful car! Think its the first one I've ever seen riding on whitewall tires; period-correct but awkward to my eyes!

Great looking build! Exterior weathering is superbly done but in my opinion that engine compartment looks too spiffy-clean when compared to the outer-body; was that intentional?

Really like this build! Where did you source those rear wheels and tires from?

Not all 1:1 stories are about "rough" characters. The mom 3 houses down from mine had a '65 Park Lane convertible and two of the prettiest daughters in our school. As soon as the first 60+ degree temperature day came in the springtime, the daughters would insist mom drive them home from school with the top down... for the rest of my life I'll be able to clearly see in my mind those two gorgeous girls in the back seat with their long hair flying behind them on their way home from school!