'69 T-bird

[Harold]

Well, I hope everybody is doing OK- I've been hunkered down the last few months dealing with my college career and working on a few projects. I had actually started working on the MK '71 'Bird, but I bought the Allison Thunderland kit and found out that aside from the lack of stock tail lights, this is very workable. That, and I prefer the '67-'69 T-Birds to the '70-'71 cars. Not liking the engine or underpinnings on the '71, I started with the 429 from the Revell '71 Torino and the C6 from the '67 Comet.

I shortened the chassis from the AMT '65 Galaxie, and though it fit, I wasn't quite satisfied.

So I took the front suspension from the Ford and grafted it to the T-Bird frame- now we're cooking.

Right about then is when the '69 body came into the picture. Hmmmmm....now I like this.........

[Darrell Gwinn]

looks good so far!

[Harold]

Part 2

The interior was easy to modify to '69 specs- I converted the seats to low backs with headrests, lowered the floor with the floor from the '65 and whipped up a console using the faint image on the '71's floor. After slathering everything that needed it with BMF matte aluminum, some armrests made from some custom bumperettes and paint, I now have an interior.

The chassis required some work- I filled the screw holes in the trunk floor, made new ribbing with evergreen and used the rear suspension from the Ford. The trailing links are from the T-Bird- they're longer and allow the wheels to be square in their openings. The exhaust was cut away from the 'Bird rear axle and the gaps wer bridged with corresponding bits from the Ford.

Here's the mockup so far- I'll have her done this weekend. Ciao for now!

[FordRodnKustom]

Looks great. Nice chassis and interior work!

[Fleetside]

Looking VERY Good!...Great work!

[Darrell Gwinn]

That's a good color for it, it looks sweet

[Harold]

It's almost done- yesterday I made a hood hinge with ID/OD brass and got that installed. I put a crimp in the tubing so the hood will stay up on it's own when it's opened. I finished the interior (there were a few things that weren't quite right) and cut the front and rear windows away from the runners. I lowered the suspension a bit, and when I went to mock it up to check the stance (a lot better) that's when I noticed AAAAAHHHHHHHHH!!!! there was a couple little blobs of epoxy on the left quarter. After the initial panic, I worked very carefully sanding and polishing them away. There's two hours of work that was not anticipated, but it's none the worse for wear. Hopefully, she'll be done tonight. See you soon.

[Kenny]

It looks great so far! Cool subject.

[Harold]

Here we are nearing final assembly. As you can see, I need to swap the sun visors around for the corrrect orientation. I carved in headliner details and painted everything Polly S Reefer (no, not that kind) white.

Here's how the interior came to be. I removed the floor from the 'Bird, added the floor from the '65 Ford and was able to lower the interior floor (it was too shallow).

Well, she's finally done. Finished pics are in 'Under Glass'. Ciao.