Possible Near Future T-Bird Project

[talon63]

Been away for a bit, doing career stuff and helping out on an Indie film project, but it's time to start building again. Was thinking of doing an update to the look of the `58 T-bird, so here's a rough rendering. Still first stages of concept. Have to re-align the door or the pillar, haven't decided which yet. Hardest part may be the headlamps, of which, only the passenger side have been added at this time. As always, comments are encouraged and welcomed.

[Harry P.]

I like the basics so far; but not a fan of the sedan roof with the wide C pillar. That has to go, to give the car a true coupe look. I'd also try full fender skirts (maybe).

[Ace-Garageguy]

I'm with Harry...interesting concept, but that mid-90s-looking Caprice side window treatment isn't working for me either.

Maybe consider pulling the top of the rear fin forward under the quarter glass, and ditching the blacked-out pillars.

Though I like the swept-back windshield and roofline, the rearward displacement of the top front of the door opening might tend to make ingress / egress a little awkward. It could be good to pull the rear door cut-line back somewhat, to give a longer door opening.

And if the front bumper fascia is supposed to be body-colored plastic, you'll need a natural appearing seam line between it and the sheetmetal of the fenders. 

The girl, on the other hand, is close to perfect as-is.   

[Harry P.]

Lots of possibilities... I'd also try running the tail fin all the way forward to meet up with the lower front corner of the front side window.

[cobraman]

I like most of it but for me the roof line doesn't look quite right.

[bbowser]

Only my opinion, I don't care for that roof line at all on this car.  The front and rear are pretty angular, the sweeping roofline just doesn't do it for me.

[StevenGuthmiller]

I agree.

There were a lot of really beautiful roof lines produced over the years.

This isn't one of them.

Maybe a '60-'61 Starliner type of roof?

 

Steve

 

[Harry P.]

It's funny how styling is so subjective. I think the roofline works well.

[StevenGuthmiller]

It's funny how styling is so subjective. I think the roofline works well.

I don't think the roof line itself looks bad & I actually like the little "kick up" at the trailing end of the rear glass. ( kind of reminiscent of the early 60s Dodges & Plymouths)

But the wide blacked out B-pillar & the vent pillar before the C-pillar totally kill it for me.

The small vent window up front doesn't help it either.

Making it a hardtop & eliminating all of those pillars would look much better IMO.

The vent window could stay, but making it a little larger & slanted back at the top would be an improvement.

 

Steve

[Harry P.]

Ok, but now you're talking about individual design details. I thought we were talking about the roofline... the curvature from base of windshield, over the roof, and to base of back glass. I agree that certain details need cleaning up (I would axe the vent window altogether, for example)... but I like the curvature of the roofline on this car.

[Greg Myers]

Great idea 

[Ace-Garageguy]

This is the OP's most recent version, posted on the "Snafu" thread. Improvement. Cleaner side-glass treatment, roofline still works well.

At this point, i'd suggest getting rid of the double-chin hanging under the bumper, ditching the guards in the grille, and dropping the entire nose maybe about an inch in the front. The character line on the front fenders appears to be climbing, and I believe it would look much better level.

Edited November 14, 2016 by Ace-Garageguy

[unclescott58]

Great idea 

The T-Bird looks okay. But just okay. The '50 Ford above is just plain ugly to me. Not my cup of tea.

[StevenGuthmiller]

Great idea 

Blechhh!!

I just threw up in my mouth a little!

That is just wrong on so many levels!

 

Steve

[Ace-Garageguy]

That fiberglass '49 Ford nose and tail kit for the '89 to '97 T-Bird has been around for years.

Talk about design elements that just don't belong together...

Edited November 15, 2016 by Ace-Garageguy

[Mike C]

I like it. It looks really cool.