´56 Ford Thunderbird Restomod

[Koellefornia Kid]

When I started building model cars (more than 25 years ago) I already was an avid collector of hot rod and custom car related books and mags. In the November ´97 issue of Rod & Custom Magazine I found this one:

Though I never really liked the wheels, I was totally hooked by Roy Brizio´s concept of his ´55 T-bird. A few yearss later I bought AMT´s ´56 American Graffiti Thunderbird kit and searched my parts box for some adequate rolling stock - without success. Nothing I tried under the fenders really worked and I also was disappointed that there was no option to build the kit without the continental kit, so everything went back in the box and was forgotten. I used its Y-block on another build some years later but other than that it stayed unbuilt. Until I came across a toy shop that had a clearance sale in November last year where I bargained two Jada  Fast and Furious GT-40s (1/32 scale, die casts). The rear wheels looked like they might fit on 1/25 kits. I suddenly remembered the abandoned T-bird, so when I arrived home I crammed it out, tested the wheels (perfect fit) and got started...

Finished last night:

Cleaned front bumper, scratch built grille, shaved body, hood scoop removed,

home printed Ford decals, lowered suspension,

Jada wheels painted gun metal,

Continental kit removed, rear bumper filled and tucked to body, scratch built exhaust,

Revell ´32 Ford steering wheel...

...and wired 5.0 engine from the 5-window kit.

After 23 years, the idea  finally found its way into my display case.

Hope you like it, comments welcome

Greetings from Germany

[espo]

Your build really captures the basic design of the magazine car. I also remember seeing this at the time and also thought it mad the little T-Bird look more modern. Removing the exhaust from the rear bumpers clean up that part nicely. The flat hood also smooths out the overall look of the front end. Great looking paint and the blue interior and exterior trim looks perfect together. I like how you detailed your engine as well. 

[michelle]

nice work 

[gseeds]

That’s is a totally awesome build, beautiful car !

[SSNJim]

Very nice build. That was a long time in the making. Glad you were able to get it done.

I'm going to have to find those Jada GT40s. Those wheels look very similar to the 2005-2009 Mustang V-6 base wheels with the optional spinners, only the Jada ones are more deeply dished.

[cobraman]

Nice job, turned out great !

[RAMBENNA]

sa weeet, very nice, looks great

[Bucky]

The one word that comes to my mind.....SMOOOOOOOTH!

TOP SHELF build, here!

[Dragonhawk1066]

Well done! Very nice, and I like your wheels better!

[TransAmMike]

Great looking 'Bird. ?

[Steve H]

Oh man!!! I love this!! I saw a similar 1:1 car at a local car show years ago, this brings back a great memory. An absolutely beautiful build Oliver.

Cheers, Steve

 

[Modlbldr]

That looks great! It looks similar to one I did a couple of years ago. The 55-57 Tbirds make a nice custom restomod roadster.

Later-

[FLHCAHZ]

Killer!  Nice work!

[ewetwo]

Very nice work.

 

[PappyD340]

Awesome, fantastic work!!

[Koellefornia Kid]

Thanks fellas, glad you like it! I had a lot of fun with with this kit, went together nicely. The only problem was to cut a few millimetres from the the interior parts and the firewall to get it low enough. Otherwise the whole frame and parts of the floor would have visible very prominently... Glad the engine still  fits after the modifications!

[slusher]

A real beauty!

[ChrisR]

Cool!!

[Plowboy]

Very cool looking T-Bird Oliver! The color and wheels really suits the other mods you made on it! Nice work!

[alan barton]

That says "Resto Mod" from front to rear.  Really like your interpretation,  Oliver!

[Koellefornia Kid]

Thanks again, guys! I was a bit anxious about the paint, this was my first all-white paint job but I'm happy with how it turned out...