1961 T-Bird (original) - from amt?

[1959scudetto]

amt (?)1961 T-Bird (original) - got this one from a pen-pal in the U.S. in 1985 as a built-up, unpainted glue-bomb - disassembled, spraypainted and reassembled again - I will restore this one day using some parts of amt's 62 T-Bird (original wheels       and tires are still there - I mounted wheels and tires from JoHan's `72 Gran Torino.

I wouldn't use this banana yellow again today, but I don't want to remove the whole paint from the body. I think I will replace windshield and -frame with parts from amt's 62 T-Bird, also the missing chrome bezel from the hood scoop, maybe even the rear bumper (the orignal has a bad chrome - I touched this up with silver paint) and some bare-metal for the trim -  flocking for the interior, install clear headlight lensespolishing the body and lighten up the panel lines on the doors and trunk that are definitely too dark.

Wht would you guys do with it?

 

 

[cobraman]

Good looking bird.

[hedotwo]

Looks like the bird has good bones.  I'd do the improvements you mentioned but I'm no fan of that yellow either.  Maybe the Ford Desert Gold from that year would look good.  Plus, it'd be kind of unique.

[Paul Payne]

I would leave it as is- the new T-bird parts may not fit due to the body being a bit wider.

[Tom Geiger]

I think it’s nice enough to keep on the shelf!  There’s plenty more out there that need a big rebuild

[michelle]

nice work 

[John1955]

1 hour ago, Tom Geiger said:

I think it’s nice enough to keep on the shelf!  There’s plenty more out there that need a big rebuild

I agree 

[ewetwo]

Looks great.

[Oldcarfan27]

2 hours ago, Tom Geiger said:

I think it’s nice enough to keep on the shelf!  There’s plenty more out there that need a big rebuild

3x

[PappyD340]

I think it looks great!

[iSewen]

Very nice 👍

[1959scudetto]

Thanks guys and girls for your nice comments - someday I will be going to restore this one, maybe I will redo the body using a color that comes at least close to an original 1961 color, eventually the original wheels and tires will be used and I have to look for a more period-correct rearview mirror.

[Tom Geiger]

Here’s my run of 1960 thru 1962.. these are pretty sad and are crying for some love!  Yours is much nicer!

[Can-Con]

I think it looks pretty good as is ,, if you don't mind the color. 

The back bumper from the newer, more detailed '62 kit will fit perfectly, like it was made for it. But the tail lights are slightly different between the '61 and '62. 

[BTW, the front bumper is a pretty good fit too. Just a touch wide but not really much more than the original kit part. I doubt anyone would tell the difference.]

[1959scudetto]

12 hours ago, Tom Geiger said:

Here’s my run of 1960 thru 1962.. these are pretty sad and are crying for some love!  Yours is much nicer!

thanks, Tom -when I received my 61 T-Bird, it looked very similar to your (unpainted) '60 Squarebird!

[1959scudetto]

11 hours ago, Can-Con said:

I think it looks pretty good as is ,, if you don't mind the color. 

The back bumper from the newer, more detailed '62 kit will fit perfectly, like it was made for it. But the tail lights are slightly different between the '61 and '62. 

[BTW, the front bumper is a pretty good fit too. Just a touch wide but not really much more than the original kit part. I doubt anyone would tell the difference.]

Thank you Steve, I will try this out someday.

[David G.]

Looks great, keep it as it is.

David G.

[1959scudetto]

4 hours ago, David G. said:

Looks great, keep it as it is.

David G.

Thank you David, it will also be a matter of (available) time (I will do nothing with it in the immediate future)...