Where do you find your reference pictures?

[Mr. Show]

I'm having a tough time finding pictures for the '87 Thunderbird I'm working on. So far 80% of the images in google image search lead to an ad/spam redirect/attack site (it's not my PC, I assure you.) The web search isn't much better.

Is there a source of stock vehicle images somewhere? How do you find yours?

Edited November 17, 2010 by Mr. Show

[MikeMc]

Not sure why the spam sites on 80%.

Do a google image search, safe, go to advanced and search using the second line 1987 Thunderbird I just saw most models I know, turbo and non

[whale392]

My garage. Seriously, being that I am a FOX Mustang guy, I build models of them. I have 4 real FOXes at the house right now. If I want mid-60s Mopar B-Bodies, I ask dad to send pics of his cats.

I have had good luck with Google Images for a lot of my other searches (including an 87 Thunderbird TurboCoupe).

[mrmike]

I usually use Google Images and eBay Motors.

[seanyb505]

Ive been using ebay for a Stealth Im building. Most average cars are listed eventually. I save pictures since auctions only last a week. For more enthusiast or historic cars I use supercars.net. It's hit or miss, but they have huge galleries for a junkload of cars. If I still cant find it I'll start looking up specialty car brokerages. Those types of places that specialize in original, numbers matching vehicles. High end auction houses are also great for finding accurate cars. Stuff like Barrett Jackson and the like.

[Darren B]

what i like Ebay for is the pictures that you will find there that you won't find elsewhere. want to know where something typically rusts? where an engine leaks on a particular model? want pics of the underside or chassis? Ebay has those pics where you won't usually find those images through a Google search and if you do it won't be as easy. most times you can find good and bad examples of a subject and plenty of pics of both on Ebay motors. in my opinion it's a very good resource for modelers.

Ebay is cool but when i go there you cant save the pics there like in a format that doesnt let you right click. Do you look at them on ebay and model from the computer or do you have a way of saving them?

[Mr. Show]

Ebay is cool but when i go there you cant save the pics there like in a format that doesnt let you right click. Do you look at them on ebay and model from the computer or do you have a way of saving them?

You can hit print screen then paste them into MS Paint (if you don't have any other paint programs) and save.

I didn't have much luck on eBay for this particular model. Oh, I just remembered Craigslist. There's no doubt pictures of every car in existence on there. Just google "craigslist.com: car name" to search all cities and states.

Edited November 18, 2010 by Mr. Show

[seanyb505]

I suppose it depends on the auction format used, but I was able to save a few pictures just the other day from ebay.

[Jordan White]

I use this site that has a whole bunch of old car brochures for American cars.

And here ya go Mr. Show! http://www.lov2xlr8.no/brochures/ford/87tbird.html

[Mr. Show]

I use this site that has a whole bunch of old car brochures for American cars.

And here ya go Mr. Show! http://www.lov2xlr8.no/brochures/ford/87tbird.html

Awesome. Thanks a lot.

[Mr. Show]

Don't mean to bump my own thread, but if others are looking for sources, I've found auto repair manuals to be a great help. Any library should have them. I picked up one for the Taurus since I'll be doing a SHO soon and the detailed engine and chassis pictures will be extremely helpful.

[Darin Bastedo]

I use this site that has a whole bunch of old car brochures for American cars.

And here ya go Mr. Show! http://www.lov2xlr8.no/brochures/ford/87tbird.html

Be careful using dealer brochures for references, as often the cars pictures are pre-production models due to the printing lead time of the brochure.

[ChrisPflug]

Often times there are good sites specific to a certain car (even if it seems obscure)

For example:

Mopars:

http://www.hamtramck-historical.com/library.shtml

http://www.roadrunnernest.com/

http://www.moparts.com/

http://www.1962to1965mopar.ornocar.com/gallery.html

http://www.71superbee.com/ColorCatalog/

https://legendaryautointeriors.com/webmodules/catcatalog/dtl_allcatalog.aspx?Make=C&ID=AA&DESC=&Year=&Page=98

I've saved links to all different types of cars, these are just an example

Google books often has sections of published restoration guides that you probably wouldn't purchase for a model car build

[Jon Cole]

I'm having a tough time finding pictures for the '87 Thunderbird I'm working on. So far 80% of the images in google image search lead to an ad/spam redirect/attack site (it's not my PC, I assure you.) The web search isn't much better.

Is there a source of stock vehicle images somewhere? How do you find yours?

Really? I just typed "1987 Thunderbird" in Google Image, it shows page after page after page of '87 Birds! Plus, if I clicked on the pics, I suspect there is more pics on many of the sites. I suspect eBay has a bunch of them also.

[my66s55]

Another good source for pics is Hemming Motor News cars for sale ads at Hemmings.com.