You may remember my thread a couple of months ago about hot rods and street rods because I was trying to decide what I wanted to get myself. I had made a deal on an old Barracuda that turned to be in much worse condition than it first appeared so it didn't happen.

So, after much more looking around I ended up buying a '66 Thunderbird just in time for my 50th birthday. It is in real nice shape, a very solid, safe driver that doesn't need anything major. The previous owner had it for aout 15 years, got it out west and kept it in a heated garage here. He hadn't been using much in the last few years so he decided to sell it. I got a good deal and it's turning out to be a great car that I can drive while working on it. The plan is for some modest hot rodding to make cool cruiser out of it. It needed a lot of catching up on maintenance stuff - tuning, exhaust, tires, etc. So far I've taken care of the tuning stuff, going to replace the very tired carb tonight, exhaust is ordered, wheels and tires are on it, shocks are going on this coming week and it's getting the front end lowered an inch or two at the same time. Other than that stuff it's just cleaning up and little things like door seals, getting the radio working, fixing intermittent window switches, a little chrome under the hood, etc, busy work that'll keep me out of trouble.

Anyway, just wanted to thank everyone again for all of your input and ideas in that other thread. Here's a few pics of the Tbird, let me know what you think!

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Don't kiss smiling dogs!

Man o' Man, how sweet it is!

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"IN GOD WE TRUST"

Cool ol' 'Bird, did the 66 have the sequential flash tail lights?
I loved that and the Tilt and Telescope & swing-away Steering Wheel.

I turned 50 this year and only got a new shirt!?!

You lucky dog.

GF

Ha! That's why you have to buy your own birthday presents!

Yes, it does have the sequential turn signals and all kinds of other action back there. I had to replace a turn signal bulb and a back up light bulb, had to remove about 30 screws, two pieces of trim and two lenses to do it. There's a total of 6 taillight/brake/signal bulbs, 2 back up light bulbs, and a plate light bulb. It was an all afternoon project.

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Don't kiss smiling dogs!

Congrats, very SWEET happy B-day~!

Nice CLASSY car, turning a few heads are ya while diriving

I miss my 65 Buick Riviera.

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Doesn't hasta call me Johnson

Very nice! Nice birthday present! Good looking T-Bird!

Wow. That is awesome.

I thought I was lucky to get a shotgun for my 50th. You are REALLY lucky.

too cool,i remember going with my dad to test drive one of those, he ended up getting a falcon station wagon instead

Sweet!! I've been thinking of doing something similar, since I only drive a car ~4000 miles a year. Only problem is that I would have to park it outside. I looked at a '69 T-Bird with a 429 Thunderjet and suicide rear doors in AZ last week, but the floorboards and trunk look like the car came from Michigan. Oh, well. Someday.

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Insert short witty words here

Great looking T-Bird!! It looks to be in great shape. I had a 65 and loved it. The interior on those are really cool. 390 motor I assume? have fun with it!!

A great old bird. I can't imagine getting one any lower than they came. Is it a 390 or 428?

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Wayne
Torn & Frayed

Very nice. The wheels, stance, and classic T-Bird lines go together quite well. Enjoy that thing & happy birthday.

Nice looking T-Bird, my very first car was a 1958 T-Bird that I paid 400 dollars for. Try that now!

I have been half heartedly looking for a 61-63 Bulletbird to play with. I see them around every now and then but they are far beyond "gently used".

bob

Thanks for all the happy birthdays, you guys!
Yes, it has the 390, I'd love for it to be a 428 but no such luck.
They do ride kind of low normally and I think the leaf springs have flattened out a bit over the years so I'm leaving the rear height alone, just need to drop the front end enough to get a nice rake.

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Don't kiss smiling dogs!

Very nice T-bird! My first car was a '60, my second a white '65 with the 390. Very fast, very elegant, and a whole lot of fun! And if I recall correctly, you can flip the rear spring shackles with a pry bar to lift the back end up a bit. It doesn't re-rate the springs but it gives ya a little rake to the body.

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Even older, even crankier....

Congrats on your new T-bird! Looks great!

Now THAT is one pretty car! Conratulations and Happy Birthday to you!

That is waaaaaaaay cool. Very nice indeed.

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I am a sheep dog!
1601 (ret)

Very nice, I love the look with those rims and tires. It's nice to see something other than Mustangs from that time period. I am waiting to get my truck back once the motor is done.

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Vaya con Dios

What kind of gasoline?
It was probably made to take leaded?
What kind of engine?

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Buy American
Vote Responsibly

will you divulge the purchase price ??? or give us a ball park figure we can use as a reference?

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UNDER THE CONE OF SILENCE

It's a big block 390, 10.5:1 compression so it needs premium. Yes, it was made in the leaded fuel era and I have no reason to think it's had the heads redone with hardened valve seats so I've been adding some Redline Lead Substitute when I gas up.

I gave $6000 for the car and added another $2500 or so with the wheels and tires and other stuff it needed. That's pretty much where I'm going to leave it for this summer, it looks good, it's running good (replaced the carb this evening), it's safe, and all that is fine for now, exactly what I wanted. I'll fiddle with it and tweak things here and there but I won't be going overboard. I bought it to drive and enjoy the way it is, not to restore into a new car that I'm afraid to take anywhere.

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Don't kiss smiling dogs!

My Dad had a 65 Riviera that he bought brand new. Dark navy blue with a black interior. Had the Buick road wheels, and was absolutely GORGEOUS. I was brought home from the hospital in it, and had a few pics of me as a baby next to it. I don't remember the car, but I have the fever for one so bad I can't stand it. I'm a Ford guy, but that GM highstepper just does it for me. I've always said I'll own one someday, but I'm starting to wonder. Funny thing is, he looked at a T bird like the OP has, but my Mom talked him into the Buick. While that T bird oozes class, and I love it, I sure would like to park a '65 Riv in my garage next to my '05 Mustang GT.

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MARK

Happy birthday what a great present you gave yourself, enjoy it.

HOLLY COW!!
A "CHICK MAGNET".
Can I borrow it Saturday Night????

I love the 390 V8, what an under rated motor in every respect, I know when we were putting my F-100 on the flatbed last year it was running a bit off and skipping a cylinder (turns out the guy put two plug wires on in the wrong order) plus it had well over 100,000 miles and was just tired, it still shoved the new F-150 hauling it and the trailer down the road even with the parking brake on. That with a non-posi rear end. I can't wait to see what it will do once it's rebuilt. I bet that T-bird gets right up and moves along with the 390 in it, especially one of the earlier ones.

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Vaya con Dios

I have some very fond (and vivid) memories associated with those "wrap-around" back seats.
f.t.

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South Carolina-God's country

Very, very, very nice... congrats, she's a beauty!

Best part of the thread! Thanks for keeping some classic iron on the road instead of in a garage.

Can you shoot +P's through it?

Seriously excellent ride. And the wheels set her off nicely.

Great looking car. I like the wheels you fitted as they give you access to modern rubber without looking over the top. You mentioned lowering the car, but I think the stance is perfect as it is. I do not subscribe to the modern theory that a visible space between the top of the tyre and the wheelarch means you are riding too high. Your taste and mileage may vary.

WC I got thinking about you and your car the other day and thought I'd provide a little info.

I know you aren't planning on selling it (and you better not )but you might be interested in some stats on it.

Ford has a "History Report" phone number (1-800-392-3673) that you can call. They can give you "some" info on the car, how many built, how many in your color, etc.

There's also Kevin Marti at Marti Auto Works (I used them myself after Rick Schmidt (National Parts Depot) pointed me in their direction. They are widely recognized in the field. According to their website, they are only going back to 1967 at the moment but it might be worthwhile to contact them and see if they are getting close to having info on your 1966.

Marti Auto Works - Marti Report

Hope this is of some value to you.

Want to really show it off?

The Woodward Dream Cruise > Home

Biggest one day car event in the world. Of course Folks are cruzin Woodward a week or so early.

kent - Thanks for the info, I'll check into that.

gigalligan - I'm familiar with the Dream Cruise but that's a loooonng way from downeast Maine! Right now the farthest trip I'm planning for it this summer is to Owl's Head Transportation Museum, they hold a number of antique car, motorcycle, and plane shows each summer.

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Don't kiss smiling dogs!

I was a delivery boy for a drug store when I was a teenager. My boss had a T-Bird like that with the 390 and I occassionally got to use it for deliveries. (usually after I had torn up something on the Simca) When I got to drive it those pills got delivered real fast.

Sharp looking T-Bird! Congratulations...

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"Shall not be infringed"