Why Aren\'t There More Hot Rodded T-birds?

I know this is a generalization, but it seems I rarely see any T-birds which have been heavily modified or hopped-up. They all seem to be pure resto cream puffs or close to it. Why do you think that is the case? The early ones at least were marketed as performance cars, and it's strange that most people leave them alone.

They just are'nt popular material for a hot rod build up. The early models are too valuable to modify, and the 60's & 70's models were just too big and heavy to be fast. That leaves the swoopy 80's models that you see a lot more of in modified form. The Turbo Coupes are just plain junk, but the bodies are kinda tough looking. SVO Mustangs are junk, too!

My turbocoupe was far from junk. You do know they used the same rods from a boss 302 in them right? Pull a set out and compare? Not to mention I thrashed mine to high 13s in the 1/4. I will admit after 15,000 miles the motor went south. However, 6800rpm dumps tend to do that.........with 30psi boost......Were they perfect cars nope......then again show me one that is.[img]/phpBB/images/smiles/icon_rolleyes.gif[/img][img]/phpBB/images/smiles/icon_razz.gif[/img][img]/phpBB/images/smiles/icon_ghey.gif[/img][img]/phpBB/images/smiles/icon_topicsucks.gif[/img] I never had one single problem until the aftermarket oil pump gave up. However I wanted to do another car. I wish I would have kept it though would have made a great 5.0l turbo car.[img]/phpBB/images/smiles/icon_bow.gif[/img]

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: 1badmav on 4/14/04 8:08am ]</font>

That makes sense. I do like the early '60s ones when they're turned into kustoms.

Thunderbird hotrodding is alive and well. You just have to dig a little deeper to find it. The '60s Galaxie brake donor 'Birds, the '77's-'79s were built on the same platform as the '72-'76 Torinos. Only the external sheetmetal is different....and better looking IMO.[img]/phpBB/images/smiles/icon_smile.gif[/img] At about 4000 lbs stock, they weigh in about the same as a Galaxie and make a great basis for a classy lookin' buildup. I've been into these 'Birds for years and drive a '79 with a mildly built 302 in the summer...til it gets 460-fied after I get my '64 Custom on the road. [img]/phpBB/images/smiles/icon_cool.gif[/img] There *was* a 460 powered '78 'Bird in the "Reader's Cars" section here that runs low to mid 11's. A friend of mine has a sweet ProStreet '79. With a homemade EFI setup on top of a 514, this car is awesome! There's a pic of it at http://world-of-fords.org/tbird2.html

I belong to a bunch of T-Bird mailing lists and y'all would be surprized what some of the older guys are doing to their '55-'57s! EFI 5.0 motor swaps, T-5's, heavily built up Y-Blocks, stiffer springs, shocks and sway bars to make them handle, custom wheels, modern rubber and such are commonplace. About the only thing they don't alter is the sheetmetal. Why mess with perfection? [img]/phpBB/images/smiles/icon_tup.gif[/img]

Jan

I had a '79 Thunderbird that I bought from a little old lady. Her husband, the original owner had died, and he babied that thing. It looked and even smelled knew when I bought it. Had a 351W, vaccum powered headlight covers and was an eggnog color. Absolutely loved that thing. I called it the Beast after t-boning an idiot who flew out of an alley, and it generally started looking mean.

I have seen several 58-60 (Square Birds) converted over to 4 speed, manual shift. The engines were warmed over, but hot rodded, with a Capital "H"...I don't think so. As mentioned, they are way too heavy. The only ones that had a good run at decent times are the early 'Birds, and they are way too valuable to be cut-up. There was one, in the old Super Ford magazine...had a tube frame, 460 stroker and street driver. Belonged to some rich guy out of AZ or NM...he had bought it with the idea of restoring it, but decided it was too far gone, so he had it done by some car shop. It came out looking great.

It is strange to see a T'bird go by, hear a cam bubbling, the guy shifting gears...then when you start to look for the car - you just know it couldn't be the Thunderbird...could it?

Stanley [img]/phpBB/images/smiles/icon_frown.gif[/img] My little SVO ran high 13's &amp; got 25 MPG, T-Coupe was a blast too! I think it's all about being a little different.
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I found a cool custom '67. Stu

http://www.lovefords.org/galleries/m...hunderbird.htm

That's cook Cap'n. I always have thought the late '60s T-birds can look very sinister.