She likes them and in fact if it wasn't for the color of one (turquoise) that her and her dad looked at back in the late 70s, her 16th B-day present would have been a T Bird instead of the Mustang that you see in my sigpic.
I'm thinking of getting a '57 in white, black, or red for a surprise next year. Looks like it will take at least $30K to get a nice one. I don't know much about them, but it has to be an automatic. A 312 or 292 also.
Anyone know of one for sale or wish to provide me with some advice on these cars?
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Tracy Blackford
Anaheim, CA
65 Mustang FB, 331 custom built with 289 H beam rods and 383W piston, 282S cam, self ported '70 351w heads, Dougs Tri-Y headers. 1.7 shaft rockers and 26986 beehives. Hurricane Single Plane and custom 750 HP. T5z and 3.50 9" posi rear. 430 HP @ 6500...not too shabby for old school heads!
Great idea, I surprised swmbo on her 40th a couple of years ago with a 66 sunbeam alpine, she loves it and now doesn't mind me spending time working on the "cars"
My dad has the bird shown. He loves the car! The picture is an old one before we had it repainted and skirts put on. I believe that you will need to pay more than $30K to get a good 57. My dads bird would sell for $45K if he was interested in selling. Send me a private thread and I can tell you all about the baby birds (I did all the mechanical restoration work on it).
One big thing! The baby birds are primative compared to our mustangs.
Mike
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White 1973 (351C stroked to 408, 4V, FMX) convertible with blue deluxe interior AC and power windows.
I have the 289 and toploader from the mustang under a blanket and was planning on the alger transplant, but after a lot of research it's not an easy task, but I have a 2.8L v/6 engine and locating a few odd parts for a bolt in with a 5 speed.
I had a Peacock Blue 56 with a white port hole top for several years. Sold it and went back to Mustangs. Mine was nice and it had been restored. They are great cars to look at and be seen in but IMHO not so great to own. As has been stated they are primative by Mustang standards. The steering wheel is huge, they are very hot to ride in, plan well in advance to turn, braking can be scary and they are quite heavy.
I didn't mean for that to sound as negative as it did. Guess what I am trying to say is that someone very familiar and comfortable with old cars can love the birds. They are not for everyone.
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66 Emberglo GT Fastback - A code, Emberglo/Parchment pony interior, auto, AC, PS.
70 Mach I - 351C, Calypso Coral with white interior
lots of repro parts out there, but I suspect they are subject to the same crap repro parts syndrome too.
My friend's dad has a 57 and all I can remember is him telling me the wind wings were VERY expensive and that was 25 years ago.
Neat project but be careful. You might find a good one in a year....
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Links-R-Us...
Steve Leslie, 65 cpe, 302, toploader, A/C, orig disc brakes, bench seat, tri-bars, tri-Ys, I need tri-power! 356,000 miles (4/12/2010)
1965 Ford Mustang - All Weather Fighter
This may sound odd coming from a Mustang owner but is this a practical choice?
As others have stated the Baby bird is an old bird. Upkeep would be even more than your modded Mustang. Driving would be NOT as an everyday type car. Comfort not as you might expect. The sentimental reasons are great but is that really a car she could enjoy for years?
IIRC, SSBC has a bolt-on front disc kit that can at least make brakes a non-issue. Otherwise, IMHO, there is nearly as much difference in driving dynamics between a baby-'Bird and a vintage Mustang as there is between a vintage Mustang and a late-Fox Mustang. Be careful what you wish for....
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70 Mustang Vert--Konis, Addco, springs, Shelby drop, SSBC front discs, 2.75:1 T-lok, Magstars, Michelin X-Ones, 302, Autolite 4100, cam, Hipo manifolds, C-4. Not a car like I had when I was a kid--rather, a car like I WANTED to have when I was a kid.
Also into American Flyer electric trains--Its never too late to have a happy childhood.
I've seen plenty of restomodded Thunderbirds. I'm not sure what your intent is with the car, but if it's something along the lines of what you've done with your fastback I'm sure you can come up with something that is fun and safe to drive. If you're going for a concours restoration, that's another story.
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Todd Dietrich - '66 T-Code Fastback, '07 GT/CS Coupe VMF Facebook Group
Buying a car that old kind of negates the color choice-buy for the car.
They fit in the same category as the 57-62 Vettes. Terrible handling(vettes had 53 Chev susp}equally bad brakes, bad steering,etc. But those cars are beautiful. The 57 Bird is the best Bird choice, didn't care for connie kits. By 57, think that most were 312's. Make sure you get a dry car ie little or NO rust. Be thorough, use a weak magnet ALL OVER! Too strong a magnet will pull through mud.
In the salt belt, worked in a body shop going through school, in Ill. and T-Birds were very bad-rocker panels, wheel wells, over the headlites, etc. etc._All of this when they were 3 years old!! People would bring them in and wonder WHY the shop would not guarantee the work. Three months later adjacent areas could break out.
Two bad it's so far away, a friend in NC has a 57 white 2 tops Bird with a 69 302 and C-4. Runs great and looks good. believe the body is good. not a Northern car. It's for sale-wife never uses it! She got tired of it, prefering a Lexus SUV!!
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