Draggin' a 60 out of a field.......

[Elrusto]

.......what am I gettin' self into?

Howdy!!!! Newbie here from beautiful,historic Rockwall Texas.
I'm in the autoparts biz and I have known about a 60 that a customer of mine has had for MANY years. Well I finally decided to take it off of his hands. Despite how bad it looks(what's up with that hood?) it's not that bad. The rockers,wheel openings and the floors ARE NOT rusted out. The best I can tell it was last registered in 1979 in California. It had a 1976 Texas tag in the trunk and a dealer emblem on the deck that said "HEMPHILL DALLAS" on it. Here is the info on it:
352 4bbl
Cruise-o-matic w/3.10 rear
P/S, P/B(?), A/C, power windows, power seats
Palm Springs Rose (PINK)
Black leather interior/

My apologies in advance to the purist, but Im planning on building a mild custom with it. Something along the lines of this.....

[Guest]

I want to see it when you get done!!! Take pictures, lots of pictures of what all you do!
Thanks,
Richard D. Hord

[Anders]

It is Troy Ladd at Hollywood Hot Rods that are in the process of building that Green "Hirohata" T-Bird.
Unfortunally, the project is stopped as the owner canīt afford to finish the project, so anyone who is interested in continuing it, just contact Troy.

[JohnG]

"mild" ?????

If you do get to modifying it, photos as you go along would be great to see!!

Suggestion - two places to check. 1) the rear subframe 2) take off the shields in the front wheel wells and see how things are there. Rain is supposed to run through and out but if clogged, it stays in there and rots things. (of course this presumes there has ever been rain in Texas to get into anything...)

Remember they are unibody cars...

Good luck! Keep us posted!

john

[bird 60]

Purists or not, it's your baby, and you do what you want. Fill us in as you're making progress & surprise us with something Special.

Chris....From the Land of OZ.

[Coral]

Yop, what Chris says is right.... our birds are unique to begin with even more special when we get to flex our wings on ideas!
....pix are required however, LOL

Odd rust pattern there on that birdy... the hood muzzle is clean through, and the right side / rear panel.... bad primer application ?

Grab up the Data plate info and hop on over to http://www.tbirdregistry.com as soon as you get around to it!

That blue and white job off the driver's door.... what is it?
I like it....

the interior is a gonner alright, AC vent, radio is missing...is the rest there? .... but seems your dash and glove panels are in great shape...

You are indeed getting your self into a bunch of hard work here, Rusty...but it will be well worth it in the end!

[bird 60]

Blue & White

Looks like & '56 Chevy Belair.

Chris....From the Land of OZ.

[bird 60]

OOPS, my correction it's a '55

Chris....F. t. L. o. OZ.

[Coral]

Thanks Chris...!

[RustyNCa]

Hey, I think I ended up with your 60's older sister......

Mild Custom, eh... that's not what I would call mild....

What are you going to do with those CA black plates? Did the car have two of them?

[Anders]

I have seen that upper pic before, and even if the car looks a bit sad, I realy like the picture. Itīs a great shot.

[Elrusto]

Wow!! That place looks familiar.

Yea, after I look at that car compared to a stocker its not so mild. I DO dig that chop though. I've got the wide whites and some 57 Lincoln caps w/bullets already. Gotta an eye on a set of 59 Bonneville taillights. Paint it pearl white to match my truck.

I'll look and see if the other plate it in the car somewhere.

Hey, I think I ended up with your 60's older sister......

Mild Custom, eh... that's not what I would call mild....

What are you going to do with those CA black plates? Did the car have two of them?

[RustyNCa]

I have seen that upper pic before, and even if the car looks a bit sad, I realy like the picture. Itīs a great shot.

Thanks, but I will say I didn't spend alot of time composing it.

This photo of it will give you a true abandoned car feel....

Took two wheels off the other tbird to get the 59 on the trailer

[57ford/60thunderbird]

ok very cool 2 more squares gettin saved but aside from the surface rust and the rusty hood how does the first one posted earn the name of rust bucket?

it allways puzzeles me when i see what outwesterners and calipornia guys call rusted junk

personnelly id almost kill to have rosies quarterpanels as intact as those seem to be

im all for customs and hotrods im going for a mild mid sixties customish look with rosie ... someday

[Coral]

ok very cool 2 more squares gettin saved but aside from the surface rust and the rusty hood how does the first one posted earn the name of rust bucket?

it allways puzzeles me when i see what outwesterners and calipornia guys call rusted junk

personnelly id almost kill to have rosies quarterpanels as intact as those seem to be

im all for customs and hotrods im going for a mild mid sixties customish look with rosie ... someday

Yeah, no kidding Keith....we northern - folk see the road through the floor boards, holes big enough a cat can run through and get into the trunk, and its still a "go" for us...as in repairable/rebuildable - Coral has all kinds of issues, but never once uttered the word rust bucket, LOL