The wife and I spent Christmas 2014 in Reno with my family and while the wife was walking the dog she found this mostly original 1960 Thunderbird down the street. After a week of walking by it she finally decided she wanted it and we bought it.
This Thunderbird was built in Wixom on July 26th, 1960 with a 352 powering a Cruise-O-Matic to 3.10 gears. It does not have AC but it does have power windows and leather seats.
As far as we can tell it was bought new by Frank Hadley Jr. of Northern California and spent its life in Santa Cruz and eventually Portola/Quincy, California until Frank passed in 2009 a honored veteran Captain of the US Army. His relatives sold the car to the gentleman I bought the car from however due to over $900 in back fees and health issues he never registered it. I guess that makes me the second owner however I hope to connect with the relatives someday to find out all I can about Frank and the stories of this Thunderbird.
It has most of the Moroccan Ivory paint and 7,330 miles to date. The thick undercoating saved it from rusting out although it does have a couple spots above the outer rear wheel wells
It only took a few hundred dollars to get it running with a new gas tank, ignition wiring and air in the tires. It needs a thorough cleaning before I know the extent of additional repairs but it does run and drive well. The floors are solid and the engine bay is only in need of a cleaning and a few parts I can get on Ebay. It has all of the original molding and, except for a cracked windshield and some questionable tires, it is relatively roadworthy.
We towed it home a few weeks later and now have it safe and sound in Azusa, California.
I had created another thread but will use this post to chronicle the cleaning, discovery and restoration of Project Snowbird.
Thank you for your comments and following this project.
Tim Daleo
Registry Entry
This Thunderbird was built in Wixom on July 26th, 1960 with a 352 powering a Cruise-O-Matic to 3.10 gears. It does not have AC but it does have power windows and leather seats.
As far as we can tell it was bought new by Frank Hadley Jr. of Northern California and spent its life in Santa Cruz and eventually Portola/Quincy, California until Frank passed in 2009 a honored veteran Captain of the US Army. His relatives sold the car to the gentleman I bought the car from however due to over $900 in back fees and health issues he never registered it. I guess that makes me the second owner however I hope to connect with the relatives someday to find out all I can about Frank and the stories of this Thunderbird.
It has most of the Moroccan Ivory paint and 7,330 miles to date. The thick undercoating saved it from rusting out although it does have a couple spots above the outer rear wheel wells
It only took a few hundred dollars to get it running with a new gas tank, ignition wiring and air in the tires. It needs a thorough cleaning before I know the extent of additional repairs but it does run and drive well. The floors are solid and the engine bay is only in need of a cleaning and a few parts I can get on Ebay. It has all of the original molding and, except for a cracked windshield and some questionable tires, it is relatively roadworthy.
We towed it home a few weeks later and now have it safe and sound in Azusa, California.
I had created another thread but will use this post to chronicle the cleaning, discovery and restoration of Project Snowbird.
Thank you for your comments and following this project.
Tim Daleo
Registry Entry
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