mtrhed's '58 & '66 Tbirds

[Coral]

Well, there ya go....I didn't make one comment in that thread, totally blanked on it, sorry Mike.....

http://squarebirds.org/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=5962

[Guest]

Thanks for reply

Thanks Coral,I will become a paid member.
I want to post Pix's I'll try what you suggest.

So I seem more lost than ever about the windows.
There is another 66 Bird with the same windows
somewhere around my area I'm told.
These look to be OEM but have been told no.

More to come later.

[Coral]

I hope there IS more to come as I didn't quite follow your comment: "So I seem more lost than ever about the windows."

[Guest]

windows

I am a 58/66 Bird Lover
I need more info as I simply just drive my birds.

The opera windows are an elusive trait for my 66.
No one seems to know about them much.
I had hoped to meet and converse more with you all.
I look from time to time to see if any one has responded.
I still work probably till they plant me in with my 58.
So do you (as a club) ever do anything in Flagstaff Az. on Route 66 days?

[YellowRose]

mtrhed's '58 & '66 Tbirds

Hi Mike!

I gather you do not know who put the opera windows in your '66. I happen to like it, just as I like the one in Marco's Tbird. I think that Ford should have continued the use of the opera window into the Squarebird line, but someone made a decision not to.

As for the Forum doing anything in regards to a S&S on Route 66, no we do not, as a Forum. Perhaps that is something the guys and gals who own Tbirds out there should start! That would be pretty neat.

[Coral]

Howdy again Mike!

Long story short: someone else put those opera windows in your car.
You could go to the DMV and get a title search, and contact the previous owners to determine who did what to the bird and when

Here are some links for you to check out:
http://www.az-classic-thunderbird.org/

http://www.route66carclub.com/

http://clubs.hemmings.com/clubsites/azvtc/index.html

[Guest]

I don't know if I'm correct or not. A friend of mine had a 1957 Thunderbird he redone twice (changed color) I asked him one time about the porthole window, why did Ford add it only in '57. He told me he had read somewhere the '55-'56 owners had complained about a bad blind spot in that area. So the porthole window was added. How true I do not know, Maybe someone else will comment on this!
I looked it up on another web site and this is what I found: "To improve rear-quarter visibility with the removable hardtop in place, "porthole" windows were made available as a no-cost option."
Also I think they look cool!!!
Richard D. Hord

[GTE427]

I've read similar accounts about the blind spot on the 55 Thunderbird. As a result the 56 and 57 were offered with an optional porthole in the hardtop.

Most 56 and 57 seem to have the optional porthole, however you may see them without which would be factory correct. Likewise a 55 with the porthole wouldn't be original, though they are also seen frequently.

[Coral]

the Baby birds were really a convertible a detachable fiberglass top... any cars around with both 'tops' are worth more of course
the '58 began the true pillarless coupe.... thereby no port holes...

not to mention, the babybirds were round...mtrhed's are oval....these, Im thinking perhaps belong to a lincoln?

portholes weren't seen again on birds until 1973.... as far as I know...

[fomoco59]

these, Im thinking perhaps belong to a lincoln?

Probably a late 70's TBird. He has the etched bird in the oval glass.

[Coral]

I can't see the etching so am only going by the shape...
the port holes on the babybirds are round, after 73 they are square/rectangle/etc excluding the Oval shape, up to and including the fresh 'retro birds of recent...

[Coral]

'72 or 80 - 81 continental : The upper-rung model, the Continental Mark VI, again featured oval opera windows - a Mark styling feature going back to 1972

Mike....can you get a clear close up pic of the port windows?