1959 T-Bird Build

[Restifier52]

We would love to see some photos.

[keith]

I just noted quite a few similarities in your build and mine.

I haven't seen your car since you posted pictures of it after you sandblasted it last year.

[dgs]

I too am loving this, I really appreciate folks that can put all those fantastic details into a car. The little things in cleaning & tightening up the bumper fit does wonders for the look. It's a ton of work for what seems like little change, but it makes a huge impact in my view.

My favorite thread here.

[buildabird]

I just noted quite a few similarities in your build and mine.

There may be "parallel thinking" in any automotive design, but I can assure you that the designer of this car is no "copycat". Period!

The owner/designer has been professionally designing autos and related products for years and has been featured in most automotive / rod & custom publications - including Hot Rod, Rod & Custom and Street Rodder.

This is his personal car and without reference to any other car previously built or now under construction. It's simply "his take" on making styling adjustments to the 58 - 60 squarebird.

He allows these pictures of in-progress work to be displayed because he cares not whether his design work will be "copied" (which has happened extensively in the past, and still does)... only that this particular car will be finished in accordance with his original design and to a high standard of quality.

So far... Keith has accomplished that to perfection.

[pcjr]

There may be "parallel thinking" in any automotive design, but I can assure you that the designer of this car is no "copycat". Period!

The owner/designer has been professionally designing autos and related products for years and has been featured in most automotive / rod & custom publications - including Hot Rod, Rod & Custom and Street Rodder.

This is his personal car and without reference to any other car previously built or now under construction. It's simply "his take" on making styling adjustments to the 58 - 60 squarebird.

He allows these pictures of in-progress work to be displayed because he cares not whether his design work will be "copied" (which has happened extensively in the past, and still does)... only that this particular car will be finished in accordance with his original design and to a high standard of quality.

So far... Keith has accomplished that to perfection.

Hey, thanks for straightening that out.

[simplyconnected]

We would love to see some photos.

So, where are the pictures that Restifier52 asked for? I would really like to see some similarities in two custom car ideas (if that really is the case).

It seems funny to me, the similar mistakes that GM and Ford had at the exact same time. For instance;
Y-blocks were Ford's first attempt at an overhead valve engine. This engine has two exhaust ports together, in the middle of the heads (which causes overheating). They had 'ram horn' style exhaust manifolds.

GM's answer was the 283 with (you guessed it) two exhaust ports in the middle of the head, and also had 'ram horn' style exhaust manifolds.
.

Ford's 430 has a block deck that is slanted nine degrees (why not ten, or eight). No other Ford engine before or since has followed that design.

Chevy's 409 has a block deck that is slanted with the exact same nine degrees, as Ford's 430. No other GM engine followed this design, either.

Both companies quickly dumped these poor designs, but is this coincidence? Probably not. They each may have hired designers from the same school, at the same time.

Sometimes 'new and innovative' ideas really aren't. I can think of other 'innovations' that got dumped, too. Like, Lincoln's Vac-U-Start, designed to automatically re-start your 1957 Lincoln if it were to stall, by just shifting to Park or Neutral. Unfortunately, the car would start even if you didn't want it to. Suicide doors, 'self lubricating' (as long as the reservoir was full), etc. - Dave

[keith]

Spent some evenings sanding body filler on the left side. The quality control manager showed up and inspected my work.

[Anders]

VERY good. As expected. Looks nearly as it could come from Dearborn from day 1, which is how a Kustom should be build !

[Joe Johnston]

Looks great! I've painted cars for over 40 years and can't wait to see this in primer!!! Every car I've worked on looks totally different once everything is the same color and "feels" better to have the same texture when you slide your hands across the surfaces.

Very nice and thanks for posting all the pictures.

[keith]

Thanks all.

Joe you are right about the primer. Putting it one color sures tell you if that line is straight.

[keith]

Got SPI black epoxy primer shot. Leftside

[keith]

Right side.

[keith]

Inside the trunk. Will put the trunk lid back on and start on the outside and then put the back bumper on.

[Dan Leavens]

Keith it is looking great and keep the pixs coming. Would love to have a garage with that much room to work on my two

[keith]

Got 1 coat of SPI Black epoxy shot on the trunk lid and put back on the car.

Now to the bumper.