Vehicle Description
Pro Street fans, this is how you build a vintage resto-mod that
stands up to the test of time. There are so many hacked-up builds
out there with misguided attempts at modernization that this
track-ready 1956 Ford Thunderbird Pro Street roadster stands out
simply by virtue of its unique choices, insane curb appeal, and
attention to detail. Of course, the thundering Dart Big M big block
and it's Weiand twin-screw supercharger protruding out of the
engine bay doesn't hurt, and it's got the performance hardware to
put all that extra horsepower to use without diminishing the
fantastic 'Baby Bird' look. Interested in the wildest (and very
likely the fastest) thing on four wheels in our showroom? Here it
is.
A T-Bird roadster is nothing unique or incredibly special, right?
Sure, they have that timeless Americana look that we all love, but
they've become so ubiquitous at car shows and on TV that they
almost go unnoticed. That unfortunate development must've been on
the drawing boards when this beauty was being planned, because the
builders did just about everything they could to ensure it would
stand out from the crowd, not blend in with the masses. They
started with a square tube custom chassis, a fiberglass body with a
removable hard top, a performance suspension with giant rear wheel
tubs, and a custom interior that's actually comfortable. Painting
it glossy black to a near show-quality standard, and then adding
high-impact, '80s-style retro graphics on the profiles help stand
out from the multitude, giving it a vivid, attention-grabbing look
that respects the Bird's storied pedigree while still highlighting
all of its exciting Pro Street upgrades. There's not much left of
the hood with the space needed for the giant engine and blower -
but it was expertly cut, painted around the edges, and a set of
hood pins were installed to keep it in place. Other trick touches
include one-piece bumpers fore and aft, a billet front grille,
shaved door handles, and a plexi-glass rear window and port holes
in the removable hardtop. The fiberglass fits together really well,
and the black paint is very impressive, so fresh and clean we
highly doubt it's ever been tracked in the 2,700 miles since the
build was completed. The HUGE narrowed, lengthened, and tubbed rear
end allows for those GIANT Mickey Thompson rubbers and deep-set
Billet Specialties rims to set the pouncing rake that make this
T-Bird look like it's going 100MPH standing still. There's
absolutely nothing on the exterior that wasn't tweaked, upgraded,
or polished to a high shine during the restoration, and it's all
holding up extremely well. And yes, those are two NOS tanks mounted
in the rear window like a pair of shotguns on a gun rack, and when
engaged this Beast Bird will stand-up and salute the crowd off the
line.
The custom interior does a great job matching the exterior's
performance flash, with choice upgrades throughout the cabin.
Unlike most Pro Street builds, it's actually very comfortable and
luxurious inside this Baby Bird, featuring sculpted black vinyl
buckets, a padded black dash, and gorgeous two-tone door panels at
the flanks. All the soft parts are in excellent shape, including
the beautifully stitched hides on the custom center console, the
plush carpets on the floors, and the taut white headliner above -
further proof that this car was built to be driven much more than
just one quarter mile at a time.. A leather-wrapped Grant steering
wheel was mounted atop a tilt column to give the driver ample room
in the cockpit, and the literal pistol-grip shifter handle atop the
B&M shifter is the star of the show. It's joined in the center
console with switches for the power windows, a pair of cup holders,
and a 'Thunder-Rat' leather badge that combines both the Ford and
Chevy logos in the spirit of this build. A full array of AutoMeter
gauges with carbon fiber inlays are straight ahead of the driver
and monitor the drivetrain, and should you ever dare to add A/C,
the vents are already in place in the dash. Out back, the fuel
cell, relocated battery, and wheel tubs take up most of the trunk
space, although you could probably squeeze in a trophy or two.
If you're trying to figure out what all the ruckus is about, you'll
quickly get the picture when you lift the hood and find a
thundering Dart Big M big block that grunts out HUGE horsepower
thanks to the giant Weiand twin-screw supercharger kit perched up
top. Finished in more polished aluminum, billet, and chrome bits
than you'll find at a Goodguys show, it's a street-legal piece that
was built to dominate at the track. There's a pair of Holley
4-barrel carbs on top, Pro-Filer aluminum heads, a Teague
SuperChiller intercooler, long-tube headers, and custom pieces
everywhere you look, in addition to all the stout goodies inside.
All that horsepower is handled with ease thanks to a custom
steel-tube chassis and performance built Powerglide 2-speed
automatic transmission with a giant stall convertor, and the
smoke-show stays nice and cool thanks to a giant aluminum radiator
and electric fan. The reinforced chassis and custom suspension
carries a rack-and-pinion steering setup, coilovers, and custom
tubular control arms up front, along with a back-halved tub and
9-inch rear end with a fully adjustable 4-link set-up with
coilovers and a giant sway bar. Wilwood power 4-wheel disc brakes
provide great stopping power and the stainless dual exhaust system
sounds simply spectacular with or without the electric cut-outs
engaged. Billet Specialties come wrapped in a classic
big-and-little set-up with 205/75/15 Mastercrafts up front and
31x18x15 Mickey Thompsons in the rear that set the aggressive
stance.
With a huge big block motor, custom chassis, and expert workmanship
throughout, this is one on the most unique and well-executed Pro
Street creations you'll ever see. Call today!
