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Author
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Topic: My first new car....Big Bird
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cobrajeff
Journeyman Posts: 38
From: White Lake, MI, USA
Registered: Sep 2004
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posted 01-18-2005 04:31 PM
 
This was the first new car I ever bought -  It's a 1978 Thunderbird "T-Roof convertible". 1978 was the first year for the T-Roof in the T'Bird, and, as soon as I found out about it, I went down to the dealer and ordered one. 400 CID engine, trailer tow package, power everything. This is what it looked like after I got it ready to tow my Pantera:  I had the Pantera wheels machined to fit the 'Bird, made some special center caps, and painted them to match the 'Bird. When my wife got pregnant with our second child, I replaced the beautiful Thunderbird with a '78 Cougar station wagon. I've had several Ranchero's of that vintage, and always dreamed of making a custom Ranchero that incorporated the T'Bird's front end sheetmetal, the T-top, and "basket-handle" style roof treatment. Saw a late 70's Ranchero at the Pomona Swap Meet many years ago that had the 'Bird front end on it - it looked pretty sweet. cobrajeff
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393Bird
Gearhead Posts: 188
From: Clarksville Tn.
Registered: Feb 2004
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posted 01-18-2005 05:09 PM
Nice Bird. I have had several Birds and Mustangs, and seem to always come back to the Birds. With the under powered, overed priced one they make now, guess I will go back to Mustangs again.  The ones that I had, and liked the most were my Black 59 with a 430, the sky blus 62 convert, and of course the 93 I have now. ------------------
1993 Tbird
393 stroker, 3500 RPM converter
http://members.tccoa.com/393bird/
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Moneymaker
Administrator Posts: 29200
From: Lyons, IL, USA
Registered: May 99
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posted 01-18-2005 05:52 PM
That ain't big.  My 76 Bird was BIG !
460, leather, dual power seats, am-fm 8 track, and a moon roof that was bigger than most of todays cars.  ------------------
Alex Denysenko
Co-Administrator and Moderator NHRA/IHRA/SRA member and licensed Superstock driver
NHRA and IHRA SS/LA & SS/MA National Record Holder '00,'01,'02,'03,'04 &'05
First SS/MA in the TENS!
IHRA division 5 Superstock Champion
Fleet of FoMoCo products including 88 ASC McLaren Mustang #28 The Barry of BarrysGrrl Quote #1: "I never met a magazine mechanic I liked."
Quote #2: "Make sure brain is in gear before engaging mouth!"
Quote #3: "If you can't run with the big dogs, stay on the porch!"
www.moneymakerracing.com
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cobrajeff
Journeyman Posts: 38
From: White Lake, MI, USA
Registered: Sep 2004
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posted 01-19-2005 09:20 AM
Alex -
You're exactly right - the '76 WAS the biggest Bird of them all. That was the biggest, heaviest 'Bird they ever made - sharing a frame and mechanicals with the Lincoln Mark IV series. IIRC, those 'Birds were heavier than a full-size Caddy of the same period. They were real Luxo-cruisers.393B -
Nice looking ride - looks like you have made a LOT of improvements. When the MN12 first came out in 1989, I leased a "Super Coupe" for my Company (Ford employee) car. It was preceded by an '88 Mark VII LSC, and followed by a '90 Mark VII LSC. The Mark's seemed to have a lot more creature comforts, and, even though they were heavier, seemed to feel like they had about the same level of performance without the "fuss" of the SC'd V6. cobrajeff
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SteveLaRiviere
Administrator Posts: 48752
From: Saco, Maine
Registered: May 99
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posted 01-20-2005 03:50 PM
Cool!  Do you still have it?------------------
'70 Mustang Mach 1 351C 4V/FMX/3.25 Open
'70 Mustang Convertible 250 I6/3 speed/2.79 Open
'72 Mustang Sprint Hardtop 351C 4V/FMX/4.30 Trac Loc
'94 F-150 XL 5.8L/E4OD/3.55 Limited Slip
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cobrajeff
Journeyman Posts: 38
From: White Lake, MI, USA
Registered: Sep 2004
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posted 01-20-2005 06:38 PM
My Marks and my 4-seat Birds are all gone.My 1990 LSC Mark was used in a photo shoot for the Cellular Phone Press Release kit from Ford. The interior B&W shots of an LSC with a phone mounted to the console is mine. My last Mark was a 1998 Mark VIII. That was a sweet machine, too. Putting the Mark on a diet seemed to make it run even better (I did miss the power pull-down on the trunk, though). Jeff
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Moneymaker
Administrator Posts: 29200
From: Lyons, IL, USA
Registered: May 99
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posted 01-20-2005 07:27 PM
Although I have had many a cool company car over the years including several Cobras and a Saleen, I still hold a very warm place in my heart for my black Special Edition Mark VII LSC's from 90-92.
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Alex Denysenko
Co-Administrator and Moderator NHRA/IHRA/SRA member and licensed Superstock driver
NHRA and IHRA SS/LA & SS/MA National Record Holder '00,'01,'02,'03,'04 &'05
First SS/MA in the TENS!
IHRA division 5 Superstock Champion
Fleet of FoMoCo products including 88 ASC McLaren Mustang #28 The Barry of BarrysGrrl Quote #1: "I never met a magazine mechanic I liked."
Quote #2: "Make sure brain is in gear before engaging mouth!"
Quote #3: "If you can't run with the big dogs, stay on the porch!"
www.moneymakerracing.com
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