![]() If this were a real ∕5 T-Bird, youd find a 292 cubic inch Y-block V8 under the hood, cranking out maybe 200 horsepoweradequate for 1955, but not likely to make your heart race when you nail the throttle. The wrap-around windshield, along with all the other glass, is brand-new. Headlights are cool crystal clear units with blue dot centers while the taillights are smoked for a custom look. And without the trim along the sides and the simulated louvers on the front fenders, you can see that dramatic crease that slashes down the front fender, then stretches back to the taillightsomething that is often overlooked on original cars and which I think looks beautiful without all the ornamentation. The grille is a custom stainless steel piece, polished so it shines like chrome, and the removable hardtop sports chrome trim rings around the famous porthole windows, just like the original. And once it was all smooth and straight, 2-stage urethane in flaming Regal Red was laid down over every square inch, including the bumpers and wrap-around windshield frame, leaving you with an eye-popping roadster that is anything but subtle.įortunately, all the little details that make Thunderbirds so special are intact on this one, from the hooded headlights, to the aforementioned hood scoop, to the updated taillights that recall the originals but give them a 21st century twist. Gaps are excellent and everything lines up extremely well, from the original-looking scooped hood to the flush-fitting deck lid. In fact, I was at Hershey a few weeks ago and saw original, restored ∛irds that were far, far worse in terms of fit and finish. There are no waves, no ripples, no signs of the fiberglass substrate visible anywhere. Regal Roadsters has laid up a gorgeous and well-finished product that rivals any of the original steel in terms of straightness and fit, and then someone spent a ton of time making it extra nice. If you havent seen the quality of the fiberglass work coming out of some of the body manufacturers today, I think youll be pleasantly surprised. According to the receipts, an awful lot of time was spent on the construction of this car, adding up to tens of thousands of dollars, and a good deal of that must have been spent on the bodywork. Where the stock Thunderbird is polite and refined, this one screams speed and performance. Of course, a few liberties were taken, including shaved door handles and a molded-in front bumper, but that only enhances the predatory look of this piece. ![]() Theres absolutely nothing wrong with the early T-Bird shape, and all that is gorgeous about that Ford sheet-metal was recaptured in composite for this red roadster. Built from Regal Roadsters components, it features a tubular space frame, a steel reinforced fiberglass body, and power accessories like A/C and power windows, this is the T-Bird you want to own if your other car is, say, a Top Fuel dragster. Instead, you get a car with 50 additional years of technology packed into that great-looking vintage shape, complete with a 514 cubic inch V8, a 6-speed manual transmission, and a very capable coil-over suspension that will eat any original T-Birds lunch six days a week and twice on Sunday. Thunderbird fans, save your angry E-mailsno real 1955 Thunderbirds were harmed in the construction of this killer, take-no-prisoners Pro-Touring T-Bird. Thunderbird Pro Touring 514 V8 6 Speed with A/C ![]()
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