Thunderbird Club

[Dr_Feelgoood212]

Kit car? Is that a Hasselhoff reference?

Imagine one of those Chinese DIY Thunderbirds but of very high quality. Build yourself a $1,000,000 car for under $100,000 but using a fibreglass body.

 

[Christine]

Ever have a "Sprug-eyed-Bite"?

Yes it was my first sports car, another I wish I'd kept, I swapped it for a mk 2 Sprite believe it or not

 

[dukeorock]

or get one that already has a flex-shaft.

As a male in his mid 50’s, I bristled at this terminology

 

[GonePlaid]

Imagine one of those Chinese DIY Thunderbirds but of very high quality. Build yourself a $1,000,000 car for under $100,000 but using a fibreglass body.

A guy I was in the Navy with had an Aztec- VW chassis,F/G Ford GT40 style body. Looked cool but ran like "spit". Also the back end, hitched at the rear would occasionally pop up and drag the pavement. But other than that........

 

[GonePlaid]

As a male in his mid 50’s, I bristled at this terminology

Wait'll you hit 70+

 

[Christine]

Imagine one of those Chinese DIY Thunderbirds but of very high quality. Build yourself a $1,000,000 car for under $100,000 but using a fibreglass body.

A guy I was in the Navy with had an Aztec- VW chassis,F/G Ford GT40 style body. Looked cool but ran like "spit". Also the back end, hitched at the rear would occasionally pop up and drag the pavement. But other than that........

There were some horrendous VW based kit cars years ago, some cool beach buggies too but mostly horrid. The only really good kit car I've ever seen was an AC Cobra replica, that was very nice, are there any other good ones to be had?

 

[GonePlaid]

A guy I was in the Navy with had an Aztec- VW chassis,F/G Ford GT40 style body. Looked cool but ran like "spit". Also the back end, hitched at the rear would occasionally pop up and drag the pavement. But other than that........

I just remembered- he traded that for a RHD bug-eye.THAT got some stares in Charleston,SC!

 

[Christine]

Wait'll you hit 70+

And it turns from cream to dark brown?

OK, hat/coat!

 

[GonePlaid]

There were some horrendous VW based kit cars years ago, some cool beach buggies too but mostly horrid. The only really good kit car I've ever seen was an AC Cobra replica, that was very nice, are there any other good ones to be had?

There are. He bought his built-sort of-and never finished it.

 

[GonePlaid]

And it turns from cream to dark brown?

OK, hat/coat!

Dust/Rust.

 

[Christine]

Another of my old MGs a 73 MGBGT, that was was a beauty
Sorry about the quality, photo of a photo

 

[GonePlaid]

Another of my old MGs a 73 MGBGT, that was was a beauty
Sorry about the quality, photo of a photo

View attachment 2996500

Nice! Kinda strange to see one NOT BRG.

 

[theFixer]

First car-during my Navy days-was Almost a Ming green 64 1/2 Fastback Mustang...

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

Fair points.
But I wouldn’t necessarily say that a Thunderbird II is more sought after than the IV.

I’ve never talked to people of that caliber, just a bunch of hillabillies (Trailer Park Boys quote) that could only dream of those cars… or they get a kit car

Totally hear you. I grew up in the Florida Everglades. My buddy's family had a hole in the wall of their kitchen where the front half of a 67 sat sat (the car was whole just that the rear sat outside) and was used as a kitchen table (west Sheridan Rd for GonePlaid's benefit) and all these guys were crazy about was displacement. Not a bad thing.
But as I got older i realized more is not always better and CA roads call for something different.
A 289 Shelby Cobra will smoke it's 427 counterpart on CA-9 for example..

 

[TwyreZ]

And it turns from cream to dark brown?

if so, I will not post a pic.

 

[GonePlaid]

Totally hear you. I grew up in the Florida Everglades. My buddy's family had a hole in the wall of their kitchen where the front half of a 67 sat sat (the car was whole just that the rear sat outside) and was used as a kitchen table (west Sheridan Rd for GonePlaid's benefit) and all these guys were crazy about was displacement. Not a bad thing.
But as I got older i realized more is not always better and CA roads call for something different.
A 289 Shelby Cobra will smoke it's 427 counterpart on CA-9 for example..

And which dairy farm was that next to?

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

I'm in that category, I love small engined British sports cars, I've until recently always had them. None have been what you'd call fast other than the Lotus Esprit which was only a 2.2L straight 4 with 180bhp but by Christ could it get round corners, on our small bendy roads it was spectacular. I had a couple with bigger engines, a 3L Austin Healy and a 2.5L Triumph TR6 but they were strictly straight line cars and scary on Welsh roads.

These were our last two, a 69 MG Midget and a 72 MGBGT
View attachment 2996484

Well, I wouldn't go that small..
Lotuses are nice. The turbocharged version of the Esprit you are talking about was very successful over here. Never cared for the fiberglass however...same reason I'm not fond of Vettes..

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

And which dairy farm was that next to?

 

[Christine]

I just remembered- he traded that for a RHD bug-eye.THAT got some stares in Charleston,SC!

Here's one, I took this photo in 83, it was the ugliest car I'd ever seen

 

[GonePlaid]

Here's one, I took this photo in 83, it was the ugliest car I'd ever seen
View attachment 2996520

There should be a (?) behind the 2nd "R".