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Thunderbird Club

#77,563
Chucky Stiletti said:
Nice post. Don't think it's just affordability. I know people that prefer Thunderbird IIs over IVs regardless of pricwe and availability. Your point is very valid but connoisseurs I talk to at The Pebble Beach Concourd d'Elegance for example have enough money to buy 10 of each but many prefer the sports car feel and balance of the smaller engines.
I'm in no way in their category but have to agree with them.
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Actually, Chucky raises a valid point for some collectors and not so much for other collectors. Some collectors want a specific car because of the back story associated with it, others want it because of its rarity, still others want it because of its engine or color or specific options. Keeping all that in mind, the most sought after Shelby Cobra ever made did not have a 427, nor did it have a 289. It had a 260cuin Ford V8 and sold on auction last year for nearly $18,000,000 making it the highest selling price American collector car to ever be auctioned. The reason it was so sought after wasn't performance, both the 289 and 427 would kill it on the track, it just happened to be the very first Shelby Cobra to ever be built (pre production).

A couple of years ago a couple of car nut friends and I hooked up with Bruce Meyer for dinner and a few drinks in his very well equipped private car collection man cave. He walked us through his fine collection and we got to see everything up close and hear all the interesting back stories. Among his great collection of cars was a Shelby Cobra. Now this is a guy who only buys the best and can afford to do so pretty much whenever he wants. His Cobra was a 289. I asked him why he specifically sought that vs a 427. His reply - as long as it's all original it didn't matter to him, he bought it because it was the very first Shelby Cobra off the production line. Really cool car but engine size didn't even come into question, just like the auction above.

On the other hand, one of my car nut friends is into vintage car racing. He travels the globe to race cars from his collection, including a mint 1964 Aston Martin DB4, a 1966 Ford GT350 factory race car and a mid 1960's Jaguar race car. To him, performance is very important followed closely by originality and rarity (he'd probably opt for the 289 cobra over the 427 for the type of racing he does). He just recently sold his Jag on auction for about $12,000,000. The very same Jag that he raced fender to fender and bumper to bumper at Laguna Seca just weeks before. No way I could do that, but he does all the time and is quite good at it. Nerves of steel, tremendous skill and a very fat wallet must be at least three of the prerequisites.
 
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#77,566
I have been thinking about adding chrome pickups to my BlackBird but wasn't sure how it would look. This happened to turn up on eBay today so I snagged a couple pics from the listing. Thoughts/opinions?

v8mwIKr.jpg

Y8sGovM.jpg
 
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#77,567
GBassNorth said:
Actually, Chucky raises a valid point for some collectors and not so much for other collectors. Some collectors want a specific car because of the back story associated with it, others want it because of its rarity, still others want it because of its engine or color or specific options. Keeping all that in mind, the most sought after Shelby Cobra ever made did not have a 427, nor did it have a 289. It had a 260cuin Ford V8 and sold on auction last year for nearly $18,000,000 making it the highest selling price American collector car to ever be auctioned. The reason it was so sought after wasn't performance, both the 289 and 427 would kill it on the track, it just happened to be the very first Shelby Cobra to ever be built (pre production).

A couple of years ago a couple of car nut friends and I hooked up with Bruce Meyer for dinner and a few drinks in his very well equipped private car collection man cave. He walked us through his fine collection and we got to see everything up close and hear all the interesting back stories. Among his great collection of cars was a Shelby Cobra. Now this is a guy who only buys the best and can afford to do so pretty much whenever he wants. His Cobra was a 289. I asked him why he specifically sought that vs a 427. His reply - as long as it's all original it didn't matter to him, he bought it because it was the very first Shelby Cobra off the production line. Really cool car but engine size didn't even come into question, just like the auction above.

On the other hand, one of my car nut friends is into vintage car racing. He travels the globe to race cars from his collection, including a mint 1964 Aston Martin DB4, a 1966 Ford GT350 factory race car and a mid 1960's Jaguar race car. To him, performance is very important followed closely by originality and rarity (he'd probably opt for the 289 cobra over the 427 for the type of racing he does). He just recently sold his Jag on auction for about $12,000,000. The very same Jag that he raced fender to fender and bumper to bumper at Laguna Seca just weeks before. No way I could do that, but he does all the time and is quite good at it. Nerves of steel, tremendous skill and a very fat wallet must be at least three of the prerequisites.
Click to expand...
DAYUM!!!
Was it a Jag XJR-9?!?!?!?!
 
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#77,568
Chucky Stiletti said:
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..
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Exactly! And a 427 would smoke the 289 at Daytona Raceway. Having the right tool for the job is always better than having the best tool made.
 
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#77,569
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#77,570
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#77,571
Dr_Feelgoood212 said:
I don't think Porsche is too happy about the 356 Speedster kit cars either.
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As a Porsche Club member I can vouch for the fact that "kit" cars, no matter how capable, accurate or expensive, are Verboten. It's only been just recently that "Outlaw" 356 Porsches have been accepted in the club. Those are basically official authentic 356 Porsche cars that may have modified engines and suspensions for racing or performance purposes. But no kit cars allowed!
 
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#77,572
GBassNorth said:
As a Porsche Club member I can vouch for the fact that "kit" cars, no matter how capable, accurate or expensive, are Verboten. It's only been just recently that "Outlaw" 356 Porsches have been accepted in the club. Those are basically official authentic 356 Porsche cars that may have modified engines and suspensions for racing or performance purposes. But no kit cars allowed!
Click to expand...
Or, perhaps, verkakte?
 
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#77,574
Dr_Feelgoood212 said:
If you're gonna chrome the pups you gotta chrome the rest too.
Click to expand...

I'm indifferent to chroming the rest, but might if I go with chrome pickups.

GonePlaid said:
OK, I'll play the game. What is that behind the bridge,which,by the way,needs a cover.
Click to expand...

That is the Opti-Grab for anchoring your pinky, which I guess helps with neck-dive. And gonna have to pass on that bridge cover. never been a fan.

yr0VmkT.jpg
 
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#77,576
Nocturnal said:
I'm indifferent to chroming the rest, but might if I go with chrome pickups.



That is the Opti-Grab for anchoring your pinky, which I guess helps with neck-dive. And gonna have to pass on that bridge cover. never been a fan.
Click to expand...
Really? It looks....uh, dangerous! I like bridge (and pup) covers but they aren't for everyone.:D
 
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#77,577
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