Thunderbird Club

[Gaolee]

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?

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CHROME!

 

[Gaolee]

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!

Which is why the Thunderbird Club is far superior to that kind of club. We don't care and don't get wound around the axle over whether this or that is perfect enough. If this club got all hung up on things, then most of us probably wouldn't qualify.

 

[Gaolee]

Evolution has engineered you for only half of that lifespan.

Thinking about it that way, most of us are biologically obsolete and should have been eaten by bears decades ago. I'll put up with aches and pains, considering the alternative. Being eaten by bears doesn't sound like as much fun as making noise with a Thunderbird.

 

[Gaolee]

My first car was a '68 Triumph Spitfire! I learned a lot worki g on that car. View attachment 2997215

And it was tatty. As a roadster should have been back when. My first car was a TR-2. It was reliable when it ran. Not so much when it didn't, but I sure learned a whole lot about how things worked from that car. Worked, not works now, because it was a 1954 and nothing about it was modern.

 

[Gaolee]

Hey guys, selling my 2007 Gibson Thunderbird. Have a Vintage Pro, so time to say bye bye. I need a Duff Mckagan bass and will trade one up if someone has one. If not, it's 850 and listed in the classifieds.

Good price. It should sell fast.

 

[Larry V]

It was reliable when it ran.

 

[PillO]

I live in the Bay Area in CA but am originally form NPT. The 5th Ward to be more precise. Spencer Park area.

I would argue that Santa Cruz is NOT the Bay Area as it is west of 280 by a sizable margin.

When I worked in Santa Clara, I had a friend at work who lived in Santa Cruz. One cold (~40F in San Jose) winter morning, he couldn't get into work. There had been about 1" of snow on 17 across the 'mountain' so the road was impassable according to the traffic reports.

 

[Christine]

And it was tatty. As a roadster should have been back when. My first car was a TR-2. It was reliable when it ran. Not so much when it didn't, but I sure learned a whole lot about how things worked from that car. Worked, not works now, because it was a 1954 and nothing about it was modern.

Your first car was a TR2?? My knees have just gone weak! Classy

 

[PillO]

Which is why the Thunderbird Club is far superior to that kind of club. We don't care and don't get wound around the axle over whether this or that is perfect enough. If this club got all hung up on things, then most of us probably wouldn't qualify.

I think most of us subscribe to the Groucho Marx approach to clubs...

 

[Gaolee]

Your first car was a TR2?? My knees have just gone weak! Classy

Yep. It was sitting at a used farm implements dealer's lot not too far from where I grew up. I was 13 or so at the time, and convinced my dad to buy it and let me pay it back by the time I was 16 and could drive it. So, for $500, I ended up with a 1954 TR-2, the 321st one ever made. It was absolutely pounded. I think it had been raced at some point, and was bent in all directions, but that didn't stop me from driving it for a couple years. The top wouldn't stay on, so I drove it with the top off, no matter what. Rain, blizzards, it didn't matter. I loved that car and took it apart to restore it once and for all. Then I went to college and never had time or money to get back to it. It's in Kentucky now, still disassembled, but at least I know where it is. Not that there's any likelihood I'll ever own it again, but it makes me happy that it still exists.

Over the time I was working to pay for it and then driving it, I rebuilt the brakes, rebuilt the motor, replaced the clutch, rewired the ignition, and rebuilt the front suspension and steering gear. There was always the usual maintenance stuff, too, like dealing with a balky starter, tuning and retuning it, and scaring the living crap out of myself driving it sideways at times I really should have slowed down.

 

[GonePlaid]

Yep. It was sitting at a used farm implements dealer's lot not too far from where I grew up. I was 13 or so at the time, and convinced my dad to buy it and let me pay it back by the time I was 16 and could drive it. So, for $500, I ended up with a 1954 TR-2, the 321st one ever made. It was absolutely pounded. I think it had been raced at some point, and was bent in all directions, but that didn't stop me from driving it for a couple years. The top wouldn't stay on, so I drove it with the top off, no matter what. Rain, blizzards, it didn't matter. I loved that car and took it apart to restore it once and for all. Then I went to college and never had time or money to get back to it. It's in Kentucky now, still disassembled, but at least I know where it is. Not that there's any likelihood I'll ever own it again, but it makes me happy that it still exists.

Over the time I was working to pay for it and then driving it, I rebuilt the brakes, rebuilt the motor, replaced the clutch, rewired the ignition, and rebuilt the front suspension and steering gear. There was always the usual maintenance stuff, too, like dealing with a balky starter, tuning and retuning it, and scaring the living crap out of myself driving it sideways at times I really should have slowed down.

That's cool! All of my firsts: car, motorcycle, van, Freightliner, and girlfriend, long gone.

 

[Count Bassie]

I live in the Bay Area in CA but am originally form NPT. The 5th Ward to be more precise. Spencer Park area.

Only a bit familiar with the area, but I know where that is.

 

[GBassNorth]

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?

View attachment 2996979
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I like it! But the matt finish would look even better with nickel pups and a red logo on the pickguard. That would give it a cool Hot Rod vibe.

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

I would argue that Santa Cruz is NOT the Bay Area as it is west of 280 by a sizable margin.

When I worked in Santa Clara, I had a friend at work who lived in Santa Cruz. One cold (~40F in San Jose) winter morning, he couldn't get into work. There had been about 1" of snow on 17 across the 'mountain' so the road was impassable according to the traffic reports.

You are correct. Around here, folks that use the SJC or SFO airports consider themselves "Bay Area" residents however.

 

[Christine]

Yep. It was sitting at a used farm implements dealer's lot not too far from where I grew up. I was 13 or so at the time, and convinced my dad to buy it and let me pay it back by the time I was 16 and could drive it. So, for $500, I ended up with a 1954 TR-2, the 321st one ever made. It was absolutely pounded. I think it had been raced at some point, and was bent in all directions, but that didn't stop me from driving it for a couple years. The top wouldn't stay on, so I drove it with the top off, no matter what. Rain, blizzards, it didn't matter. I loved that car and took it apart to restore it once and for all. Then I went to college and never had time or money to get back to it. It's in Kentucky now, still disassembled, but at least I know where it is. Not that there's any likelihood I'll ever own it again, but it makes me happy that it still exists.

Over the time I was working to pay for it and then driving it, I rebuilt the brakes, rebuilt the motor, replaced the clutch, rewired the ignition, and rebuilt the front suspension and steering gear. There was always the usual maintenance stuff, too, like dealing with a balky starter, tuning and retuning it, and scaring the living crap out of myself driving it sideways at times I really should have slowed down.

That is something else, the TR2 is like the holy grail of the TRs, Didn't matter that the top didn't stay on, they were only for parking at the side of the road anyway, any self respecting owner of any old rag top would never have it up while driving.

Not my dream car but not far off, very nice memories to have owned one

 

[GBassNorth]

I have a Squier VM Jaguar SS that's all gloss black except for a chrome strip at the controls. I can put a black or a chrome bridge cover on it. Any thoughts?

I temporarily put a Chrome P bass bridge cover on my Jas SS and it looked great, eventually installed the cover on my Bronco bass which looks equally good. A black cover would not look nearly as good IMHO. If you want I can quickly drop the Chrome bridge cover on the Jag and post a photo so you can see what it would look like. Let me know.

 

[GonePlaid]

I temporarily put a Chrome P bass bridge cover on my Jas SS and it looked great, eventually installed the cover on my Bronco bass which looks equally good. A black cover would not look nearly as good IMHO. If you want I can quickly drop the Chrome bridge cover on the Jag and post a photo so you can see what it would look like. Let me know.

I appreciate that. After some thought-and Jameson's- I ordered the chrome one. The black was matte, wouldn't have looked right on a gloss black axe.

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

You are correct. Around here, folks that use the SJC or SFO airports consider themselves "Bay Area" residents however.

17 being closed is a common occurrence. There is a lot of loose dirt on those hills and when it rains hard all hell breaks loose with redwoods falling or landslides blocking the highway. In 1982 a major landslide wiped out the small community of Love Creek killing 22. Crazy area, if it isn't the fires it's the mudslides, if it isn't the mudslides it's the earthquakes and on and on..

 

[GonePlaid]

17 being closed is a common occurrence. There is a lot of loose dirt on those hills and when it rains hard all hell breaks loose with redwoods falling or landslides blocking the highway. In 1982 a major landslide wiped out the small community of Love Creek killing 22. Crazy area, if it isn't the fires it's the mudslides, if it isn't the mudslides it's the earthquakes and on and on..

Makes ya miss hurricanes, doesn't it!

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

Yep. It was sitting at a used farm implements dealer's lot not too far from where I grew up. I was 13 or so at the time, and convinced my dad to buy it and let me pay it back by the time I was 16 and could drive it. So, for $500, I ended up with a 1954 TR-2, the 321st one ever made. It was absolutely pounded. I think it had been raced at some point, and was bent in all directions, but that didn't stop me from driving it for a couple years. The top wouldn't stay on, so I drove it with the top off, no matter what. Rain, blizzards, it didn't matter. I loved that car and took it apart to restore it once and for all. Then I went to college and never had time or money to get back to it. It's in Kentucky now, still disassembled, but at least I know where it is. Not that there's any likelihood I'll ever own it again, but it makes me happy that it still exists.

Over the time I was working to pay for it and then driving it, I rebuilt the brakes, rebuilt the motor, replaced the clutch, rewired the ignition, and rebuilt the front suspension and steering gear. There was always the usual maintenance stuff, too, like dealing with a balky starter, tuning and retuning it, and scaring the living crap out of myself driving it sideways at times I really should have slowed down.

My second car. Paid 8000.00 in 1983!!