suckolux
Well-known member
390 was standard. I believe there was an optional engine available that year also
1966 Ford Thunderbird
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danemodsandy
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Scotsman:
That Scotsman wagon could NOT be more different to your new T-Bird.
The Scotsman was a special, loss-leader "stripper" model that Studebaker dealers could advertise at very low prices ($1776 for the two-door sedan), in hopes they could switch prospective buyers to something a little nicer - and more expensive - when they had them in the dealership.
The Scotsman had the smallest engine, the three-speed manual and the least amount of trim Studebaker could get away with. There was almost zero chrome on the car, except the bumpers, and every Scotsman had the same grey vinyl interior. It even had a manual choke, which was already rare in 1957. People were very attracted to the Scotsman's price, surprising Studebaker with strong sales (Eleanor Roosevelt owned one). This positive response to an economical model led Studebaker to come up with the Lark for '59.
Personally, I'd love to own a Broadmoor, the top-of-the-line Studebaker wagon of the time. Those could be optioned to the gills, and they were very nice cars indeed.
I wish you well with your T-Bird. Does it have a vinyl roof, or is it the white painted roof? Very, very pretty car.
That Scotsman wagon could NOT be more different to your new T-Bird.
The Scotsman was a special, loss-leader "stripper" model that Studebaker dealers could advertise at very low prices ($1776 for the two-door sedan), in hopes they could switch prospective buyers to something a little nicer - and more expensive - when they had them in the dealership.
The Scotsman had the smallest engine, the three-speed manual and the least amount of trim Studebaker could get away with. There was almost zero chrome on the car, except the bumpers, and every Scotsman had the same grey vinyl interior. It even had a manual choke, which was already rare in 1957. People were very attracted to the Scotsman's price, surprising Studebaker with strong sales (Eleanor Roosevelt owned one). This positive response to an economical model led Studebaker to come up with the Lark for '59.
Personally, I'd love to own a Broadmoor, the top-of-the-line Studebaker wagon of the time. Those could be optioned to the gills, and they were very nice cars indeed.
I wish you well with your T-Bird. Does it have a vinyl roof, or is it the white painted roof? Very, very pretty car.
suckolux
Well-known member
428 or 429, its been years I can't remember. My brother would. I remember 110 mph across the Golden Gate Bridge on a Sunday morning
suckolux
Well-known member
Great year and color
beerad
Well-known member
omg. a Thelma and Louise T bird!!
I love that car
Its exactly the same year and colour they used in Thelma and Louise
)
I love that car
Its exactly the same year and colour they used in Thelma and Louise
)rugsucker
Well-known member
"Eleanor Roosevelt owned one"
I've read that she also had a DeSoto convertible in the mid 50s and one of the sons imported British cars.
There was a very good Scotsman article in one of the better collector car magazines(maybe the one from Hemmings)within about the last year.
I've read that she also had a DeSoto convertible in the mid 50s and one of the sons imported British cars.
There was a very good Scotsman article in one of the better collector car magazines(maybe the one from Hemmings)within about the last year.
rugsucker
Well-known member
58 Olds
I knew a family that had a 58 88 sedan in a pinkish color.Then to show how America was before Toyota/Honda it was followed by-
64 Dynamic 88(If you've seen an automatic you might understand the need for uniform shift.)Had air conditioning.
70 98-Added power windows and seat.
73 98-also loaded.
Then we learned words such as OPEC and the above mentioned brands!
I knew a family that had a 58 88 sedan in a pinkish color.Then to show how America was before Toyota/Honda it was followed by-
64 Dynamic 88(If you've seen an automatic you might understand the need for uniform shift.)Had air conditioning.
70 98-Added power windows and seat.
73 98-also loaded.
Then we learned words such as OPEC and the above mentioned brands!
danemodsandy
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1958 Was WILD.
GM's cars for 1958 were pretty incredible - every one of them was bigger than the year before, and WAY more lavishly trimmed. Some upper-series Oldsmobiles and Buicks had 300 pounds of chromed trim on them! Ford was not far behind, with the Lincoln Continental Mark III, a unit-body design so huge that it flexed horribly - if you jacked up one corner of the car, the doors would not open.
My own favorite '58 was the Ford Sunliner retractable hardtop - for me, it was the best-looking of the three years the retractable was made. I had a toy one as a kid, which I wore out playing with - that toy in good shape goes for HUNDREDS of bucks today. It was battery-operated and its retractable hardtop actually went up and down as it drove in circles.
I'm also partial to other '58 Fords, like the Sunliner convertible, the 2-door hardtop and the wagon. They are not most collectors' favorites of the "tri-year" ('57/'58/'59) Fords, but they are mine.
GM's cars for 1958 were pretty incredible - every one of them was bigger than the year before, and WAY more lavishly trimmed. Some upper-series Oldsmobiles and Buicks had 300 pounds of chromed trim on them! Ford was not far behind, with the Lincoln Continental Mark III, a unit-body design so huge that it flexed horribly - if you jacked up one corner of the car, the doors would not open.
My own favorite '58 was the Ford Sunliner retractable hardtop - for me, it was the best-looking of the three years the retractable was made. I had a toy one as a kid, which I wore out playing with - that toy in good shape goes for HUNDREDS of bucks today. It was battery-operated and its retractable hardtop actually went up and down as it drove in circles.
I'm also partial to other '58 Fords, like the Sunliner convertible, the 2-door hardtop and the wagon. They are not most collectors' favorites of the "tri-year" ('57/'58/'59) Fords, but they are mine.
thevacuumman
Well-known member
Sandy,
The top on it is just painted.
The top on it is just painted.
danemodsandy
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Not "Just" Painted!
That's how you know it's a Town Hardtop instead of a Town Landau, with the Town Hardtop being the rarer car today.
Also, thank your lucky stars you don't have to replace a vinyl roof with the correct grain - that Levant grain is not unobtainium, but it's not cheap, either. And as I'm sure you know, using "any old thing" is not good for a car's value.
There's also the issue of what happens UNDER a vinyl top - they were considered beautiful back in the day, but they promoted roof rust like nobody's business.
So, you're way better off with the painted top, IMHO.
That's how you know it's a Town Hardtop instead of a Town Landau, with the Town Hardtop being the rarer car today.
Also, thank your lucky stars you don't have to replace a vinyl roof with the correct grain - that Levant grain is not unobtainium, but it's not cheap, either. And as I'm sure you know, using "any old thing" is not good for a car's value.
There's also the issue of what happens UNDER a vinyl top - they were considered beautiful back in the day, but they promoted roof rust like nobody's business.
So, you're way better off with the painted top, IMHO.
That is a nice car! Someday I want a nice old car.
suckolux
Well-known member
Just an FYI, Old Cars Weekly Mag did a cover on Tbirds this week with a 65 on the cover, if you happen to want to look for.
suckolux
Well-known member
They called this body style 64-66 the Flairbirds
