Another Bird

[04Mint]

I couldn't resist it. A 1966 White Black interior. Original paint and only 56,800 miles out of an estate sale. Southern CA car zero rust small dent in drivers door I'll find a paintless guy to fix it. Split on left seam of drivers seat. Drove it home.

[sumoscooter]

350 or 427 ? My old '66 had a different 'emblem' on the sides of the hardtop as well - a scroll as opposed to a bird. I miss her - Emberglow with Parchment top. Enjoy your new wheels - she look like a beaut !

[4LOWBIRDS+7]

Very nice, survivors are getting harder to find.

[snowbird]

350 or 427 ? My old '66 had a different 'emblem' on the sides of the hardtop as well - a scroll as opposed to a bird. I miss her - Emberglow with Parchment top. Enjoy your new wheels - she look like a beaut !

Jeff: It would be a 390 or 428 engine for '66 . Yours would have been a " Towne Landau " with a vinyl top and scroll bar down the blind pillar . Emberglow would have been a nice car . Brett's car being a two door hardtop was a lower production model for '66 as the New Towne hardtop and Towne Landaus were new for '66 . The one in the picture shows a couple of mods with the side clearance lights and rocker covers . No skirts in the rear with S/S moulding was a nice option but usually would have had the option deluxe wheel covers with the S/S moulding and no skirts .

Congrats on a nice find Brett .

[04Mint]

My only disappointment was it wasn't a 428. I've got some pieces put aside to fix that though - a Cobra Jet 428 from a 68 Fairlane I had. Glad to hear the rocker trim isn't stock - that's coming off. The side lights are just reflectors held on with 2 sided tape so those will be gone too. Probably the rub strip also depending on how it's attached.

[snowbird]

My only disappointment was it wasn't a 428. I've got some pieces put aside to fix that though - a Cobra Jet 428 from a 68 Fairlane I had. Glad to hear the rocker trim isn't stock - that's coming off. The side lights are just reflectors held on with 2 sided tape so those will be gone too. Probably the rub strip also depending on how it's attached.

Was not sure on that side trim Brett from the picture . The original option side molding was S/S and really looks nice but more so on darker coloured cars . Maybe should not say this but I have an NOS set of side moulding that has never been on a car . Could not bring myself to drill the holes all the way down the side on our '66 .

Merry Christmas .

[TommyT]

Great looking car.. For myself this car was built and made to have fender skirts.The lines of the car are so interrupted without them.But I know there are many who can not stand fender skirts and thats OK to.But for this model and year it just plain needs them !! Just my 2 cents worth..

[007Cruiser]

Very nice, Brett. I’ve always been a fan of that era especially the sequential turn signals. I know that you’re going to have lots of fun with it.

[snowbird]

Great looking car.. For myself this car was built and made to have fender skirts.The lines of the car are so interrupted without them.But I know there are many who can not stand fender skirts and thats OK to.But for this model and year it just plain needs them !! Just my 2 cents worth..

So they put skirts on the car without removing the option S/S wheel well moulding . For '66 the skirts would have the S/S moulding instead the wheel well .

[TommyT]

Not real sure I know what your saying Martin.But the wheel well trim is nice and with the fender skirt it makes it even look better I think.Fender Skirts on cars was meant to be noticed.I will never forget way back one of my first car projects was a 1958 two door Ford Fairlane Club Sedan .The poor thing was so miserably plane Jane when I got it it was awful.By the time I got done with the old girl she had come into her own.It was a sleek and low in the rear sporting full deep lipped fender skirts rear bumper extension continental kit drivers side chrome spot light wide white wall tires two tone paint top Colonial white on the base a Sea spray green !!!! She was one real dreamboat..Had offers for her from all over the country !!

[merlot4]

I'm no expert, Tommy, but this seems to be how they normally came, sans chrome with the skirts.

[TommyT]

Richard I do believe you are correct.I am fairy sure this year T-Bird came out of the factory with rear fender skirts !!.

[DavidA]

I'm no expert, Tommy, but this seems to be how they normally came, sans chrome with the skirts.

Actually, in 1966, the skirts were optional. If the car did NOT have skirts, it came with the chrome trim around the wheel well. With skirts ... no chrome. Most were ordered with skirts because people were used to seeing the earlier cars with skirts. As far as I know, the only Tbirds that came without factory skirts were the 62-63 Sports Roadsters. The skirts were eliminated because the Kelsey-Hayes spinners would not clear them.

As for the side trim, That was either added at the dealer or was available as a factory option as well. What does not belong on the car is the amber reflector on the front fender. That is clearly an aftermarket piece.

In short, that looks like a nice car. Enjoy!

[TommyT]

Well said David..Sounds to me as if you have done your homework and passed on some interesting info.Thank you for sharing !!

[merlot4]

You always have an impressive amount of information, David, thanks for the very good explanation and setting my straight on this. Making guesses, as I did, can really miss the mark.