Vintage T-Birds

[Lindy]

Hi to all!

Yesterday noon we met a vintage inca gold (a color I had never witnessed before) T-bird with the continental package, which was headed North on I-43 in Wisconsin. As luck would have it, later that day we spotted a black with black/white interior 1957 forsale along Wis. Hwy 10. And what a treat to see the real-deal up close--pure wine! These old T-birds are a cause for gratitude, for without them, there would be no nostaglia, mystique nor retro-birds (Ecc. 1:9). Well, most likely those birds went back in their nests today, as we woke up this morning with our first snow-fall covering for the season. A another beautiful pre-Thanksgiving delight!

--Lindy

[texasbird]

Re: Vintage T-Birds

Lindy,
The original T-Birds were definitely treasures, and I would love to have one. Here's a pic of a paired set of incas at a recent car show in Ft. Worth.
James

[AZTB]

Re: Vintage T-Birds

That's a great snap of the Inca's, James...thanks for sharing!

[luvbirdz]

Re: Vintage T-Birds

What colour did they produce on the vintage birds that was similar to the 02 Tbird Blue ? Seeing the two Incas together makes me want to go shopping.
Martin

[Blue Heaven]

Re: Vintage T-Birds

What colour did they produce on the vintage birds that was similar to the 02 Tbird Blue ? Seeing the two Incas together makes me want to go shopping.
Martin

Martin,
Although the '55 and '02 colors share the same name (Thunderbird Blue), they are not even close in appearance. The original TBB was more like the color you see in the bird emblem wings on our cars. As far as any color produced in '56 or '57 that might come close to our '02, I don't ever remember seeing one, but there are others here who might know for sure.

[luvbirdz]

Re: Vintage T-Birds

That's what I thought, didn't think I was colour blind.
Martin

[5bird7]

Re: Vintage T-Birds

Torch red in both classic & retro is very close if not the same.

of course, the raven black classic is close enough to the evening black, that they would make a very good pair

the inspiration yellow is similar to the goldenglow 56 (a very rare late production color)

the coral 03 is just a slight shade off of the fiesta red 56 so still make a good pair together.

the 05 inca is closer to the sun gold 57 (a late 57 color and very rare) [the 57 in the picture above was painted the 05 Inca as near as I can tell - the owner seems to think it's the original color but it does not match the original paint incas that I have seen. He had his repainted after he saw my 05 Inca and said that's the color he wanted - I don't know who mixed the paint for him or what formula was used.]

the 04 VMG (vintage mint green) is as close as you're going to get to the seaspray green 57 (also a very rare late color) but the retro is a mica flake paint whereas the seaspray is a flat color.

The 03 DSB (desert sky blue)is also as close as you're going to get to the starmist blue 57 but again the DSB is not a flat paint but has mica flakes in the paint so they aren't quite the same.

The 03 MSG (mountain shadow grey) could be paired up with a dark gunmetal grey 57 (there were 2 gun metal greys in 57 - one light (late) and one dark (early).

Now if you get into the later year ie early 60's Thunderbirds, you might find some more color matches.

[mamabird]

Re: Vintage T-Birds

The color queen has spoken. You know your colors Lady!

[5bird7]

Re: Vintage T-Birds

Here's what you do, Lindy.

Buy a classic 55-57 and repaint it 02 Thunderbird blue as was done with this show car 56:

[Paul]

Re: Vintage T-Birds

Lindy,
Exactly where along 10 was that 57?

[EllisonCal]

Re: Vintage T-Birds

Lindy,
The original T-Birds were definitely treasures, and I would love to have one. Here's a pic of a paired set of incas at a recent car show in Ft. Worth.
James

Great shot! Another favorite of mine from '57 was Dusk Rose.
Cal

[FritsB]

Re: Vintage T-Birds

I envy you Lindy. I doubt if I ever spot an Inca in NL

[5bird7]

Re: Vintage T-Birds

Looks like I left whisper white off my list - that could be paired up with a 56 or 57 Colonial white but I've never seen the two side by side so suspect the Colonial white might be a little bit whiter.

[snowbird]

Re: Vintage T-Birds

Perhaps Ford should have called the "Thunderbird Blue" Turquoise which may have been more appropriate for that colour. The closest I can find in my 'paint' files is for 1964 and it was called "Patrician Green Met.". The Dupont code for that was 4297 or Ford code 'U'1070. Also close in colour was the interior for the 1964 year and called "Light Turquoise Met.", Dupont code 1657 or Ford/Merc. code 9038-LH.
Just my 2 cents on this subject.
ps. There was a "Springtime Yellow" called "Sunlight yellow" or "Maize", code V 1729, for the '64 year which may be close to your 'Inca Gold" going by your pictures.
MartinB.

[ThunderBubba]

Re: Vintage T-Birds

Snowbird -- The original 1955 Thunderbird Blue was actually a color dubbed Sky Haze Green. I am restoring a 55' to that color and it is a bear to match with todays colors and componds.