Chrome: too much or not enough

[AZTB]

Re: Chrome: too much or not enough

Remember the AMT 3-in-1 model kits in your childhood? (They're still available.) You could build the car as stock, race, or custom...

I loved those things...had a paper route that paid me about $2 per week (I was 11 years old). Every week I would take my weekly (weakly?) earnings down to the Woolworths Store in downtown Glendale and buy me a model, perhaps some paint, and glue if I was out - and I'd still have change from the $2. I would only build them stock, but for some reason (and to the chagrin of my mother) I'd keep all the extra parts in the boxes - in my closet. GOOD TIMES!!

[RetroGeorge]

Re: Chrome: too much or not enough

I loved those things...had a paper route that paid me about $2 per week (I was 11 years old). Every week I would take my weekly (weakly?) earnings down to the Woolworths Store in downtown Glendale and buy me a model, perhaps some paint, and glue if I was out - and I'd still have change from the $2. I would only build them stock, but for some reason (and to the chagrin of my mother) I'd keep all the extra parts in the boxes - in my closet. GOOD TIMES!!

You ought to see what those empty boxes are worth to the collectors' market!

[Welker]

Re: Chrome: too much or not enough

I kind of liked seeing it but I sure wouldn't want to be seen in it.

[AZTB]

Re: Chrome: too much or not enough

You ought to see what those empty boxes are worth to the collectors' market!

Who woulda' known - not me, that's for sure.
I'm sure they're at the bottom of the Glendale landfill, along with all the other "treasures" I shouldn't have thrown away. (Maybe I should start saving those styrofoam peanuts - who knows?!)

[doubutsu]

Re: Chrome: too much or not enough

Back in the early years there was a company in Las Vegas called Hot Chariots that made fiberglass fender skirts like these. They hosted a meal for the group during Desert Thunder I. The owner of the company had painted his retrobird purple and changed the seat inserts to match. It was one of the very first total repaints (besides the Galpin cars) any of us had seen. If I remember correctly, internal strife among the partners resulted in the company folding in a couple of years or so.

As for the subject of this thread, in my opinion the only add on chrome these cars need to look great are the hood scoop and NM wheels.

Paul, when I was living in Vegas, I talked to the owner that was trying to keep the business going. The main problem he had involved him selling a set of fender skirts only to have someone use them to create molds and make their own to sell Bird owners. Here's an idea for a discussion. When it comes to plastic interior pieces, like center pieces and vent covers, could you use a 3D printer to make new ones.

[Chuck]

Re: Chrome: too much or not enough

Everytime I look at the pictures I see something different - noticed the blue underline of the quarter panel Thunderbird script - that's kinda neat. I don't think the doors have been lengthened - look at the lines between the fender & door as well as the door and quarter panel - they seem to be in the "right" places

[PaBlkBrd]

Re: Chrome: too much or not enough

Everytime I look at the pictures I see something different - noticed the blue underline of the quarter panel Thunderbird script - that's kinda neat.

Me too Chuck, but it keeps getting worse!

[11TH GEN]

Re: Chrome: too much or not enough

Everytime I look at the pictures I see something different - noticed the blue underline of the quarter panel Thunderbird script - that's kinda neat.

The wheels appear to have the same treatment.

[Will]

Re: Chrome: too much or not enough

The doors seem to have been widened by about 10 inches by moving the front (hinged) edge forward. Or do I need new glasses? ---Will

[DaiUyTed]

Re: Chrome: too much or not enough

The doors seem to have been widened by about 10 inches by moving the front (hinged) edge forward. Or do I need new glasses? ---Will

Lambo doors perhaps?

[Will]

Re: Chrome: too much or not enough

Yeah, I thought of Lambo doors, but his outside mirrors are mounted (like mine) (stock) to the windshield frame. I think Lambo doors would shear them off the first time opening. So it's a mystery to me. The chrome trim job is, to me, like a 10-car pile-up on the Interstate. I know I shouldn't look, I know I'm gonna see something terrible, I know it's gonna make me barf, but I stop & stare anyhow. Momma always said .... ----Will

[007Cruiser]

Re: Chrome: too much or not enough

Lambo doors perhaps?

The lambo door kits use the standard door opening.

[Quickdraw]

Re: Chrome: too much or not enough

The doors seem to have been widened by about 10 inches by moving the front (hinged) edge forward. Or do I need new glasses? ---Will

I think it's just the perspective of the photos. Lengthing the doors would be a MAJOR job for no reason and would put the vertical door seam right at the wheel opening.

Besides, he seems like the kinda guy that wouldn't do anything to the car that he couldn't easily get it back to stock. <grin>

[Chuck]

Re: Chrome: too much or not enough

It looks like he put a chrome strip across the steering wheel? I'm still undecided if I like the blue on the wheels. Ya gotta ask yourself how the guy came up with these ideas. Most of them are unique

[AZTB]

Re: Chrome: too much or not enough

I think it's just the perspective of the photos...

I agree...door's look normal size to me. However, from the looks of the car itself, it could qualify as a taxi in Manilla.