by Jim Wulf

This is my dream car: a Candyapple Red 1966 Ford Thunderbird convertible; the last of the Big Bird convertibles, and a car we will never see the likes of again. No, it won’t take a ‘Vette in the quarter mile, or at any other distance for that matter, but it is now definitely holding it’s own, and then some, against the plastic Chevy at local car shows, earning the nickname "Corvette Killer".

The Thunderbird was Ford’s flagship car and was often one of the first in the Ford family to sport many of Ford’s newest innovations. This particular Bird features every conceivable option for the 1966 model year except for the 428 engine and leather interior. Among them are: power windows including power vent windows, tinted windshield and windows, right hand mirror, 6 way power driver and passenger seats, Highway Pilot Speed Control, AM-FM push button radio with power antenna, rear seat speaker, reclining passenger seat with headrest, SelectAire Conditioning – (fairly rare in a convertible), fender shields, white sidewall tires, Safety Convenience Control Panel, deluxe wheel covers and vacuum operated power door locks.

Now just add to that standard Thunderbird luxury features like: swing away steering wheel, power front disc brakes, sequential tail lights, fully retractable convertible top (no boot!), contoured bucket seats, full gauge instrumentation package, front and rear seat belts with warning light, variable speed windshield wipers (hydraulic) with electric washers, dual exhaust with aluminized/stainless steel mufflers, and front and rear center armrests. Also standard for 1966 models was the venerable 390 FE engine, with increased compression to give it a whopping 315 horsepower. This car gets up and goes, especially in the critical 30 - 50 mph passing range.
 

I found this car in Fairfax, Virginia in neglected, older (10 years) semi-restored condition. It needed almost everything to be redone/refinished/restored with the exception of the chrome, which was perfect, and the engine, which had obviously been rebuilt by someone who knows FE’s.

The first year of ownership was spent working on the exterior, including bringing the single stage paint back from the dead with a random orbital buffer and more than a little elbow grease. After that was done, I did a thorough cleaning of the engine compartment and undercarriage, sorted out the complicated vacuum systems, got the AC system working, and started showing the car. She did pretty well, occasionally winning firsts and seconds in the Thunderbird division at several local car shows and a first in the 66 Open division at the North Jersey Thunderbird show. But "Best of Show" at local events invariably went to a Corvette or a Ford street rod with the prerequisite Chevy 350 engine. I’ve always thought that was a terrible way to destroy a perfectly good vintage Ford. At least put a nice, worked, Flathead V8 in that thing and show some respect!

This year, 2002, was the year for the engine compartment and interior restoration. After a replacing the original carb with a new concourse plated Pony, and doing some ignition tweaking, the engine purred like a kitten. The engine compartment itself was another matter. Every component was finished poorly or incorrectly and needed to be redone, piece by piece. So I completely stripped out the engine compartment and did just that. Every painted piece was bead blasted and repainted with two stage Dupont Imron. Every nut and bolt was replaced with a new item of the correct type and finish, and every plated piece was either refinished or replaced. All the hoses, belts, clips, and straps were renewed with concourse correct replacements. Finally, the engine was cleaned and then repainted the original Ford Blue top to bottom while still in the car, using an artist’s brush.

 

At the same time, I had new seat covers made using NOS Ford material in Metallic Red. I re-dyed some of the interior panels and replaced or refinished some tired interior chrome. The result is spectacular, and she looks especially good with the optional tonneau cover installed.

With the engine compartment work completed, and the newly redone interior, the car has now become a consistent first place, or best of show winner at every event entered this year. The most satisfying showing to date was the recent Perkasie Olde Towne "Under the Stars" Classic and Custom Car Show. I entered this show not expecting too much, as there were a myriad of cars in attendance, including $75,000 street rods and several Corvettes, seemingly always a crowd favorite. In fact, parked behind the Bird was a picture perfect 66 427 ‘Vette with 2 x 4’s. The proud owner polished his Corvette all night long to no avail - it was no match for the Bird, as evidenced by the fact that for every one spectator that stopped to look at the ‘Vette, ten stopped to admire the Bird. Best of Show went to the Bird, of course. "Score another one for Ford!"