How not to Customize: '95 Ford Thunderbird Meets '50s Ford Kit Parts

Like everything in life, there's a right away and a wrong way to customize. The right way could be fitting a modern motor and transmission to a classic car body. That way you get the economy and reliability you want in a daily driver with the looks of a classic.

The wrong way is bolting an Easy Rods '50s Ford lookalike kit to a 1995 Ford Thunderbird. It's the sort of kit you buy when you have a) money for spending and b) no taste.

We found this fire engine red example up for sale by a dealer located in Charlotte, North Carolina. You still get everything that made the tenth generation Thunderbird...uh..."great", including its 205 hp 4.6-liter V8 with 265 lb ft (359 Nm) of torque. You also get a 4spd automatic transmission and independent suspension, air conditioning, cruise control and power everything.

How much, you ask? It's a "steal" at just.... US$19,995.

There's even a video, accompanied by Angels & Airwaves' 2006 hit, "The War". We can think of some other songs we might have used, such as Daphne & Celeste's "Ugly" and Melanie Safka's "What Have They Done To My Song, Ma?"

Let us know what you think in the comments.

By Tristan Hankins

Link: Streetsideclassics

_______________________________GALLERY_______________________________

Ford Thunderbird Owners Celebrate 55th Anniversary with Deaborn Meeting [with 164 Photos]

Close to 300 Ford Thunderbirds from every year of production and their owners are making their way today [Saturday, June 28] to the automaker's headquarters in Dearborn, to honor the model's 55th anniversary with a special car show that will kick off at noon and run until 4 pm.

"The Ford Thunderbird is one of the most iconic products in the history of the automobile," said Jim Farley, Ford's group vice president of Global Marketing. "Each generation of the Thunderbird had a unique personality that ushered in a new generation of breakthroughs in design or technology."

The Thunderbird began life in 1954 with Ford presenting a total of 11 generations of the model through to 2005 that included two-seaters, roadsters, convertibles and four-door models, as well as hardtops and sedans. In its 51 year lifespan, Ford sold more than 4.3 million examples of the T-Bird. There are no current plans to revive the "Thunderbird" nameplate. However, you can check out a design proposal for a new generation of the model here.