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Our friends over at RK Motors Charlotte have done it again with this pristine and sleek restoration. A mix of old and new, check out this dazzling 1961 Ford Thunderbird.
Who would have thought to bring together this Thunderbird with a 1994 Lincoln Mark VIII? Well, only the Lincoln’s mechanical components, not its bland exterior. It may be an illusion to the naked eye, but boy, did they do a great job resurrecting an timeless classic back to its former glory. The custom Thunderbird was meticulously assembled at Finished Dreams Restoration in Charlotte, North Carolina.
What was simply a rust bucket, Finished Dreams Restoration took the aging body and rebuilt it from the ground up.
Splashed with Raven Black paint, this frame-off built Thunderbird was merely a rust bucket from its humble beginnings. The paint’s deep finish helps bring out the contours of the Thunderbird as well as showcase its chip-free rocker panels. The exterior features modern headlights, a power moonroof, turquoise bird emblems, and Lincoln Mark VIII door handles to give the custom Thunderbird some character.
Lurking under the hood is something slicker than your average — a Lincoln 4.6-liter dual-overhead cam 32 valve InTech V8 mill, putting down close to 300 horsepower. The engine is mated to a 4R70W four-speed automatic transmission, and a Mark VIII-spec rearend with mild 3.08 gears.
The 4.6-liter V8 under the hood provides adequate power for this unique restomod.
Being a restomod, one surprising fact about this custom Thunderbird is that it was fused with the Lincoln donor chassis into one uniform body. The Thunderbird’s floor and frame came from the Mark VIII as well as the fully independent suspension, which features computer-controlled air ride capabilities.
Power rack-and-pinion steering provides great maneuverability for today’s roads as well as a four-wheel disc brake system that gives the Thunderbird plenty of stopping power when need be. A set of 17-inch Dayton Wire Wheels are wrapped with 275/40ZR17 BF Goodrich g-Force Sport rubbers. Peeking inside, the interior of the Thunderbird is actually a full Mark VIII setup with plush black leather.
Everything is blacked out inside the Thunderbird, adding to the deep black exterior finish only more. The black interior helps to give the custom more depth and class, showing how effective black is on a car when done right. This Thunderbird is fairly cherry with only 8,455 on the odometer with the new mill underneath. This may not be every rodder’s cup of tea, but this Thunderbird sits beautifully and shines with its unique blend of old and new school aesthetics.
From rust to glory, this Thunderbird isn’t pleasing everyone, but is unique nonetheless. Merging two automobiles from completely different generations is no easy task and we commend the team over at Finished Dreams Restoration for creating this wonderful masterpiece. Overall, the Thunderbird is a classy package that will intrigue any classic car owner looking for a modern twist added to the formula.
What are your thoughts of this Thunderbird? Is its asking price of $47,500 worth it as-is? Feel free to share your comments below.
