5Y83Z105111 - Thunderbird Registry Number 11483
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11483
5Y83Z105111
1965
63A -
Mark Pruitt says:My 1965 Thunderbird Hardtop was purchased in August of 2002. It has 100,000 miles on it and had sat for 18 years. With the exception of the battery tray and trunk pan it was rust free. I have the original manual and it shows it being purchased new in San Jose and wrecked with 2,400 miles on the odometer. It was sold at that time. I know it was owned by a comercial fisherman in Seattle after that and came into the possesion of the people I bought it from in the mid-eighties. It was parked indoors and sat ever since. I have removed every nut, bolt, washer etc. and it is now about 2 weeks from being a driver again. By spring it should be ready for a debut at Ford Only at Knott's. <p> I have customized the car but was careful not to permanently and irreversbly alter it so if any point in the future someone wanted to return it to original condition it could be done. With nearly 1000 hours of professional time invested as well as approximately 200 of my own hours just in the stainless restoration and polishing it is starting to really come alive. I could not rebuild the original motor, and I doubt it was original as it had been rebuilt and was over bored at that time. It ran but the bearings were showing age. So in looking for a suitable candidate I found a 428 V-8 from a '66 Thunderbird. I rebuilt that and warmed it up somewhat. I also went to a C6 with a Gear Venders overdrive unit. An Auburn 3:25 possi unit in a 5" narrowed rear end completed the driveline. I have FPA headers and an Edelbrock RPM intake. I should make about 375hp and cruise at 2500 rpm @ 70mph. Spirited! <p>The uhpolstery had been replaced with crushed velour at some point. It was originaly a leather car so I had new leather stitched up but I went with a 50s color in Peacock Blue. The cracked dash was replaced with a restored unit. I replaced the factory gauges with Ford Classic gauges. Perfect fit. All interior chrome was replated and the anodized aluminum will be redone this winter. The carpet is dark green as are the new trunk mats. The list goes on and on. The file is 4" thick at this point. I suspect it is one of the straightest, best fitting Thunderbirds in the U.S. Not an easy thing as Ford never has been known for fit and finish. It probably will not please the purists, but after all, they made 42,000 of the hardtops and that's 3 times the number of 1994 Mark VIII's. One custom won't alter the world of Thunderbirds as we know and love it. It was light blue metallic with a light blue leather interuir originally. I painted it Patrician Green. I hope this fills a nitch in your records.<p>
Sincerely, Mark Pruitt
Mark Pruitt
10/11/2003
390 V-8
Intact
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