39BuickEight

I think it has to do with the continuation of the Corvette production as the top GM performance car, whereas the T-Bird has not been the same. The T-Bird name was produced, but those later models were not the "top of the line performance car" to Ford like the Vette was to GM. There is a generation of people now in the hobby that don't recall classic T-Bird's being made, but do of course realize Vettes have always been available, save for 1982. I also think that since the Mustang took off like it did, it did so at the expense of the T-Bird, and has continued to do so for all generations of the T-Bird since 1964. The Camaro did no such thing to the Corvette line. Not because the Camaro wasn't a great car, but because GM always made the Corvette to be the top of the line car. Corvettes have never left the reputation as being GM's top car. T-Bird's lost the reputation of being Ford's top car. FWIW< the 2 cars posted in the original post, the Vette is 100% more attractive IMO.

a few more shots so you can see what the doors look like after we strip them down to shiny metal: the one in the back is not ready yet: some brass:

Sounds like a great adventure Robert! Fun times!

Nice, just needs wider whites and some running board trim (I wonder if it's even supposed to have that???) to really set it off even more.

I wouldn't drive a Smart Car if you paid me. I'd drive one of many other vehicles with side airbags.

Thanks Dave. I've seen this in the real world too. The side impact is what amazes me. I've seen so many permanent and serious head injuries in cars without side airbags, and so many cars that look like they were t-boned by a train, yet with side airbags these people had a broken leg at worst.

I love that car too! You'll find plenty of cars in that price range that would make good drivers if you just keeping checking around.

Of course seat belts are great, but we aren't going that far back are we I've seen enough fatality/serious accidents that were drastically affected by airbags to convince me that they are priceless in an accident. I can honestly say the size of the car is an extremely minimal factor when it comes to bosily injury. Given a choice of ony these 2 cars, I'd rather daily drive a smart car with tons of airbags than an older big car without them. (I hate smart cars, just using them as a safety reference because they are tiny )

As an experienced insurance adjuster who has seen more serious accidents than I'd care to share, I would never daily drive any car without side airbags. They (along with the other airbags) are the best thing ever added to vehicles. There are way too many cell phone users, testers, and intoxicated drivers out there. Your own defensive driving can't save you from everything.

Wow. Like BJM said, I bet it was a field when the cars we left there, now they are under trees. Interesting to say the least.

That engine definitely does not appear to have been overhauled anytime recently. I feel you already know this, hence you even asking. I hate to assume you were lied to intentionally. Like you allude to, maybe the seller thought doing some other sort of tune up work on the engine to make it run better meant he was "overhauling" it? Different terms can mean different things to different people??? The garage looks fantastic!!!

doors and trunk lid broken down and blasted:

This looks all too familiar, I wish I was at the stage you are with my body. Can I ask what welder you are using?

Finished up sandblasting the body, got it back down to earth, and now we are taking the doors apart. The screw that holds the handle on is proving to be a real bugger. Apparently mice and wasps were living in harmony in this door:

All I can say is no matter what car you buy, as long as you get a decent price on it, you will love it! You always love your first car!!! Just find something you want for what you feel is a good price and go with it.

Correct, I am thinking it should in theory have a little more power (and maybe mpgs) just using modern fuel rather than what would have been used 80ish years ago.

Are there any theories whether there is an actual HP increase with modern 87 octane gas? Seems to me it would have a little more power, but is it noticeable or just very minimal?

Very sad, this made the local news here in Kentucky.

Do you still have this car? Do you have the vacuum advance line that runs from the distributor to the carb?

I think the more accurate list name would be called the "most recognizable" mass produced cars.

I was gonna add '32 Ford until I saw it was 1950-80 you were shooting (no pun intended ) for.

Well my wife always plans out a murder mystery Halloween Party every year. She wanted to do the roaring 20's/Gangster one year, so it gave me an excuse to buy the closest reasonable car I could buy as a prop for the party. Since "that's why we got it," she loves it. Then: now: and

Almost all of the prices in these showed are inflated, whether because it's better to get a bigger audience, or because someone wanted to be on TV, so they paid more thinking it would get them on. They will throw in a realistic price very now and then to make it look more "real." I'll watch anything on TV that has cars in it because I love cars. Anything past that is obviously not "real" at all. My favorite is Desert Car Kings, not because the money is any more accurate or because the cars are in any way better (because they aren't), but because they don't yell at each other all the time, and they don't appear to be as condescending as the rest.

I used cast blast, but VHT would do the job too I'm sure. I just have a local place that sells the cast blast line of products.

2-3 Wheels, and possibly a good (better than what I am starting with) full right side rocker. He has the wheels, and thinks he has a rocker panel he can cut out and send to me, but I can't pin him down and get a price.