Nell, my Grandmother, died from stomach cancer when I was four. This T-bird was her last car. I remember riding in it, and I am restoring it in her honor.



In 1972, in high school auto shop, I pulled the engine from the car. The car hasn't moved under its own power since then... until last Friday. On the very same driveway my Grandma used!







My son took and edited the video. More info at my blog.

Hey Skygazer! What a great feeling that must have been!Looks great so far.It never ceases to surprise me how many of these "Baby Bïrds" are still out there off the road and unrestored.I know there still lots of the 54-57 passenger cars but with all the small Birds on the road one would assume theres very few that aren't being driven.Yours has been resting for what 40 years.Keep posting the pics and videos as you progress.

  

Good show - as a early Bird owner, its always good to see another one that has been fixed up for the road.

54 Victoria 312;  48 Ford Conv 302, 56 Bird 312
Forever Ford
Midland Park, NJ

Congrats on finally getting it running again. I am currently in the process of restoring my '57 for the 3rd and final time. I bought it in '65 when I was 21. Mine has unfortunately sat for a while from time to time over the years but never that long. My advice is to drive it often and enjoy it. They are a ball to drive and the family history is neat. Unfortunately mine will be sold when I am gone and I hope the next owner will run the hell out of just like I always have.

Congrats!

Gerald Ingram aka "Gritsngumbo"
Monroe, LA
LITTLE RED: 64 Ford F100 Short Bed Styleside
BIG RED: 63 Ford F100 Long Bed Unibody
BBW RED: 61 Ford F100 BBW Long Bed Custom Cab Unibody
BIG “UN: 63 F250 Longbed Flareside
CREW CAB: 63 F100 "Stageway" Crew Cab w/Long "Wrong" Bed

Swweeeeet,I love the feeling of driving one for the first time in many years.

Butchering up everything I can get my hands on in Dayton Ohio

Congrats, keep up the very good work, you will experience all the yesteryear, as I did when I went for a ride in a 57 Bird, got to ride with my Pappy in a 57 Bird which he was taking care of till an Airforce friend took it to Germany.. back in the 60's...again enjoy...

Mesquite, TX.

Brother and I own/operate 1957 Ford Fairlane 312/4x2 and two 1963 Falcons 302 rollers carburated 600cfm, FE427 sitting in shed..

Sounds like you had a "Great" Grandmother and she has a "Great" Grandson. The 'Bird is looking really nice!

pops (AKA) Clay

'56 Thunderbird

This is a great story and I love it. Mine was on stands for 30 years and only in the last few years a frame off restoration started that is almost complete. I am hoping to drive mine again one of these days. More power to you!!


Larry Boyer

57 Black Bird

Congrats on getting the car running again. That’s definitely the hard part and that part is now behind you.  Now you get to concentrate on all those little details that makes the car road worthy.  Be sure to keep us posted of your progress.

Lorena, Texas (South of Waco)