Words: Tommy Parry Photos: Eric
Some builders know their strengths, know exactly where they want their build to go and have the connections to bring someone qualified in to make up for their own shortcomings. Some people just wing it. Fortunately, Eric was part of the former group. His classic Ford Thunderbird was in dire need of some spark makin’ and ground huggin’ and so, without ambitions to be the loudest or most obnoxious on the block, he set out to make the ultimate cruising classic with ride quality that would make a Bentley owner jealous.
Before he started getting his baby to be as supple as a true cruiser ought to be, Eric yanked the transmission and motor before rebuilding them. While those two were under the knife, he took the chance to repaint the entire engine bay. As he finished dousing the bay in a shade of blaze orange that would make a hunter feel warm and fuzzy, his buddy splashed the engine in a coat of black. A classic color combination – high in contrast and very striking. After such an auspicious start, there was only one way to go: down.
Making lots of progress in a very short period of time, he shot forward with a complete brake system, and while he was at it, went with a full Ridetech air ride setup – albeit one with Accuair sensors – with some assistance from Cotati Speed Shop. Getting the Shockwaves to fit up front was tricky, since the pieces marketed for the ‘63-’64 Thunderbirds wouldn’t lower the car without heavy modification. A quick call to RideTech settled that issue, and within a few business days Eric was moving forward with special shocks that would drop his Thunderbird 2.5” lower than stock ride height.
As Eric is a cabinet maker by trade, it took him a bit of time to get all the relevant pieces together, but Cotati Speed Shop did all they could to expedite the process. Understandably, getting an air ride system to work required a little fabrication, since nobody makes a four-link setup (another must-have for Eric) for the ‘63 Thunderbird. After some inspection with the measuring tape, they realized a kit they were then using on a Starliner build might fit. This kit, which was originally designed for the Ford Galaxy, shared lower bars which are the same size needed on the Thunderbird. To graft on this four-link kit, they’d need the help of a custom cross bar which mount to the stock top shock mounts to bolt to the body. Once all was implemented cleanly and almost factory in appearance, they mounted all the hardware discreetly in the trunk.
Eric went for a simple exterior with tasteful modifications that would still pay respect to the original lines and finishes of the Thunderbird. As far as aesthetic touches were concerned, a fresh coat of paint for the wheels and the suspension arms were enough. A set of whitewalls later, he started playing with the air ride system – like a giddy schoolboy, it should be said – and took his Thunderbird to new lows.
