1966 Thunderbird Purchase

[@MyDarkmarc]

I came across your channel and I had to tell you about my uncle's funny story. He was looking for house and he fell in love with a mid-century modern house in Cupertino, California and was about to buy it but he had to make sure that his 1965 Thunderbird convertible in Ragoon Red would fit in the garage but it proved to be too small just buy a three inches and he could not redo the garage otherwise the house would look weird so he bow out and he was crushed. He did buy a house not too far from this one and his Thunderbird did fit perfectly. Thanks for an amazing channel.

[@vintagethunderbirdrepair9426]

Hey, that's a great story. I've heard other stories similar where people couldn't get the car in their garage. Especially in Europe. At least he kept the Thunderbird. I was very lucky because I was able to fit both my 1961 Cadillacs end to end in my outbuilding with about 3 inches to spare too. I have to open the bay door to scoot around the cars but at least they are inside. Thanks for visiting my channel.

[@servicetechnician3264]

Hello Nick. Looks like you have another project on your hands. Glad it's a Tbird this time. What a cool place that Charlie has. He is into some real cool stuff. Makes you wish he lived nearby so you could hang out all day! George B.

[@vintagethunderbirdrepair9426]

Hey George, yes, Id love to hang out there all the time. Charlie is a super guy and very interesting.

[@jbird845]

Beautiful 66❤. Ive been looking for one 6 months now to purchase. Cant seam to find the right one. And when i find one ,its already sold. Your video are great tools , thanks for sharing so much information on repairs.

[@vintagethunderbirdrepair9426]

Hey Jbird, are you looking for a convertible or hardtop?

[@J_R_Shop]

Congratulations Nick, you never have too many old cars! 😊 Thanks for the tour of Nick's shop...lots of really cool cars and memorabilia! 👍

[@vintagethunderbirdrepair9426]

Hey Alvin, its actually Charlies shop. Charlie is an English bloke who collects everything and never sells anything. You see him in the video dressed in blue. He is a character and a very nice man. I owe him for letting me store the Tbird there.

[@J_R_Shop]

@@vintagethunderbirdrepair9426 oh yes... Nick was the guy you bought the car from.

[@tomsheets6399]

very nice, among my very favorite of t-bird models

[@vintagethunderbirdrepair9426]

Mine too. Love the 66

[@kayeninetwo3585]

Congrats on the fantastic new '66 Convertible, Nick! You'll have that spruced up in no time! Looks very solid, and appears to run great. An excellent addition to your collection. As far as the space you're storing it at in California: There's nothing more fun than friends who collect cars, hobby stuff and junk. I have many of them! 😄

[@vintagethunderbirdrepair9426]

Thank you Kaye Nine Two. It was an interesting place to be sure.

[@michaelbartee2908]

Greetings Nick from your former parts customer Michael @ both of your locations in CA who at this time resides in Ocala, FL!

[@vintagethunderbirdrepair9426]

Hey Michael, thanks for supporting my business. That was many moons ago. Do you still have your Thunderbird? What kind is it?

[@markhouck1671]

Great Nick, It's like a museum see all the car's .. I see some great videos' coming on the 1966 conv.

[@vintagethunderbirdrepair9426]

Hey Mark, yes, Ill make some good ones with the convertible. I just need to get it to Colorado. Thanks.

[@1961Bullet]

Looks great. That’s awesome. That was fun float.

[@vintagethunderbirdrepair9426]

Thanks BULLET

[@walterjoncas12]

A wonderful collection of steam and old cars. Nice Tbird too.

[@vintagethunderbirdrepair9426]

Thanks Walter

[@johnnytheg]

Wow Nick, this was one of your best videos so far. The new 66 is gorgeous even with the fender bender damage, but the tour of the place where you are storing it was totally fascinating. What a cool collection of really vintage cars.

[@vintagethunderbirdrepair9426]

Thanks John. Yes, it was really interesting seeing all that stuff. Those English cars are very interesting.

[@jeffg6008]

Great Stuff….the entire video! Thanks!

[@vintagethunderbirdrepair9426]

Thanks Jeff

[@SierraJohn]

Looking forward to seeing more of your new T-Bird. Enjoyed the tour of the barn with the old trains, too.

[@vintagethunderbirdrepair9426]

Thanks John. There will definitely be more videos to come.

[@MrJOHN6T6]

Very nice Nick congrats!

[@vintagethunderbirdrepair9426]

Thanks Johnny

[@pietero9684]

Very nice Nick....i went to Sweden very oft and i met a guy who's nickname was Fordy and his garage under his house looked just like this....stuffed with old car....beautiful. Gr.Pieter from the Netherlands.

[@vintagethunderbirdrepair9426]

Hey Pieter, yes there is more than one junk collector around. American Pickers would not have a show if it were not for guys like this. Thanks.

[@freedomliberty3435]

Love the video, but just can’t resist to mention that you were correct about the USS Constitution. I was called old iron sides because it repelled the fire of enemy ships so successfully due to the use of southern live oak one of the hardest woods in the world for ship building at the time. It was not clad in iron as the older gentleman insisted. The only metal on the side of that ship was a thin piece of copper under the waterline to help prevent barnacles and I’m not even sure if that was on it originally I think they put it on later.

[@vintagethunderbirdrepair9426]

Great story about a great ship. They dont make them like that anymore. Thanks.

[@mattcarter64]

Wow. Those are some great cars ! And the 66 is nice as well. I'm glad I found your channel as I'm starting the long process if trying to finish up a disassembled 65 hardtop :) I may be bugging you in the future with questions. But your videos have helped me understand so much already !

[@vintagethunderbirdrepair9426]

Thanks Matt. Good luck on your new project. Dont hesitate to ask questions.

[@msloquet]

Nice buy nick

[@vintagethunderbirdrepair9426]

Thanks Scoutprop

[@christopherhenry3472]

Hey Nick this is Tavi. Really cool. I will be coming down to take pics of this one when you get her home. Have the engine and trans in the shop on my 65 and the steel building is finally up so Im excited to get a lift and get the 65 on the road. Did you ever have more upper back panel gear shafts fabricated? I may want one or two if you did. Congrats on the new convertible

[@vintagethunderbirdrepair9426]

Hey Tavi, I found out that there is a guy in Denver reproducing them so I dropped the project. He advertises them on ebay, item number 224382314255. He has many. Good luck.

[@billshepherd5299]

Cool car i just bought a 64 2dr hardtop will be watching video's to get it in better shape do you have a video on on stalling the grillon a 64

[@vintagethunderbirdrepair9426]

Hey Bill, thanks. The grille on a 64 is easy and hard. You can take it apart and put it back together but its complicated and you've got to remember how it goes back together. Take lots of photos. I don't have a video on installing a grille or rebuilding one, but the whole grille is aluminum and riveted together so it is very rebuildable. Good luck.

[@jamesmitchell2854]

Hey Nick, I have followed your video for a while; you do a great job. I am working on a power steering pump that needs to be replaced/ rebuilt. Do you have a video on the removal of the unit (1964 t bird convertible 390 non AC2

[@vintagethunderbirdrepair9426]

Hey James, sorry but I do not have a video of the power steering pump. That would make a good video but I've never had the opportunity to make one. If I get the chance, Ill do it. Thanks.

[@bransonmckee745]

Hey Nick, On my 1965 thunderbird I had the PS pump rebuilt but it is still not operating. I also noticed the WS wipers are not working either. Does the PS pump operate the wiper motor or does the wiper motor operate the PS pump? I have checked the fuse for the wipers and it is not blown.

[@vintagethunderbirdrepair9426]

Hey Branson, the power steering pump powers the wiper motor, the wiper motor is hydraulic and part of the power steering system. If you just changed the power steering pump, does the power steering work? But the wipers dont work? If so, Id suggest changing all the hoses, one may be blocked or disintegrating internally. Also, the power steering gear box may be bad causing a blockage. If the power steering works, then it is not the pump and probably not the gear box. Change the hoses. If the power steering still doesnt work after changing the pump, you probably got a defective pump but change all hoses first. All hoses, not just one. Good luck.

[@nishali3343]

Congrats. I always thought the dash and console looks better in all white. Your thoughts?

[@vintagethunderbirdrepair9426]

Hey Nisha, Im not crazy about white interiors. One big reason is because they get dirty so fast. My white 66 has a bronze/emberglo interior and it is fabulous. I also like the Ford blue interiors and silver mink color too. That being said, this black car with a white interior is pretty nice too. It needs to be cleaned and it will look super then. Thanks.

[@thomasfowler6674]

great find Nick, with your expertise you'll have that thing in tip top shape . Did you buy to add to your personal collection?

[@vintagethunderbirdrepair9426]

Hey Thomas, he made me an offer I could not refuse, so I had to buy it. I have a white 66 town hardtop so I am going to keep the convertible and probably sell the white hardtop. Only because the convertible is worth more. My white hardtop is a nice car but this convertible is pretty nice too.

[@donalddesnoo5303]

Cautipon they jumped out of park in reverse when running have a red one high maintenance 😢 shifter handle wears

[@vintagethunderbirdrepair9426]

Yes, never leave the car while it is running. Never leave the car without sliding the steering wheel to the right. Never leave the car without applying the emergency brake. Thanks.

[@joernone]

Nick, Ooooooo...look at me, I have a '66 T-Bird convertible. Braggart!!!!!!!!!!! Personally, I wouldn't own a '66 convertible. Nope, not me. I prefer a junker that needs every nut, bolt, screw, hose, belt, brake line replaced. Not to mention the heads and carb rebuilt, floors replaced, new leaf springs, gas tank, brake booster, seat covers, carpeting installed. And who know what else? So a '66 convertible that actually runs and drives? Yeah, right. You're too soft! 🤪 Regards, John

[@vintagethunderbirdrepair9426]

Hey John, they are no fun if they dont need everything. Yeah, Im pretty happy that Nick wanted to sell me the car, I deserve a deal once in a while. I paid top dollar for those two caddys, they were not cheap, but I still think it was worth it. Hows your old jalopy coming along anyway? Thanks.

[@joernone]

Nick, I'm going to the garage right this minute and tell Pearline you called her a jalopy. Lock your doors at night, you beast! Regards, John 😮

[@vintagethunderbirdrepair9426]

@@joernone Thats what Tamie called my two caddys. Women!

[@jeffsmith846]

Don't know why I am just seeing this one. Did you get the 66 convertible back to Colorado?

[@vintagethunderbirdrepair9426]

Hey Jeff, yes I had it transported in an enclosed trailer. The guy had it here in 24 hours. I guess he drove straight through. Now I can toy around with it in between Thunderbird repairs, Cadillac repairs, and Mustang repairs, and mowing my 5 acres of weeds and prairie grass. This means that I probably wont get to it for a while.

[@jeffsmith846]

@@vintagethunderbirdrepair9426 I like the interior. I had a 66 convertible and it had black interior. You could cook an egg on the seats in the summer time. The white is much better for a convertible.