The Forgotten Thunderbird Racecars - The Ford Battlebirds

[@mojojojos4843]

I have enjoyed your coverage on the Battle Birds. One minor nit is that "C" code Thunderbirds were all 292 c.i. cars. I was privileged to know the restorer that restored the #98 car for Bo Cheadle. I have seen some homages to the Battlebirds. Most fail in certain ways as to suspension and other areas. Thank you for hosting this video of one of my favorite cars. Coincidentally I do own a 1957 Ford Thunderbird "C" code car.

[@rarecars3336]

Thank you for the correction regarding the 292 vs 312 in the c-code base cars. I will pin this comment so everyone can see!

[@owenwilliams1911]

This is an absolutely awesome video I'm a huge Ford guy so getting some history on Ford's I've never heard of is absolutely great keep up the great work

[@rarecars3336]

Glad you liked the video Owen!

[@bradyelich2745]

My Dad's 1958 Edsel with 361 solid lifter engine, 360hp and 400 tq. He said it was the fastest car he ever had. 135 mph all day long. Thunder Bay to Saskatoon in 12 hours, on gravel and on the square, no highways in 1960. The tires back then burned with black smoke as they were natural rubber.

[@williamhannas9342]

His 361 ci engine must have been modified. The stock version was rated at 303 hp and had hydraulic lifters. I own one. Are you confusing it with the 410 ci option (1958 only), which had a much higher hp rating?

[@samuelfreeman9518]

Very early production FEs were solid lifter engines, even the 352s. Ford realize the mistake due to the maintenance requirements and recalled them and had converted. A very old man that did the machine work on Tasca Fords racing engines from 63-65 told me that info. He's an FE guru. Dude's name is on the side of Tasca's 65 mustang SOHC funny car.

[@aaronfoley8421]

Excellent video. Preservation of this history is interesting, important, and worthwhile. Thanks.

[@rarecars3336]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@chuckselvage3157]

What a weapon. The original TBird was such a beautiful car.

[@vannjunkin8041]

Even beautifuler like this!!

[@matthewcochran3325]

At 1:52, are we just gonna ignore the GHOST DRIVING THE T BIRD!? Great vid, by the way. I subscribed.

[@rarecars3336]

I was hoping someone would notice LOL - thanks for watching and thanks for subbing!

[@Coolingfin]

Awesome! Never heard of the Battle Birds before. Thank You!

[@rarecars3336]

Glad you enjoyed it, thanks for watching!

[@stoneylonesome4062]

I wish they had kelt the Thunderbird as a compact, Unibody Grand Touring roadster with a V8, a manual gearbox, 4-wheel disk brakes & independent suspension, and an emphasis on handling and road-holding. They could’ve easily given the corvette a run for it’s money if they hadn’t turned it into a Luxo Barge.

[@AutosRare]

hii

[@sammolloy1]

I too hated it in 1958. I drove a two seater about 1988 and I understood. It drove like a small Town Car. I kinda got it. I sat in a 1959 about 1997 and then I totally understood. Now I even get the Bullet Birds. Ford needs to make a new one continuing that lineage. Not a hybrid or EV. A space ship on wheels

[@jimmieroan9881]

it wasn't a unibody, it was a body on frame car, the frame was similar to the big fords at the time. same with the corvette, if you check parts you will see the majority of chassis parts on the corvette same as big car, same with tbird and big fords.

[@stoneylonesome4062]

@@jimmieroan9881 I know it wasn’t, im just saying that’s what it should’ve been made and stayed as

[@gordons3071]

What a well done video! Thanks so much for developing and posting!

[@13_13k]

Thanks for this video. I'm born and raised in L.A. next to LAX airport which is/was a hot bed for racing with Isky Cams , Gulstrand, my older sister has been friends with the grandaughter of Hal1brand, another family friend worked for Hedman as a top hedder builder, one of the Paisano Brothers lived 2 streets over from us and the daughter also a friend of my sisters, one of my dad's best friends was one of the original racers to race the Baja, Ensenada, Mexicali, Parker Dam, back before there were actual teams and no pre runners, no television cameras, but Parnelli Jones, James Garner, and many other big names were racing and we'd go and camp out at the starting line with our moms riding dirt bikes and trail bikes waiting to hear from the check points and then the finish. My family had other racing connections. But back to the TBirds or Battle Birds. I had heard about them a couple times because my grandfather would buy a new T Bird every other year from '55 until '65, mom drove one daily to high school when she got her license. I owned a '66 as second owner all original 80k on the speedo 428 with the special transmission that gave a low 1st gear high gear from what i was told was for snow and ice and mud. I bought it in 1996 it had been garaged its whole life and not driven in about 10 years when I got it. White with black interior, wheel skirts in the back black vinyl roof. I wish I had that car still along with some other valuable muscle cars i had as a young man. If we could only see into the future of automobiles. Again, excellent video, great footage and info. Thanks

[@UberLummox]

Hugely interesting. Love the Battle Birds. Thanks for another great video!

[@rarecars3336]

Glad you liked it!

[@jimmieroan9881]

that 430 was one bad ass engine, i had a mercury turnpike cruiser with that option, big heavy cruiser was super bad in the 60s when we had a long run of signal light to signal light races almost daily. a close friend with a great dad with big bucks bought him a 60 bird with that engine option and believe it or not the 60 birds had an option for standard 3 spd on the column and thats what he got. he had a set of headers made and ordered a solid lifter cam and the cars had a 9 in rear, he had a 4.57 gear installed and he had a rocket on the street. today in san antonio he owns a large environmental and demolition company, i won't mention his name but he was well known here in the late 60s on the streets with that blue metalflake bird.

[@donreinke5863]

The 1958 Turnpike Cruiser was available with a 3x 2 barrel variant which was advertised as the first 400 horsepower production automobile..Most had the 368 engine, which was the largest Y block and was also used in the Lincoln Mark II in 1956. 2% of 1960 Thunderbird production was equipped with the 3 speed manual transmission, a light duty Borg Warner unit which did not have first gear synchronized. According to the Rocky Mountain Thunderbird Club historian, one 1960 was equipped with the 430 engine and the three speed transmission, that car was featured in a Vintage Thunderbird Club International newsletter (known as the Scoop) several years back. The president of the Rocky Mountain Thunderbird Club has a 1960 that came with the 3-speed, but the previous owner had relocated the shifter to the console, I rewired that car and did suspension upgrades on it. The Borg Warner crashbox had failed several times and he had it replaced with the fully synchronized "Dearborn 3.03" unit from a 1966 Custom 500

[@michaellauer3397]

Yup… I worked at a downtown Ford dealer there, driving a Boss 302 to work. That era was winding down as mine was developing… great times.

[@beatglauser9444]

I am not a Ford guy at all. But I LOVE the design of the T-Birds. Even of the next generations until 1966. Back in the days where even race cars were stunningly beautiful! That is the time of my childhood and I thank God that I could see those cars. Even if most of them only in model form or on pictures. I could touch some Sixties Ferraris, Maseratis and Aston Martins that had race histories with my own hands. We used to work on them in our body shop for extremely wealthy owners. One friend a mechanic (RIP) who used to work for Enzo Ferrari back in the Fifties owned Cisitalia race cars. He was saving and collecting those cars before anyone else took interest in them. Another guy I know owned a Midfifties Maserait race car.

[@clintstewart6627]

That's one sweet looking ride 💪👍🤘🤙

[@rarecars3336]

Agreed, d-type jag meets t-bird

[@geoffhipwell2198]

What a great story. Being a model builder, I wouldn't mind customising a Thunderbird kit as a replica. 👍🏼

[@adp5R3x]

Lol 👏 ... you should see the old AMT 57 Bird i stuck a blown 427 into a sculpted trunk, with a 66 Mustang Fastback roof , an Extended EDSEL nose with Quad headlights & bullet taillights ... old modellers never die

[@geoffhipwell2198]

@@adp5R3x Wow.. Yeah?? Man I'd love to see that! 🤩

[@rarecars3336]

That would be a sweet model - I don't even know how you would make the custom pieces on it. Definitely not my expertise lol

[@ramblerdave1339]

Good luck finding a source for the Halibrand wheels, I don't know if there was a Scarab kit made in that scale, if there was, it should have them.

[@ramblerdave1339]

​@@rarecars3336 Hobby Shops have styrene sheets and other solid and tube shapes, or could be formed out of wood, the wheels would be the difficult part. Don't know if there is a kit with those.

[@michaelcerkez3895]

Outstanding episode and great history lesson. Great channel, I always learn a lot each time I watch. I like to call it the golden past.

[@rarecars3336]

Really glad you enjoyed the video! Thanks for stopping by again

[@1183newman]

One of these sometimes races at goodwood revival, always special seeing it race and it does really well also.

[@rarecars3336]

Yes that is where I saw the few clips of this car that even exist - goodwood is so rad that they still race these historic cars there!

[@ekpauly]

I really enjoy this channel, very interesting and informative. I have to know though, is this Mike from mikes rc world narrating?

[@rarecars3336]

Thanks so much for watching, glad you enjoyed. No this is not Mike unfortunately, I have had my voice mistaken for so many people at this point lol

[@vannjunkin8041]

Now THIS would be a dream car for me. 7 litre 4 spd Road racer T Bird?? Sheeeiiit..

[@billshepherdautomotive]

This is a great video guys! Great to see the Battlebirds finally getting some love. However you have missed a chapter! The No.99 430 Battlebird was very badly crashed in 1963 by a mechanic preparing the car for a movie scene. In fact, the No.99 car that your video features racing at Goodwood in your video was built up using what was left of that original car - hence it's invitation to run at the Goodwood Revival.

[@mescko]

I'm willing to swear that there was a Battlebird at the vintage races in Portland back in it's glory days around 1995 - 2000. I know, no picture, never happened. I knew what it was immediately and was stunned to see it.

[@mitchd949]

1:09 funny how the T-Bird is rolling out with paper stuck to the left front tire...like an old man coming out of a restroom with toilet paper stuck to his heel.

[@rarecars3336]

LOL nice catch

[@ramblerdave1339]

That's the peel off adhesive label, that many racers let the first lap remove, that's why new tires are referred to as "stickers", in racing.

[@thomaskelley1718]

Very interesting, I have heard of the battlebirds but never actually saw one.

[@janitorscruffy3246]

Great vid but why show a roots blower when the picture of the actual engine obviously had a centrifugal on it??

[@AutosRare]

hii

[@walterhammond290]

Paxton.

[@Charger1908]

I saw one of those cars setting in a local guys junk yard in Virginia. I thought it was strange because of the weird seating because it only had on seat. If I remember it was a one piece fiberglass body but I’m not sure because it was in the 70’s. It certainly was an unusual car and being a life long gear head I definitely noticed it.

[@Mr.Higginbotham]

Thanks for posting! I'm a T-Bird kinda guy.

[@michaelholder3933]

I have one of the 385 Lima engines I'm hoping to build. I'm a blue collar Joe and it's not cheap. I've found I can get close to 500hp using mostly stock parts ,one year model was about 400hp off the showroom floor so a little head work ,headers and cam with aluminum intake should get me there. I have the heavy duty automatic trans from an F350 to go with it. Biggest problem so far ? Finding a car body that it will fit in without cutting up the car lol. I need at least 27 cubic feet under the hood.

[@barrysimmons5489]

I don't know about all the codes n numbers but I remember the big complaint was a mere 3 spd transmission. And a V8 Vette would out class any bird I ever saw or drove. Even though I pesonally thought and still do, the 57 Bird was one of Ford's most beautiful automobiles. Unfortunately Ford never really brought adequate performance to the market place. Even while with great expectation watching Holman Moody or whomever else.... Thanks for sharing. 🇺🇲👍😎

[@daryllect6659]

3:11 "...consecutive VIN numbers..." ? Consecutive Vehicle Identification Number numbers?

[@RushSmith65]

Nice clip find, Nick at Maple Motors..! With a awesome tbird

[@rarecars3336]

Thanks for watching! Yeah finding clips for this video was SO hard lol

[@danielkavanaugh4544]

I was getting gas at a local service station nearly 20byrs ago when in comes a Tbird just like the one in this video. talked to the owner for about ten mins. Never saw the again. But have heard that the owner also has several 1964 Ford Fairlane Thunderbolts.. Ya never know whats in someone garage.

[@joesantiso6495]

Like to see someone build a 2005 battlebird

[@rarecars3336]

Now THAT would be interesting

[@rodnokken7759]

I've thought for years someone should hop up one of these 'Birds. Alas, I don't have the money!

[@rodnokken7759]

So what happened to the 430 powered car? Inquiring minds want to know!

[@59jm24]

The boat anchor Y block should actually be called the WHY block. Ford finally got it right with the 260/289.

[@andrescer]

These things are as rare as Dodo birds! Ha! Excellent video.

[@rarecars3336]

Yeah haha I wish a company would do a recreation run of these - thanks for watching! I appreciate the kind words!

[@ex-engineer6657]

Thanks very much.

[@rarecars3336]

Thank YOU for watching!

[@adp5R3x]

It's Great to see the 2-Seater T-Bird as a Race Car or Hot Rod ... somehow it always gets Blow Off as too luxurious, or an underachiever

[@jimmieroan9881]

if you like that then look up some videos of the goodwood vintage races, watch the big heavy galaxies and the square birds race with the european sedans, those big 4 pass birds and heavy galaxies pulling the left front off the track coming off the corners will give you chills .

[@adp5R3x]

@@jimmieroan9881 ... Been there - Done that 💣 Goodwood is The Bomb ! ('specially the Firey Beast of Turin )

[@rarecars3336]

TRUE! They were really capable cars that deserve more recognition!

[@gomezgomezian3236]

Very well sums up American performance cars ... 400HP and Drum brakes.

[@rarecars3336]

HECK YEAH MORE POWER LOL

[@pughoneycutt1986]

Ford didn't have a 7 Leiter engine in 1957 the Lincoln powered battle bird had a 368 C I D engine with fuel injection.

[@BILLYBOBB3080]

Calm down Karen.

[@pughoneycutt1986]

@BILLYBOBB3080 I just know my fords, the 430 Lincoln came out in 1958 the next 7 Leiter was the 1963 427. The purpose of the battle birds wasn't to win the races, just finish ahead of the corvettes was their mission and they did. Then Robert mcnamera pulled Ford out of racing. He had to be the most gullible man in history who continuely failed upward.

[@johnschnellbach986]

The motors appeared in the production cars, but I'm sure they were developed earlier for racing.

[@pughoneycutt1986]

@johnschnellbach986 it was either super Ford magazine or mustang and Ford magazine did a complete write up on the battle birds the 2 most radical were raced before Ford pulled out of racing. Curtis Turner drove 1 of them don't remember who drove the other one. 1 had the supercharged 312 engine and the other one had the 368 Lincoln engine with fuel injection. The magazine had pictures of both cars and with the distributors in the back there is no doubt that the captions for the pictures was correct. Because the 430 distributor was in the front of the motor.

[@terrybaptist795]

Thats not what i have heard about linciln powered Battlebird. I have heard the a guy in united kingdom purchased and rebuilt the lincoln powered battle bird and currently owns it.

[@mikesuch9021]

Looks like the fireball 500 car

[@rarecars3336]

You aren't wrong!

[@user-kj2iy1]

Don't miss out on this exclusive first look at the latest video from: The Forgotten Thunderbird Racecars - The Ford Battlebirds MKVI. Please subscribe, hit the like button and tap on the bell icon to stay up-to-date on video content and other channel notifications.

[@user-kj2iy1]

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[@sammolloy1]

One of the two Lincoln powered Battlebirds was destroyed, possibly on purpose, in the production of a movie

[@rodnokken7759]

I hate it when info like this is omitted.

[@joestephan1111]

Sports cars, including the Thunderbird and Corvette, did not race on Daytona Beach. That race was held on runways of a near by airport

[@joestephan1111]

People today still don't understand that not all classes raced on the Beach oval where Nascar classes raced. The only time they all did was when qualifying and speed trials took place over the flying mile.

[@anthonyesposito9251]

⁠@@joestephan1111I was there in 1957 and saw them on the beach doing top speed runs.Mercury also had very modified cars like the T Birds doing the flying mile speed runs.Also popular was the standing start to 100 to 0 which I think Ford won.

[@jamiedriscoll9781]

How about the Shelby Lancer? Only 800 made.

[@rarecars3336]

Definitely will be doing some videos on some of those unknown shelby's!

[@DanielCochranSC]

God bless

[@garyrouleau4676]

Hot wheels made a redline version of this car!

[@rarecars3336]

I did not know that!

[@garyrouleau4676]

@@rarecars3336 If you look up redline 57 custom t bird you can see pictures. I don’t think it’s original 16, it was in the run of models after that. The only difference is it has a full interior and not the race one.

[@alanmorrison3598]

Interesting video but comparing these purpose built race cars to the Corvette of the time is just not a fair comparison.

[@rarecars3336]

Really a comparison to the corvette race cars - just some sales number insights on the corvette in the beginning to set the stage

[@paulwortman483]

Who does the voice over on this channel??? It sounds like Matt Farah... But I know it's not.

[@AutosRare]

heyy

[@NoBody-xg1wg]

what does "perfect-built" mean??

[@AutosRare]

heyy

[@MrTomjolly]

The Bee Tird.

[@AutosRare]

hello

[@LeeHolman-x1p]

You do not have the correct history. Holman & Moody ended up with the two aluminum body T-Birds in the early 1960s.

[@bhanson4917]

Nobody outside of the US talks or gives a shit about "Ford vs Chevy".

[@skyedog24]

I haven't watched the video do not intend to.I dislike dworfs always have . If Ford were serious about competing against the Corvette then the first thing they would have done would have been to make their car fiberglass as well otherwise there is just no way to go pound per horsepower and compete so there is no chance....

[@AutosRare]

hello

[@seanhoward8025]

The Corvette SS, and later, the Gran Sports, were far better race cars. These were never really even sports cars, maybe even a personal luxury cars. Until Shelby came out with the Cobra and Shelby Mustangs, Ford never had anything that could compete. Maybe in a stock car class, but not SCCA competition.

[@johnnyringo35]

And yet these beat the corvettes of their day .. . 😂

[@Loulovesspeed]

@seanhoward8025 - Allow me to set the record straight for you. The Shelby GT 350 Mustangs introduced in 1965 managed to decimate the new Stingray Corvette in SCCA B Production class racing for 3 consecutive years - '65, '66 and '67, and taking the National Championship each of those years. To add insult to injury, it did so with a smaller displacement engine as well, 289 vs 327! So don't be spreading fairy tales about "Ford never having anything that could compete!"

[@seanhoward8025]

You obviously didn't read my post. I said: "Until Shelby came out with the Cobra and Shelby Mustangs".

[@Loulovesspeed]

@@seanhoward8025 I stand corrected. Not sure how I missed that except that I just awoke after a long, long night. Thanks for the heads up.

[@AintScaredGarage]

Why are you talking liters, those cars were measured in Cubic Inches, please speak American English when referring to these classic American cars