James STUNNING 56

James's absoloutley STUNNING !! 56,
Is this Australias best Baby Bird, If there is a better one I certainly haven't seen it yet. This car is truly beautifull.

Name: James Pantelis

Forum Name: JPTBird

State: Victoria.

Year of Manufacture: 1956

Hardtop or Convert: Convertible w/ Porthole Hardtop & Soft Top

Body Colour: Colonial White

Original Paint or Re-paint: Re-paint 2004

Interior Colour: Fiesta Red
Original or Re-trim: Re-trim

Engine Size: 312 Ci

Manual or Auto: Ford-o-matic Auto

Accessories Fitted: Factory P/Steering, P/Brakes, P/Windows, P/Seat

Purchased in Australia or Imported : Imported from Vancouver Canada July 2011

Any Mods: Thermatic Fan, F&R HD Sway Bars, Additional rear leaf spring (raised rear 30mm)

Wheels if non standard, What Make & Size. Thunderbird 15” Wire Wheels


Any work you’ve done or had done to the car:
Replaced shock absorbers all round. Re-set rear leaf springs and added one extra leaf to raise rear by 30mm in preparation for fitting Thunderbird Wire Wheels. Fitted Thunderbird Wire Wheels. Added new F&R Heavy Duty Sway Bars to minimise roll when cornering. Added ‘Parade’ (Thermatic) Fan to safeguard against over heating when stuck in traffic or when inching along trying to find a car park at the Mornington Show n Shine on the ‘Lets Go Cruising’ Nights.

Future Plans:
To maintain the car as is and pray for minimal ‘issues’ in the future.

What do you enjoy most about the car:
It’s cool to drive and cool to speak with strangers at the lights who want to know about the car – in 20 seconds or less. These older fifties classic's help you make friends wherever & whenever you are out and about. Have made a bunch of new friends & acquaintances by attending Club Meetings, Outings as well as other car shows.



After months of searching online (Hemmings, EBay, Minter TBirds etc), I took the decision to travel to the U.S March/April 2011 to purchase a ’56. Had 3 in California and 1 in Vancouver to view after e-mails, photos and phone calls. The 3 Californian cars were each good enough to bring over to Oz but felt that the White One in Vancouver would probably be the more ‘sparkling’ one – judging by the photos and conversations with the restorer (who had recently sold it to the person selling it to me). This car had a complete ‘body on’ restoration in 2004. The restorer also gave me the ‘heads up’ that the guy selling the car was in trouble with his wife and desperate for a quick sale. He was caught having an affair and the marriage turned sour with all his toys having to go. So a price negotiation was a high probability given the economic climate in North America – especially if you are about to be kicked out of your own house.
I arrived in Vancouver around midday on a Thursday and by Friday noon I had completed the purchase. We drove the Tbird to the pre arranged shipping company’s container yard (see pic) and was dropped off at the airport for my flight back to L.A. The car arrived into Melbourne first week in July and by 15th July was road registered.

Sweet little Bird James, very impressive . Also, an impressive turnaround from landing in Oz to being regoed in 2 weeks.

James she is one stunning car!

Just pure elegance  

You must count your blessing though when they open the container and you see the car just tied in with a bit of nylon rope and lumps of wood.

Very nice car you have James, I do like the colour combo White paint - red interior.
I really do like Baby Birds with their hard tops on, they look cool especially with the port hole in the roof.    



https://www.youtube.com/user/BulletBird1962

Hey Gio, the photo of the car in the container was from Vancouver. Interesting how these containers present 'ok' from the outside. Paint / Company log etc.
Different story when you get the chance to look inside and you then see rusty banged up metal.
Given that I was going to the expense of a single 20' container for my precious cargo I was hoping that it would be lined with fluffy padded doonas. Hahaha.
One other thing which made the wait more nervous. Tracking the container online, I had discovered on the shipping company's website a tab titled 'Shit Happens'.Well...thousands of images of containers that had toppled onto each other, fallen off ships both at sea and at the docks, crane hooks slipping from one side and containers hanging in mid air from the other side.
Anyway, the story ended well and I have a pretty neat little baby bird to cruise around in.

Hey Arthur, thanks for your comments.
Agree re: porthole hard top.
50's Americana = Cool.

Yes, the story did end out well !

Remember Rule No. 1 ~ Don't look at the business or customer rating after you are committed, else it is going to be a long nervous wait until you get your product.

 
Didn't know this rule at that time.
Must remember to tell this one to others.

Perfection. This is how a TBird should be presented. No airbags, 4 link suspension or custom body work just pure perfection just the way the Ford motor company designed it.

I love your car jptbird

Kenney thank God you've finally found something you like. This is possibly Australias best baby bird so It appears you do have some taste after all.......Sorry that was uncalled for.

Kenney, I think you're weakening, that 56 has wire wheels - it aint stock . But , I do agree, that is a very sweet Baby Bird.