Ragazine Rack: Birds & Cats

• Vettester

By: Charlie Smith

• Car Design "How To"

By: Tyrone Delmonico

• Muscle Rods

By: Ed Newton

• Birds & Cats

By: Snewth & Smith

• Fast Drawing

Young Guns

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Home > Articles > Ragazine Rack > Birds & Cats - Part 1

When Charlie first penned these concepts back in mid 1988, it seemed like the perfect solution to an old problem. As he puts it, "There’s always a shortage of suitable vintage tin to massage, and a late model source seemed like a perfect solution. He further points out, "Back in the 60’s, 'cruisers' never gave a frame-off build-up much consideration. A simple clean up, undercoating, chrome valve covers and slick air cleaner were all that was needed in the mechanicals department. After all, ‘starter cars’ back then were generally less than a decade old, so the big bucks could be directed towards ‘body and paint’ almost exclusively." Today, using contemporary vehicles simply mimics this approach.

Noting how the later model T-Birds and Cougars had elements that could reflect good traditional custom styling, Charlie chose them as his point of departure. The 1983 through 1989 T-Bird seemed like the perfect platform to transpose some classic styling touches as well as express more contemporary ideas and future thought. As Charlie said in that original Hot Rod article, "Why spend a lot of money swapping late-model mechanicals and suspensions into an old car when you can customize a late model?" Why not indeed!

A modification common with the concept, is the raising of the window sills to align with and follow through the hood and fender line. The advantage of cosmetically raising the sill decreases the side glass area and thereby makes a moderate top chop appear much more extreme. This simple trick also brings the cars back into line with their "shoebox" heritage, seen here as a modern day "business coupe".

This Cougar receives the traditional custom treatment. The window sills are raised and 52 -54 Merc style side scoops and skirts are added. Although it requires extensive bodywork forward of the front hood cut, along with a slight "top chop" and Buick style trim, this version maintains it’s original grille and taillights. Lots of body mods for sure, but the mechanicals remain virtually untouched. "Coool Cat!"

This example (built by Dick Tudlow) follows the theme, though the top is not chopped. Built in 1995 from a wrecked 1992 T-Bird, the raised sills and "old timey" taillights scream "shoebox". The metal work looks extensive, but contours are maintained with only a slight 3 inch rear fender extension. The front and rear caps were executed in fiberglas.