Fox T-Bird/Cougar Forums

General => Lounge => Topic started by: vinnietbird on July 16, 2009, 11:09:31 PM

Title: Check out what I saw yesterday at lunch.....
Post by: vinnietbird on July 16, 2009, 11:09:31 PM
A Cadillac El Camino.....

(http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc205/Vinnietbird/elcaminosideview.jpg)

(http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc205/Vinnietbird/elcaminobackview.jpg)
Title: Check out what I saw yesterday at lunch.....
Post by: 1Bad88tbird on July 16, 2009, 11:24:03 PM
Wow! Now that's different! Looks like they did a good job with it. I went to the Summit Racing car show in Ohio a few years ago and someone did the same thing to a sixty something T-Bird. It looked cool too.
Title: Check out what I saw yesterday at lunch.....
Post by: daminc on July 16, 2009, 11:29:26 PM
wow, you could stash a lot of bodies in the back of that thing. LOL
Title: Check out what I saw yesterday at lunch.....
Post by: t3skidoo on July 16, 2009, 11:29:56 PM
Needs these
(http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e5/Hood_ornament.jpg)

Once saw a Mark VI converted into a ranchero.
Title: Check out what I saw yesterday at lunch.....
Post by: Old_Paint on July 17, 2009, 12:07:17 AM
Quote from: t3skidoo;282516
Needs these
(http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e5/Hood_ornament.jpg)
 
Once saw a Mark VI converted into a ranchero.

I'm not real sure I'd want to be the driver when the duct tape lets go on this one.
Title: Check out what I saw yesterday at lunch.....
Post by: Haystack on July 17, 2009, 12:19:55 AM
I really like that.
Title: Check out what I saw yesterday at lunch.....
Post by: baxo on July 17, 2009, 12:26:11 AM
I'm impressed! Quality workmanship.
Title: Check out what I saw yesterday at lunch.....
Post by: Watchdevil on July 17, 2009, 01:46:49 AM
It is possible to make a seamless 1977-79 Thunderbird Ranchero. Just put a Thunderbird front end clip on it. It bolts right on. You can detail the interior with Thunderbird specific door panels, dash trim and horn pad.

Back in 1989, I just about made that happen. I bought a 1977 Thunderbird front end clip. I had a 1977 Ranchero lined up to purchase but darned my luck would have it, the used car lot that was selling it got busted and shut down. I never did follow through on that though I thought about it many times over the years.

With all the interchangible front end parts throughout the 1970's mid-size Ford-Mercury lines you could create a number of phantom vehicles:

1977-79 Thunderbird Ranchero
1977-79 Thunderbird Wagon and Sedan
1977-79 Cougar Ranchero

Thunderbird or Cougar fastback using the 1972-73 Mercury Montego fastback body with a 1977-79 Thunderbird or Cougar front end clip.

The Cougar was already available from 1977-79 in four door sedans, and a 1977-only wagon. Of course the Cougar lines-up grew again in 1981 with sedans and wagons as a twin to the Ford Granada, all restyled Fairmonts.
Title: Check out what I saw yesterday at lunch.....
Post by: thunderjet302 on July 17, 2009, 01:10:30 PM
You know I bet that was probably built by a coach builder that built hearses. It is called a flower car. They used to have the bed filled with flowers from the funeral and drove it behind the hearse.
Title: Check out what I saw yesterday at lunch.....
Post by: irv on July 17, 2009, 02:54:16 PM
we had a fellow here in town that did at least 4 eldorado
'camino's. 1 for himself  and 3 for friends back in the early
80's. actually my friend who worked for him did all the work
and the owner painted them.
Title: Check out what I saw yesterday at lunch.....
Post by: 88turbo on July 17, 2009, 03:02:58 PM
Quote from: Watchdevil;282530

1977-79 Thunderbird Ranchero
1977-79 Thunderbird Wagon and Sedan
1977-79 Cougar Ranchero



thunderbird wagons dont exsist.
Title: Check out what I saw yesterday at lunch.....
Post by: Thunder Chicken on July 17, 2009, 05:10:00 PM
There was a guy trying to sell an early 80's Olds Ninety-Eight converted to an el-camino type vehicle on our local classifieds for months and months. He wasn't even asking much (something like $2000) and it looked to be a good job as well. Had I had the extra money I might have looked at it, since I need a truck...
Title: Check out what I saw yesterday at lunch.....
Post by: 20th anny 5.o on July 18, 2009, 04:39:07 AM
(http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a185/Loki363987/eek2.gif) that thing is hideous as are all personal pickups.
Title: Check out what I saw yesterday at lunch.....
Post by: vinnietbird on July 18, 2009, 07:00:12 AM
It would make a good parts hauler.
Title: Check out what I saw yesterday at lunch.....
Post by: 20th anny 5.o on July 18, 2009, 02:06:41 PM
Well yes it would, and i guess if you want a "classy" Personal pickup that would be it but i am just not much into personal pickups, they are like mullets business up front party in the back.
Title: Check out what I saw yesterday at lunch.....
Post by: oldraven on July 19, 2009, 09:34:16 AM
Correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe GM made a number of Cadillac 'pickups' in the 70's, in the El Camino style. I remember reading about it in a car mag when the Escalade EXT first came out. They did a side by side with the new one and the old 'camino one. I keep all of my magazines, so it's around here somewhere, but it would take far more time than I'm willing to spend to find it. ;)

My point is, this may not be a custom job at all.
Title: Check out what I saw yesterday at lunch.....
Post by: Watchdevil on July 19, 2009, 10:07:39 AM
In the history of US production, the official modern factory production car based trucks were the Ford Ranchero and Canadian Meteor equivalents, the Chevy El Camino and GMC Sprint/Caballero twins, the Dodge Rampage and Plymouth Scamp, and the VW Rabbit Pickup.

Back in the early days of auto history, all trucks started out as regular production cars with a truck bed on the back. The Australian Ford Falcon Ute and Holden Commodore Ute are just two of several vehicles outside US production that still carry on this tradition today.

Car based trucks by any other brand or marque were custom built by coachbuilders or one-offs by the vehicle manufacturer.

I recall several Ford Fairmont Futura based trucks that were custom built as well.
Title: Check out what I saw yesterday at lunch.....
Post by: Thunder Chicken on July 19, 2009, 11:36:46 AM
You forgot the Subaru Brat, and the newer Subaru Outback SUT. And, of course, the Honda Ridgeline :hick:

...and there are plenty in Europe as well, including the Hyundai Pony truck, based on the Pony that you Americans never got, but unfortunatly we Canucks did (we didn't get the truck version though, just the car, which was like a Chevette, but without the Chevette's style, quality, reliability or comfort).
Title: Check out what I saw yesterday at lunch.....
Post by: oldraven on July 19, 2009, 01:12:32 PM
It wasn't a Rabbit pickup either. It was the Caddy. ;)

That's it. I'm going to break into the boxes and find that article. It could take a very long time, but I'm unemployed and the little guy is asleep.
Title: Check out what I saw yesterday at lunch.....
Post by: Old_Paint on August 21, 2009, 01:41:59 AM
Quote from: Thunder Chicken;282796
which was like a Chevette, but without the Chevette's style, quality, reliability or comfort).

How can you have less than nothing?  The Chevette scored flat zeroes in ALL those categories, LOL.
Title: Check out what I saw yesterday at lunch.....
Post by: Beau on August 21, 2009, 02:24:40 AM
Quote from: Old_Paint;287429
How can you have less than nothing?  The Chevette scored flat zeroes in ALL those categories, LOL.

WORD. lol, there...SOMEONE hadta say it :mullet:
Title: Check out what I saw yesterday at lunch.....
Post by: doodaa on August 21, 2009, 11:19:39 AM
Quote from: FordTruckFreeek;287434
WORD. lol, there...SOMEONE hadta say it :mullet:


+1 :D



Best use I've ever seen for a Chevette was a guy that cut the "rear clip" off of two of them and welded them together to make a trailer to tow behind his 39 Dodge. ;)