1963 Ford Thunderbird Italien Fastback for sale on Hemmings

[Hotrod 97]

I saw this while browsing the Hemmings classifieds. The article says that it’s the original concept car from back then. Unique looking T-Bird, that’s for sure.

Link to the Hemmings article here.

 

[Exotics_Builder]

Thinking of trying to create that from this

 

[Dave Ambrose]

That's a beautiful car. I've never seen a kit for it before. But now, I'll keep my eye out for one. 

[Exotics_Builder]

Just now, Dave Ambrose said:

That's a beautiful car. I've never seen a kit for it before. But now, I'll keep my eye out for one. 

The Kaucher Kustom esin ws one of 60 copies made and is not quite an Italien.  You use the newer issue AMT 62 TBird for the donor kit.  It needs some work to match the Italien or you could just do it as a custom

[fordf-100]

That is really sharp! I wonder what roof could be used, maybe the custom clear roof from the 64 T-Bird would be a decent starting place!

[matthijsgrit]

17 hours ago, Exotics_Builder said:

The Kaucher Kustom esin ws one of 60 copies made and is not quite an Italien.  You use the newer issue AMT 62 TBird for the donor kit.  It needs some work to match the Italien or you could just do it as a custom

That came straight to mind! Unique kit. To bad he didn't do many more designs. Well, he did more, but they didn't make it as a kit. Only this T-bird, the 69 Camaro wagon and the 68 Camaro fastback (I have a copy of that, it's a beauty!!).

Edited March 6, 2020 by matthijsgrit

[Exotics_Builder]

5 hours ago, matthijsgrit said:

That came straight to mind! Unique kit. To bad he didn't do many more designs. Well, he did more, but they didn't make it as a kit. Only this T-burd, the 69 Camaro wagon and the 68 Camaro fastback (I have a copy of that, it's a beauty!!).

I am sorry that I passed on the Camaro Fastback.  I did get the Wagon.  He also did a Mustang, but I wasn't interested.

[Zoom Zoom]

11 hours ago, Exotics_Builder said:

The Kaucher Kustom esin ws one of 60 copies made and is not quite an Italien.  You use the newer issue AMT 62 TBird for the donor kit.  It needs some work to match the Italien or you could just do it as a custom

Only 60 copies? Glad I got mine when I did at NNL East. I’ll build as a custom too. 

[keyser]

There is a plastic top in 64 AMT convertible that is really close. Clear top not very close. 

[Lunajammer]

I wonder if the roof from a fourth generation mustang (1994–2004) wouldn't be a good starting point. Just make trim adjustments to the rear side windows.

[Exotics_Builder]

2 hours ago, Zoom Zoom said:

Only 60 copies? Glad I got mine when I did at NNL East. I’ll build as a custom too. 

That is what was claimed.  He did a variation of it also that was supposedly 60 copies.  I bought mine when they came out.  Just sorry I didn't do the 67 Camaro.  It seemed too Mustang looking.

2 hours ago, keyser said:

There is a plastic top in 64 AMT convertible that is really close. Clear top not very close. 

Yes.  I have the 64 kit and that roof is in it.

 

[matthijsgrit]

[Fat Brian]

9 hours ago, Lunajammer said:

I wonder if the roof from a fourth generation mustang (1994–2004) wouldn't be a good starting point. Just make trim adjustments to the rear side windows.

That might be a good place to get the basic shape, especially if you're going in a more modern custom direction. 

[bisc63]

AMC Marlin kit may be an option, roof-wise.

[RancheroSteve]

I had the privilege of seeing the Italien a few years back before it was restored.

Juha Airio has built a replica of it for the Lynx Project. https://www.thelynxproject.org/index.html

 

 

[89AKurt]

6 minutes ago, RancheroSteve said:

I had the privilege of seeing the Italien a few years back before it was restored.

Juha Airio has built a replica of it for the Lynx Project. https://www.thelynxproject.org/index.html

[...] 

I recognize a few guys in that picture!  Amazing a one-off can be allowed to waste away, but I understand the Sultan of Brunei is doing it with many cars.

[robertw]

I remember seeing a short TV segment on this car and I liked its look immediatly. I hope it finds a good home.

[sfhess]

On ‎3‎/‎7‎/‎2020 at 9:08 AM, RancheroSteve said:

I had the privilege of seeing the Italien a few years back before it was restored.

 

I had dinner with a couple of those guys later that day.

[Brian Austin]

Mark Gustavson has a bunch of detail pictures of the car in unrestored condition.

 

https://public.fotki.com/Mark-Gustavson/thunderbird-italien/