Classic Look, Modern Ride: 1997 Ford Thunderbird EasyRod

While it’s easy to love the styling of a classic vehicle, there are certain aspects of classic vehicle ownership that aren’t for everyone, such as constant upkeep, chasing rare parts, and a lack of modern features. EasyRods is a New Jersey-based company who eliminates some of these worries with their conversion kits, with this example of a 1997 Ford Thunderbird now resembling a 1949-1951 Ford.

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This interesting Thunderbird is available through Gem City Classic Autos in Dayton, Ohio. The EasyRods conversion utilizes fiberglass components that mostly bolt, glue, and screw onto the T-Bird, with cutting and welding only required for trimming the front frame horns. A custom hood, two front fenders, a grille shroud, rear quarter panel overlays, trunk lid, hood hinges, and more are all included as part of the EasyRods kit.

All mechanical aspects of the vehicle stay intact while performing the conversion, but all of the work is already done with this example. The advertisement claims that there is a 4.9-liter V8 engine under the hood of this Thunderbird, though Ford began using a 4.6-liter V8 in the Thunderbird after 1994. Either way, the engine pairs to an automatic transmission to drive the rear wheels, but unfortunately, the advertisement does not specify the mileage on the drivetrain. 

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While the exterior of the vehicle is retro-inspired, the cabin is basically unchanged, reminding potential buyers that this conversion is more ‘90s Ford than it is ’50s Ford. The somewhat drab cloth interior is a huge contrast from the “Toreador Red” exterior paint color, and if I were to take ownership of this Thunderbird, it would be the first thing I’d remedy. 

Gem City Classic Autos is asking $18,000 for this converted bird. Grab this completed EasyRod before someone else does, because there's not a lot of chances to find something like this on the market.