1962 Ford Thunderbird “Vista Bird” Custom Wagon
Grafting a raised-roof section inspired by a 1965 Oldsmobile Vista Cruiser onto a 1962 Ford Thunderbird hardtop took an Idaho body shop owner more than 400 hours of labor, and the result raised an obvious question: could this have been Ford’s answer to the Chevrolet Nomad?
The B-pillars required modification to integrate the raised wagon roof structure, but the fit was otherwise surprisingly natural. The rear hatch uses custom tempered glass with hinges sourced from a Ford Pinto hatchback, and the original trunk floorpan was retained as a spare tire well, with a carpeted wood floor laid over it to form the cargo area.
The exterior is finished in Medium Teal over Jadestone.
Power comes from a 390 cubic-inch V-8 pulled from a 1969 Ford, internally upgraded with a 428 crankshaft and a high-lift camshaft, breathing through a Holley 650 cfm four-barrel and dual exhausts. A Cruise-O-Matic three-speed automatic handles the power.
Surprisingly, the conversion only resulted in a 25 pound weight gain.
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