1963 Italien Prototype

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Triple-G
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1963 Italien Prototype

Post by Triple-G »

Thinking of modifying a base 1963 to match the Italien Prototype.
Anybody ever tried this, what trouble areas did you run into?
Saw one version with a galaxy fastback roof sliced onto the 63 body.

Why, I just think the Italien Prototype looks good.
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Alan H. Tast
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Re: 1963 Italien Prototype

Post by Alan H. Tast »

Have you done a 'Search' for Italien?

https://www.vintagethunderbirdclub.net/ ... n&start=15

Long story short: the "Italien" started out as a '62 convertible with a custom-fabricated fiberglass roof grafted to it. There have been attempts to mimic it (including a botched attempt that used the original 'Italien' roof as a pattern), with varying degrees of success and quality, including using the '60 or '61 Galaxie 'Starliner' roof (which, in my opinion, is a sin to cut one off an original car that's very desirable today, especially since I've wanted a '61 Starliner from my childhood back in the early-mid 1960s).

To modify a hardtop for a similar roof would require additional reinforcing of the body, in essence the solid back set/trunk divider panel that the convertibles used, and possibly reinforcing of the rocker panel structure, to reduce torsion/flex and body sag issues. Restoration of the "Italien" was covered in a series of articles in VTCI's Thunderbird Scoop in the mid-2010s by the restorer, Tom Maruska of Duluth, Minnesota. Tom has since restored other Ford-Mercury show cars.
Alan H. Tast, AIA, LEED AP
Technical Director/VTCI Forum Administrator/Past President,
Vintage Thunderbird Club Int'l.
Author, "Thunderbird 1955-1966" & "Thunderbird 50 Years"
1963 Hardtop & 1963 Sports Roadster
Triple-G
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Re: 1963 Italien Prototype

Post by Triple-G »

Original
Original
Replica
Replica
The original Italien car has the 1963 body lines, the replicas with Starliner tops are the 1962's. I will use a 1963, because I think it looks better. I would also not get a restorable Starliner and cut its top, but junker that has a good roof and trunk divider area that can be used.
Although I am just starting to conceptualize this journey, I am not naïve enough to think there is not a lot of work involved in this process.

However, I would love to access Tom Maruska articles on the Italien's restoration.
Can you provide instructions on how to access them?
That and any similar information would be of great assistance in planning this out.


PS - Just call me a T-Bird Dreamer.
1963 and 1965 - one resto mod and one customized version of each.
Yes, 4 x T-Birds total - in the next 15 years; money and health dependent of course.
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Alan H. Tast
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Re: 1963 Italien Prototype

Post by Alan H. Tast »

The car pictured with the Starliner roof was built by a person in the Salt Lake City area according to former VTCA 1958-1960 Tech Editor and noted custom car enthusiast/author Mark S. Gustavson sometime in the 1990s. It is NOT - I repeat NOT a Ford-commissioned show car or a prototype.

As for accessing the series of articles that Tom Maruska authored during the Italien's restoration in the mid-2010s, currently we do not have reprints of articles available through VTCI. I will 'spill the beans' that we are working on assembling a PDF set of back issues of the Scoop from 1968 through the 2000s to sell as a fund-raising project to dues-paying Club members in good standing for later this year (hey, it costs money to keep this site up and going, and paid memberships are in part what does that). If you're not a dues-paying VTCI member, go here:

https://www.vintagethunderbirdclub.net/

and scroll down to find information on membership dues. There will be more on the digital Scoop archive project as the months progress.
Alan H. Tast, AIA, LEED AP
Technical Director/VTCI Forum Administrator/Past President,
Vintage Thunderbird Club Int'l.
Author, "Thunderbird 1955-1966" & "Thunderbird 50 Years"
1963 Hardtop & 1963 Sports Roadster
Triple-G
Posts: 13
Joined: Fri Dec 20, 2024 2:43 pm
Contact:

Re: 1963 Italien Prototype

Post by Triple-G »

You just re-iterated what my last posted stated, the Prototype (Original) is a 1963, and the current Replicas are 1962s, but my version will be a 1963.
Knowing that there is engineering design required, what work has been done with fiberglass/carbon-fiber? I will search that next.

Back to point-
I look forward to the consolidation and sell of the previous editions. Right now I am conceptualizing and collecting data for my second project after a restored 1963, which will be my revised version of the Ford 1963 Prototype "Italien." Looking forward to chatting about the resto project, as it will prepare me for Project "Italien II."

Lastly, it is my desire to become a dues paying/card carrying member, but only after I purchase my first T-Bird. Otherwise, I do not consider myself eligible. Thanks for sharing.
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