A 1965 Dreamboat... [PIC]

Rich great pictures and story.  I bought the 1/24 one of these last year. In 1975, I went looking to buy my first car. I wanted a 64-66 Thunderbird. I thought as it was a ten year old car, should be affordable. Couldn't even find one.  

@grockwood When I got out of the Army on 1971, I looked up an old buddy of mine and he showed up in a medium metallic blue '65 convertible in immaculate shape. When I got in the car, I never wanted to get out. Back then, I had no idea how rare that car really was.

The detail on this model was one of the best of all mint models. The top mechanism in the trunk is perfect and exactly like the 1/1 in my 63 Sports Roadster. I've owned my car since 1990 and never before heard it likened to a banana. As has been said before, you learn something new every day on the forum.

Great read and model Rich. But they always are.💯😊

@bob-jackman To this day, I still think "banana" and I can't explain it or justify it. All I can say is that first impression was a lasting impression. LOL

brilliant model and review Rich, thanks

@rich-sufficool I understand. We all have impressions of various things that come into out lives.

I have all the DM T-Birds in my collection and was very disappointed they couldn't finish with the 1963 & 1966, my two favorite years.  Al least I have my 1:1 1966 convertible to keep me amused. 

@abaucom That is one beautiful T-bird Al.💯🤑

That DM model started my collection probably around 2005, I had noted a couple of flair birds at shows and fallen in Luv....  and was looking on line for the real deal and came across DM's 1965, one I could afford, the real deal is still on my radar

@abaucom Love the car especially in that color. Like you, I was disappointed when DM got out of the model car business. I understand they were working on the 63 and 66 at the time.

@bob-jackman

After all these years I don't think I am giving away DM secrets.  I am a T-Bird fan and about a year or so before China closed down DM, I was a consultant with DM regarding their plans for a 1963 & 1966 T-Bird.  Unpaid, perhaps DM consulted with T-Bird owners and Bird clubs, but kept it private that I respected.  I knew 1963 T-Birds when they were new, as well as 1966 T-Birds when new, and currently have a 1966 T-Bird convertible.

I remember once, I had a discussion with DM regarding their proposed 1963 T-Bird.  We went back and forth regarding if a 1963 would have single or duel exhaust.  T-Bird records indicate in 1963 you could only get a duel exhaust, perhaps in May of 1963.  However, my Dad bought a new 1963 T-Bird, February 1963 from a dealer in Macon GA, and it had duel exhaust.  This was my first car, given to me on my 16th birthday early 1967, and that car had duel exhaust off the showroom floor.  Just changing the single exhaust on previous DM T-Bird models to a duel exhaust setup would cost money.

I spent many hours offering suggestions for color combinations for both the 1963 & 1966 T-Birds.  We were so close before China shut DM down.

@abaucom My 63 Sports Roadster is a 54,000 mile car I have known from new. It has a single exhaust. It was my understanding that the M code cars were the only ones to have duals in 1963. I have the build sheet for my car but it is not legible and the original gate release doesn't indicate anything regarding exhaust. My car is registered with the now defunct Sports Roadster Society.