The Way It Should Have Been Done... [PIC]

I hated the looks of those Square Birds so when the next generation was released in 1961, I liked the sleeker look of the body but the hardtop roof line just didn't seem to meld with body. The first time I really fell in love with that gen was when Ed "Kookie" Burns' parking lot valet character drove the faux 2 seat Sports Roadster to 77 Sunset Strip. Ford also decided the hardtop needed a custom revision so their styling department designed a fastback roof that was fabricated from fiberglass and added to a customized 1962 Thunderbird all done at the Dearborn Steel Tubing Company. 1963 front fenders and doors, Ferrari styled egg crate grill, chromed hood and side molding and faux vents were added along with a custom leather rich interior. The car was finished in a lustrous Candy Apple Red. Called the "Italien" for Dearborn's take on Italian styling, it wasn't considered a concept car but rather a styling exercise that became part of Ford's traveling "Custom Car Caravan" and also was displayed at the "Cavalcade of Custom Cars" at the 1964 to 1965 New York World's Fair . When the promotional tour ended, the car was sent back to DST slated for the crusher. It was saved by actor Dale Robertson, and after many different owners, was restored back to its original condition and finish. It was sold again at auction in2024 for $456,000. I guess someone else liked the car too.