Short Story
Quick Specs
Short Story
While most of Chip’s custom creations are vehicles from years past, he also does work on modern era machines. In 2002, Ford Motor Company provided Foose Design a model of the recently reintroduced Ford Thunderbird. The vehicle was one of 3 Thunderbirds given to select hot rod builders, So-Cal Speed Shop and Bobby Alloway being the others, which would be modified and premiered in the Ford booth at the SEMA Show in Las Vegas.
Quick Specs
Owner & Vehicle
- Chip Foose
- Custom Coupe Stylized and Conceived by Chip Foose
Engine
- Make: Stock
- Displacement: Stock
Build Specifications
Owner: Chip Foose
Vehicle: 2002 Ford Thunderbird
Chassis
- Frame / Manufacturer: Stock Ford
- Wheelbase: 107.2″
- Rearend / Ratio: Stock
- Rear Suspension: Stock, lowered w/ Eibach Springs
- Rear Brakes: Baer
- Rear Shocks: Stock
- Front Suspension: Stock, lowered w/ Eibach Springs
- Front Brakes: Baer
- Front Shocks: Stock
- Master Cylinder: Stock
- Steering: Stock
- Front Wheel Make, Size: Foose custom wheel, 20″
- Rear Wheel Make, Size: Foose custom wheel, 20″
- Front Tire Make, Size: Pirelli
- Rear Tire Make, Size: Pirelli
- Gas Tank: Stock
Engine
- Make: Stock
- Displacement: Stock
Transmission
- Make: Stock
- Shifter: Stock
Body
- Body Style / Material: 2002 Ford Thunderbird Roadster / Steel and epoxy front and rear fascias
- Body Manufacturer: Ford
- Body Mods: Custom front and rear fascias, custom grille inserts, side vents and custom trim
- Hood: Reshaped with new scoop
- Grille: Custom grille inserts by Foose Design
- Bodywork: Chip Foose, Tim Fitzpatrick
- Paint type / Color: BASF Glasurit / “Chipewter”
- Painter: Foose Design
- Headlights / Taillights: Reshaped Volkswagen Beetle / Stock
- Bumpers: N/A
Interior
- Dashboard: Stock
- Insert / Gauges: Stock
- Stereo / Speakers: Stock
- Air Conditioning: Stock
- Wiring: Stock
- Steering wheel: Stock
- Steering column: Stock
- Seats: Custom Cobra Seats
- Upholsterer: Foose Design
- Material / Color: Leather / Black with Burnt Orange inserts
- Carpet: Stock
Speedbird 2002 Ford Thunderbird
While most of Chip’s custom creations are vehicles from years past, he also does work on modern era machines. In 2002, Ford Motor Company provided Foose Design a model of the recently reintroduced Ford Thunderbird. The vehicle was one of 3 Thunderbirds given to select hot rod builders, So-Cal Speed Shop and Bobby Alloway being the others, which would be modified and premiered in the Ford booth at the SEMA Show in Las Vegas.
Once Chip took delivery of the Thunderbird, he molded new front and rear fascias and built new front and rear grille inserts. Next, the roof was cut off and a new wrap around windshield added. A partial tonneau cover and stylized roll bar loops complement the distressed leather interior of the two-seater. Eibach lowering springs reduced the ride height and one-off wheels were designed, cut and installed. The front headlights were replaced with those of a Volkswagen Beetle.
The build of the vehicle, now known as Speedbird, was documented on the Discovery Channel’s automotive documentary Rides, which aired repeatedly on the TLC network in 2003. After the unveiling at SEMA, Ford Motor Company named Speedbird their “Best of Show”.
