Rod & Custom May 1964

Pat Brollier photographing Tom Kosulandich's 1955 Ford Thunderbird at the Compton Drive In. The photos appeared in Rod & Custom June 1964. Photo courtesy of Mike Kosulandich.

Tom Kosulandich's 1955 Ford Thunderbird of San Pedro, California. Built with the help of his brother Mike and Greg Sharp, the Thunderbird underwent extensive customization under the skilled hands of Bill Ortega, Bill Hines, Eddie Martinez and Joe Perez. Featuring a Candy Red paint job by Hines and a custom interior by Martinez, the car debuted in its full glory at the 1963 Tridents Rod Custom Autorama, winning the Sports Car Sweepstakes. This early iteration of Mike's Thunderbird became a standout icon in the Southern California custom car scene and was later featured in Rod & Custom magazine May 1964.

Contents and Featured Cars

Tom Kosulandich's 1955 Ford Thunderbird - The Sundowner