Bill's Bird will be featured at the next Cars & Coffee at Bill Colwell Ford!

Saturday, May 6, 2023
8:00am - 11:00am

Bring down your favorite car for some coffee and the chance to meet other car lovers. Classic cars, sports cars, muscle cars, luxury cars, anything! If you love it - BRING IT! Everyone is welcome at Cars & Coffee!
Meet Bill's Bird - a fully restored 1958 Ford Thunderbird, owned by Bill and Blake Colwell. 

A few years ago Bill & Blake decided they wanted to build a street rod vehicle to drive around the Cedar Valley, show at local car shows, and take on road trips. In 2015, while on Hot Rod Magazine's Power Tour, Bill looked at a 1960 Ford Thunderbird that had been modified with a Ford crate engine. After seeing that car, Bill knew that was the direction they should head. 

After a year long search they found a 1958 Thunderbird for sale in Hemming Motor News and were able to buy it from the owner in Kansas City. The car had been restored several years before by the previous owner and had been very well taken care of since then. 

Bill & Blake then decided to work with Stoner's Speed Shop in Hudson, Iowa to help with the conversion. These are the upgrades they made to the '58 Thunderbird:
  • Installed a 5.0 Ford Coyote Crate Engine from Ford Performance Parts with a 4R70W Transmission
  • Upgraded the suspension with Wilwood Brakes Tech Coilovers, new A-frames, a Ford 9-inch rear, and custom 4-Link rear suspension
  • Modern cooling
  • 20 inch American Racing Wheels
  • Continental Tires
  • Air Conditioning
  • Hidden modern sound system from CVSi Motorsports in Cedar Falls, Iowa
  • Dakota Digital retrofitted custom gauges into the factory stock instrument cluster
The plan was to completely modernize the mechanical systems of the car, while leaving the body and interior as stock as possible. Bill and Blake really enjoyed customizing this vehicle and working together with Stoner's Speed Shop on this father/son project. Make sure to follow Bill's Bird on Instagram @billsbird and if you see it out and about make sure to tag us or use the hashtag #BillsBird!

Awards:
  • 2018 Best Ford in a Ford from Goodguys Rod & Custom - Des Moines