A wild looking of 1963 Ford Thunderbird Custom by George Barris

ONE-OFF - Watching unique cars especially those custom made from the 1960s was great, and these following custom car of 1960s have long held our attention and also arouse curiosity. Well, we saw for the first time the car known as the 1963 Ford Thunderbird Custom with a plate number of '3RDE641' was when interacting on social media Twitter and Pinterest. 

1963 Ford Thunderbird Custom with a plate number of '3RDE641' called Scorpion is built by George Barris back in the 1960s, and commisoned by Eddie Leon. (Picture from: CustoCarChronicle)

This one-off custom-made classic car with a striking exterior looks and different from any model of its kind that has ever existed. It's deniable those unique exterior shapes is inspired by the world of aviation, which was becoming a trend at that time in the US. In addition, it has a long body, uniquely, this 1960s classic car wearing a Corvette-badge at the front, chopped top, extended roofline, rear tire covers and also custom interior. What's even more extraordinary, if the standard Ford TBird model has 2 taillights at the rear, but this custom car has 3 taillights placed in a section that is made to resemble a fighter jet thruster.

1963 Ford Thunderbird Custom with a plate number of '3RDE641' wearing a Corvette-badge at the front, chopped top. (Picture from: Pinterest)

Then who had the initial idea for a custom car like that? As quoted of Hooniverse, the car's story began when Eddie Leon, a furniture store owner in Los Angeles who commissioned a custom car maker to build the 1963 Ford Thunderboard that he purchased in the late 1960s.

1963 Ford Thunderbird Custom's interior is covering by color combination of red and gold such a kind of the ancient Egyptian Pharaoh's themed. (Picture from: CustoCarChronicle)

As quoted of CustomCarChronicle, the current owner was found an old Craigslist's advertisement from 2007 saying that the car was built by George Barris for Eddie Leon from the Leon Furniture Shops (his name all over car including badge on bonnet and on dash also says build one of one what's it called the Scorpion). 

1963 Ford Thunderbird Custom's science-fiction themed interior is fascinating featured with many switches, lights, and knobs successively covering every corner of the dashboard. (Picture from: CustoCarChronicle)

More likely, George Barris had talked about it once and then claimed he built it as he has with numerous other custom cars of the 1960s. Then when was this car built? Based on information of the current owner, he found a trophy at the car's trunk shown the car had won the trophy for the Best Custom Car 1968 San Mateo. So it must have been created pre 1968.

1963 Ford Thunderbird Custom with a plate number of '3RDE641' has a long body with extended roofline and a unique rear tire cover. (Picture from: CustoCarChronicle)

As quoted of CustomCarChronicle, the classic custom car is powered by a 1963 427 Ford Top Oiler or Center Oiler engine. In 1975 were added a set of ported and polished 1966 (C5AE) Medium Rise heads (2.19 intake / 1.73 exhaust). It is estimated that the machine mentioned above is capable of producing around 450 ponies which isn’t bad for a low (9.5:1) cruiser.

1963 Ford Thunderbird Custom with a plate number of '3RDE641' is powered by a 1963 427 Ford Top Oiler or Center Oiler engine, and estimated capable of producing around 450 ponies. (Picture from: CustoCarChronicle)

It is tough to describe the inside of this Ford Thunderbird Custom. As you can see, the car interior is covering by color combination of red and gold such a kind of the ancient Egyptian Pharaoh's themed.

1963 Ford Thunderbird Custom with a plate number of '3RDE641' has 3 taillights placed in a section that is made to resemble a fighter jet thruster. (Picture from: CustoCarChronicle)

Uniquely, the 1960s science-fiction themed interior is fascinating featured with many switches, lights, and knobs successively covering every corner of the dashboard, and according to the current owner of the vehicle, everything still works. Even it has the voice control? Can you imagine what voice control from the 70s is like, and what for?

1963 Ford Thunderbird Custom with a plate number of '3RDE641' should been created pre 1968, due to in that year it had won trophy for the Best Custom Car 1968 San Mateo. (Picture from: ReddIt)

The Scorpion, as the car came to be known, and is currently in Adelaide, Australia. The car's current order of ownership can be traced back to Eddie Leon's family since the custom car spent most of its life in Vacaville, Southern California before an Australian car collector bought it, and then the current owner bought it from him.

1963 Ford Thunderbird Custom with a plate number of '3RDE641' called Scorpion is currently in Adelaide, Australia. (Picture from: CustoCarChronicle)

Since it is an unusual looking vehicle, and judging from the pictures circulating in cyberspace where the car looks shabby with relatively makeshift conditions, we hope the Australian owner able to restore it to its full period-correct glory conditions. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | HOONIVERSE | CUSTOCARCHRONICLE | THEDRIVE | WIKIPEDIA ]

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