Autoblog

With todays modern electronics, suspension and power train, this would make a great American sport sedan. Nothing's wrong with the design at all. Would love to see new auto like this come out of detroit once again....

Let's see, they took the roof from a 1960 Ford Galaxie and put it on a '63 T-Bird. Not exactly the stuff of greatness but the the "A" Team at Ford Styling was working on the Mustang back then.

Lord help me, I like it!

You know? If they would have put this puppy into productionI might have bought one! I'm not a Ford fan but, this is my kind of designing!
I did buy a 1955 T-Bird with the two tops in 1963 but it was strickly as an investment and I had it sold to Gary Crosby, Bings oldest son by Dixie for twice what i paid for it and damned if they didn't pop me with the Mustang! that's one thing I'll never forgive Lee Iacocca for doing! I still made a profit but not what I would have.

Many people think the roof on the Italien is from a Starliner or a Charger or even a Rambler but it is truely unique.
It was hand built by DST after Ford Stylists crafted a mule in clay.
This site explores the differences from production vehicles and even shows a '62 Bird with a Starliner roof grafted on.
http://www.customclinic.com/Styling_Analysis/styling_analysis.html
The quarter windows and rear window are made from plexiglass because of their one-off nature and cost to make unique glass.
The Italien was featured in 14+ magazines in '63 and '64 and all predicted it would be built but alas the minds of Ford decided to scrap it.
The Italien was instrumental in the design of the Mustang as it was being built while the Mustang was being designed.
It's a great car with a great history and I truely enjoyed restoring it but now it's time to move on and let someone else enjoy it. Hopefully it will end up in a nice museum somewhere where many people can appreciate it.
For more on The Italien visit http://www.tbirdsquare.com

Many people think the roof on the Italien is from a Starliner or a
Charger or even a Rambler but it is truely unique.
It was hand built by DST after Ford Stylists crafted a mule in clay.
This site explores the differences from production vehicles and even
shows a '62 Bird with a Starliner roof grafted on.
http://www.customclinic.com/Styling_Analysis/styling_analysis.html
The quarter windows and rear window are made from plexiglass because
of their one-off nature and cost to make unique glass.
The Italien was featured in 14+ magazines in '63 and '64 and all
predicted it would be built but alas the minds of Ford decided to
scrap it.
The Italien was instrumental in the design of the Mustang as it was
being built while the Mustang was being designed.
It's a great car with a great history and I truely enjoyed restoring
it but now it's time to move on and let someone else enjoy it.
Hopefully it will end up in a nice museum somewhere where many people
can appreciate it.
For more on The Italien visit http://www.tbirdsquare.com

Hi Tom, Thanks for sharing the photos of the Italien. I love to look at 1950's concept cars and was wondering if there is a web site dedicated to them, or a book you could refer me to?

Thanks so much!