Doug Kielian of Auto Kraft is the metal wizard behind all of these cars. They are shortened 8" and then welded back together. Ford worked with one that was shortened 13" but that really required some mods. Doug's more sane 8" cut leaves all the glass stock and even now leaves in the stock gas tank. Metal is removed around the quarter panel and over the top. Cut inside removes the rear footwells to preserve gas tank location. My car has a full backseat!
Here is a pic of the Ford one from the magazine article:
There are 6 now!
Short Wheelbase Thunderbirds! (and one Mark VIII)
#001 – (TBird body in white) Jeff's Blown 5.0!
(Jeff posts here and on the TCCoA from time to time as SWB001. I believe Jeff's car is on a personal page on the TCCoA.)
#002 – (SC) Wrecked from racing and rumored to be in storage in NY or the Poconos. I have been slowly tracking down the owner to see what happened to this car. He originally sent his car to Doug for the customization. It actually hit the street before the #001 prototype car that belongs to Jeff. (TCCoA article on #002:
http://www.tccoa.com/articles/clipings/tbird1.html)
#003 – (Made from 2 SC's) The Grabber Blue one that was Doug’s personal car. Recently for sale in California. Doug and Steph drove it for several years. This car was originally white before being painted Doug's signature Grabber Blue color. I have seen it for sale at least three times in the last 5 years. It is the one that I almost bought and got me interested in having mine customized. (This one is now owned by XR7 Dave and family who frequent these boards.)
#004 – (SC) Sold to a former employee at Doug’s shop. Tubbed out for big slicks. To my knowledge this car was not completed and has never hit the streets. Doug was training one of his body shop guys on how to do the SWB mod. The guy left Doug's shop and took the unfinished car with him. I believe it now resides in the Montana/Wyoming area, but cannot remember for sure.
#005 – (SC) Mine! Stayed at Doug's shop for nearly 18 months due to hidden rust and other complications. Car was out of service for nearly three years! (My site is in my sig.)
#006 – (Made from 2 Mark VIIIs) The Mark VIII. I think Doug is still driving this one! (More pics on Doug's site:
http://www.autokraftnebraska.com/)
Just search this site and the TCCoa for SWB and you'll find more information. There is no particular model or options that they were built around and not even all of them started life as an SC.