In late 1984 Rusty Eck Ford in Wichita ordered all of 6 white convertible Twister II. For some reason they shipped one of 6 9L convertible T2 to Solomon America in Topeka. Tom Solomon converted one of the 13 T2 convertibles to 5S-0149 Predator. Tom delivered this car to Kribs Ford in St. Louis and sold it there. No one knew that this car started its life as T2 for 26 years. Long lost 9L convertible T2 was found last December 2010.
This car belonged to the same owner for a long time. The guy had this car since 1994. Then he passed away couple years ago. The car was passed down to his sister. She tried to sell it for a few years with no luck. The convertible was in her garage for a while. One day she pulled the convertible out of garage and parked on her driveway while she was doing something in garage.
Next day the car is gone, someone took it from her driveway and lady have keys with her. Of coruse they reported it to police. Few days later police noticed this stolen convertible driving on the road. Police tried to pulled over whoever in the car. The guy decided to run away from the police. And they chase them and guy got away from police and got lost control and hit in ditch before bluff and left the car. Police never found who in the car.
The car was towed and returned to lady again. She have to drop price down because of damage. One of my friend asked me if I want to own a wrecked convertible Predator. Because he knew that I could save this car. When we're close to purchase this car we discovered by VIN and VC that this car was a T2. I want to make sure the car was confirmed by Terry "Mr. Twister" Fritts. He confirmed that convertible is T2 few months before he passed away. After I purchased the car and it need some work repair to be road worthy. No issues when we drove it return to Kansas after Christmas and parked in garage next to my 86 Saleen.
Few weeks later, I couldnt stand to see her in such bad shape. She sitting down in garage with wrecked in front, wheelbase one inch off in front left wheel, windshield where one of the crook's heads smashed it, rusted on bottom doors and quarter panels, top convertible was slashed from being broke into and trashed the key cylinder on the column. Interior is pretty filthy, poorly repainted exterior and incorrect Le Man stripes and side rockers stripes. She didn't deserve to be in this condition. The car needed a full restoration. I started the progress in Feb. 2011 and finished in last May 2011.
3 months later. She is a beautiful one of kind car. I'm 99% sure that Tom Solomon removed all T2 decals and put all Predator stripes on and sold it in St. Louis because they have nothing to do with T2 promotion in St. Louis. I feel that she deserved to have T2 decals back on where she was belong. I decied to put torando with eyes decals on above molding trim of quarter panels and leave rest as Predator.
Some information I got from Foxchassis, Terry Fritts, Orlando Haywood and others.
Kansas City dictrct office order 90 Twister II from Dearborn.
-74 red, 14 white, 1 silver, 1 cayon red
-77 hardtop, 13 convertible
-Rusty Eck Ford ordered all of 6 white convertibles
Solomon America built 135 Predator in 1985
-12 convertible
-9 of 135 has red stripes
As of now I know only one 9L convertible T2 still exist. I hope other of 6 white convertible T2 still around. If you're out of curious about one silver and one cayon red T2 still exist? We did verifty both of them, they last time registry back in 93 and 94 which dose not sound very good. Tom Solomon is still around and I'm still wait to hear from him to see if he still remember my car and like to know why he convertion from Twister II to Predator. He did mention to Orlando that he knows my T2/Predator was a special order car, but we are not sure why yet. Hopefully we will get more details soon.
If I heard anything update or interesting story about my car. I will share with you.
The day I went over there to see the car.
Removed driver side frame rail to replace with other one.
Frame and wheel base is straight now.
Found 2 build sheets in car. One is ruined and other one saved but could barely read.
Get ready for new paint
VIN on the engine and transmission are a match!
I need to replace to correct air cleaner for it soon.
Stay tuned for 86-177 Saleen!
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