Birds of a feather: Suburban friends boast matching T-birds

Its been long said "Birds of a feather flock together," and in this rare case, it's nearly identical birds that now are seen hitting the streets together for drop-top summer cruising.

These matching 1957 Ford Thunderbirds belong to local buddies, Bob Sroka of Niles and Lee Bakakos of Glenview. These fowls' close history started nearly 50 years ago. Of the 21,380 cars that rolled off the Dearborn, Mich., assembly plant in 1956, this duo was built exactly three short weeks apart - Friday, Oct. 19 and Friday, Nov. 9.

Both were shipped to waiting owners in sun-drenched California - one to Los Angeles and the other to nearby Santa Ana, at which point they parted ways for five decades until the recent reunion here in Illinois.

While Sroka picked his coupe up in Florida back in 1997, Bakakos nabbed his bird just several months ago in nearby Inverness, although never with matching intentions.

"My heart was set on a dark blue T-Bird but after a fruitless nationwide search, I gave up on finding one. Shortly thereafter, I caught wind of a rust-free Thunderbird here in my own backyard and it just happened to be a '57 in Inca Gold - exactly the same as Bob's," Bakakos says with a smile.

And it's that factory Inca Gold paint, standing out from those classy white-walled tires, lustrous chrome bumpers and removable hardtop with ocean liner-esque porthole windows that hearken back to bright days of automotive heritage - back when cars had true character. Despite having the same paint option box checked, walking around the sculpted sheet metal in changing light will reveal they each own a unique, subtle variation in shade. Factory mistake? Restoration error? Uneven wear pattern?

"During the '50s, automotive paint was mixed by hand on a daily basis - not by computer or machine. So, depending on how the painter happened to be feeling that day or how much tint was added to the batch could result in varying shades of the same color," Sroka says. Bakakos adds: "We know several other Inca Gold T-Bird owners and when grouped together, no two cars are exactly the same hue."

When the guys had their numbers-matching cars restored, they both ensured the paint was hand-mixed before being applied for that nostalgic throwback. Sroka's bird went through an extensive two-year restoration before it emerged in the mint condition it is in today. Just as clean is Bakakos's ride, which itself went under a frame-off restoration shortly before its February purchase. While they appear to be identical, Bakakos' '57 does have the power seat and windshield-washer jet option, marking the only subtle changes.

Something that is the same for both of these charming convertibles is the four-barrel carburetor bolted atop the 312-cubic inch V-8, which breathes easier, thanks to a functional hood scoop.

"While it may appear cosmetic, that feature is very needed. These diminutive cars have significantly smaller engine compartments when compared to the other larger vehicles of the time. Without that fresh air being rammed in, they would run hotter and suffer from overheating," Sroka says.

The task of exhaling the hot, spent fumes is delegated to a dual-exhaust system, exiting through subtle ports in the rear chrome bumper. The birds take flight by way of 245 horses reigned in through a floor mounted two-speed automatic transmission. Other shared options are power steering, power brakes and, unique for their time, power windows. Both interiors have the Continental white option, resulting in ivory seats, door panels and dash with an eye-catching hand-turned brushed aluminum inset.

Even with their pristine show condition, theses cars do get put to frequent use. Sroka and Bakakos are members of the Classic Thunderbird Club of Chicagoland and regularly drive to area shows and events - always parking side-by-side in the lots.

Despite the close ties, a healthy competition exists on which aficionado liked the Thunderbird model first. Sroka claims the title: "I fell in love with these cars in grammar school. A Ford dealer was on my walk to school and as a kid I frequently stopped in when the first batch came in new so I could see them up close." Not to be outdone, Bakakos is quick to add his personal story of affection. "I've wanted a T-Bird since I was 6 years old. My uncle had a '57 and would take me for rides, at which point I decided that I too, wanted one for my own," Bakakos says.

No matter who has liked this iconic model the longest, the strong friendship that exists between the owners of these birds is just as visible as the stark similarities between their classic rides.