A GENTLEMAN CAME TO ME AND SAID, YOU ARE INTO OLD CARS. I HAVE GOT ONE THAT NEEDS A LOT OF WORK. I DON’T HAVE THE TIME OR THE MONEY TO MAKE A NICE ONE OUT OF IT. I SAID, LET’S SEE WHAT YOU HAVE. IT WAS A 1973 THUNDERBIRD CONVERTIBLE AND ONE OF MY ALL TIME FAVORITE FORD CONVERTIBLES. IT WAS AMAZINGLY RUST FREE FOR A NORTHERN CAR. IT WAS METALLIC ROSE WITH A MATCHING EXCELLENT INTERIOR SHOWING NO SIGNS OF ABUSE. IT RAN RATHER POORLY.
I TOLD HIM, I WANT TO BUY YOUR CAR BUT I DON’T WANT TO HURT YOUR FEELINGS BECAUSE AS YOU HAVE INDICATED THE CONVERTIBLE TOP DOES NOT WORK WHICH REQUIRES RELIABLE OPERATION OF OVER 100 RELAYS AND SWITCHES. I AM FACING SOME ENGINE WORK. TOO MANY PEOPLE THINK THAT A SET OF NEW SPARK PLUGS WILL CURE BURNT VALVES. HE SAID, YOU WON’T HURT MY FEELINGS. I HAVE TO GET RID OF IT. HIS FIGURE WAS WELL BELOW BOOK FOR THE CURRENT CONDITION. I COULD SEE THE POTENTIAL SO I BOUGHT IT AND THEN COMPLETELY HAD IT DETAILED.
NEXT WE PERFORMED A MAJOR TUNE UP INCLUDING CARBURETOR OVERHAUL. THEN I BOUGHT IN A FRIEND OF MINE FROM INDIANAPOLIS WHO WAS AN EXPERT AT RESURRECTING THUNDERBIRD TOPS.
IT WAS STANDING TALL IN MY COVETED SMALL SPOT IN MY SERVICE DEPARTMENT WHERE I DISPLAY MY CARS. MY DAD WAS IN TOWN FOR A VISIT AND SPOTTED THE CAR AND IMMEDIATELY WANTED TO BUY IT.
MY DAD HAS BEEN MY INSPIRATION ALL MY LIFE, SO I HANDED HIM THE KEYS AND SAID HAPPY BIRTHDAY. HE SAID, MY BIRTHDAY IS NOT UNTIL AUGUST. I SAID BY THEN I MAY FORGET IT. HE WAS THRILLED, GAVE ME A RUSSIAN BEAR HUG AND DROVE IT BACK TO TOLEDO. HE HAD IT FOR SEVERAL YEARS AND HE NEVER HAD THE TOP DOWN. HE AND MOM LAURA TOOK IT FOR A FEW SPINS AND HE LIKED TO SIT IN IT. HE COVERED IT WITH PLASTIC IN THE WINTER WHICH WAS SMART. WHEN SOMEONE SPOTTED IT AND OFFERED HIM AN ATTRACTIVE AMOUNT, THE THUNDERBIRD HAD A NEW HOME.
