My Thunderbird's

[5bird7]

Re: My Thunderbird's

Congratulations! Dave on your "new" 'bird. Glad you found this site and joined in.

[gundler]

Re: My Thunderbird's

What a great story, Dave, welcome! I've read of barn finds before, but never actually spoken to anyone about them. How in the world did you happen upon your first bird?

The 55 Bird was listed in a Upper Marlboro Maryland Country newspaper where one of the guys who worked for me lived. He knew I was looking for one since that's about all I talked about. I called the number and a older woman answered, said that it was still for sale and I could come to see it. I wasted no time getting there. She lived in a old farm house with a huge tobacco barn in the rear. She said that her husband had died four years ago, and she was just now starting to deal with his effects. She got a key off a hook in the pantry, and off we went. The barn was divided into stalls, the first on the right contained a 57 Bird ready for paint, on the left was a 52 Hudson, pending restoration, and next was a 56 bird pending restoration (I wasn’t sure what to expect, since I've not seen the Torch Red 55 as advertised. As we walked to the back of the barn, she stated, "this was Garry’s favorite one", there she sat all covered up with an old GI felt blanket. She pulled the cover off, and there she was, a torch red 1955 Thunderbird. I thought I died and went to heaven. It had not been started in 5-6 years and the brake cylinders were frozen, so had to hire a flat bed to pull her to her new home in Woodbridge Virginia. I Replaced the battery (6/12 volt) pored some gas in the Holley four barrel and two turns of the starter, she fired up, Oh what a great sound to my ears. Replaced all four wheel cylinders and I was good to go. I will never forget her,she was my first true love.

[merlot4]

Re: My Thunderbird's

Thanks for sharing, that must have been an unbelievable moment for you.

[BJHEN]

Re: My Thunderbird's

Welcome Dave and congrats on the new T-bird. BTW, I was born in Greenwood and spent a lot of time at Little Mtn. when I was young.

[Red Bird Dave]

Re: My Thunderbird's

Welcome aboard Dave,

The fun is just begining, try to attend local TBN events and meet some great people with similar interests. Also look for a local retro tbird group in your area. We have a great one here in the Sacramento area.

Red Bird Dave

[EllisonCal]

Re: My Thunderbird's

Dave, I get it. I drove a '56 Tbird in 1958 that belonged to the sister of an auto repair shop near my home in Chicago. It was a white one with 3 speed Overdrive transmission. The '56 Birds had a heavy Continental kit on the back which gave a very light front end feel when accelerating, but it was fun. I wanted one from that date on.

In 2006, I got my 2005 Evening Black and I've been lovin' it ever since. You will too!

I live in Charleston and last year put 10,900 miles on the car driving it coast to coast.

Cal