Rustys Birding and Trains: 1966 Ford Thunderbird

We picked up the T-Bird about three years ago from my uncle in Arizona. He was going to rebuild her however his back was gone and wasn't able to continue.

A Little History

My grandfather owned a Ford dealership in Tucson, Az. A reverend with 5 children bought the car from him. After a week the T-Bird was Returned (too small interior of course). So - legend tells that my grandfather purchased it for my grandmother (Ethel). She didn't like the original colors (Cinnamon and White) as she thought they would be too hot for the Arizona sun. The white paint on her is the paint from 45 years ago. As a kid, I remember being told by my grandfather to go out and start the air conditioning - as a pre teen this was quite a memorable task and I always remember the T controls for the windshield wipers and floor vents. Over the years, even when she could no longer drive, my grandmother loved to be taken for rides and insisted that my uncles or cousins take her in the T-Bird. After the passing of my grandmother, the car ended up in El Cajon, Ca hauling hay and working my uncle's ranch. She was kept running by the students at my uncles high school and explains why there were a lot of by-passes to the electrical and vacuum systems. After awhile the car sat in unused for 10 years until my uncle from Arizona picked it up and moved it to his place.

Why me?!

My wife and I were talking one day and I mentioned that it I really wanted to have something to hand down to the kids that mattered to our family. Since I didn't know of any realestate that would be handed down, the T-Bird came to mind. After checking with all the Aunts and Uncles plus the nephews, nieces and my brothers and sister; I found that no one wanted her.

How'd we get her home?

I talked to a buddy of mine from New Jersey and he flew down to Houston. I bought a trailer capable of hauling the old girl back and we hooked up and started our journey to Arizona. This included a stop at the Grand Canyon as he had never been there. Our trip home with Ethel was grand and even resolved an issue he was having ... by the way F-16's can target you and head out before you hear them - New Mexico on route 60 let us know how good our men and women in uniform really are. Over the last 3 years, with the help of a great friend and automotive guru here in Magnolia, Tx she is up and running and safe to drive.