The car I grew up with since I was born -- a 1967 Ford Thunderbird

Hello again,

This is the car I grew up with since I was an infant to about 7 years of age -- a Ford Thunderbird 4-door Landau.   It is exactly the same car except it was a dark green color.  My parents purchased this car in November of 1966, when Mom was pregnant with her first child (me!) until it was totalled in a car accident in Ho-Ho-Kus, New Jersey in June of 1975 by some ditzy girl who just got her license.  She was driving a 1973 Plymouth Satellite at the time of the accident.  Her car got most of the damage anyway.  The 1967 model was a first 4-door model for the Thunderbird model lineup which continued through 1971.

I had a lot of fond memories of the Thunderbird, especially the suicide doors that opened from the center, to the AM/FM radio where the display used to change for AM and FM.  The best feature of all was when the steering wheel would automatically tilt up to allow easier entry and exit.  The front seats would inadvertently fold forward since they were installed for its two door model, so when Dad would stop short, the seats would fold forward.  (Thanks Ford).   There were rear A/C ducts beneath the rear window for the rear seat passengers, and that was a cool feature.  I remember the grill work was all metal, so it was hot as hell when you accidentally touched it.

You don't see too many cars of this vintage for sale, but when you do, it is worth a look.  This one that I spotted last week is selling for $11k.  The original purchase price FOB was $3500 US in 1967.  This is when Ford had a consistency of satisfying the masses by building big, strong, cars unadulterated by the EPA regulations, and high gas prices that have plagued the auto industry today.

Ah such memories....

Bye for now