Summer of 1986... I remember wanting a 1977, 1978 or 1979 Ford Thunderbird for years. "Not quite sure why" they were huge but I still thought that they were Sharp. I had been bussing tables and saving for a bit and my Dad of course had to chip in a bit, but we found one that I could afford.

It had one owner, a retired Ford worker that loved his car. He had the original Pink Slip that said he had purchased it for about $7000 and he was asking $2250. A little more than I had to spend. After a little haggling and him knowing that it was my first car, we setteled on $1800. This was about Two Weeks before my 16th Birthday.

I think that I washed that car everyday those two long weeks, my Mother even caught me using my Dads toothbrush on the interior. I still hear about that. Finally the morning of my birthday was here. We woke up and headed to the Lincoln Park S.O.S office, passed the test, and headed home to drop off the "old man". I was hitttin' the Road.

I'm sure that I had to be back home at some point but I know I drove until way past dark. I couldn't tell ya where but it didn't matter. I have no idea how much money that my Dad and I put into that car over the next couple of years "yes mostly him"... from brakes and tires, new paint, to even a new engine but I'm betting that it came close to that original $7000 sticker price.

I have a ton of Great Memories in that car. Cruising Biddle Ave (Wyandotte), Elizabeth Park (Trenton), driving to Heath beach (Milan), Cedar Point trips, Canada, drive-in movies (everywhere), and ... well, you know "other" Great Memories. Everytime I was down or just feeling plain lowsey, "It always made me feel better when I could get in My Car and Just... Drive" !

Frank