Okay Guys, let’s talk about your first car.

‘œ…Son you must take my word, If there’s a God in heaven, He’s got a Silver Thunderbird.’ Marc Cohn

I know what some of you are thinking right now. You’re thinking, ‘œBut Bruce, you’re one of those looney bicycle people. Aren’t you supposed to hate cars?’ Wrong, Einstein. There are many misconceptions about cyclists in this country. The idea that all bicyclists hate cars is one of those misconceptions, and possibly the most common one. But that’s not what I’m writing about. Today, I’m writing about something that is close to the hearts of all American men, (And a few women. Fair is fair, right?) and that is the first car you ever owned.

Gentlemen, is there any car you have loved as much as that first one? Has there been any car since that one, that you thought about for days, or even weeks on end until you actually had it? How about that souped up ‘˜66 Chevelle SS 396 that your parents definitely did not want you to buy, but you went and bought it anyway? How about that Charger R/T that you drooled over, the one with the 440, Cragar S/S mags, and the Hurst shifter? Ladies, remember when you brought home that boyfriend, the one who had that ‘˜69 Camaro with the Cherry Bomb mufflers, and all those stickers for various car products in the back window? Did dear old dad freak out, or what? Has there been a car since that one, that you showed off to your buddies, and went ‘œcruisin’ in? I’m guessing the answer to my first two questions, in many cases, is no. I know exactly how you feel.

My first car was a 1964 Ford Thunderbird. I bought it in April of 1976, at the tender age of nineteen. I had always had a thing for T-Birds, something that I can’t really explain. It could have been the Uncle that took me and the family for long rides in his white ‘˜61 T-Bird, always with a stop for ice cream thrown in. I was fascinated by that car, the way it looked, the interior that seemed like something from a science fiction movie. There was the way that powerful engine just sort of rumbled along, never really working hard at all. (And guzzling gas like crazy, but back then, no one cared about such things)This fascination with these cars carried into my teen years. The first Thunderbird I ever actually drove belonged to a friend I had just met, during one of my Cape Cod summers. His name was Johnny, and we had all spent the day just shooting the breeze, water skiing from his dock on the Swan Pond, and consuming mass quantities of pizza and coke. Johnny’s T-Bird was a dark green ‘˜65 hard top. It had some body rust, but ran just fine. I liked his car, and I let him Know it. Johnny was cool to this, and said that we’d all go for a cruise later. The buddy who I was staying with, (who introduced us) said ‘œBruce has got a thing for T-Birds John, you just wouldn’t believe it.’ Johnny was cool to this. He was cool to a lot of things. (And man, could he water ski!)
We headed out onto the streets of Dennisport that evening, and cruised along in Johnny’s T-bird, doing what young males in cars generally do on warm summer nights. Namely, we gawked at pretty females and shot the breeze some more. We stopped for some more food, and then Johnny offered me the chance to drive his T-Bird. I was aghast, let me tell you. Naturally, I said ‘œSure!’

Johnny climbed into the back, and made himself at home with a cheeseburger, and the sound system he had installed. (not an easy task, given the interior layout of these cars.) I started up that powerful sounding engine, put the transmission in gear, and drove along Lower County Road and then slowly along the entire length of Old Wharf Road (but of course!) loving every minute of it. Smooth, powerful, nice-feeling. The instruments glowed like the control console of some exotic spaceship, and the bucket seats were huge, heavy-feeling and throne-like. I knew at that moment that I wanted to have one of these, but I also knew that my chances of actually getting one were slim at best. But get one I did. In March of ‘˜76, I noticed my black ‘˜64 beauty with a large ‘œFor Sale’ sign in it, at a local Sunoco station. The guys who owned and worked at this particular gas station had a local reputation for being good, decent men and they were. I talked to the owner, and he agreed to sell it to me for twelve hundred dollars. Heh, that seemed like so much money back then, my goodness. Anyway, I drove it, and it drove beautifully. This guy had taken great care of this Bird, the only flaw being that the rear windows did not function. As they were about the size of small fly-windows, this was not a problem. Everything else was fine.

I enjoyed that car for four years, driving it a lot, and learning a thing or two about cars along the way. I took it down to the cape that summer, and met up with Johnny once again. He loved my ‘˜bird, and we spent some time comparing cars. (the ‘˜65’s had front disc brakes, something that was considered exotic back then. The ‘˜64’s didn’t.) I returned the favor he had granted me the previous summer, and let him take mine for a spin. He felt the engine ran even smoother than his own. I’m not certain how many miles, and how many hours, I spent in that Thunderbird. Sometimes, I don’t think there is a road left in Massachusetts or New Hampshire that I didn’t drive that car on.

Sadly, time calls. My ‘˜64 T-Bird became more difficult to maintain, and began to need some pricey repairs. (A gas tank that was corroding, for example.) Parts for these cars were becoming increasingly more difficult to find. There was no doubt that it was becoming a ‘œrich man’s car’, and not suitable for daily transportation. Oh yes, it was announced that soon, oil companies were going to stop producing leaded premium fuel, something these cars required. Clearly, my T-Bird belonged to another time. With great reluctance, I ended up selling it to a man who was going to use it for a fun car, and do some restoration work on it. I don’t know whatever became of the car, or the guy I sold it to. Such is life.

I’ve owned the usual sequence of cars and two light pickup trucks since then. Presently, I drive a Subaru Impreza WRX. It’s a fun car to drive, is super reliable, and Subaru’s all-wheel-drive technology is very nice to have, especially during our infamous New England winters. But, like the other cars I’ve had before this one, I will have no qualms about trading it in, in another year or two. I have never enjoyed driving a car as much as that old Thunderbird. If you’ve never taken a ride in one, then believe me when I say that there is nothing quite like taking a long ride, or a slow summer night cruise, in one of the early to mid -60s T-Birds. Some people understand this. Others never will.

So, What do I think of the two-seaters that Ford produced, from 2002 to 2005? I thought it was a fine idea. In fact, I loved it. They got it right, with the right ‘œspirit’ and the right kind of styling. (And does anyone remember the one television commercial for this car? If anyone knows where it might be posted, whether it’s on youtube or elsewhere, share it here. It’s a dandy!) Beautiful styling inside and out, and enough power to keep most people happy. (And before anyone brings it up, yes, I am aware that these modern Thunderbirds were built on the same underpinnings as the Lincoln LS. Consider it said) If you’re into BMW’s, and Porches that’s fine. One of these cars is not for you. But I would have bought one of these modern, two-seat T-Birds myself, if I’d had forty thousand dollars just sitting around that I didn’t know what to do with.

Ford never made their sales goals with this model, and the product was dropped in 2005. There are rumors that Ford may bring the T-Bird back again, possibly as a four passenger model. If they do, hopefully they’ll do it right again, and not screw it up. Remember the early 70’s Thunderbirds? What on earth were they thinking? And those models that were very much like an LTD? Egads! Attention, Ford executives: If you do decide to bring the Thunderbird back once again as a four-seat model, do it right. Look at those early 60’s designs. The years 1961 to 1963, and 1964 to 1966, are among the best. Of course, a new 2-seater would be nice too. (wink-wink) You’ve proven it can be done.

The Thunderbirds, the Camaros, the GTO’s, The Plymouth Barracuda’s,,,, all were great cars in their own right, and all were great cars for young males (and a few young females) buying and driving their first cars.
So, what about your first car?