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I recently received this from a guest viewer of our Forum and tried to contact him to obtain permission to post it. However, apparently, he did not make note of my email addresses and has not responded. I thought this was to great a story not to pass on to our viewers, so here it is....
"Summer of 1958. I was 16 years old and had just returned to the Seattle, Washington area after spending a year in Montana at my uncle's. I hadn't yet seen the new 1958 Thunderbird, so I visited the local Ford dealership in Auburn. Parked out front of the store was a new '58 T-bird. I climbed in and buckled up. I sat there drinking in the space age interior, console, etc. (Pretending I was driving!) then out walked two men in suits, and as they were headed my way, I quickly unbuckled the seat belt. The two men stopped between the side of T-bird and a Chrysler 300 next to me. One gentleman leaned in the passenger side window and asked if I were in the market for a new car? (I apparently looked a bit older than 16). I answered that I was looking at them. (Just looking!).
With that he tossed me the car keys saying "well take it for drive, I have to go with gentleman, but I'll be right back". Well what to do? 16 years old and no drivers license!! But this was the chance of a lifetime and I took it. First problem after starting the car was that the gear selector had both D1 and D2. Hmmm? I decided either way I'd be in drive. (I think I chose D1) and off I went. I took it about 2 blocks and back. But at the first stop sign I came up behind some teenagers in another car. What a look I got as they stared wondering how I rated to be driving the hottest car on the market!
I quickly put the car back where I had found it in front of the dealership and got the heck out of there before I had to talk to the salesman! I always wished I had had the time to go home and show it to my brother.
Anyhow, I'm always somewhat annoyed how people dis the 58 bird. They obviously weren't there at the time as that car started the now "personal car" craze. There had never been anything like it AND it outsold the 2 seater by 4 times (55-57 vs. 58-60). Anyhow, I will always remember the first time I saw a '58 thunderbird!
Al Ludlow
Morgan Hill, CA"
As for the "seat belts" and "buckled up" part, back then, I doubt that there were seat belts in that '58.... Unless someone had them added... But it is a fun story...
"Summer of 1958. I was 16 years old and had just returned to the Seattle, Washington area after spending a year in Montana at my uncle's. I hadn't yet seen the new 1958 Thunderbird, so I visited the local Ford dealership in Auburn. Parked out front of the store was a new '58 T-bird. I climbed in and buckled up. I sat there drinking in the space age interior, console, etc. (Pretending I was driving!) then out walked two men in suits, and as they were headed my way, I quickly unbuckled the seat belt. The two men stopped between the side of T-bird and a Chrysler 300 next to me. One gentleman leaned in the passenger side window and asked if I were in the market for a new car? (I apparently looked a bit older than 16). I answered that I was looking at them. (Just looking!).
With that he tossed me the car keys saying "well take it for drive, I have to go with gentleman, but I'll be right back". Well what to do? 16 years old and no drivers license!! But this was the chance of a lifetime and I took it. First problem after starting the car was that the gear selector had both D1 and D2. Hmmm? I decided either way I'd be in drive. (I think I chose D1) and off I went. I took it about 2 blocks and back. But at the first stop sign I came up behind some teenagers in another car. What a look I got as they stared wondering how I rated to be driving the hottest car on the market!
I quickly put the car back where I had found it in front of the dealership and got the heck out of there before I had to talk to the salesman! I always wished I had had the time to go home and show it to my brother.
Anyhow, I'm always somewhat annoyed how people dis the 58 bird. They obviously weren't there at the time as that car started the now "personal car" craze. There had never been anything like it AND it outsold the 2 seater by 4 times (55-57 vs. 58-60). Anyhow, I will always remember the first time I saw a '58 thunderbird!
Al Ludlow
Morgan Hill, CA"
As for the "seat belts" and "buckled up" part, back then, I doubt that there were seat belts in that '58.... Unless someone had them added... But it is a fun story...
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