June Meeting

JUNE MEETING and SOCIAL EVENT

We are, having a
BRUNCH
Sunday - June 14th at Noon
hosted by and at the home of
Pete and Marylu Kramer
560 W. 58th Street - Hinsdale

Please join us for Bloody Mary's (virgin or otherwise), Mimosas, Food-A-Plenty, Cars, a short meeting - and Pontoon boat rides! (yes, there is a lake)

From the north: 294 south to Ogden west exit -Ogden Avenue west to Route 83 South - 83 South to 55th Street east exit and east on 55th to Madison (Hinsdale Central High School on the east corner) south on Madison to 58th Street and west on 58th Street three blocks to house on left corner which will have Tbirds galore on the driveway!

Sign up sheet or RSVP by June 9th
Email: MKramer562@aol.com Cell: 630 606-2416

1st Production Mustang Hardtop

photo caption- left: Lee Iacocca, The father of the Mustang, with the Fria's 002 1965 Mustang

photo caption- right: Bob & Joyce Fria's #1 '65 Mustang Hardtop on display at the Nethercutt Museum

THE FIRST PRODUCTION
MUSTANG HARDTOP
DISPLAYED AT THE NETHERCUTT
MUSEUM

The world famous Nethercutt Museum in Sylmar, California, a suburb of Los Angeles, now has on display the first production Ford Mustang hardtop. The 60,000 square foot museum contains over 100 specialty automobiles that have been carefully restored to their original elegance. Packard, Duesenberg, Pierce Arrow, Rolls-Royce, as well as other cars of their stature, are artfully exhibited in a way that shows many historical changes and developments of automotive design and engineering.

This 1965 first production Mustang hardtop was shipped from the Ford Dearborn factory to help launch the new Ford pony car to the public in April, 1964. The new introductory model was mistakenly shipped to Whitehorse in the Yukon Territory, Canada. It arrived too late for the continental first day public introduction and after its first retail sale one year later, dropped into obscurity for over 35 years. Discovered by Bob Fria after 13 previous owners, the car was restored to precise factory new specifications and has a fully developed provenance.
Celebrating the 45th Anniversary of the Ford Mustang, this first Mustang will remain on display until the summer of 2009. The historical hardtop is owned by Bob and Joyce Fria of LaCrescenta, California.

The Museum is located at 15151 Bledsoe St, off San Fernando Rd, in Sylmar, CA and is open to the public free of charge. Hours are Tuesday thru Saturday, 9am -4:30pm. For further information call (818-364-6464) or www.nethercuttcollection.org.
Note: The Fria Mustang was one of only 25 cars to be included in the HEART AND SOUL display at the Ford Centennial- Dearbord 2003.

Bob and Joyce Fria were CTCC members for many years, and Bob was one of the early T-Bird owners who had an "advanced" restoration performed on his White, 1956. Having visited the Nethercutt collection with Bob and Joyce in 2003, I consider the invitation to have the first '65 Mustang Hardtop on display as a fine tribute.
- Editor

Editor's Note: It was in the fall of 1964 when I met Lee lacocca at the Chicago Hilton. The occasion was the 2-hour introduction of the Ford lineup for the 1965 models. It was the year that we had been privileged to see - and photograph - the Ford '65 models while we were attending the (first) CTCI Convention in Dearborn, Michigan.
In addition to meeting the "Father of the Mustang," we met Henry Ford II and a number of other Ford executives who were in attendance at the elegant, albeit short. Ford unveiling of the '65 cars.

The Editor's Notebook- May 2009

the editors Notebook
Bert Eisenhour

IN SPITE OF ITS TRANSITORY BEAUTY, THE SNOW, WHICH GREETED US ON the morning of April 6th was most depressing to any owner of a collector car whose destiny is to live in the Midwest! While the dialogue for the lower picture on page 3 is mine, the facts remain: The driver was unaware of his extra "passenger" and he didn't suspect any problem - until his engine began over-heating!

The Mustang coverage on page 6 is included in this issue, since Bob Fria is a former member of CTCC. His # 1 Hardtop was featured at the Ford Centennial in 2003.

Thanks to Pete and Marylu Kramer, we will enjoy a Brunch/Meeting at their home on Sunday. June 14th. Details and directions appear on page 7. Mark the special date on your Calendar!

While the Air-Conditioning treatise (page 8) is quite obviously "tongue-in-cheek" (with the possible exception of #3), it is most interesting to note that photo #2 was submitted by the Elgin Police Department! We have a Redneck living in the Chicago suburbs? Page 9 features another edition of License Plates With a Message, thanks to Annie Luginbill! Thanks to Ken and Polly Kresmery, CTCC members are again invited to attend their super event - Day at the Hangar - on Sunday, August 23rd! Members attending last year's (13th Annual edition) reported having a marvelous time - plus a selection of excellent food-fare! COVER: (last para.): Should read ...... smaller 14" tires. [1955 &1956 T-Birds featured 15"tires.1