55TH ANNIVERSAY EVENT

55th Anniversary Thunderbird Celebration
Dearborn, Michigan June 24 to 26, 2010

June will be a busy month. In addition to the CTCI National Convention in Dayton, Ohio, there will be a Dearborn celebration of the 55th Anniversary of the Thunderbird. Many of you may remember a similar celebration in 2005 when we gathered at Ford World Headquarters for the 50th Anniversary. The Water Wonderland Thunderbird Club hosted the 2005 event and has made plans to make this 2010 event even better. Ford Motor Company will be opening up the Dearborn Test Track to participants on Friday and have allowed Thunderbird's of all years to gather for display in front of World Headquarters on Saturday. In addition to these activities there will be dinners at the Ritz Carlton Hotel on Thursday and Friday, Ford Rouge Plant tours on Friday and a dinner on Saturday night where you may be allowed to drive your Thunderbird through the streets of Greenfield Village.

You can obtain the registration form for this event at www.tbird55.com. It will include event details and costs for the activities.

This is shaping up to be a great event.

FROM THE NEWS BUREAU FORD DIVISION OF Ford Motor Co.
P.O. Box 638 Dearborn, Michigan
Kenwood 3-2000

RELEASE ANYTIME

Ford's new personal car, the Thunderbird, which gave an advance hint of the 1955 Ford car styling trend when it was unveiled earlier this year is now on display in dealers' showrooms in most parts of the country. Deliveries of the first production models began in many cities October 22.

The Thunderbird, with its all steel-body, is the first "personal car" of American manufacture. Ford engineers designed it for a combination of high performance with the comfort, convenience and safety of a conventional car. It measures just four feet, four and 2/10 inches high in the hardtop model, but the Thunderbird will accommodate three people, with rear compartment space for their lug-age. The adjustable steering wheel slides in or out three inches and can be locked in the position the driver prefers. A power seat is standard equipment.

Power steering, power window lifts, and power brakes are available at extra cost - the same convenience features available in the full Ford car line. Roll-up windows and the hardtop give the car year-round utility in any climate. The car's outstanding performance in all speed ranges is provided by a high-torque Ford Y-Block V-8 engine of 292 cubic inches displacement with 3.75 inch bore and 3.3 inch stroke. Compression ratios are 8.1:1 with standard transmission and 8.5:1 with Fordomatic. The engine is rated at 198 hp with Fordomatic, and 193 hp., with standard or overdrive transmission. Engine equipped with standard transmission. Fordomatic and overdrive are available options. Most of the car's parts are interchangeable with regular 1955 Fords, so it can be serviced quickly by any Ford dealer.

11-4-54

FALL TOUR- 2010

THUNDERBIRDS IN DOOR COUNTY
September 17th - 20th

Please plan on joining us as we caravan to Door County —— we will be staying at The Landmark in Egg Harbor and we will have a private parking lot for our 'Birds.

Activities will include an escorted tour of Lambeau Field in Green Bay on the way up — a visit to a classic T-Bird Restoration facility and a visit to Baileys Harbor for their annual Autumnfest that includes a classic car show. There will be time for shopping and sightseeing on your own. A Ghost Tour on a Trolley is planned, a dinner at The English Inn and a private catered omelet breakfast. A poker run is also part of the activities. The "traditional" pizza party will be held in our own hospitality room.

We have on hold several rooms at The Landmark, so we can all be together. So get in your RESERVATION while you are thinking about it. Please call Pete or Marylu Kramer 630-986-1277 for a Reservation form — and plan on lots of fellowship and a good time. We know you will enjoy thisweekend!

- Pete and Marylu

TIPS YOU 'AUTO' KNOW

Dash Lights

The rheostat for the dash lights has proven to be the weakest part of the headlight switch. If your Thunderbird has intermittent or no dash lights, you have two choices. Remove and replace the headlight switch or bypass the dash light rheostat and have full dash lights every time you pull the headlight switch. In either case the switch will have to be removed from the dash. Removal of the switch is accomplished by first disconnecting the battery, then reaching under the dash and pressing the round head of the release pin located in the center of the switch on the terminal side. Holding the pin allows the switch knob and shaft to be pulled out of the switch. When the shaft and knob has been removed, you will see a cross slot in the chrome center of the bezel. Use a straight screwdriver to unscrew the center bezel . Now the switch is ready to pull down from behind the dash.

If you chose to replace the switch, remove one wire at a time and install on the new switch. If you choose to bypass the rheostat, attach a new double spade connector to the switch connector marked "R". Move the gray wire from the post nearest to the rheostat to the newly installed double connector installed on terminal "R". This bypasses the rheostat, and the dash will have full illumination all the time the light switch is on.

This process should take 20-30 minutes to complete.

One problem is the fact you may have to purchase a package of 10 double spade connectors as I did. So if you want to bypass your bad rheostat, just see me at any of the meetings as I have the extras in the trunk of my 'Bird. I did not remove my switch from the car, the photo below is taken with an extra switch I had in my junk box.

Dave Tulowitzky

Tucker Convertable

TUCKER "CONVERTIBLE" ~ Date: 4/5/10

Hey Bert,

Most people do not know that in addition to my love for classic Thunderbirds, Mustangs and GTOS, I am a Tucker aficionado. In fact, I have been Vice President of the Tucker Automobile Club of America (TACA) for five years now. So that said, I had to laugh when I saw the Tucker "Convertible" mentioned in the April issue of Bird-News and a recent issue of a GTO Club publication. This car has been a can of worms for years and the recent completion of the car, followed by the hype leading up to the unsuccessful sale at Russo & Steele, has kept us all busy.

So for my own piece of mind, I offer the same official stance TACA has taken for years. "The Tucker Automobile Club of America, Inc. has never been presented with - nor has been able to find - any credible evidence to prove the authenticity of this car or any other vehicle as being a Tucker Corporation intended convertible and therefore cannot certify it as such."

There is no doubt in my mind that the car (the same car I personally saw in Burlington, WI garage in 2002) was never commissioned to be built by Tucker and there are reams of documentation in my and the club's archives to counter what a Pennsylvania car restorer's affidavit indicates.

I appreciate the way that you presented the information in the April issue, and that you didn't drink the builder's "Kool-Aid." Just for clarification however, the car was bid to $1.4 million at Russo & Steele, and officially there were 51 Tucker '48s produced - One Prototype, affectionately known as the Tin Goose, and 50 pre-production models.

Anything beyond that was built using extra parts that were never assembled at the factory. One more thing, the car was a no-sell again just last night (4/4/2010) at $899,100 on eBay.

Thanks for letting me get this off my chest, and thanks for a great newsletter. See you this summer.

Joe Kahn

A T-Bird?--- Well, Sort Of...

A T-BIRD — WELL, SORT OF ......

(See Page 7 of the April issue.) Ignoring any possibility of its being April Fool's Day, CTCC member. Perry Anthony, drove a stake into the heart of the matter!
Perry's long list of discrepancies supports his observation that the photo is really nof a '57 T-Bird. Still another clue is the flared rear-fender area, just barely visible in the photo.

So, we thank Perry for his keen powers of observation, earning him the coveted (?)

GOLDEN EYE AWARD

Bert,

First of all, this must really be a '57 two tone Retractable.
BUT...here is my list of errors when viewed as a T-Bird:
> Two tone paint
> Rear deck lid
> Chrome tail fin trim
> Right external rear view mirror
> Accent chrome on fenders and door
> Fuel door location
> Fuel door on wrong side
> Wheel covers
> No wind wings
> Rear fender design
> Door design
> Front fender design
> Door handles
> Visors
> Door window shape
> Door window trim
> Steering wheel
> Seat pattern
> No top hold down deck plates
> No chrome trimmed rear deck garnish trim

Also, as an observation, the female passenger seems rather "possessive" when viewing the cute
waitress who seems to have captured the interest of the male driver.

Fun,
Perry

NON-ORIGINAL '57 T-BIRD CHALLENGE
Date: 4/14/2010
Hi Bert,
My list:
trunk lid - wrong curvature; chrome-strip over fins (rear fender); gas cap door - wrong side of car; wrong door handle; chrome on door; fairing over rear wheel well; wrong door shape; no left side mirror; wrong hub caps; wrong wind wings; wrong shape of side windows; wrong sun visor arms; rear-view mirror arm too long; outside mirror - right side; windshield pillar chrome too short, no hood scoop; no holes on deck for tops; wrong seat-back; no hash marks; no T- bird script; no door lock buttons; wrong steering wheel (spoke at top); (possible) chrome strip over front wheel well.
Best,
Gordon Gluff

Editor's Comment: Gordon has extracted a significant number of design features that are definitely not incorporated in the design of a T-Bird! (We will anxiously await Gordon's comments after he reads Perry's astute analysis of the Challenge.)

The Editor's Notebook- May 2010

the Editor's Notebook
BERT E1SENHOUR

THE CALENDAR INDICATES NO SCHEDULED EVENT for the month of May, however, the Meeting on June 10th signals the start of a very busy summer!

If you are planning to join the CTCC Caravan to Dayton, see the item on pg. 6 and contact Len Keil.

The response to the April Cover Photo QUIZ is presented on page 7 along with some additional info.

The second Photo Quiz (page 7 in the April issue) drew interesting comments from two of our members (see pg. 3), while EARLY BIRD Editor, Lin Somsak, found the challenge to be a bit 'tricky' based on the fact that she and Bill own a retractable! Lin and Perry Anthony spotted the deceit, however. Perry amassed quite a list!

Member, Joe Kahn, sheds some additional light on the mysterious Tucker Convertible that was pictured on page 6 of the April issue. It is the car with 'no Birth Certificate' (see Joe's story on page 6).

An update on the CTCC Fall Tour planning is presented on pg. 8.

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY

Special Tucker

THIS ONE-OF-A-KIND TUCKER CONVERTIBLE WAS
RECENTLY ON THE AUCTION BLOCK, AND THE
HIGH BID (1.1 MILLION) FAILED TO MAKE THE
RESERVE! IT APPEARS THAT THE CAR'S LACK OF
PROVENANCE PLAYED AN IMPORTANT PART IN
PREVENTING THE BIDS TO REACH THE RESERVE
EVEN THE 1.1 MILLION BID SEEMS RECKLESS FOR
THIS UNUSUAL TUCKER ITERATION!
SINCE ONLY 50 (OR 52?) TUCKER AUTOMOBILES
WERE PRODUCED, THE CONVERTIBLE IS
DEFINITELY A CASE OF CAVEAT EMPTOR FOR
ANY PROSPECTIVE BUYER! - Editor

A T-Bird?--- Well, Sort Of...

Cargill-

Next to the revered hamburger, nothing is more classic to fast food than the french fry. So when a major restaurant chain wanted to create french fries with zero grams trans fat per serving, they knew they couldn't change the taste consumers loved. They called on Cargill, who worked with them to develop a special frying oil. Extensive canola seed research, new processing technologies and an identity preserved supply chain resulted in a cooking oil that performed well for fries, chicken and fish. Consumer tests proved our approach was successful in providing the same great taste. Now our customer serves fries consumers can feel good about, while still enjoying that classic flavor. This is how Cargill works with customers.

A T-BIRD ? - - - WELL, SORT OF
This CARGILL advertisement appeared in the February 1, 2010 issue of US Today.

YOUR MISSION ~ IF YOU CHOOSE TO ACCEPT THE CHALLENGE:

HOW MANY NON-ORIGINAL ITEMS CAN YOU SPOT IN THE T-BIRD DESIGN?

While the quality of the reproduction may prevent detection of some areas, a cursory examination reveals a number of some rather glaring design variations!
If you can spot 10 or more items, e-mail your list to me so that a Winner can be selected! ENTRY DEADLINE: April 15th.

An easier task: How many CORRECT design features can you find? - Editor

Losses and Lessons

Losses and Lessons:
Old drum brakes take the T-Bird away - Hagerty Lifestyle

LOSSES AND LESSONS: BRAKING TAKES THE T-BIRD AWAY
Hagerty/2010-01-21

VEHICLE COVERED: 1956 Thunderbird

WHAT WENT WRONG: The owner took a prized T-Bird [&] was on a drive when the car in front of him made a sudden stop. The drum brakes on the old T-Bird were not sufficient to stop the car in time, and he plowed right into the guy ahead of him.

DAMAGE: There was serious damage to the right front fender, headlight and grille of the T-Bird. The driver also injured his hip, shoulder and lower back.

LOSS: After an exhaustive appraisal process with a sheet-metal specialist from a nearby state, total damages came to just under $25,000. Not to mention the medical bills.

LESSON: Older vehicles with mechanical or drum brakes often take far longer to stop than modem machines. It's especially a problem with some cars of the 1950s that have plenty of power and can cruise at 60-80 miles an hour with ease. But when it comes to stopping, they need a little longer

BOTTOM LINE: Just because your older car can keep up with the fellow drivers on the highway doesn't mean it can stop like them. Make sure you maintain a safe distance from any cars in front of you. A "safe distance" in a 1956 Thunderbird is farther away than in your new Civic.

EDITOR'S COMMENT: Here is still another reason that more and more classic T-Bird owners are converting to disc brakes. Also, conversion to a dual-chamber Master Brake Cylinder can add a further safety factor.