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001 BRD

Discussion in 'California (Southern)' started by Bart, Jan 10, 2009.

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  1. Bart

    Bart Formula 3

    Nov 1, 2003
    1,522
    Orange County, Calif
    Full Name:
    Bart
    #1 Bart, Jan 10, 2009
    When I was living at my parents’ home, the man across the street had a 57 T-Bird. He loved that car and worked on it all the time. One day he towed a 55 T-Bird to his home. It was a wreck. He told me he got it at the junk yard in Santa Ana. I never asked him how much money he paid for that piece of junk.

    As he was cleaning it, he discovered the serial number was …0003. Mr. Watson wrote to the Ford Motor Company to see if it ready was the third T-Bird off the line. He was wrong. It was the very first T-Bird off of the production line. Boy, was he happy. He then restored it instead of using it for parts for his 57.

    Later California was changing license plates. He wanted a special plate but at this time California did not have personalize plates. The local DMV told him they could not give him the plate which he wanted but did tell him where it would be issued. He contacted the correct DMV. They said they will be issuing the plate on a certain date and will only hold it for him on that date. He drove there and got it.

    This coming Saturday at the Barrett Jackson Auction in Scottsdale, Arizona, his car will be sold. It still has the plate on it: 001 BRD.

    :)

    12 cylinders or walk
     
  2. gothemi8

    gothemi8 Formula Junior

    Apr 28, 2007
    277
    So Cal/Central NY
    Full Name:
    Alex
    #2 gothemi8, Jan 10, 2009
    Wow that's a really cool story!! Any estimates of what it'll get at auction?
     
  3. AustinMartin

    AustinMartin F1 Veteran

    Mar 1, 2008
    5,445
    Los Angeles/Idaho
    #3 AustinMartin, Jan 10, 2009
    Awesome write up!
     
  4. Jackmb1

    Jackmb1 F1 Rookie

    Dec 27, 2005
    3,329
    #4 Jackmb1, Jan 10, 2009
    Cool, hopefully he'll get what he's looking for.
     
  5. Superior Shine

    Superior Shine Karting

    Jul 4, 2006
    214
    Arcadia, Ca.
    Full Name:
    Joe
    #5 Superior Shine, Jan 12, 2009
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    WOW awesome story -Thanks for the post

    Found this online--

    While it may look just like the others, there's just something special about the very first one built. Thunderbird #1, the first to roll off the production line in '55, will roll across the stage at the at '09 Barrett-Jackson auction in Scottsdale, AZ. Anyone care to speculate on the the sale price?

    Thunderbird #1 will be sold at No Reserve during the 38th Annual Barrett-Jackson Collector Car Event in Scottsdale, Ariz., Jan. 11-18, 2009. The Raven Black 1955 T-Bird was produced by Ford Motor Company on Sept. 9, 1954, and represents the birth of Ford’s sports car program.


    Penned by Ford designer Frank Hershey, the original Thunderbird was a hit among sports car fans across America and became an instant competitor for the Chevrolet Corvette. This T-Bird is equipped with a 292 Y-block engine, Fordomatic (automatic) transmission, power steering, power windows and power seats.


    “After Ford authenticated this 1955 T-Bird as number one, it became a superstar in the automotive world and was paraded across the country for years,” said Steve Davis, president of Barrett-Jackson. The first Thunderbird has been displayed at venues across the United States, from Ford’s headquarters in Dearborn, Mich., to the ‘84 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.


    “For Thunderbird enthusiasts and general collectors alike, this is a rare chance to own the first production Ford T-Bird – an American icon. It’s been meticulously restored to original specifications and comes with plenty of documentation to tell its amazing story.”
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  6. Superior Shine

    Superior Shine Karting

    Jul 4, 2006
    214
    Arcadia, Ca.
    Full Name:
    Joe
    #6 Superior Shine, Jan 12, 2009
    Do you happen to know who restored it?
     
  7. Bart

    Bart Formula 3

    Nov 1, 2003
    1,522
    Orange County, Calif
    Full Name:
    Bart
    #7 Bart, Jan 13, 2009
    He died.
    :(
     
  8. Bart

    Bart Formula 3

    Nov 1, 2003
    1,522
    Orange County, Calif
    Full Name:
    Bart
    #8 Bart, Jan 17, 2009
    $600,000

    Not to bad!!

    :)

    12 cylinders or walk
     
  9. B R

    B R F1 Rookie

    Aug 31, 2005
    2,824
    Los Angeles, CA
    Full Name:
    B R
    #9 B R, Jan 17, 2009
    $600k, I'd say well sold. Nice car, but for that money, I'd rather have a sweet F40 :)
     
  10. oasis_peak_scottsdale

    oasis_peak_scottsdale Rookie

    Jan 17, 2009
    1
    #10 oasis_peak_scottsdale, Jan 17, 2009
    Does anyone know who the gentleman is who won the bid on the '55 Thunderbird? His name is Mr. Pratt. Is this of Pratt Industries? Just curious! What a great car!
     
  11. TrentS

    TrentS Formula Junior

    Nov 22, 2005
    789
    South Florida
    #11 TrentS, Jan 18, 2009

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