Our Thunderbird was first owned 39 years ago by Newman Wolf, serving at the US Naval Air Station in Miramar, which is still today part of an off-limits area around a large part of San Diego Bay. Newman had ordered this car just before being sent on a tour of duty overseas. After returning, he had a brand new white Ford Thunderbird waiting for him at the dealership. He used the car for just three years, as he was mostly overseas. It was passed to sister-in-law, Norma Von Dollen who lived in Solvang, also in Southern California. She owned it right up until 1991 when it was sold and shipped to the UK.

We made a decision to visit California to attend the 30th VTCI Thunderbird Convention in Costa Mesa. We were hoping to find and meet the first owner, with only their name as a clue. The serious searching began in February 2002. With the assistance of Albert Jakobsen, the Editor of BIEN, a Los Angeles newspaper and Bent Hansen, their newspaper correspondent in Solvang, we finally tracked down the first owner.

A letter and picture was sent to the address. An email arrived two months later, followed by a long distance phone call between Norma Von Dollen and myself. Driving the 120 miles north on Highway 101 from Santa Monica to Solvang that sunny August morning in 2002, we passed through many world-famous landmarks on the Pacific coast highway. To this point we had travelled over 13,000 miles. The thought that we were to meet the first owner after what was then 37 years was so very unique.

When we reached the city of Solvang, it felt like we had stepped back in time. It had a Hans Christian Anderson museum, a 'Little Mermaid' statue and so many differently designed wooden buildings, with several full-size windmills. There were horse-drawn taxis, and the whole place was spotless.

The high altitude and dry humidity with temperatures over 100 degrees, made walking difficult. Later that first day we drove to Norma's house where she introduced her sister and brother-in-law (Newman Wolf) plus a nephew and his son, who had travelled to greet us. It felt like an historic moment and a personal pleasure to finally meet the first person to own our Thunderbird.

I would recommend that anyone trying to source the previous owner/s of their car, to look on the Internet. It is a very good source for information

Over the past six years we have been fortunate enough to win many awards around the UK at various types of shows and events with our TBird.

My personal favourite was winning the John Cox Memorial Shield for two years. This is because John was the founder of Thunderbirds of England, and a very dear friend.Today our Thunderbird can be found with other American cars available at "California Dreamin", a classic car hire company based in Coventry and supplying cars for weddings and that special occasion around the Midland area. So please give us a call on 07884 404411.

Diane McBride

I purchased my 64 Thunderbird in February 2002, as a replacement for a 1979 4.9 Turbo TransAm which I had owned for 7 and a half years and which we enjoyed taking to the shows etc. as it received lots of attention due mainly to the 5 colour Eagle on the bonnet and its association in the publics minds with 'Smokey and the Bandit'.

The main reason for the change though was because my wife had become disabled and I needed something with a better boot to carry the wheelchair etc. Having spotted the Tbird in a magazine, and on speaking to the owner, we decided to drive up to Hull to view it as he had owned it for 14 years and I felt it stood a good chance of being in reasonable condition.

My first reaction was 'no' but the wife fell in love with it straight away and "persuaded" me. You can see that I'm easily led!

Consequently to that decision I have had the engine rebuilt and a new paint job which although not the original colour according to the VIN number does look stunning. The colour was supposed to be Platinum or Diamond Blue.

When I purchased it it was white anyway as it had been oversprayed immediately it arrived in this country in 64, probably as a wedding car. I have carried out other work, or rather paid to have it done, as initially the brakes were crap and needed two feet on the pedal to stop it.

This turned out to be an inoperable booster which I sourced from the USA along with other bits and bobs.

Another problem turned out to be the offside manifold pipe which blew the gasket twice in 6 months. Eventually I had 60 thou taken off it as some idiot had tried to flatten it with a Black and Decker sander!!?