22 Year Love Affair With A Blue 1966 Ford Thunderbird

"MotoArigato" (MotoArigato) 07/27/2017 at 22:51 • Filed to: spicer collector car profile, portland oregon, mike spicer, t-bird, thunderbird, 1966, ford, first car, motoarigato, dale matthews

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Story and Photos !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!!

When talking about old cars my friend !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! always says “Understanding Is Not Required!”. Which explains why I started hunting for a Ford Thunderbird immediately after graduating from the University Of Oregon.

One of the best parts of getting an old car is “The Hunt”. Meeting interesting people, going to places you could never imagine just to see a car. After looking at several 1964-66 Thunderbirds I stumbled on a blue 1966 Ford Thunderbird Landau at the Portland swap meet.

I was pretty inexperienced but could sense there was a buzz around this car. People were all around checking it out as I sat alone in the driver seat with the doors closed going through the aircraft inspired interior. When I emerged from the car I walked past the swarm of people up to the owner and in an adrenaline infused state of temporary insanity I said “I’ll take it”.

Filled with a mix of excitement and uncertainty I drove the car out of the swap meet catching smiles along the way and headed home. I was experiencing a very new feeling and I liked it.

Bought new in Portland Oregon the original owner’s son brought the car to the swap meet since his dad couldn’t drive any more. After owning the car for a while I noticed how well it had been cared for. I was pretty lucky stumbling on an incredibly original car in amazing condition with no car buying skill at all.

I enjoyed driving the Bird for years. The rear seat is referred to as “the lounge” and you can see why. I often thought of the original owner as I babied it and made sure it was parked indoors at all times.

Story courtesy Spicer Collector Car Profile

NickMaronese > MotoArigato 07/27/2017 at 22:59

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Where is the car now? When did you let it go? I, too, have had a two-decade-long fondness for the Squarebird. At about 10 years old, one of the first paint-and-glue model car kits I built was of a ‘66 in the exact same spec as this one. I lean more Mopar now, but have still always wanted one, and that one looks perfect!

wafflesnfalafel > MotoArigato 07/27/2017 at 23:00

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“Who’s a pretty bird? You’s a pretty bird!” 66>67

MotoArigato > NickMaronese 07/27/2017 at 23:10

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This was Mike Spicer’s car, one of our writer’s and owner of Spicer Collector Car Profile . He sold it about 3 or 4 years ago.

I grew up in a Mopar household also, but damn right, this thing looks good! I’m a sucker for light blue cars and it just works with these long, lean lines.

fintail > MotoArigato 07/27/2017 at 23:48

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The interiors of these cars need to be seen in person to do them justice, they are pretty amazing.

I think a lot of these must have wound up in the PNW. When I was a kid, I remember an immaculate dark blue one parked on the street (small town) for some time, a couple blocks from my house. I remember passing by and checking out the interior.

NickMaronese > MotoArigato 07/28/2017 at 09:00

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Hope he found a good home for it!

Also, *Jetbird, pardon my error. Late night...