H8YH126657 - Thunderbird Registry Number 10664
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10664
H8YH126657
1958
63A - A - XG - 19G - 4 - 1
As reported by Jed Zimmerman: This is a 1958 Thunderbird Hardtop. It is Raven Black (A) with a red and white vinyl interior (XG). It was scheduled for production on August 19, 1958 (19G). It ha Cruise-O-Matic transmission (4) and a 3.10:1 rear axle ratio (1). It has power brakes, power steering, Magic-Aire Heater, tinted glass, power seat, and fender shields. Thunderbird spotter Bob Keefe says that this car is in Williamsport, Pennsylvania where it has spent its entire life; it was originally owned by the mother of its present owner. Doug Woodmansee says: I just purchased this car Oct 10 2003 sight unseen (actually I saw pictures) off eBay. The story of this car's past is interesting. I was told that it was purchased in 1959 by Bonnie Huff's father in Montoursville, Pennsylvania and given to her as her first car. She drove it to work at her fathers Jeep Dealership in Montoursville and parked it in the repair garage everyday. At home once again it was parked in the garage and while Pennsylvania can have rough winters (making for much rust) the car has very little rust. In 1978 Bonnie passed away and the car set in the garage until December, 2002. Her husband, H.M. Paulhamus, long retired decided to move to a warmer climate in Arizona on a golf course. He left the Thunderbird behind as he had sold the family home to his son. The son Jeff convinced his father to repair the car making it road ready passing the Pennsylvania State inspection and thus ready to sell. To pass the State inspection required new brakes, brake lines, new tires, new gas tank, fuel pump, complete exhaust system, new wheel cylinders, repack wheel bearings and seals, rebuilt carburetor, and all new belts and hoses. They tried to sell the T-Bird locally with no success. Mr. Paulhamus asked a friend of his Ben Beal if he would help him sell the car on eBay. <p>That's where I first saw the T-Bird all shiny and black. I had purchased another 1958 T-Bird a couple of months earlier and while it was a California car (no rust) it looks like it never ever saw the inside of a garage. It doesn't run but is complete and ready to restore. My wife Veronica convinced me to bid on the car in Pennsylvania and of course there were others bidding as well. It went for a couple of days with the reserve not yet met. One evening I was checking on my bid and she said I wonder what the reserve is. I told her there was a way to find out and how much did she think we should be prepared to pay for the car. Long story short we "won" the car. I contracted with DSA to ship the car from Pennsylvania that cost amost a thousand dollars but seemed the only reasonable way to get it to California. We live near a depot for DSA in Reno Nevada so we had the car shipped there. It took about four days to arrive in Reno and sure as you might expect there was a major snow storm coming that weekend and the prospect of driving it for the first time in a snow storm over the summit to our home wasn't my idea of a great first experience. <p>Well we went up Thursday late in the day the road was clear and it looked like it would stay that way until we could pick up the car and drive it home. When we got to the tow yard our first chance to look at our recent purchase was a little scary. While the T-bird had been on the car hauler it must have gone through some major snow storms with lots gravel on the roadway. To say it was covered is an understatement. I told the yard operator I was here to pickup the black Thunderbird he said you mean the gray primered one. I said no the black one and showed him a picture I had. He said OK apologized for not having the car washed up so we could do an inspection and I explained to him that if the car had any new scratches or dents from shipping I sure won't know it as this was the first time I had seen the car. He looked surprised and offered me the slip to sign and a free car wash certifcate. I took the car straight to the gas station filled it up across the street and had it washed (so I could see out the windows) and we started for home. By then it was starting to get dark and cold but the storm seemed to be holding. I just about froze on the way home I was afraid to turn on the heater since the battery had been dead when we picked up the car and I was unsure of the charging status. Well we made it home no trouble and we love the Thunderbird! It drives so nice has great power and everything works (except the fuel gauge). We took it out to dinner last night with some friends and they also enjoyed the great "OLD" car ride. <p>We look forward to may such rides in this car. As for the other Thunderbird I may keep it for a while but I really don't have the time to bring it back to it's finer days so I will most likely sell it.
Doug Woodmansee
9/6/2003
352 V-8
Intact
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