3Y83Z140170 - Thunderbird Registry Number 33282
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33282
3Y83Z140170
1963
63A -
Our car is a beautiful Robin’s egg blue 1963 Ford Thunderbird with swing away steering wheel, air conditioning that may or may not always work; leather seats and a “cool” image that’s missing in non T-Bird cars. Ten bucks was all it cost. We won our 1963 Ford Thunderbird in a raffle for $10. It’s a bit of a story that I’ll share with you…
<p> “Anyone interested in a classic car for only ten bucks?” Only one in the room was the answer to that- me! I had to buy the next ticket to anything that came my way that day. Earlier that day, together with 30 other women, I had put my name in a hat for a draw for some Tupperware, and who doesn’t need more Tupperware you may say. My name was pulled out of the hat every time, for each of the prizes up for grabs. (Anyone need any spare Tupperware?) The other women actually looked into the hat to make sure that every name wasn’t mine and they confirmed that my name was only on one ticket! <p> I was on a roll and decided to buy the next raffle ticket/ lottery ticket/ anything that required sheer luck. I didn’t want anything with a “if you answer a skill-testing question.” That was not in my winning formula. Later in the day one of the women in my Tai chi class brought in a book of tickets to support the formation of a Performing Arts Centre in Okotoks; the Thunderbird was the only prize. Remembering my desire to win anything I could, I immediately said I’d buy one. <p> Now the trouble was that I’d only just got off a plane from England and when I opened my wallet I only had English money; I’d not even thought of transferring to my Canadian wallet. The woman said she’d catch me later but I felt that had to get the very next ticket. I searched my purse for some coins. Finally I came up with some nickels and dimes, a couple of loonies and some pennies. I had my $10. Just one ticket was all I bought, was all I could afford anyway that day and was all I needed. <p> When I took my ticket I said that this was definitely the winning ticket, I could feel it in my bones. Thing is, I really did think it was the winner. After class I drove passed the car, on show on the back of a flatbed truck and I just knew it was mine. I felt sick with worry! What would Geoff think of me bringing home a car that would undoubtedly need some work at some time, would need parts that we’d probably not be able to get and would probably suck us dry? Would Geoff just see an old car coming in? I felt worried as there was no doubt in my mind that I’d be winning it. Time, however, is a great healer and age helps since my short term memory is not as good as it used to be. I calmed down and more or less forgot about the draw. I said nothing to Geoff, after all why upset him? By the night of the draw I had forgotten all about it, I’d put it out of my mind completely. <p> The telephone rang just as I was getting into bed. “Can I speak to Pam Spriggs” said the voice at the other end, “Speaking” I said. I could hear loud noises on the other end; I guessed it was a nightclub since my three sons were out partying that night. I thought they’d had too much to drink, couldn’t drive and were asking to be picked up-- it’s happened before. And that’s why, when the voice on the other end said “Pam Spriggs you’ve won a car,” I had no idea what he was talking about. “You’ve won the 1963 Ford Thunderbird.” The guy was in a pub filled to capacity with T-bird hopefuls which explained the background noise. I heard someone shout in the distance that he’d buy it off me. Slowly it dawned on me; I’d won the car raffle! I’d always known it would be mine, I was right; my instincts had been right all along! Worse of all, how could I have forgotten? Boy, I really need to start taking Ginkgo biloba!<p> Now I had to explain to Geoff what that strange conversation was all about, why I was getting all hot and bothered talking to a strange man on the phone and why I was making arrangements to see him- and all this right in front of Geoff! It certainly didn’t take long for Geoff to be as excited as me. I told him I had wanted it to be a surprise for him but not to get too excited as it wasn’t a brand new car, it was a bit older, “How old is a bit” he asked. Well the bit I was talking about was 40 plus years. <p> We had to go on the internet to show Geoff what a 63 T-bird looked like. I found a beat up old car and said “It looks like that” Needless to say he wasn’t quite as excited. I didn’t want him to overestimate the look of the car, far better to be happier to see it than he expected than disappointed. <p> Next day we went to pick it up, surprisingly in the middle of a field. Our three sons came along- no hangovers from the night before luckily. The car looked so much better than the photo I’d shown them. “Mom, we have the coolest car ever built” The main aim of my sons was to drive the Red Mile on 17th Ave using the car as a babe magnet. Geoff didn’t see the car as old nor did he care about parts and service. He was thrilled with it. After much discussion as to who would drive it, it was decided that Geoff would since he’ll be doing all the work on it and really I’d won it for him. <p> The excitement kept going as we drove the car home and become aware that everyone on the road was checking out the car. People swiveled their heads as we passed, waving, smiling. We felt so proud. Until it spluttered and spluttered to a complete stop on Highway 2. Now we wanted to distance ourselves from this old wreck. Thankfully all that had happened was that we had run out of gas. We’d only gone about 2km from where we picked it up. After a trip to the nearest garage for a can of gas we were on our way. Thrilled and amazed at our good fortune.<p> This car has added to our lives. We love the car. It has given us a reason to join the Calgary Thunderbird club where we’ve met some great people and had some good laughs. We were even awarded joint 4th in our Calgary Thunderbird show, mind you that placing made us go and count the cars in our category expecting only 5 cars in it, but there were actually more.
Geoff and Pam Spriggs
2/2/2009
390 V-8
Intact
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