twintubdexter
Well-known member
so many nice comments, thank you so much
A few questions answered...
I think there's a lot of difference between a 1965 Buick and a 2001. I drove that 62 Electra all over the place and never got stuck. Of course it was no fuel sipper but I remember a gasoline "war" where the price went down to 25 cents a gallon...sigh! I had my own Shell credit card at a very early age and my dad could not understand how I could possibly charge $40 in one month. The Electra had Dynaflow which was fine for surface street driving but on the many trips I'd make to the nearby Santa Cruz Beach through the Santa Cruz Mountains it was less than ideal. Going downhill in drive was like being in neutral. You had to use low and watch the gas gauge speed towards empty.
The gas filler is located behind the emblem on the back above the license plate. It tilts down and away which is kind of cool.
I don't believe there's a dome light but there are several courtesy lights that all work. There is no fold-down armrest in the back and I don't recall seat belts back there (remember I have not taken possession yet). The front belts are factory. I don't anticipate many back-seat riders. Oddly enough the back seat is original. The owner had the front buckets removed and completely redone including new foam. He had the metal frame of the seats powder-coated even though you can't see them. The seat backs lock into position. You can see the release button on the side.
I don't remember if the accelerator pedal is attached to the floor but it probably is. Not to worry, my stiletto heals are all too tight anyway. I think power steering and power brakes were standard. They're drum but all new. The owner put 5 new whitewall tires on the car too. The spare was perfectly fine but he wanted all the tires to match in case he had a flat...mercy! In addition, all the door and window seals are new along with the trunk seal. The car was sanded down to the metal and repainted the original "turquoise mist" color. There is no paint on any of the trim. The white metal top is factory. The headliner was redone to the exact original and I'm not sure about the entire dash but it couldn't look newer. Alright, now I'm bragging but I guess I'm just trying to justify my purchase, it was a difficult car to resist.
As far as the Thunderbird being awful, it certainly was for me. I'm 6'1 and lost my school-girl figure back in the fourth grade. Even with the seat all the way back and the telescopic wheel pushed all the way in it was very uncomfortable unless you like steering with your stomach. With the soft or hard top on the car it was super-claustrophobic. I could not stand being in there. Add to all of this the fact that it handled like one of those steer-with-your-feet wooden go carts you had as a kid. I used to call it a death trap and never drove it above 40 mph. The little T Birds continue to be very popular. To each his own.
PS...And as far as Palm Springs being Key West for grown-ups...being referred to as a "grown up" is certainly nicer than being called an old geezer.
A few questions answered...
I think there's a lot of difference between a 1965 Buick and a 2001. I drove that 62 Electra all over the place and never got stuck. Of course it was no fuel sipper but I remember a gasoline "war" where the price went down to 25 cents a gallon...sigh! I had my own Shell credit card at a very early age and my dad could not understand how I could possibly charge $40 in one month. The Electra had Dynaflow which was fine for surface street driving but on the many trips I'd make to the nearby Santa Cruz Beach through the Santa Cruz Mountains it was less than ideal. Going downhill in drive was like being in neutral. You had to use low and watch the gas gauge speed towards empty.
The gas filler is located behind the emblem on the back above the license plate. It tilts down and away which is kind of cool.
I don't believe there's a dome light but there are several courtesy lights that all work. There is no fold-down armrest in the back and I don't recall seat belts back there (remember I have not taken possession yet). The front belts are factory. I don't anticipate many back-seat riders. Oddly enough the back seat is original. The owner had the front buckets removed and completely redone including new foam. He had the metal frame of the seats powder-coated even though you can't see them. The seat backs lock into position. You can see the release button on the side.
I don't remember if the accelerator pedal is attached to the floor but it probably is. Not to worry, my stiletto heals are all too tight anyway. I think power steering and power brakes were standard. They're drum but all new. The owner put 5 new whitewall tires on the car too. The spare was perfectly fine but he wanted all the tires to match in case he had a flat...mercy! In addition, all the door and window seals are new along with the trunk seal. The car was sanded down to the metal and repainted the original "turquoise mist" color. There is no paint on any of the trim. The white metal top is factory. The headliner was redone to the exact original and I'm not sure about the entire dash but it couldn't look newer. Alright, now I'm bragging but I guess I'm just trying to justify my purchase, it was a difficult car to resist.
As far as the Thunderbird being awful, it certainly was for me. I'm 6'1 and lost my school-girl figure back in the fourth grade. Even with the seat all the way back and the telescopic wheel pushed all the way in it was very uncomfortable unless you like steering with your stomach. With the soft or hard top on the car it was super-claustrophobic. I could not stand being in there. Add to all of this the fact that it handled like one of those steer-with-your-feet wooden go carts you had as a kid. I used to call it a death trap and never drove it above 40 mph. The little T Birds continue to be very popular. To each his own.
PS...And as far as Palm Springs being Key West for grown-ups...being referred to as a "grown up" is certainly nicer than being called an old geezer.
