June 18, 2006: Item #1: Alex Fabozzi has just registered his 1962 Thunderbird which is also part of the 1962/1963 M-Code Thunderbirds. This Thunderbird was previously undocumented in M-Code rosters. Alex's Thunderbird is Registry Number 32509.

March 26, 2006: Item #1: You can now see a list of Thunderbird Registry Time Stamps. This roster shows when a Thunderbird first entered the Registry.

March 24, 2006: Item #1: The last Thunderbird to be produced is 1FAHP60A75Y109337. This Thunderbird was documented both on the Wixom assembly line and independently. It is Registry Number 31608. It is believed that this Thunderbird has the highest consecutive unit number, in addition to being the actual last Thunderbird to leave the assembly line.

February 27, 2006: Item #1: In the Registry's continuing effort to document the unusual along with the usual, you are presented with RN 31136. It has a two-tone paint color combination which is not even listed as being available, let alone recommended in 1966. And the interior trim with it certainly makes for one of the more uncommon Thunderbirds we have seen.

January 24, 2006: Item #1: Here is the latest addition to the Family Ties Roster: Michael Schroeder's 1957 Thunderbird that was bought new by his grandfather in January of 1958. Mike's car was one of the Thunderbirds built in the final weeks of 2-passenger production (date 23Y). He shares with us a priceless photographic memory and a great story of "Bud's" willingness to make the Thunderbird perform. Take a look at RN 30444 - there is no mistaking the pride on the face of that happy new Thunderbird owner...48 years ago.

January 24, 2006: Item #2: A new table lists selected Registry Numbers and the date on which they entered the Registry.

January 9, 2006: Item #1: Michael Gonzales owns a 1978 Diamond Jubilee Edition. He wrote to Ford Motor Company and learned from their Customer Relationship Center that his car did in fact come off the assembly line on April 15, 1978 with factory-installed "Removable Side Panel Sunroof", more commonly known as "T-tops". Because of this installation, the YZ code blue vinyl roof was not installed, even though the code is part of the data sticker. It's uncertain how many DJs were made with this roof, but the number is certainly very low. You can learn more about Registry Number 11918 here.

January 5, 2006: Item #1: The Registry starts out 2006 on an interesting and savory note. Here is the first Thunderbird to be registered that resides in a McDonald's. Jim Wheeler reports that he not only is the new owner of the restaurant, but he also is the new owner of Registry Number 30245.

December 31, 2005: Put your Thunderbird(s) on the map! The Registry has its own map that shows locations of Thunderbirds. It takes about 30 seconds at http://www.frappr.com/tbirdregistry. The Registry suggests that you state your Thunderbird's Registry Number in the "shootout" - a  bubble that will appear when your map location is clicked. You can attach a picture. Your participation is required - your Thunderbird location will not appear unless you activate it.

Thunderbird Italien Now Part of the Registry!

December 29, 2005: Item #1: Many Thunderbird lovers will recognize the name "Italien". This one-off Thunderbird show car was produced during the 1963 model year. It had a distinctive fastback roof and other unique styling touches. The owner of RN 16749, even shared a picture that he took of the Italien some 42 1/2 years ago when it was on the beach in Florida. Now, the Registry is proud to report that the Italien not only lives, but it has been documented and is accounted for! The proud and happy new owner, Tom Maruska, tells us that the Italien came to life from the makings of a 1962 Convertible. Here it is, Registry Number 30090. The Italien. Newest member of the Significant Thunderbirds.

December 10, 2005: Item #1: Have you ever heard of "Salty's Super Shaker"? It is a 1955 Thunderbird that was a drag race car in the late 60s and early 70s. It is now Registry Number 29760.

December 7, 2005: Item #1: Yet another very long-term Thunderbird owner shares his car with the world: Registry Number 29549, owned by William Nickels of Michigan is a breath-taking 1965 Hardtop. Remarkably, Bill's Thunderbird found its way to the Registry almost exactly 41 years to the day after he first drove it off the lot of Floyd Rice Ford in Detroit...now a member of the Original Owner's Club.

November 13, 2005: Item #1: Steve Cracknell tells us about his 1955 Thunderbird...that his father bought new in December of 1954. For longevity of single ownership, this car would have ranked #2 in the Registry when his dad owned it, and it now ranks #1 in the Family Ties Roster. Keep in mind when you look at the FT Roster, the cars are sorted by when the entered the Registry. Checking the VIN and history tells the complete story.  It is RN 29293.

November 11, 2005: Item #1: Here is an uncommon color combination on a 2005 Thunderbird: Evening Black over Platinum Silver with a Black Ink and Medium Steel Blue interior. It is Registry Number 27633.

November 6, 2005: Item #1: Another M-code has been documented. This one is a triple-black 1963 Landau with a 3.10 axle! It is Registry Number 29066.

October 31, 2005: Item #1: Tim Barry owns Registry Number 10314, a Cascade Green 1963 Hardtop. He not only shares with us the build (rot) sheet for his car, but the build sheet for the car that followed his Thunderbird down the assembly line in the first part of November, 1962. Take a look at RN 10314.

October 22, 2005: Item #1:  Arthur Ash III has located another M-code Thunderbird. This one is Registry Number 3856 - a stunning 1962 Convertible, very much alive, and very much well in Ohio. Prior to this time, it had been documented only in a book.

October 19, 2005: Item #1: The 1980-1982 Thunderbirds are quite uncommon today, barely 25 years since their production began. Here is an example of a stunning 1981 Town Landau that belongs to Mel Henderson of Canada. It is Registry Number 28302.

October 15, 2005: Item #1: Here is an interesting 1962 Landau. Not only is it Chestnut (with matching interior) and a white vinyl roof, but it is interesting in what it does not have: a radio. The Registry has a couple of good pictures including one of the "radio blackout plate" on the instrument panel. It is not a "radio delete" car, as an AM radio was still optional equipment in 1962, but rather, a car without an optional radio. It is RN 27977. A couple of reference books that the Registry uses state that 99.8% of all 1962 Thunderbirds left the factory with an optional AM Radio, making this car 1 out of about 155; a total of 77,971 were produced during the 1962 model year.

October 15, 2005: Item #2: A 1957 Thunderbird with some remarkable longevity of ownership has been registered: It is Registry Number 28439.

October 14, 2005: Item #1: You can now search every single Thunderbird "owner comments" section. You can look for obscure keywords to list cars by location, option content, condition, etc. It is described further on the Main Search Menu.

October 12, 2005: Item #1: It's an exciting day for Square Bird enthusiasts...a 1958 Convertible has been documented by its owner, bringing our Registry total to 93. Check it out, and welcome Mike Fella his car...Registry Number 28350.

October 10, 2005: Item #1: We have another interesting look back to a time when our Thunderbird wasn't so very old itself. In this case, RN 6634 was only 16 years old, and its owner, Ignacio De Loyola posed happily with it. Formerly owned by his father, his sweetheart-1956 Thunderbird lives the good life in Brazil where it is stored in a humidity-controlled garage.

October 9, 2005: Item #1: Registry Number 27454 is an M-code 1962 Hardtop, one of this type that was only recently documented. Thanks to Arthur Ash III, we have some pictures of it along with its engine, interior, and data plate.

September 29, 2005: Item #1: Registry Number 28181 is a 1965 Hardtop that has not only one, but two stamping errors contained in its identification. It would unusual enough to see one such error, however two on one car is....unique? Thanks to Joe Lorenz for submitting this...start with RN 28181.

September 25, 2005: Item #1:  Here is an interesting Thunderbird for you: RN 28168 is a 1964 Hardtop with a low-compression 390. It isn't often we get to see cars with the very unusual "9" engine code in the VIN but here it is, complete with ROT sheet documentation.

The main registration page www.tbirdregistry.com/rat.asp is now working.

Also please see September 10 Item #1 below.

September 10, 2005: Item #1: The Registry is an enormous collection of data and pictures. The data is of primary on-line importance. In order to maintain the integrity of the data and ensure there is room for data to be added in the future, the bulk of the site must be pared down. Most of the "extra" picture pages that open from individual data sheets will be removed. If you get a broken link indicator, this is the reason. The Registry does maintain a picture file off-line - it contains tens of thousands of images that are available upon request. Until the data base is stabilized, new on-line registrations are on hold. To register off-line please send your name, your location, and your car's description/VIN/data codes/comments/pictures to john@tbirdregistry.com Clearly state the subject of "Thunderbird Registry". Thanks for your patience during this period of maintenance!

September 4, 2005: Item #1: The buck tag is produced with the data plate, and basically mirrors the information contained on the data plate. In some cases it has more or less codes; it was generally discarded when the Thunderbird's assembly was complete (in the 1960s). Registry Number 27709 has its buck tag still attached to the "mother board" data plate.

September 4, 2005: Item #2: Here is a great close-up view of a 1960 Sliding Sun Roof. In addition, you will see that Registry Number 27708 left the factory in a very unusual color - Pale Turquoise, color code I. This paint was normally reserved for use on Lincolns but was available by special request on Thunderbirds. Use of this paint color did not call for a pre-approved Domestic Special Order.

August 26, 2005: Item #1: Yet another M-code Thunderbird has been located. It is a 1962 Hardtop and is Registry Number 3849.

August 26, 2005: Item #2: An incredibly like-new, all-original 1959 Convertible belongs to Steve Mellor. You will want to look not only at its beauty but its very unusual option content. It is Registry Number 27948.

August 15, 2005: Item #1: Two interesting 1962 Thunderbirds have surfaced. Both of these cars were already in the Registry, having been documented with paper but without physical evidence of the car itself. Registry Number 898 is a Sports Roadster and Registry Number 3847 is an M-code Hardtop.

July 30, 2005: Item #1: The Thunderbird Registry Original Owner's Club has an interesting new member - Tony Hajek and his...well, you'll just have to click on Registry Number 27400 and see for yourself. It's just one more reason why THUNDERBIRD is the most wanted in the world.

July 27, 2005: Item #1: "I found it in a barn!" These words were spoken by Rodney Hengst who indeed did find a beautiful '83 Turbo Coupe that had been sitting idle for over 11 years. It is Registry Number 27373. Awesome! Now, where can we find a barn...

July 27, 2005: Item #2: Have you ever heard of "Ultra Bird II"? It's a remarkable custom 1961 Thunderbird that recently became part of the Registry. Three pages of information and pictures will be found at Registry Number 27354.

July 19, 2005: Item #1: Another Wimbledon White 1965 Special Landau has been documented. It is Registry Number 26779. The pictures available are kind of small, but the Registry will provide the additional images to you upon request.

July 18, 2005: Item #1: Many people ask about the small metal plates bearing the Thunderbird owner's name which were affixed to the dash or console. Here is a great picture of one that is attached to a great car - Registry Number 10220.

July 6, 2005: Item #1: Mike Lawson's 1960 Thunderbird Hardtop is Corinthian White with a red and white interior. Take a look at this stunning Square Bird...with only 19,000 miles on the odometer. It is Registry Number 7157.

July 3, 2005: Item #1: The very best Thunderbird pictures are those that show the car as it was - in daily use, long before there was a Registry. Often times the Thunderbird just happened to be in the picture which was really snapped and saved as a memory of a loved one. Troy Marr graciously shares with us three such pictures of his parents and his 1957 Thunderbird. If you look at only one Thunderbird today, make it Registry Number 26793.

July 1, 2005: Item #1: Roger Hammond of Australia writes that he owns Registry Number 5461. This 1958 Hardtop has been converted to right-hand drive.

July 1, 2005: Item #2: If you are in the market for a Thunderbird some new ones have been added in the Thunderbirds For Sale roster.

June 28, 2005: Item #1: The latest Domestic Special Order car is Registry Number 26772, a 1963 Landau.

June 27, 2005: Item #1: The Registry now offers a list of cars which have the Gate Release/Invoice/Build Sheet or Window Price Sticker available with the car's data sheet. Here is the current list.

June 25, 2005: Item #1: The five-hundredth 1966 Town Landau has been documented! This very popular Thunderbird body style name made its debut in the 1966 model year, and over 35,000 were built then - over half of total '66 production! Did you know that every body style, by year, is available in this roster? Once you reach that page, you will find a link to display a list of all of the Thunderbirds that make up each of those individual body styles.

June 20, 2005: Item #1: The Family Ties Roster continues to grow. This roster is for Thunderbirds that have been in the same family since new. The latest addition is a sparklingly beautiful 1966 Town Hardtop that was bought new by his aunt. Take a look at RN 26535 and the original owner.

June 12, 2005: Item #1: Three more Thunderbirds have been identified and documented through their ROT sheets, thanks to Richard Johnson. Check out Registry Numbers 26513, 26514, and 26515. In addition, Registry Number 8896, a 1960 Sun Roof car, has been documented with the ROT sheet sent by Richard...wait until you get a load of the color/trim combination of that Lincoln V-8 car! The hits just keep-on-a-comin'!

June 11, 2005: Item #1: There were five Thunderbird Apollos built in 1967. Three still exist (not a bad survival rate!). Registry Number 5410, the only 390-engine Apollo built, was seen at the All-Ford Nationals in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, in June, 2005.

June 7, 2005: Item #1: Registry Number 6647 is a Neiman Marcus Edition, whose VIN was determined by the Registry in 2003. It has surfaced in Florida this week. Here is a good picture of it, as well as its window sticker and NM Edition documents.

June 7, 2005: Item #2: Are you interested in 1962 M-code Hardtops? Of course you are! Registry Number 3644 has been located in Wichita, Kansas.

May 22, 2005: Item #1: Here is another reason why we love Thunderbirds: the FILA Coupe is one of those special statements from Ford that sets Thunderbird apart from lesser cars. Irving Steele is the original owner of RN 26180.

May 13, 2005: Item #2: Registry Number 1 has been owned by yours truly for over 30 years. Today the build sheet was found, nestled somewhat comfortably behind the rear seat center arm rest. If you own a 1964-1966 Thunderbird and haven't been able to locate the build sheet, you might want to try this location. Use care!

May 3, 2005: Item #1: Here's an exciting look at a rather uncommon Thunderbird - an M-powered 1963 Landau. Take a break with Registry Number 4457 - climb into the back seat, finished off in Chestnut leather.

April 26, 2005: Item #1: One of the most-often incorrectly identified Thunderbirds is the 1970 2-door Landau. With its swept-back vinyl-covered roof, it is easy to confuse with a Hardtop. This was the "in between" year when the 2-door Landau did have a rear quarter window. Take a look at a very photogenic 1970 2-door Landau: Registry Number 10505. This car was registered in 2003, but these good pictures just became available.

April 26, 2005: Item #2: Registry Number 4084 is a 1959 Hardtop that is undergoing total restoration under the supervision of its owner, Phil Tschorn of Germany. Phil sent the Registry several dozen pictures which show the process in great detail. Please check the Data Sheet and if you would like to see the pictures, contact the Registry.

April 25, 2005: Item #1: Twenty Thunderbirds who now find their home in Memory Lane are now registered. Memory Lane is a clean, correct, and very accessible salvage yard located in the San Fernando Valley north of Los Angeles. Browse through Registry Numbers 25717 through 25736, and please consider Memory Lane for your Thunderbird (and other) parts requirements. Memory Lane knows their business...and they want yours!

April 25, 2005: Item #2: Seven other Thunderbirds - Registry Numbers 3349, 18341, 18344, 18355, 18357, 18363, and 18372 were also documented as being in Memory Lane.

April 24, 2005: Item #1: Disappearing soft-top fans, here is a great close-up picture of RN 15209's stowed top, along with 6 others of a remarkably beautiful car.

April 20, 2005: Item #1: Build (ROT) Sheet lovers, here you go: Skot Christopher found the Build Sheet for his 1959 Thunderbird which is Registry Number 17402, rotation number 072 on December 17, 1958. Along with that Build Sheet he found the Build Sheet for rotation number 073...but it isn't a Thunderbird. Have a look for yourself!

April 20, 2005: Item #2: The Thunderbird Registry was in Buena Park, California for the Knott's All-Ford Show on Sunday, April 17. A good number of cars were documented, as were another 20 or so at Memory Lane, an auto recycler in the San Fernando Valley. Once they are processed, and the pictures edited, they will become part of the Registry and the news item posted here.

April 9, 2005: Item #1: Glen Hockenjos joins the Friends of the Registry Roster, submitting close to 40 Thunderbirds straight off. Any Thunderbird you spot is eligible to be registered - just get the proper VIN and a basic description/location!

April 9, 2005: Item #2: The Registry's first documented Thunderbird in the Czech Republic belongs to František Menc.

April 7, 2005: Item #1: Here is an interesting 2004 Thunderbird, painted rather "shockingly". It belongs to Chad Sanderson and is Registry Number 25314.

April 2, 2005: Item #1: There are thousands of beautiful Thunderbirds in this Registry; each one in its own right unique and special when compared to lesser cars. Here is a nifty picture sent by Fred Gardner of New York State - a trio of  blue Thunderbirds, from 3 decades. Enjoy.

April 2, 2005: Item #1: Here is an "un-recommended" color/trim combination - Registry Number 24939 is a 1961 Hardtop, color-coded HM (Chesapeake Blue and Corinthian White) in combination with a turquoise leather interior.

March 31, 2005: Item #1: RN 12124 is a 2003 007 Edition that is currently being offered for sale in Jasper, Georgia.

March 31, 2005: Item #1: How would you like a 1989 Super Coupe with 9 miles on the odometer? Here it is, Registry Number 24800.

March 25, 2005: Item #1: In 1966, Chuck Rouse sold his 1955 Thunderbird. He's looking for it now, and it is very well documented, complete with pictures!. We should be able to find RN 24863.

March 24, 2005: Item #1: Ken Olson's 1962 Thunderbird Convertible is a very early production car. What makes RN 1491 more interesting is that it was produced early enough in the run to not be equipped with an optional Swing-Away Steering Wheel; the feature was made standard shortly thereafter.

March 24, 2005: Item #2: The 2005 Carlisle All-Ford Nationals is featuring a Thunderbird Evolution Display - one each of every year of Thunderbird production 1955-2005. Contact Don Holton to participate.

March 23, 2005: Item #1: Here's an unusual Thunderbird, or at least, a Thunderbird in an unusual color. Registry Number 24757 is a 1963 Convertible in color code O, which is Green Mint.

March 18, 2005: Item #1: Mike Gonzales has a 1978 Diamond Jubilee with the factory-installed "T-Top" roof; he even wrote to Ford and got a letter verifying that it indeed left the Los Angeles assembly plant that way. It is the only DJ in the Registry with a 400-cubic inch V-8 and the T-Top roof. An interesting Thunderbird for sure, it is Registry Number 11918; he shares some good pictures as well.

March 3, 2005: Item #1: The Ghosts of Thunderbirds Past! Thanks to the initiative and hard work of Arthur Ash III combined with the cooperation and good-spiritedness of T-Birds by Nick, the Registry has just documented 115 Thunderbirds that have long since left their place in life. T-Birds by Nick is a Thunderbird Restoration Specialist in Panorama City, California, and they sent very thorough information on 1958-1966 cars that they have parted out over the years. About 90% of them have complete production codes, too. They are listed in the Registry in order of year, starting with Registry Number 24389 and continuing through Registry Number 24504. A separate roster will be prepared for these cars in the near future. Enjoy this latest addition to the Registry.

February 24, 2005: Item #1: David Kamensky shares with us the complete envelope and accompanying letter that would have arrived with your Thunderbird Dash Plaque, engraved with your name on it. Dave also shares a wonderful letter and presentation scroll mailed to the owner of a new 1962 Thunderbird, direct from the office of Lee Iacocca. In addition, check out the Toys - there are some new additions there, also courtesy of Dave. The links are here.

February 11, 2005: Item #1: Pictures of Thunderbirds! First, remember that the Registry is constantly growing. Literally hundreds of data sheet pictures have been added in the last week. If you recently pulled up a data sheet only to see a stock photo, try again. In addition, another couple hundred will be added this weekend. Second, two very interesting 1963 Thunderbirds have been documented in pictures. Take a look at RN 1364, a Special Landau that belongs to Ron Jones. And after that, spend a few minutes with RN 23087, a wondrous Sports Roadster in a color combination that will leave you spellbound. Owner Paul Battalglia treats us with a full page of pictures documenting the day the Roadster was delivered to his house. By the way, Ron also is the original owner of a rather stunning 1979 Town Landau - RN 22808 also worthy of your time. Third, Registry Number 9082, a 1960 Hardtop with Sliding Sun Roof, has been spotted in California; write to the Registry for more pictures.

February 4, 2005: Item #1: Restoration Candidates are here! Take a look at this special paint-coded 1965 Thunderbird Convertible. Thunderbird Spotter Arthur Ash III says it is very restorable and is for sale in Georgia (with all of the details). It is Registry Number 22497. Located in the same yard are the equally-deserving 1967 Hardtop, Registry Number 22498; 1965 Hardtop, Registry Number 22499; 1967 2-door Landau, Registry Number 22500. All four have good documentation with all production codes. Write to the Registrar for larger pictures.

January 27, 2005: Item #1: You can now search the Registry for "static" pages, i.e., pages not derived from the data base. This will be helpful in finding extra pages attached to various Registry Numbers. You can also search for terms like "invoice", "gate release", or other self-defined search parameters. Give it a try.

January 26, 2005: Item #1: Mark Sagrillo owns three Thunderbirds. Not an unusual event in itself, but these three (1957, 1960, and 2003) are all the same colors...beautiful two-tone red and white. Start with Registry Number 22656.

January 21, 2005: Item #1: Build/ROT Sheet fans! Here's a Thunderbird that will interest you: RN 22215 is a 1965 Hardtop. Thunderbird Spotter Arthur Ash III captured great pictures of its data plate and ROT sheet. See for yourself how the planned and actual production dates compare.

January 21, 2005: Item #2: Scoop Cover Car! Gilbert R. Buras Jr.'s 1964 Thunderbird Convertible, a cover car, is now part of the Registry.

January 18, 2005: Item #1: The last week has seen a substantial increase in Thunderbirds which are being sought by their former owners - or at least their whereabouts are of interest to them. The Thunderbird Registry Lost and Found Department is worth checking out.

January 18, 2005: Item #2: Registry Number 21555 is a handsome red 1997 Rusty Wallace Signature Edition. Owner Rick Robinson has provided us with some beautiful close-ups of his Thunderbird.

January 18, 2005: Item #3: Here is an interesting story regarding the "correctness" of 1957 Thunderbird wheel covers on a 1958 Thunderbird. It is provided by Dan Brown, owner of Registry Number 5315.

January 18, 2005: Item #4: Gilbert Buras Jr. shares with us an interesting page from the book "The Ford Book of Styling" and how it relates to RN 22470.

January 18, 2005: Item #5: Jason Bauer reports that his 1961 Thunderbird's restoration is completed. This beautiful car, Registry Number 13179, was formerly owned by his father.

January 9, 2005: Item #1: Gunmetal Gray with a two-tone beige vinyl interior is an uncommon combination on a 1960 Thunderbird, and Registry Number 22158 is exactly that.

January 6, 2005: Item #1: The Registry loves old pictures of Thunderbirds when they were new. Here is one such picture that not only shows RN 21121, a startling 1980 Town Landau that is still in the possession of its original owner, next to his 1969 4-door Landau. The '69 is part of the "Thunderbirds Not Yet Registered" roster - cars we are looking for now.

January 5, 2005: Item #1: When was the last time you saw a 1958 Thunderbird with an export-only 332 V-8? Thanks to Kevin Nicholls the Registry now has a good picture of RN 3101, a stunning beauty whose home is in England. And - it's a convertible!

December 30, 2004: Item #1: Rob Bernhagen's 1959 Thunderbird has an interesting data plate. Look at the factory error. While very unusual to see, data plate errors are the result of a "typo" when the plate was stamped.

December 21, 2004: Item #1: Gary Van Booven is the proud owner of Registry Number 38. He shares with us the "House Gary Built" for his beautiful 1964 Hardtop.

December 1, 2004: Item #1: Just when you think you have seen it all, along comes a Thunderbird to expand your horizons. Registry Number 21705, a 1966 Town Landau, has a very unusual color and trim combination. In fact, it is so unusual it isn't even listed in any ordering guide or manual.

November 29, 2004: Item #1: Attention 10th Generation Thunderbird Owners! The 1989-1997 roster is seriously lacking in owner-car pictures! If you have one in the Registry please send your car's pictures. Here's a great example of a 1992 Super Coupe that belongs to George Paige.

November 28, 2004: Item #1: "T-Bird's Past Is Well Kept"...this is the title of a feature story about The Thunderbird Registry in the November 15 edition of U.S. Auto Scene which is published in Detroit and is available free at newsstands in the area. Staff Reporter Nicole Carriere relates how Thunderbird Spotter Adrian M. Clements was spotted himself while seeking out The World's Most Wanted Car on November 5. Adrian was at Wixom Assembly to participate in the 50th Anniversary Thunderbird Celebration. The full text of the article will be published on this web site in the near future. Thanks to Adrian for explaining the value of the Registry as well as being the catalyst for the story - and thanks to Nicole for the excellent publicity and support.

November 28, 2004: Item #2: A frequent question to the Registry is about how to identify the three steel-roof 1966 Thunderbirds. Here is the answer.

November 22, 2004: Item #1: Thunderbirds are highly-valued cars. Registry Number 19132, a very-low-mileage 1976 Thunderbird, just sold for $19,250.

November 21, 2004: Item #1: Just a reminder, Thunderbird Friends: The Registry is really a living thing. A day does not go by that someone doesn't send an update on a car that was unable to be put in a specific location; the same goes for pictures. Those stock photos and "unknown locations" slowly but surely diminish as you participate and send me what you find. Thank you, one and all, for your ongoing, tireless assistance.

November 17, 2004: Item #1: Triple black! That is what Tom Sheets' garage looks like now that he has three black Thunderbirds. Start with RN 2575.

November 11, 2004: Item #1: Jim Defries has examined 183 data plates from Thunderbirds scrapped by Bob's Bird House. These cars are part of the Registry (Status Category 7) and can be found in the list of Thunderbirds registered that are attributed to Jim's efforts.

November 11, 2004: Item #2: The 1,000,000th Thunderbird to be produced belongs to Bob Peterson. This car is but one more example of why Thunderbird is the World's Most Wanted Car, regardless of year.

November 7, 2004: Item #1: Another uncommonly-painted Thunderbird has surfaced, and remarkably, it has survived in its original state. Registry Number 21159 is a 1962 Corinthian White-over-Silver Mink Hardtop with a red vinyl interior. Love it!

November 3, 2004: Item #1: Apologies are in order! Jerry Bieser, who owns Registry Number 4146, sent pictures of his 1963 M-code Sports Roadster many months ago. His patience only helped me to forget about those pictures. Take a look at a brilliant example of one of the most, if not the most, enigmatic and uncommon of all Thunderbirds.

November 1, 2004: Item #1: The search engines keep on coming! The Registry's data base can now show a list of cars sorted by Year and Body Style with their VIN and Data Plate (or Sticker) codes. The codes that appear are what have been recorded in the data base by the owner or an independent source.

October 30, 2004: Item #1: We have two interesting Thunderbirds deserving of your attention. One is Registry Number 2437 - owner J. Bryan Mattison shares the ROT sheet, and a great picture of the corresponding Rotation Number marked on his car in a not-so-obscure location. The other is Registry Number 18235 a 1962 Thunderbird Hardtop in the very uncommon paint combination of "IJ".

October 24, 2004: Item #1: William Janke has sent an excellent image of the Gate Release for his 1956 Thunderbird, Registry Number 20187.

October 21, 2004: Item #1: Registry Number 20252 is a 1997 Thunderbird that was a prize in the Valvoline sweepstakes.

October 21, 2004: Item #2: Registry Number 20259 offers views of its uncommon interior and underhood VIN stamping.

October 21, 2004: Item #3: Registry Number 20624 is an M-code '62. More importantly, its color and trim had not been documented as being a standard combination in 1962...until now.

October 21, 2004: Item #4: Look at the beautiful interior of Registry Number 20443, a 1963 Thunderbird Hardtop. And Registry Number 20449 is an example of a great-looking 1978.

October 15, 2004: Item #1: Another new search feature joins the Registry today. Thunderbirds "Not Yet Registered" is a page of pictures and general locations of Thunderbirds that have been seen but not yet documented. Click on any car's identification link to submit information. Information on how contribute "NYR" Thunderbirds is on this page, too.

October 14, 2004: Item #1: Data plate oddities! Two recently-registered Thunderbirds have factory errors on their stamped data plates. Registry Number 20179 is one and Registry Number 20514 is another.

October 13, 2004: Item #1: Here's a brand-new search feature: The Status Report. Keeping in mind that the Registry is neither a beauty contest nor does it attempt to rate any Thunderbird, a status roster is now available. Status levels are numbered from 1 to 9, and simply categorize a car based on the level of its verification, and whether or not it is intact, in the process of being dismantled, or scrapped.

At the present time, the Status Report includes all Registry Numbers of 19990 or higher as well as some others. Because this status level must be entered manually into existing records, the process of getting all of the Thunderbirds "categorized" will be gradual. If you own a Thunderbird that is not already in the Status Report and would like it to be included a.s.a.p., please send a note indicating the Registry Number and its category. The list of status categories are on the Status Report page.

October 8, 2004: Item #1: The Registry is excited to tell you about its first entry documenting a car in the Middle East. It is Registry Number 20379.

October 7, 2004: Item #1: Registry Number 1976, a 1976 Thunderbird that was sold by Rozum Motor Company and documented from its records, has been located at Dakota Salvage in Mitchell, the same South Dakota city where it was originally sold.

October 7, 2004: Item #2: One of the more elusive Thunderbirds is the 1958. A new specimen was documented today in Mitchell, South Dakota: Registry Number 20332.

October 3, 2004: Item #1: The Original Owner's Club keeps growing! If you are the original owner of your Thunderbird, or if it has been in the same family since new (Family Ties Roster) please contact the Registrar.

October 1, 2004: Item #1: Here is a rare bird - Registry Number 20179, a 1955 that used to be owned by Bill Mann, has the factory-issued data plate of U5FH109612, in clear violation of the required "P" first character used on all 1955 Thunderbirds.

October 1, 2004: Item #2: Registry Number 20169 is a 1963 Special Landau owned by Alexander Watts. He is looking for help in finding out what the Limited Edition number of his "Principality of Monaco" is.

September 29, 2004: Item #1: The Registry transitioned to the 20,000 mark at full-speed yesterday at 7:05PM EDT. RN 20000 is a Merlot 2004, brought to your attention by Arthur Ash III.

September 29, 2004: Item #2: When was the last time you saw a Thunderbird FILA? Take a look at Registry Number 20026, a beautiful 1984 model with a good close-up view of the FILA badge. Honorable mention also goes to RN 20002, a 1965 Hardtop, and RN 20006, a 1967 4-door Landau.

September 22, 2004: Item #1: An additional 125 pictures were added to data sheets today - Registry Numbers 19337 through 19542. Of particular interest are RN 19387, a Bronze 2005 model with a close-up picture of its 50th Anniversary fender badge and RN 19407, an exceptional 1962 Landau.

September 19, 2004: Item #1: Claude Laforest has provided the Registry with some excellent paper documentation on his 1978 Ember Metallic beauty, including the build sheet. Start with RN 19583's data sheet and work your way through 2 more pages of pictures.

September 19, 2004: Item #2: RN 19309 is a 1967 Hardtop. We have an excellent picture of its interior on its "extra" page.

September 19, 2004: Item #3: Another 30 pictures have been posted for cars registered by Arthur Ash III. They have a Registry Number range from 19265 through 19313.

September 19, 2004: Item #4: Stanley and Lucie Bechard of Lakeside, Ontario own P5FH100113, one of the very first Thunderbirds ever produced. It is also Registry Number 1223.

September 16, 2004: Item #1: Approximately 100 pictures were loaded into the data base today. If you were looking at a Registry Number in the range of 19130 to 19270 and did not see a picture of the actual car, check now.

September 16, 2004: Item #2: Among the group mentioned above is an interesting 1964 Hardtop. It is Wimbledon White with a white leather interior (that includes passenger recliner and head rest). Take a look at this rather uncommon "double white" Thunderbird. In addition, Registry Number 19213 is a very late production car (22G).

September 9, 2004: Item #1: Turbo Coupe aficionados may recall the Bud at the Glen Drive-Away which took place August 7-9, 1987 at Watkins Glen, New York. Ford built a sizeable number of identical Turbo Coupes - all were white with a red interior - which had been pre-sold to Ford dealers in the Buffalo Ordering District. Dealers or their representatives met at The Glen's track, drove around once in a procession, then drove the Thunderbirds back to their dealership. Similarly, Mustangs and Rangers were included in this event.

It was an exciting, memorable day - and your Thunderbird Registrar knows that first hand because he got to participate in the Drive-Away. I went around the track in that procession and then drove the Turbo Coupe up to Concord Ford Lincoln-Mercury in Newark, New York. That particular car that I drove is Registry Number 19591. I vividly remember that August 9, 1987 was a rainy day, but the TC was nimble, sure-footed, and yes - very responsive!

The point of this news item is this: Don Holton has identified 16 of these Thunderbirds and they are now part of the Registry. They are registered in consecutive order of the last six digits in their VIN, starting with Registry Number 19589 and ending with Registry Number 19604. In addition, it is believed that Registry Number 19588 is part of this group of identical Thunderbirds. If you can add anything about these Turbo Coupes please contact the Registry.

September 1, 2004: Item #1: Experience the magic of Thunderbird! LOVEfords offers a 90-second video tour of Thunderbird's first nine years. Thunderbird turns 50 this week.

August 31, 2004: Item #1: Registry Number 1572 is a 1960 "J-code" Hardtop with Sliding Sun Roof. Its location and status was unknown until Kevin Nicholls of Plymouth, England notified the Registry today that he is the owner. Kevin also owns Registry Number 91, another 1960 Sun Roof Hardtop.

August 29, 2004: Item #1: The Thunderbird Registry is 2 years old today. Thank you to all of the Thunderbird owners and spotters on 6 continents who have helped the Registry grow. As this item is posted, the 19,419th Thunderbird has just been documented. Whether it has room for 2 passengers or more, whether it has 2 doors or 4, be it a stick or an automatic, and whether it is just a fond memory or a brand new 2005 Fiftieth Anniversary Edition, every Thunderbird has a place of its own at www.tbirdregistry.com Your participation and support has been phenomenal and I look forward to the future for the Registry.

August 28, 2004: Item #1: Johnny Carlisle of Brisbane, Australia sends us documentation and great pictures of Registry Number 19314, a 1955 Thunderbird that has been converted to right-hand drive. Take a look!

August 24, 2004: Item #1: A new low consecutive unit number has been documented for the 1966 model year. It is Registry Number 19237, a Town Hardtop belonging to Ed Lachner of Alberta. Ed shares with us pictures of his beautiful car as well as a very good copy of the build sheet. And while we're on the subject, did you know that there exists in the Registry a page of lowest-and-highest consecutive unit number Thunderbirds that have been documented?

August 24, 2004: Item #2: Over 100 pictures were loaded into the data base today, starting with Registry Number 19000 and continuing through roughly RN 19150.

August 19, 2004: Item #1: Here's a great picture that a former Thunderbird owner's daughter shares with the Registry. Take a look at Susan with mom's 1960 Hardtop.

August 10, 2004: Item #1: Registry Number 1974 is a 1974 Thunderbird that was sold by Rozum Motor Company in Mitchell, South Dakota. Take a look at a picture of RN 1974 in front of Rozum's about 1980. Dick Rozum also sent us a picture of RN 1983, his 1983 Thunderbird demo...in a picture taken when the car was brand-new. If you are new to the Registry and its features, there is a "Rozum Roster" of Thunderbirds sold by the dealership starting in 1959, complete with representations of the actual stock record cards kept on file. This list is a great insight on how The World's Most Wanted Car made 200-plus initial appearances in the heartland.

August 10: 2004: Item #2: Here are some good views of a 1969 4-door Landau and its cloth Special Brougham bucket seat interior. It is Registry Number 17722. Thanks go to John Dalton for making sure the Registry got these pictures.

August 7, 2004: Item #1: Robert Sexton shares with us images of his 1960 Thunderbird's Owner's Manual with service record notes starting in January, 1960 when RN 18699 was brand-new. Take a look.

August 7, 2004: Item #2: A Wimbledon White 1965 Special Landau has surfaced in The Netherlands. Its original color has been changed but the evidence is clear. Piet de Jong Boers shares his uncommon Thunderbird as Registry Number 18747.

August 6, 2004: Item #1: A "ton" of Thunderbirds...Arthur Ash III reached the 2,000 mark today just 7 months after he registered his first Thunderbird. That first one is Registry Number 13609 - a Gold and White Luxury Group 1974 Thunderbird with "Lincoln Exclusive" paint. Arthur's latest addition is Registry Number 18763 - a 1965 Hardtop. Check out all of the Friends of the Registry...and become a Friend of the Registry yourself. Thank you Arthur, for not only the 2,000 Thunderbirds that you registered on-line, but also for the many hours of work behind the scenes with your salvage yard visits, image editing, and follow-up communication.

August 6, 2004: Item #2: Over 200 pictures were added to Registry Data Sheets today. If you recently looked at Registry Number  in the 18000-and higher-range and did not see a picture of the actual car, please check for an update. Don't forget that the Registry picture library includes thousands of images not displayed...don't hesitate to ask if you want more pictures of a particular Thunderbird.

August 6, 2004: Item #3: P5FH100005 is, of course, the first Thunderbird ever made, and it is Registry Number 101. Through the courtesy of Tom Yanulaytis, we now have a full page of pictures linked on its data sheet.

July 13, 2004: Item #1: The John Rose collection of Thunderbirds was sold in California on July 10, 2004. Thunderbird specialist and restorer Ken Harkema attended the sale and brought home over 60 Thunderbird documentations which are now part of the Registry. Ken says that Mr. Rose was a Toyota dealer and collected Thunderbirds for many years. Whenever he bought one or took one in trade, he never sold it. These cars for the most part were exposed to the elements for up to 30 years. The Thunderbirds documented by Ken are Registry Numbers 18249, 18250, and 18314 through 18375. You can see the entire list by choosing Search by Registrant's Name and searching for "Ken Harkema".

July 9, 2004: Item #1: Did you know that you can request a list of a particular year of Thunderbirds - returning only those car for which an actual picture is available? As owners send in pictures of their cars, or as pictures become available for "owner unknown" cars, the list gets automatically populated. This search feature is at "Picture Request". There has been a recent large influx of pictures for Thunderbird already registered.

July 9, 2004: Item #2: Registry Number 18235, a 1962 Hardtop belonging to Dave Dietmeyer is Castillian Gold with a Rangoon Red roof, a very uncommon two-tone paint scheme to say the least. Currently the car is white, but Dave plans to take it back to its original colors. Gold and red...more proof that Thunderbird is "Unique In All The World".

July 1, 2004: Item #1: Nick Lippold shares his 1965 Thunderbird Convertible's Sequential Turn Signals via a Quick-Time Movie. It's Registry Number 17883.

June 30, 2004: Item #1: The Registry has two new "Friends of the Registry". JD Dwyer and Bryan Fisk join the ranks of multiple-Thunderbird spotters. Thanks to both JD and Bryan. See all of the Friends of the Registry here.

June 8, 2004: Item #1: Here is an "F.Y.I." for Thunderbird Registry visitors: The Registry files include many thousands of pictures of registered cars that are not displayed on the web site? Chances are better than 50-50 that there is at least one additional, or larger picture of the Thunderbird(s) that piques your interest. Send a note to the Thunderbird Registrar and be sure to state the Registry Number....I'll check the files and see what I have, and get the pictures sent to you a.s.a.p.

June 8, 2004: Item #2: Registry Number 17280 is a 1966 Town Landau that has been converted to a "parade car", meaning it has had is roof removed...permanently!

June 8, 2004: Item #3: A large number of pictures were added to the data base today for Thunderbirds registered in late May, roughly Registry Numbers 17100 through 17407. If you previously visited a data sheet only to find a stock photo, please check again for photos and extra pages. These are all cars registered by Arthur Ash III.

June 2, 2004: Item #1: You may already be familiar with a 1963 Thunderbird concept car that sports a fastback roof and pivoting rear side windows. Take a look at it in a picture shot in 1963 by RN 16749's owner Ernie Schorb - along with black beauty RN 16749 itself, still very much alive and very well in Florida.

May 21, 2004: Item #1: Thanks to Richard Johnson and the V.T.C.I., the 1964 Thunderbird roster will grow by over 400 cars in the coming weeks. Richard, who owns Registry Number 5444 has kept a database of these first-year Flair Birds and has kindly and generously made it part of the Thunderbird Registry. These Thunderbirds will be added in sequential order based on their consecutive unit number (last six digits of the VIN), and the roster is located here.

May 14, 2004: Item #1: Registry Number 17238 is the first 2005 Thunderbird to become part of the Registry. Adrian M. Clements, who spotted this Field Evaluation Unit, reports that it does not have a V8 emblem, and that the faux vent trim has been replaced with "50th Anniversary/1955-2005" trim pieces.

May 3, 2004: Item #1: Forget Blockbuster. Make some popcorn, turn up the speakers, sit back, and relax...You are about to know the thrill of seeing that which has never been seen before.

May 2, 2004: Item #1: A very rare bird, indeed! That is Registry Number 16862, a 1966 Town Hardtop in Sundust Beige with a Raven Black roof. Check out this uncommon color combination and its equally striking interior. Make sure to scroll down to see the extra page link.

May 2, 2004: Item #2:  Enjoy the Ford commercials that are now part of www.lovefords.org.

April 30, 2004: Item #1: Feast your eyes on Registry Number 16667 - it's a Wimbledon White 1965 Special Landau that resides Kansas.

April 29, 2004: Item #1: Be sure to check out the new pictures of toy Thunderbirds (highlighted in Acapulco  Blue) contributed by Eric Taylor. Of particular interest is the 1960 Thunderbird Convertible promo. This model was sent to Eric's father in 1960 when he became the original owner of Registry Number 5347.

April 15, 2004: Item #1: The Original Owner's Club membership "requirements" have been changed to include any Thunderbird in the possession of its original owner. To include your already-registered Thunderbird, please send a note to the Registrar.  Henceforth, all new registrations made by the original owner will be part of the Original Owner's Club.

April 8, 2004: Item #1: If you own a Thunderbird that has been in your family exclusively, you will want to be part of  the Registry's Family Ties Roster. Perhaps your car was originally owned by your grandfather, or mother, or uncle, aunt, or similar close relative - and now it is yours. If so, please make note of this when you register your Thunderbird. If your Thunderbird is already registered, send a note to the Registrar along with your car's Registry Number.

April 7, 2004: Item #1: It took Arthur Ash III just 95 days to spot and register 1,000 Thunderbirds.

March 8, 2004: Item #1: Of interest is Registry Number 15706, a Desert Sky Blue 2003 Thunderbird. This car was a prize on the television game show "The Price Is Right". This car and the lucky winner were seen by millions of viewers.

March 4, 2004: Item #1: Highway 7 Salvage is the home of 18 Square Birds, Kevin Thomas reports. Registry Number 3893 which had not been documented in many years was discovered there along with Registry Numbers 15518 through 15534 which were added to the Registry today. Highway 7 is also the final resting place of Registry Numbers 15516 and 15517 (1984 and 1996 Thunderbirds).

February 9, 2004: Item #1: The Registry's first Thunderbird with a low-compression 428 V-8 engine has arrived. Check out Bret Christian's 1967 4-door Landau, Registry Number 15060.

February 9, 2004: Item #2: Arthur Ash III submitted 19 cars today - all of them residing in a junkyard in Georgia. They are Registry Numbers 15086 through 15104. If anyone would like the "full version" of these photos - uncropped, please write to the Thunderbird Registrar. They are approximately 375k each in size.

January 24, 2004: Item #1: Many questions are asked about how to identify and tell the difference between the three 1966 Thunderbird closed models - the Hardtop, Town Hardtop, and Town Landau. A new 1966 Thunderbird Identification section is now available.

January 19, 2004: Item #1: The Thunderbird Registry Original Owner's Club is now ready for visitors. The cars in the roster have been in the possession of only the original owner for at least 10 years.

January 17, 2004: Item #1: Take a look at Nick Dargan's 1964 and 1965 Thunderbirds in a dream-like setting.

January 14, 2004: Item #1: Thunderbird Registry Number 12531 has been documented as being number 4 from a limited edition of 1,000 Pacific Coast Roadsters.

January 11, 2004: Item #1: The first 2004 Light Ice Blue Thunderbirds have become part of the Registry. They are Registry Numbers 13883 and 13884.

December 21, 2003: Item #1: 0Y71Y142297, a 1960 Hardtop with Sliding Sun Roof, and now known as Registry Number 13507, has been discovered after having been parked for 35 years. The new owner has provided us with a gallery of 8 pictures.

December 19, 2003: Item #1: Dale Lee has provided not only the facts to document Registry Number 13372, a 1968 Hardtop, but a wonderful scan of its Build Sheet.

December 17, 2003: Item #1: 2J87N108479, which is Registry Number 13162, comes with a full page of extra documentation. Take a look at the 2-page window sticker, the Ownercard, and Ford's Consumer Advice to 1972 Thunderbird buyers. RN 13162 was submitted by Thunderbird Spotter John Dalton.

December 17, 2003: Item #2: The 2004 Thunderbird Production Sequence Roster, which places cars in the Registry based on their order of departure from the Wixom line, is growing. Almost 400 '04 Thunderbirds were submitted by Adrian M. Clements, all of them with rotation numbers and production codes. Many of them were documented as they actually were on the assembly line. These cars are currently becoming part of the Registry.

December 17, 2003: Item #3: 1FAHP60A04Y105788, which is Registry Number 13348, is the last 2004 Thunderbird to be produced in Vintage Mint Green (rotation number 5728). You will find a table listing the last-to-be-produced of all 4 Vintage Mint Green "combinations" included on RN 13348's data sheet.

December 11, 2003: Item #1: 5Y87Z156183, also known as Registry Number 13156, has just entered the Registry. This Thunderbird is a Wimbledon White 1965 Special Landau.

December 7, 2003: Item #1: Gregory Graham's 1963 Thunderbird Sports Roadster, Registry Number 3334, is the First Place Winner in Legendary Ford Magazine's Premier issue Photo Contest. Full details are right here.

October 30, 2003: Item #1: Dan Flock tried to register his newly-acquired 1956 Thunderbird, only to find it was owned by someone else...or was it?  A small, but important typo was corrected, and the Thunderbird Registry now has two 1956 Thunderbirds with consecutive unit numbers just 1 number apart. That is no small feat considering the fact that other Fords were intermixed on the Dearborn line the first 3 years of Thunderbird production. The fact that they have both survived 47 years is an incredible event! The sequential cars are Registry Number 9238, owned by Anthony Colbert, and Dan's Registry Number 12042.

October 11, 2003: Item #1: The Thunderbird Registrar visited eastern South Dakota the weekend of October 3-5, 2003. Visits to salvage yards and on-the-road spotting led to another 24 cars joining the Registry - numbers 11458 through 11481. Most of the Thunderbirds in this group are in salvage yards in the Freeman and Mitchell areas.

October 10, 2003: Item #1: Fourteen 2004 Thunderbirds were identified on the Wixom assembly line and registered in order of actual production. Take a look at how the production sequence is not contingent on VIN assignment.

October 8, 2003: Item #1: A partial Ford Motor Company Passenger Basic Broadcast Card is the source of Registry Number 11306. Thanks to Adrian M. Clements, who analyzed and decoded the card, the Registry now has one more 1969 bucket seat 4-door