Registry Number 31801 Identified by Former Owner

In 1969, Basilio Serrano of New York City bought a 1956 Thunderbird and registered it with DMV soon afterwards. Basilio sold it in 1970 and naturally lost track of it. On May 25, 2009 he contacted the Registry after finding it to be RN 31801. 

Basilio tells us that he bought the Thunderbird in Bronx, New York and that he still has the bill of sale from that purchase. He is kind enough to share with us a picture of the Thunderbird as it looked in 1969, along with the New York State DMV registration receipt dated July 18, 1969. Back then, registrations at DMV offices in New York were hand-written and we only received a "computerized" form at renewal time.

Aside from original owner/family ties documentation, RN 31801 has now established the longest "background check" of any car in the Registry.  On behalf of Thunderbird enthusiasts world-wide: thank you, Basilio, for sharing this story. It just further proves the point that Thunderbird was, is, and will continue to be The World's Most Wanted Car....the car everyone would love to own! 

The Thunderbird Registry database can serve as a source of information when you are trying to document the history of your car. If your car is ever stolen and it has been documented in the database, and it turns up for sale somewhere else, there is a chance you could get it back. Or if in the worst case, it is parted out, and a part with a VIN  (such as a shock tower or engine block) is seen at a swap meet for sale, that could be a clue as to what happened to the car, and ultimately who did it.

As every Thunderbird owner knows, the combinations of engines, transmissions, colors, interiors, and options were seemingly endless through the 1980s. The Registry will help us to understand the popularity of some of these features, and show us trends that were common when the cars were new. It will also help us to recognize what is "year-correct" should that be an issue to us. There is no cost or obligation to use the Registry assets...let your imagination be the limit.

The Thunderbird Registry exists as a tool for us to further our appreciation for The World's Most Wanted Car....the car everyone would love to own!