2002 T-BIRD AUCTION TO BENEFIT CHARITIES.Byline: Orith Goldberg Staff Writer NORTH HILLS - Car enthusiasts may feel like they're going back in time tonight when Galpin Ford auctions off a limited-edition 2002 Ford Thunderbird The Ford Thunderbird was a car manufactured in the United States by the Ford Motor Company. It entered production for the 1955 Ford Thunderbird model year as a two-seater sporty car but, unlike the similar Chevrolet Corvette, the Thunderbird was never sold as a full-blown sports - a throwback throwback see atavism. to the 1955 classic. The two-seat roadster - a hard-top convertible - is designed as a modern interpretation of the 1955 model, with porthole windows and colors similar to those available when Dwight Eisenhower was president and ``Rock Around the Clock'' was the No. 1 record. At least 50 people are on the waiting list for the car at Galpin Ford in North Hills and close to 50 more have registered to bid on the first model, available at tonight's auction. ``I've never really had a reaction quite like this to a vehicle,'' said Beau Boeckmann, vice president of Galpin Ford, one of the first dealerships on the West Coast to get a Thunderbird thunderbird In North American Indian mythology, a powerful spirit in the form of a bird that watered the earth and made vegetation grow. Lightning was believed to flash from its eyes or beak, and the beating of its wings was thought to represent rolling thunder. . ``What's unique about this vehicle is it brings back the American icon.'' Ford is making only 25,000 of the cars this year, and a release date for the full run is unclear. With long waits expected for the car, Galpin officials decided to auction the car in its showroom - giving anyone a chance, and donating the proceeds to charity. Proceeds will benefit Meet Every Need with Dignity, which helps low- income families; New Horizons, which works with developmentally disabled people; L.A.'s Better Educated Students for Tomorrow, an after-school program; the anti-gang Jeopardy jeopardy, in law, condition of a person charged with a crime and thus in danger of punishment. At common law a defendant could be exposed to jeopardy for the same offense only once; exposing a person twice is known as double jeopardy. Foundation; and Padres
Not to be confused with San Diego Padres. Contra contra Member of a counterrevolutionary force that sought to overthrow Nicaragua's left-wing Sandinista government. The original contras had been National Guardsmen during the regime of Anastasio Somoza (see Somoza family). The U.S. El Cancer, which supports Latino youngsters suffering from cancer. The auction will start at 8 p.m. with a showing of preproduction pre·pro·duc·tion adj. 1. Taking place or existing before production: preproduction planning. 2. models - in ``torch red,'' ``inspiration yellow,'' ``Thunderbird blue'' and ``whisper white'' - on display at 6 p.m. Ivan Brice, 61, of Sun Valley stood in front of the ``evening black'' model sitting in the showroom Monday, enthralled en·thrall tr.v. en·thralled, en·thrall·ing, en·thralls 1. To hold spellbound; captivate: The magic show enthralled the audience. 2. To enslave. by the car. He said he has already placed a $1,000 deposit for the car at another dealership in Utah, where he has been on a waiting list for the black model Thunderbird for two years. Brice said he plans on bidding tonight. ``I've been driving Thunderbirds for years,'' he said. ``This new version is the first of the heritage styling, that's why I'm anxious to get one. ``This is like my second childhood,'' Brice said. ``I couldn't afford it in the '50s.'' The two-seat Ford Thunderbird was introduced in 1955, was marketed as a sporty sport·y adj. sport·i·er, sport·i·est 1. Appropriate for sport or participation in sports. 2. Exhibiting sportsmanship; sporting. 3. Flashy; jazzy. roadster with a convertible roof and hard top, and was sold at a base price of $2,695. The last Thunderbird model was sold in 1997. In May 2000, Ford officially announced the return of the T-Bird for 2002. The car, with a 3.9-liter, V8 engine, sports a sticker price sticker price n. The list price for an automobile or other motor vehicle. of $39,290, and comes with deep, leather-trimmed seats, classic portholes, and an exhaust that has the same sound and pitch as the original. Chuck Rose, 46, of Glendale placed a $5,000 deposit for the car, ordering the roadster in ``Thunderbird blue.'' ``I feel very fortunate,'' Rose said. ``This blue is a limited color. I've always wanted to own this color car, it's like a '60s color. ``Every time I went to buy a brand-new car, this color was out of style.'' Boeckmann said the dealership would get enough cars to accommodate those on the waiting list, with an unknown number to spare. ``There's no possible way we can get enough to meet our demand,'' Boeckmann said. ``I've never seen (such) excitement of the customers. Their enthusiasm is unbelievable.'' CAPTION(S): photo Photo: Ford is making only 25,000 Thunderbirds for 2002. |
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