From the President’s Desk: TV Fords

Mission Impossible

Most of us grew up in the 1960s watching black and white TV. Living in rural south central Nebraska, and until 1968, we only received 2 channels. It was quite a treat to get a new Sylvania color TV in ’68 and also install a large roof top antenna that allowed us to finally receive NBC. Prior to the antenna we used rabbit ears and received only ABC for many years, followed by CBS about 1965. For those of us who like old Fords, we are fortunate that Ford Motor Company lent cars to many series of the ’60s for promotional purposes.

Here are a few of the series I remember as having primarily Ford automobiles in them. I must add here that for several years I have collected old TV show on VHS and now DVDs so I get to watch these shows frequently. Everyone has seen the Andy Griffith show. The shows featured full size Fords as Mayberry’s police cars and lots of Comets and Falcons showed up as well around town. Rich tourists drove T’birds and when Barney bought a used car, which turned out to be lemon, it was a 55 or 56 Ford convertible. You would think Ford would have required them to use a Chevy for that episode. 😉

Here is a partial list of shows that used Fords and/or Mercurys. I am sure you will think of others.

• Perry Mason (went back and forth from GM to Ford)

• Arrest and Trial (Starring Chuck Conners and Ben Gazzara)

• The FBI (in COLOR!)

• Hawaii 5-0

• Highway Patrol (Used a lot of Buicks and Plymouths, but also used Mercurys)

• 77 Sunset Strip

• Mission Impossible

• The Streets of San Francisco

• Starsky and Hutch

• Cannon

• Dragnet

• Hunter

• Charlie’s Angels

Here is a interesting link from Ford about it’s current movie and TV cars. http://ford.digitalsnippets.com/tvandfilm/

Got any more additions?

From the President’s Desk – Car Clubs

How many car clubs do you belong to?  One, two, three?  None?  If you answered none, then this note is for you.  

The reasons to join are many… but the most important, I think, is the many friends one makes and the knowledge gained from those friends.  

Don’t know how to remove the heater core from your Galaxie?  Someone in the club knows and will be happy to answer your questions.  Need to know what color to paint your engine in your Falcon?  Someone in the club will know.  Need a hard-to-find molding for your Fairlane?  Someone in the club has an extra one for sale for a reasonable price.

Most of the national clubs I belong to publish a monthly or bi-monthly newsletter or magazine.  In this age of the Internet, most clubs have a web site with tons of information about the cars they represent.  Many have discussion forums where you can hang out with guys (and gals) and talk about the cars you love.  Some have local chapters sponsoring local shows and other events (or you could start one).  Attending annual shows hosted by the National club are always fun.

And what is the cost to join these excellent information centers?  Most of the ones I am familiar with charge less than a dollar per week for an annual membership. Spend a dollar a week and get access to hundreds of dollars worth of benefits.  Quite a bargain I’d say in this day and age of economic woes.

Here are links to some of the clubs I belong to and recommend.  Feel free to add to the list via a comment.

Galaxie Club of America
Fairlane Club of America
Mustang Club of America
Falcon Club of America
Maverick Club