Later, in Ford Times Magazine, a short paragraph mentioned the fledgling T'Bird Club. Then the letters of inquiry poured in and membership boomed to over 230 the first year. As the task became too large to handle, Vic now suggested that the Bay Area Thunderbird Owners Club (BATOC), which had organized in 1958, might be interested in mothering his fledgling group. BATOC called a special meeting, brought in their lawyer, then turned down the idea. At this juncture, "Birdland's" editor, Roger Neiss, decided to assume the responsibility on his own. Roger was in the type composition business working with local printers, so he was off to a good start. A CTCI office was established in his Oakland, California, home and, in addition to Roger's wife Edna, several members offered their help to keep up with the ever-increasing load of paper work. These early volunteers were Phyl Brantley of Dixon, Illinois, and Ruth Larsen of Wheaton, Illinois. Assisting, as Directors were Anne Kvilhang of Des Moines and Skip Riggs of Concord, California.
With the Jan./Feb. 1963 issue, the EarlyBird was born. Vol. 1, Nos. 1 - 2 was more of a newsletter, being 8 pages long, but was the beginning of a method for Classic T'Bird enthusiasts around the country to share their ideas and their love for their little beauties. It was a combination of national CTCI news and also served as the Bay Area newsletter.
EarlyBird began with 55 CTCI subscribers, dues of $5.00 per year and cost about $100. an issue to
print. In 1963 you could buy a soft-top for $135. and a "cherry" T'Bird for $1,700.!
In June of 1963, CTCI members were invited by the Thunderbird Sports Car Club of Chicagoland to attend a celebration of Henry Ford's 100th Anniversary in Dearborn, Michigan. Nineteen little T'Birds participated, and Ford Motor Company was so delighted that they shot many feet of promotional footage of the event. Such a good time was had by all that Ford invited the Chicago Club back again in 1964. The Chicagoans graciously asked all CTCI members to come along too, and because there were more than twice as many CTCI people attending, this event has become known in CTCI history as the "First National Reunion" (although not an actual CTCI sponsored event). This historic date as been memorialized by conventions in Dearborn in 1974,1984 and 1994!
Ford Motor Company treated the 79 attendees royally, treating them to elegant meals in the Ford Executive Dining Room, and a tour of the Rouge Assembly Plant to see the "new" 1964 Mustangs. They provided distinguished guest speakers such as William E. Burnett, (who served as Executive Engineer for the Thunderbird operation during the years our 'Birds were being hatched).
A meeting of CTCI members was held on the last day, and the first bylaws drafted by Director Stu Whittelsey were approved and turned over to Ford Motor Company's legal department for incorporation. Many of those first organizers of CTCI are still active members today and we truly appreciate all their years of service to our club.
The first CTCI election of officers was in November of 1964 and the elected Directors for 1965 were Sandy Keys (of Washington), Ruth Larsen, Stu Whittelsey (of California), and Vic Take. Roger Neiss continued as an appointed Director and Editor.
The Second National Reunion (actually sponsored this time by CTCI) was held in June of 1965 in Estes Park, Colorado, complete with Concours competition, parade, and ralley/tour in the style of today's conventions. Nineteen States were represented by 75 cars and nearly 150 enthusiastic T'Birders.
On May 17,1965, CTCI was officially incorporated in the State of California, and the Directors appointed officers as follows: Roger Neiss, President; Edna Neiss, Secretary; and Stu Whittelsey, Treasurer. Also approved were the first nine Chapter Charters presented at the Estes Park Convention: Chapter #1 - Olympic (Seattle, Washington), #2 Northern Ohio, #3 Peninsula (California), #4 Bay Area (California), #5 American Road (Detroit, Michigan), #6 Colorado, #7 EarlyBirds (So. California) #8 Tulsa (Oklahoma), and #9 Chicago (Illinois).
The Club began to grow by leaps and bounds. Two of the many early members who worked tirelessly
to help CTCI grow and prosper were Paul Hudgins and Cliff Younger. By October of 1972, the Club
had grown so large (4,250) that Edna and Roger Neiss could no longer continue the work out of
their home. Paul and Cliff asked member Margie Price if she would take the job of CTCI Office
Manager. The office records, CTCI magazines and stock were shipped to Southern California where
the first Culver City office was opened. In September of 1975, Executive Director Paul Hudgins
recommended to the CTCI Board that Margie also assume his duties because of his declining health.
Margie was well qualified for the job as she has been CTCI member #507 since April of 1968 and
one of the charter members of Chapter #7 EarlyBirds of Southern California since 1964. She worked
tirelessly directing the operations of the CTCI office and as a willing worker at every CTCI
convention for 25 years. She received the Paul Hudgins Memorial Award for her dedication, the
highest honor in CTCI, at the International Convention in 1992. Margie retired at the end of
1997.
Jo Dunn assumed the responsibilities of CTCI Office Manager in January of 1998. No newcomer to
CTCI, she holds membership #234, and started her T'Bird Club connection in 1963 when she joined
the EarlyBirds of Southern California, Chapter #7. In 2002, Mark Fabian took the reins as Office
manager.
In 2006 George Barlow, who was the Office Assistant, was promoted to Office Manager. George holds CTCI #1858 and is a long time member of the Early Birds of So. Cal. George retired from IBM with an extensive background in Systems Engineering and has been instrumental in moving the CTCI Administrative functions into the 21st Century.
Since 1993 and throughout all the changes in the Office Staff, the CTCI Treasurer, Jim Hack has provided the leadership continuity that is required to keep CTCI functioning as a well-managed organization.
Today, CTCI has approximately 6,700 members and 115 chartered chapters representing 23 countries of the world and all 50 States of the United States, truly the International vision of Vic Take more than 40 years ago. Our EarlyBird publication graduated to a Magazine format in 1969, and a color cover in 1975, and has grown to about 68 pages per issue and is still the single best source for restoration knowledge, maintenance tips, sources for parts and cars, and news around the world of T'Birding events. Lin Somsak is currently our very capable and giving Editor-in- Chief since 1985.
CTCI has reprinted and made available to members 34 different technical and shop manuals, decals,
owners' handbooks, and sales brochures that would otherwise be obsolete, (even though it costs
thousands of dollars to reprint just one of these technical manuals!). We have kept a close
liaison with Ford Motor Company and other manufacturers through the years, helping to keep parts
available for our little 'Birds. And the best news is that although CTCI has grown into a large
organization. Our dues (including our magazine subscription) are still only $32.50 per year due
to the wise and efficient management of our CTCI Directors, Officers and Staff.
On August 13, 1997, the Classic Thunderbird Club International purchased a headquarters building in Signal Hill, California, after many years of renting office space. In 2000, the building was paid off, thanks to the generosity of the members. On September 5, 1997, Ford Motor Company built the last Thunderbird in their Lorain, Ohio, plant and announced that CTCI was the recipient of the last production Thunderbird. Ford re-introduced a two-seat version of the Thunderbird for model year 2002, and ended production in 2005. thereby creating a potential future Classic Thunderbird.
CTCI joined the electronic world of the internet on July 1, 1998 with the introduction of this
web site, conceived, designed and initially maintained by member Jerry Wotel. In 2002, an online
searchable technical article index was added to the website, and in 2005 an online shopping cart
was included to purchase club merchandise. We are looking forward to expanding the functionality
and usability of the website on into the future.
Members gather together all over the world to prove that the Classic Thunderbird was surely one of Ford's "Better Ideas"!
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