FEATURED CAR OF THE MONTH

1969 Pontiac Firebird Convertible 

Owner Tom Erickson   

In the summer of 1983, I did basic training in the Army between my Junior and Senior years of high school.  When I got back, I knew what I wanted to do with the money I had earned, I wanted to get my first car.  Before I could decide on what I wanted, my dad mentioned that my cousin was selling his Firebird and was wondering if I wanted it.  Images of a Smokey and the Bandit car came to mind and I said yes without even seeing it.  Lo and behold, it was a 1969 Firebird, not what I expected, but I loved the car.  It was carousel red hardtop with a black vinyl roof with a 350.  I didn’t know it at the time, but it had automatic shifting on the column, not in a center console which was standard back then.  Unfortunately, in the winter of 1984 that car went off County Road 1 north of St. Stepehen into the pine trees and was totaled.  I always wanted another one, but I decided this next time it was going to be a convertible.  At the beginning of August 2023 my desire finally came to fruition as I was able to afford one and found it down in Florida.  I flew down, looked at it and picked it up.  I matched it up as much as possible to the car I had in High School.  Carousel red, black convertible top, column shifting and same engine size.  A friend of mine named her Ginger after Ginger Grant on Gilligan's Island, stating just like the movie star, she was beautiful and high maintenance.  I consider myself lucky to have Ginger in my life as in addition to being able to drive her spring, summer and fall, it was my purchase of her that prompted me to join PanTowners where I’ve made lots of friends. Thank You - Tom