[Editor’s note: This “Reminiscing” story, edited by Richard Lentinello, comes to us from Hemmings Classic Car reader Al Hirth of Pueblo West, Colorado.]

I had just turned 13 years of age in October of 1959, when, a couple of weeks later, my Dad said, “let’s go look at some new cars.”

The local Ford dealer in a Chicago suburb had two 1960 Thunderbirds on the lot. One was white with a yellow roof and a red-and-white interior. It also had the 430-cu.in. Lincoln engine, probably one of a kind. The other T-Bird, and the one he bought, was light blue with a two-tone blue interior and the standard 352-cu.in. V-8.

I remember the ride home with just my dad and me. I was fascinated with the new-car interior smell, the console, bucket seats, 300 horsepower and Dad’s first car with dual exhaust. I was in teenage automotive heaven.

Remembering a classic American auto in its heyday.