It’s finally happening. A first gen Taurus (1986) is almost within my grasp. This is the moment I’ve been waiting for. The plan: to drive the bull from the Bay Area to upstate New York. Or die trying. Head honcho Paul and Jim Klein are probably coming along for parts of the ride too. We’ll be posting along the way. But this can’t happen immediately. I need someone to pick it up and give it a place where it can be parked for a couple of weeks.
This is shaping up to be one of hell of a journey. The question is: are you in?
Put simply, we can’t get the car immediately. It needs to stay somewhere until we’re all available to literally hit the road. This is very time sensitive stuff so if you can help contact us ASAP. If you comment below I will have your email address and can contact you that way. Or you can email us at curbsideclassic(at)gmail.com. I’ll be watching this post like a hawk, so a reply would be immediate. We might possibly need your help today. The car is in southern San Jose. Thank you in advance.
This is gonna be big.
What an exciting opportunity for Ed! As a California resident, I’d love to help out, but LA is just too far away.
However, if a Bay Area reader helps out and then needs to move the car due to unforeseen circumstances, contact me and we’ll work out a Plan B.
-Dave Skinner
I don’t know about the “die trying” part, you never mentioned that in the email, but my bag is packed and I’m sitting by the window watching for Ed and Paul to roll up in the Pride of America!
Let me know if you’ll be rolling through anywhere near Peoria (traveling through IL on I-80, for example). I’d be happy to drive up and say “hi” as you roll through!
We had a rental Sable in Broward County during Passover of 1987, and my Kodak 110 Instamatic melted in the rear window. Also, a lion at the Lion Country Safari chewed the driver’s side mirror while my father threatened to throw my grandmother in the back seat to the pride that had gathered around the car. (sorry, in NYC, no driveway to store an ’86 Taurus)
If you need help around Indianapolis give me a shout.
Can’t help with the pick-up, but please stop by if you pass through OKC. I’d love to meet the team, and y’all would be welcome to get behind the wheel of my CCs (pair of old Fleetwoods, an Imperial, a Citroen CX).
I see quite the caravan forming. I am starting to think you are going to need to raise your profile on this trip – I am thinking of some modest enhancements to the Taurus – something along the lines of this. Maybe two tall cutouts, one of you and one of Paul? There is a new CC logo, so you should be all set. And a Taurus is smaller, so the graphics should be easier.
Seriously, let me know if you will be coming through Indianapolis.
Jim, you’re so…Midwest. 🙂 This is what I have in mind. We’re coming from California, don’t forget.
I’ve been saving up all of my leftover cans of paint; time to finally put them to good use.
Hey, I remember the Jefferson Bridgestain!
The most direct route from San Francisco to Fishkill, New York, is on I-80. If you pick up JK in Ft. Collins, and drop Paul off in Denver, I-70 east would be your best bet from there.
That said, if you take I-70 you’ll be quite close to me. If you do, I’ll buy you both a beer at a microbrewery in Columbia. Jim’s been there before. Two beers if Paul continues his jaunt east.
And I won’t suggest Jim flying back to Denver from here. Seems he’s developed a phobia about flying out of Missouri.
No Jason, no I say. They’ll be on I 80 so I can meet up with them near Des Moines. Besides that is the most practical route for Paul to visit with his Lloyd Alexander in Mt. Pleasant Iowa. It resides on the roof of the Iris Antique Mall.
So cool. I still think JPC and I should join up with some of yesterday’s $1,500 specials.
I am off your planned route, but if you get waaaay off course and find yourself in the Toronto area I can provide assistance. 😉
This is a great looking Taurus. This colour scheme and wheels well represent what made the early Taurus so refreshingly attractive.
Oh, yes. Very much agree. Such a fine example.
I live 20 minutes from South San Jose and have secure parking. I would be happy to help. Bill Gardner
Thanks. Ed will be emailing you directly right away. He’s a bit desperate.
If he can’t make it happen. Let me know. I’m in Walnut Creek and can help.
Awesome Bill Gardner.
Welp, I answered “no” to that would-you-buy post awhile back, citing seals and soft parts and hydraulics and such, but I’m cheerin’ for ya. I hope you get it, I hope it’s exactly what you want, and I hope the homebringing trip is full of only good surprises.
Thanks Dan. That means a lot. Obviously it’s a risky endeavor even in a newer car. Seems like the Taurus is in good shape though.
If you take I-80, you’ll pass within a few miles of my place in NE Ohio. I don’t expect you to stop by (I’m sure you will get more requests for visits than you can possibly accommodate), but if you break down or need assistance in the area I am close by.
OK, but I think it needs a light bar on the front and wrap around windows at the back corners of the greenhouse. Maybe it could be named after a fur.
Congrats on finally purchasing a car we all know is very special to you! Good luck on your journey and can’t wait to hear more!
Robocop?
I was about to say why not hold out for a Taurus SHO, turns out there are none either where I live or in California.
Seems like Ed Gardner is your best so far. My son, Nathan and I were in San Jose yesterday, and have friends with secure parking, but can’t get back to the bay area now because of a heart attack in the family. We have a very nice Taurus SHO (metallic black/silver leather int) Nathans best friend bought last year, sitting in our driveway, he bought it for $400 out of the Chico Pick and Pull. It needed a few hundred in work, which was done and was dependable until blowing a head gasket few weeks back. He’s a mechanic, so hasn’t had time to fix his own. Sitting next to this SHO in the P&P was a gray SHO, complete, but needs work like the black car did.
Some vintage mix tape music might compliment the journey. 🙂
Great song. You should make us a mix tape and send it to CCHQ…All your stuff works for me.
CCs going on a Safari. 🙂
Ed, this is fantastic! And I hope everything with the purchase goes smoothly this week. Can’t wait to read more about it.
I’m glad you’re waiting until Spring for the roadtrip — winter weather is the last thing you need. And with Paul & Jim sharing parts of the ride with you, it’s bound to be a great trip. I doubt you’ll be driving through Northern Virginia, but if you are, I’d be glad to offer some hospitality.
Congratulations on acting on a dream!
Cool, looking forward to hearing the adventure unfold.
I have to assume that it is loaded up since it has the uncommon cornering lights, which alone make it worth the cross country trip to obtain it.
Yeah, it’s an LX with the digital instrument cluster and climate controls. Although it has a column mounted shifter and no center console. And no moonroof. Really glad it doesn’t have that.
And of course the keyless entry, another uncommon option on the Taurus but a must have in my book. If the owner doesn’t know the code it should be on the driver’s side trunk hinge or near the latch. It that sticker is gone then it is also on the sticker on the module in the driver’s door.
Excellent. Thanks for the hot tip.
I can’t help much, being here in Tampa. But, this is the kind of crazy shit I think up from time to time, so I give the venture a hearty thumbs up!
Two years ago I drove from Tampa to West Virginia, picked up a $1500 ’66 Volvo 122 and took it to Columbus for a $3000 re-hab, then drove it in the Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix Kickoff Rallye, where we finished 39 out of 90 cars. Not too bad.
I left the car in Columbus, sold it on EBAY for just $2400, and when the new owner had title issues in Missouri (not my fault), my PayPal account was, and is, still frozen. Nevertheless, I like the Taurus, and I applaud the adventuresome spirit.
Now if I hadn’t mentioned it in one of my posts would you have ever known? You are lucky as I saw it the first day and was tempted to get it myself and would have if I had an open day to get down there. As it is the car is only 55 miles away from me. Now being a California car that has lasted 36 years now the onus is on you to take very good care of it for another 34 years hopefully fully garaged from all East Coast elements.
YES YES YES YES! You are absolutely the person responsible for getting the ball rolling! THANK YOU SO MUCH. I’m always searching for 1st gen models but that one eluded me.
If you can meet up with us before we leave, I’ll buy you a beer. You deserve it.
You are on except if it is during the work week as traffic on the freeways around San Jose between 3-7:30pm is absolute hell.
I noticed the seller said some work was done on the car. Find out when the last time the transmission fluid was changed out. As you should know their transmissions can be finicky about having regular complete fluid changes.
Here is his dash
If things don’t work out with Mr. Gardner, feel free to give me a shout. I’m in Berkeley.
Thanks so much!
Late to the game and a few hours north of I-80, but sending best wishes for the venture (looking forward to posts from the road)–and congratulating Mr. Snitkoff on his discerning choice . Hope all goes well on the great adventure!
Best wishes for your trip, Edward! And it’s great to be able to get your dream car.
PS, if your trip detours just a little to the South, you can visit me in Montevideo, Uruguay…we’ll have a BBQ ready!
Edward: Good luck with the long drive.
If it happens after about 15 April, I will be in Cheyenne, Wyoming and can offer secure overnight garage parking within walking distance of the several hotels at I-80 exit 362. If needed (hopefully not) I can provide reference to an excellent local mechanic – about two or so miles north of my storage facility.
Oh, wow, the Price is Right on this one….and some recent work done…even if you have to throw some money in, sounds like a great deal: https://sfbay.craigslist.org/sby/cto/d/san-jose-1986-clean-ford-taurus-under/7059064516.html
Sincere question: what does it cost to get something trailered coast-to-coast these days? (Not that I’m advocating for that, ’cause the trip sounds wonderful!!!!!)
Ed, congratulations on finding this car. I am looking forward to reading about the trip. A trip across the country is a must do. I am also looking forward to rwading about the car itself. I must have missed the details if posted here in the past.
Congrats and good luck. Cannot help on storage as the nearest storage I can offer is in Stockerau, Lower Austria, which is a few miles away.
Congrats and I look forward to this. It will be an adventure of a life time. I assume this is the 3.0L V6 engine? That should be quite reliable.