Ford (American) Club UK
Hi all you Ford enthusiasts out there! Welcome to the Ford (American) Club UK... my name is Patrick Shrimpton and I am the club secretary.

So why a Ford Club? Well, aside from clubs catering for specific models, there was no representation for American Ford motor vehicles as a whole in the United Kingdom, or, come to think of it, Europe.

Famous for the legendary Model T, Mustang and Thunderbird, the Ford Motor Company has given us so much. For over a century though they have produced other great models such as the Model A, followed by Model 18 with the flathead V8, then into the 50s and 60s with Fairlane, Galaxie, Falcon, Torino, and under the Mercury division from 1947 came the Monterey, Comet, and Cougar. We must not forget the Pick UpTrucks, they are becoming as collectable as the cars and of course today you have the era of the Super Truck - F150 Lightning.

So a bit about myself: my youth was (mis)spent in the motor trade, when a car could be repaired instead of "Need a new one Guy', and they ain't cheap". Anyway, marriage, house moves (4), disasters (2) and a budding 3 year old "American car freak" later, here we are.

Having owned various yanks - mainly Ch*****ts (still got one - '64 Impala) the summer of 1985 produced an abandoned, derelict 1958 Fairlane 500 Club Victoria - it was love at first sight!

A lot of time, money, swearing, parts locating, contacts and more swearing later, the frame-off restoration is nearing completion. Maybe 2001 will see "Lauren" as she is known, out on the show circuit - more on the story of Lauren's restoration in the following pages.

As we may not all be fortunate enough to own "The Real Thing", the next best is a model: this being my other hobby, but that's another story!

Contact email address: aaccuk@btinternet.com


Ford Club UK Articles
"Nothing Newer in the World"...? - Ford's line-up in 1958
"Lauren" - The Beginning - Pat Shrimpton
"Lauren" - Part 2 - Pat Shrimpton
"Lauren" - The Final Hurdle - Pat Shrimpton
Ford Fervour - Mustang Mania - by Jerry J. Staley
Galaxie Dream Machine - by Steve Hathaway
The Day the "T’s" came to Town - by Tom Muñoz