Jeral
& Elaine Lipps' 1962

This
'62 convertible has had a very interesting history. It left the Wixom plant
painted a beautiful Sahara Rose (color code L) with black top and interior
(code 56).
In
1967, its owner allegedly drove the car from Arizona to Harper, Kansas,
parked it near his mother's house and allowed it to deteriorate.
After
the owner died, club member Jeral Lipps bought the car with the intent
of fixing it up — and stored it for roughly ten more years!
Jeral
sold the car, but kept track of it even as it was resold.
A
few years later, he bought it back. Jeral's son, Hank Lipps, had it repainted
to what was probably Caspian Blue and restored the car to very nice condition
in the early 1980s. It was so nice, in fact, that he rarely drove it, instead
using his '61 Thunderbird as daily driver.
This
car accompanied Hank through his studies at Kansas State University, medical
school in Kansas City and Chicago, and on to a permanent residence in Illinois.
In
2002, Hank asked his father if he would like to have the car back.
Jeral
and Elaine jumped at the chance and brought the wayward 'Bird back to Wichita,
where they are currently restoring it to its former glory.

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