Skip to content

Peak Performance: Dave Formosa’s 1957 Thunderbird

Mayor drives pop star’s former ride
peak performance formosa
Dave Formosa’s 1957 Thunderbird

In the classic George Lucas film American Graffiti, set in small-town California on the last day of summer in 1962, Richard Dreyfuss’ character spends the entire movie chasing Suzanne Somers and her 1956 Ford Thunderbird. Real life never happens exactly the way it does in the movies, but Powell River mayor Dave Formosa did chase down his 1957 baby-blue T-Bird and bought it on the spot for his car collection.

What is the history of the car?
I'm the fourth owner. I bought it in Arizona. It was first owned by Bobby Curtola, who was a Canadian pop star in the ’50s and ’60s.

How did it come into your possession?
My wife Laurie and I were driving a rental car in Arizona and we saw a woman drive by in a baby-blue T-bird with a white vinyl top and a “for sale” sign on the back window. Our jaws dropped. It was spontaneous. I followed her and she went into a grocery store parking lot. I pulled in behind her, wrote her a cheque and bought the car on the spot.

How many cars do you have?
Eight that I love and cherish. The T-bird is one of my favourites and, judging by the reaction, it's also one of the people’s favourites.

How do people react to your cars?
People ask, “What do you do? Do you work on them? Do you drive a lot?” Sometimes I just want to go downstairs and look at them. It's a beautiful car. I do drive that one a little more than the others.

Is it the car you were looking for?
No, my whole collection is by happenstance. I'm not one who just collects Chevys or Ramblers. I buy what strikes me at the time as cool, nostalgic and in my price range.

What is the T-bird’s value?
It's a driver, it's not mint. It looks mint from 10 feet away, but when you get close you can see the imperfections of its age. That car is probably worth $45,000 to $50,000.