Philco - FORD Aeronutronic Bronco Roadster

[sprdv1]

Interesting truck! That rollbar/fender treatment looks familiar - was that a Con-Ferr piece? Love that it's a V8 and a U132.

.

No doubt... Good stuff

 

[sprdv1]

love being able to get those reports.. very informative

yes, it is info from the Marti, it arrived yesterday via email.

PHILCO-FORD AERONUTRONIC DIV
FORD RD
NEWPORT BEACH CA

ordered equipped with a cigar lighter, radio, courtesy light, right hand mirror, reflectors,
rear seat etc...seems a little odd for a Roadster unless it was used for some sort of personal interaction?

I appreciate the info DirtDonk

you think that Con-Ferr was installed by them back then for safety maybe?
still looking for more info and would love to dig up some pics of it back in the day.

 

[okie4570]

There's contact email addresses to a couple of men here at this link. Seems they are the organizers for the annual Philco Ford Aerospace get together. I suppose they didn't have one last year though.

http://dare-connect.org/pfallm/

 

[Broncoblood]

that is perfect and a great avenue. I will reach out to them
I appreciate that very much

 

[trailerjack]

Congrats on the sale, a few of us were hoping we could first buy it and, if not that it was going to go to a good home. Look forward to seeing progress and pics!

 

[Broncoblood]

I guess I am just mumbling along and creating this blog on the 67 Roadster since I started off searching for help on here and now a few of you have shown interest.

I found the owner following Philco Ford ownership to be Richard J. Tabin, latest resident of Palisade, Colorado who passed away in 2011 and left this 67 Bronco to his great grandson.
Richard Tabin a.k.a Dick Tabin spent his younger years in Wyandotte Michigan and received his education in Wyandotte. Richard went on to Henry Ford Trade School in Dearborn, Mich. and was an engineer for Ford Motor Company until his retirement.

If you look at this link, he was actually the power train engineer at one point of his career for the 'Indianapolis 500' 255ci DOHC engine crew in 1963.
Richard/Dick Tabin was on a team in charge of figuring out how to beat the Offenhauser engine - https://books.google.com/books?id=Q...olis 500 255ci DOHC engine dick tabin&f=false

The current title to this Roadster says that Tabin took title in March of 1989 which is when Philco Ford Aeronutronic Corporation / Ford Aerospace sold out to San Jose, Ca NATO and Loral with that deal going down between 1988 and 1990.

It is starting to make sense that Philco Ford probably ordered and owned the vehicle from 1967 to 1989 and then gave or sold it to Richard Tabin?

I will be talking with some of the family members next week (grandson and sister) and hopefully getting more detailed info the life of this Roadster and I am crossing my fingers for a few photos.

stay tuned. . .

 

[ared77]

Great detective work!

Norm

 

[BajaFresh75]

I know someone who is puking right about now after reading this thread. Puking because he got outbid on Ebay!!! Great purchase.

 

[Bitch'nBronco]

Pretty exciting thread, subscribed! Keep the updates coming

Sent from my SM-G981V using Tapatalk

 

[Broncoblood]

in discussion with one missile engineer that worked at Philco Ford back in the day, he has told me how most of the Ford Motor Company lease program operated.
I have asked him a few more detailed questions on why they would of ordered an open bodied, rear seat, high optioned Roadster Bronco? I am still awaiting all his answers on all the things he remembers? Here is what he said was taking place as a general practice there in upper 'management' as well as extended product field testing;

"The management lease program provided new model Ford cars on substantially discounted leases. The lease included maintenance and servicing on site so it was insanely convenient. Ford Motor Company used the program for extended product field testing.

I was an ordnance engineer in the missile plant and not at a management level that qualified for a lease. However my wife was a project manager and she got us a new car every year. It was such a sweet deal and quite a financial hit when the program ended. Oh well, life goes on!"

 

[BajaBronco]

Exciting stuff unfolding. Bronco blood is no slouch or newb when it comes to sleuthing! Can’t wait to see what comes next!

 

[Broncoblood]

just got off the phone with the grandsons other side of the family Grandpa,
Richard Tabin aka Dick Tabin was the great Grandpa of this only grandson who he left the Bronco for him. There was a family split up etc back in the day so history and years of time on this grandpas side is a little sparse but the Grandpa did have some really cool history that he vaguely remembered and shared the information with me. He is going to try and get me in touch with Richard Tabins daughter, his ex step daughter.
I will just re-write my note form that he told me;
- said Richard/Dick Tabin was the great Grandpa of his grandson
- Dick Tabin was part of the Indy Race Program
- said Dick was friends with Carrol Shelby
- said Dick was on the team that built the first 260 engine that went into the Cobra
- said Dick drove the track with Carrol Shelby in this 260 Cobra and that they spun out in some turn and Carrol Shelby laughed as Dick was concerned
- said Dick was a great guy that lots of people knew and liked him a lot
- was married to Joanne Tabin who has also passed away
- Dick was a FORD Engineer
- Dick worked at Cosworth Ford in England
- Dick worked at Detroit engineering
- Dick worked at Ford in Kansas City
- Dick had lots of influence, lots of people loved him, he was very skilled.
- Dick went vocational school, met with Henry Ford and walked him around the plant.

I guess that is kind of scattered info but was really cool to here it all. He is going to try and dig up any old photos if any family members on his side have any by chance?
I am now trying to get ahold of his daughter to see what she might know?

Hopefully Carrol Shelby gave him this 67 Bronco, ha! : ]
how cool would that be.

stay tuned . . .

 

[glass76]

Great history here. Thanks for all the info. and waiting for more!

 

[Broncoblood]

Helicopter and 260 pistons

getting closer to talking with the daughter of Richard / Dick Tabin.
I guess I'm veering off of my research on the Bronco and getting more info on Dick Tabin and his Shelby experience. I will veer the other direction once I get to finally speak with his daughter hopefully.

So I was sent this pic of which possibly might be Dick working on Carroll's first 260 engine along with some pics of the pistons that the grandpa of the great grandson actually has in his possession.

I talked with the other side family member again and told me another story that Dick told him;

He said that FORD gave Dick Tabins team of 3 or 4 guys a budget of $4 million dollars to make this 255ci / 260 engine beat Offenhauser and win the Indy race. He said they ended up spending $7 million but they ended up winning. To do this they had many many practice sessions with like 2 or 3 cars and they would take the engines out of the cars almost every night and fly them with a helicopter back to Detroit to evaluate and work on them. He said something about the pistons having some type of triangular dome on the top of them. Dick actually gave this guy some of those pistons and has sent me some pictures of them. Here is a pic of the mechanics on the 260 along with a pic of one of those pistons that he said was the secret to the engine.

anybody know anything about Richard Dick Tabin and or maybe know anything about the Roadster Bronco he had?

 

[DirtDonk]

those are some big-assed domes! And I may be wrong, but those look like extra large wrist pin holes too.

Heard from my friend that he thinks his dad did buy his '77 from an exec that had it on the ford lease program. When he gets a chance he's going to get me the DSO at least, but that's as far as his knowledge goes.
He was very (and I mean VERY) young when his dad brought it home. His dad passed away very young too, but his mom drove the Bronco as her daily-driver for close to 30 years until she finally relented and handed it off to #1 son. Who's polished it back up and is running around with it in all it's original Orange Ranger glory.

I told him about the Marti Reports so maybe he'll grab one of those and share some more details with us.

paul

 

[sprdv1]

keep after it.. that's some cool info, history

getting closer to talking with the daughter of Richard / Dick Tabin.
I guess I'm veering off of my research on the Bronco and getting more info on Dick Tabin and his Shelby experience. I will veer the other direction once I get to finally speak with his daughter hopefully.

So I was sent this pic of which possibly might be Dick working on Carroll's first 260 engine along with some pics of the pistons that the grandpa of the great grandson actually has in his possession.

I talked with the other side family member again and told me another story that Dick told him;

He said that FORD gave Dick Tabins team of 3 or 4 guys a budget of $4 million dollars to make this 255ci / 260 engine beat Offenhauser and win the Indy race. He said they ended up spending $7 million but they ended up winning. To do this they had many many practice sessions with like 2 or 3 cars and they would take the engines out of the cars almost every night and fly them with a helicopter back to Detroit to evaluate and work on them. He said something about the pistons having some type of triangular dome on the top of them. Dick actually gave this guy some of those pistons and has sent me some pictures of them. Here is a pic of the mechanics on the 260 along with a pic of one of those pistons that he said was the secret to the engine.

anybody know anything about Richard Dick Tabin and or maybe know anything about the Roadster Bronco he had?

 

[Broncoblood]

hey Paul, that's cool to have another 'leaser' runnin around. I know my DSO only says 71 Los Angeles on the actual vin tag but on the Marti it reads DSO item 6004 so he will probably need to get the Marti to show the details? maybe you can get the vin in case he doesn't want to flip the bill for the marti and we or I can order it just for knowledge?
pretty cool details..

 

[chris-nc]

Just stumbled across this thread. My father-in-law worked as an engineer/program manager for Ford Aerospace, then Loral, etc. for his entire career at the Newport facility. He was involved in the manager lease program for a long time and cycled through many vehicles over the years (leased Mustangs and other vehicles, but never any Broncos). I'll have to check with him as there is a good chance he might know Mr. Tabin.

 

[Broncoblood]

Hey Chris, that is cool news.
yes please let me know if he knew or knew of Dick Richard Tabin, I would have to highly assume he did? also, could you ask him if he knows anything about a 67 Springtime Roadster or maybe anybody that he may know that might know some history on it?
thank you

 

[Tiko433]

Cool read. Thanks for sharing....