The Potomac Classic Thunderbird Club (PCTC) was formed in 1968 as a chapter of the Classic Thunderbird Club International (CTCI) to unite Thunderbird owners from the Mid-Atlantic States and the District of Columbia. Pete and Kathe Van Schuyler realized the potential for a CTCI chapter during a June 1968 weekend concours arranged by Bob Rosson at Nags Head, NC.  The organizational meeting was held in September 1968 at Harrisburg, PA.  The charter meeting for the chapter was held in November 1968. 

Chartered as CTCI Chapter 23, the club started with a nucleus of 18 members from the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area.  By 1975, PCTC's membership grew to 120.  Today, annual membership averages around 75 households. The PCTC membership includes restorers and parts vendors.  Help is also available somewhere in the club on almost any facet of T'Bird care, maintenance, and restoration.

Each year, PCTC offers a variety of events designed to appeal to all members, their families, and their guests.  Formal club activities include caravan drives, local day and overnight trips; dinner, brunch, and pot luck meetings; picnics with fun concours, and an annual Holiday Party.  Meetings include technical sessions -- sometimes, impromptu because of car breakdowns -- by PCTC members.  The PCTC publishes a monthly newsletter to keep in touch with members and to provide information about events, reports on PCTC activities, technical articles, and other T'Bird related information.

The PCTC has participated in every CTCI concours since the 1969 event in Lake Placid, NY, as well as in many regional concours.  Routinely, PCTC cars have been trophy winners.  In 1983, PCTC hosted the Region 4 Concours in Fredericksburg, VA., and in 1990, PCTC took on the challenge of hosting the 1990 National CTCI convention in Williamsburg, VA.  Annually, PCTC members and their classic T'Birds can be found at the Washington, DC St. Patrick’s Day Parade, the Annual Das Awkscht Fescht Car Show in Macungie, PA, the Virginia Wine Festival, the Sully Plantation Antique & Car Show, and the Rockville (Md) Antique Car Show.  

New on this Site

November 28th, 2020

Year-End 2020 newsletter posted in the Members Only section.

Club directory in the Members Only section has been updated.

VIRGINIA ANTIQUE TAG LAW -- MUST READ FOR VA DRIVERS!

Any CTCI member may request access to the Members-Only section via an email that includes their name, city/state, and CTCI membership number. 

Thunderbird Rentals

Although we participate in parades and other public events we do not under any circumstances rent our cars.  While we appreciate the interest many have shown in asking this question we hope you'll understand that both the age of our cars and the terms of antique auto insurance policies make this impossible.

Contact Information

Email for general information or access to the Members Only Section (If you are not a member of PCTC and wish to access the Members Only Section you must include your full name, chapter affiliation, and CTCI membership number in your request.  This information will be verified against the CTCI membership roster.)