The Cruise-O-Matic Engine That Could: T-Bird Car Auction Supports Southampton Animal Shelter Foundation

Originally posted by 27 East.

Last month, the Southampton Animal Shelter Foundation auctioned off a 1962 Ford Thunderbird, a clever fundraiser that will help save abandoned and stray animals on the East End. The sleek hardtop coupe was donated by Pat Allan and her family, its third owners, who preserved the car in their garage for over 30 years.

According to a description on the Pcarmarket auction page, an online marketplace designed to connect buyers and sellers of enthusiast vehicles, it was only taken out for special occasions, like for parades.

After about a week of bidding, the third-generation T-Bird was sold on August 26 for $11,750 to a worthy winner: Chris Schmidt, a kennel attendant at the shelter who fittingly loves cats, dogs, and cars.

Schmidt explained that his win “still doesn’t feel real” and described the car as the nicest thing he’s ever purchased for himself. Although he hasn’t participated in a car auction in the past, he is no stranger to classic cars. “I still have the 1984 Cadillac Biarritz that I took my road test in and my 1979 Lincoln Continental Town Car coupe,” he said.

Schmidt began working at the shelter as a kennel attendant and dog handler in 2012 when he was 17 years old. “It’s a very rewarding job, and there is no other place like it,” he said. “I’ve bonded with many animals over the years and made lifelong friends.”

“He is an amazingly dedicated worker,” said Anthony Sabia, executive director of SASF. “He is ecstatic because he now owns a beautiful 62 T-Bird and can also say he contributed to a cause he loves so much.”

The nonprofit’s cause is certainly invaluable to the community. Based in Hampton Bays, the Southampton Animal Shelter Foundation is at the forefront of providing local animal welfare services, never turning pets away at the door.

The creative auction idea, which came from the SASF Board of Directors, was a community endeavor, with the Allan family contributing their vehicle and Kaitlyn Donnelly, the lead dog trainer, photographing its iconic profile.

The classic car attracted 16 bids, with a starting bid of $1,962.

According to the auction page, beneath the hood is a 390ci V8 engine connected to a Cruise-O-Matic three-speed automatic transmission. The cabin features black upholstery, power-adjustable front seats, and stainless steel trim accents on the center console. Its equipment includes a swing-away three-spoke steering wheel, an analog clock, an AM radio, and more. Lovers of vintage films will recognize the T-Bird’s broad silhouette, evoking “Thelma and Louise” and “The Outsiders.”

Sabia explained that the funds raised in the T-Bird sale will directly support the no-kill shelter’s animals, covering the costs of food, shelter, cleaning supplies, toys, pet training, and rehabilitation programming. He affirmed that even the most challenged animals have the potential to find a safe and loving home with time.

For instance, one of his favorite dogs, a terrier-pitbull mix named Sampson (Sammy), spent 498 days in the Hampton Bays shelter before he was adopted. He was taken in by a couple grieving the loss of a parent, and the adoption process became one of mutual healing; it spoke to the importance of the shelter’s no-kill rule.

“Sammy persisted,” Sabia said of his canine friend, “never complained, except to me, and is now living happily ever after. This gives me hope that all our dogs can eventually get adopted.”

The car auction is one of a few fundraisers in the Southampton Animal Shelter Foundation’s lineup. On September 21 at 6 p.m., it will host the annual Barnyard Bash at the shelter, offering live music, raffles, dancing, and more.

Tickets can be purchased at southamptonanimalshelter.com.