Become a Sponsor
Join Our Community!
As a sponsor of CTSD, you will be joining an active and passionate car club in San Diego that is committed to the preservation, enjoyment, and appreciation of Classic Thunderbirds in San Diego County, California.
Sponsor Reach
Because our local club is so active and passionate about Ford Thunderbirds, we have many points of communication:
Regular event email reminders throughout the month
Bi-monthly in-person meetings with special speakers
Monthly newsletter and member surveys
Group email list for member discussion
Instagram photos and videos
Private Facebook group
Website blog posts
KUSI television spots when available (usually 1-2x year)
Local San Diego drives, picnics, fundraisers, and car shows
Sponsors enjoy relevant placement throughout our communications.
Sponsor Benefits
CTSD supports charitable and community-focused activities, such as toy drives, senior home visits, local parades, fundraisers, and more. Sponsors, by proxy, enjoy the feel-good vibes these events create.
Brand image and reputation
Employee motivation
Customer inspiration
Networking opportunities
CTSD also often joins other Southern California Thunderbird Clubs on their outings, drives, and events.
Photo taken at 2024 Toys for Tots fundraiser at Mossy Ford.
Highly Targeted Membership
Our members are a diverse group of friendly people in San Diego within a wide range of ages and backgrounds. But they do have a few common attributes:
Lifelong Ford enthusiasts
Often family-legacy Ford car owners
Bucket-list Thunderbird drivers
Restoration, preservation, and history of Ford legacy fans
Open-minded about personalization, customization, and levels of (or lack of) restoration and modern upgrades
Thoughtful, helpful, friendly car people
When you talk to a Thunderbird owner, you’re not talking to just any classic car owner. You are talking to a die-hard Thunderbird fan.
Club Activities Examples
Fort Rosecrans Memorial Day Rose Drop and Community Cruise
Garden of Innocence Coffee and Donuts Fundraiser and Car Show
4th of July Parade in Coronado
Main Street America Car Show at Embarcadero in Support of San Diego Center for the Blind
Toys for Tots Toy Drive and Thunderbird Car Show, typically includes KUSI promotional spot
Fall Member Appreciation Pot Luck Picnic
End of Year Member Celebration and Cookie/Gift Exchange
Annual select senior center visit with Thunderbirds
Annual drive to Dr. George Charity Car Show at Indian Wells, Coachella Valley, CA (more than 1000 cars)
100% Volunteer-Run 501 (c) 7
Classic Thunderbirds of San Diego, an official chapter of Classic Thunderbirds Club International, is 100% volunteer-run. We have a volunteer board of directors, and volunteers who manage different needs of the club, including event organization, creating the newsletter, running a coffee and donut stand fundraiser, managing our maintenance referral list, and designing merchandise for club members. Even our website design, writing, and management is by a volunteer. Our club is strong because our members care.
A Little Club History
Classic Thunderbirds of San Diego was founded in 1969, and is Chapter 24 of Classic Thunderbird Club International. It was established as a nonprofit 501 (c) 7, and bylaws were written, and board members voted in. As a club, we have been historically dedicated to the preservation, enjoyment, and appreciation of 1955-1957 Thunderbirds in San Diego County, California, and today, although classic Tbirds remain the majority, we welcome all Thunderbird years.
Since our inception more than 50 years ago, we’ve registered more than 800 Thunderbird owners in San Diego County. Club members come from all over the county, including Scripps Ranch, Encinitas, La Jolla, Point Loma, Clairemont Mesa, La Mesa, and beyond.
Our current board is made up of men and women who volunteer their time to organize events, keep the club calendar, manage the finances, taxes, and insurance, onboard new members, maintain our member roster, keep us up to date on association memberships, and perhaps most importantly of all, communicate with members.
We are always evolving to meet the needs of our members and keep the community engaged. Because we are 100% volunteer-run, we keep membership dues low and membership accessible to more people. We typically have more than dozen official club get-togethers per year at various locations. The Board of Directors also meets monthly.
In 2019, the club celebrated its 50th birthday.
In 2025, the first Thunderbird turned 70 years old.
CTSD Sponsorships Now Available
Sponsorshsip levels:
Gold: Speaking opportunities, ad space and logo in 12 newsletters, link in all emails, logo on website, invitations to member-only events
Chrome: Speaking opportunities, logo in newsletter and website, one ad or special announcement in one newsletter
Brass: Logo in 12 newsletters and website for full year
Interested in becoming an advertiser or sponsor of CTSD? Contact us.