About Route 66 Thunderbirds
Marion Davidson, Owner & Manager

Marion Davidson grew up in a family farm community northwest of Cheyenne, Oklahoma. After graduation from high school, Marion worked on the farm and in area grocery markets for three years. He was called for a tour with the U.S. Army and served in Korea from 1951-1953. While in Korea, he was assigned to an engineering battalion as a maintenance sergeant. He returned home to further his education under the G. I. Bill while attending night school and working at a local Chevrolet dealership in Cheyenne.

In 1955, Marion married Dolores Dooty. Later that year, he went to work for Logan Military Sales. In 1956, Logan Military Sales moved its office to Weatherford, Oklahoma. Marion became a partner and General Manager of the business. Logan Military Sales was an authorized agent for several new car franchises and sold all makes of new vehicles to military personnel, arranging deliveries mostly for active service personnel returning from Europe and the Far East command bases.

In 1958, Marion joined the Ford-Mercury dealer in Weatherford and purchased his first ownership interest. He was promoted to General Manager in 1960. In 1966, he completed a 100% interest in the dealership. The Lincoln franchise was added in 1970. During the 1980s, Marion also served as a majority dealer/partner in the Enid and Shawnee Lincoln-Mercury dealerships. Marion sold his Weatherford dealership in 2000. The following year, Route 66 Thunderbirds was started as a division of Southwestern Antiques of Weatherford, Inc.

As a Ford-Lincoln-Mercury dealer, Marion served as chairman of several key committees: Dealer Council Representative, Chairman of the Oklahoma Ford Dealers Advertising Fund and Lincoln-Mercury Advertising Fund for Oklahoma, and as a board member of the Oklahoma Automobile Association. His knowledge of the industry was a key factor to his appointment in 1982 by Oklahoma's governor to the Used Motor Vehicle and Parts Commission. Marion served as vice-chairman for 17 years on this commission before being appointed to the New Motor Vehicle Commission in 1999.

A dedication to the automobile industry and love of collector cars motivated the start of Route 66 Thunderbirds. Marion personally owned 1955, '56, or '57 Thunderbirds for over 30 years. He has been a member of Classic Thunderbird Club International for more than 20 years.