Just a thought...since a lot of us here hate to see nice TBirds/Cougars end up in the junkyard, I'm thinking about posting a Wanted ad on craigslist to maybe catch a few before the owners call the tow truck. To most people these are just old cars worth nothing.
Worth a shot...free to list the ad, the only catch is I might find some and need to find a spot for them! :)
Craigslist has sites for all across the US so if everyone here does the same it would be interesting to see what we uncover.
Just a thought…..
Cool idea.Let me know if there are any in southern Oklahoma.I know where a few are already in the boneyards.My new project car was going to the crusher if I hadn't saved it.
It would be something you would have to do.
If you go to craigslist.com these are the sites for Oklahoma:
fort smith, AR (315) new
lawton (167) new
oklahoma city (7574)
stillwater (141) new
tulsa (4765)
The numbers represent the # of posts showing the most activity.
A couple of things I've learned about using Craigslist:
I would suggest maybe setting up an additional email account to keep the Spam down on your primary email account. When you reply to a response, your email becomes known (up to that point Craigslist uses an anonymous email for people to respond to which gets forwarded to you). I’ve had some bogus responses and you’ll be able to tell!
“Hello, I have interest in buying you item. Please send me you name and adress and I send check and arange shipping’ hahaha right!!
You cannot list the exact same post on several sites. You have to change the title somewhat so the program doesn’t think it’s the same ad (eg. 1983 Tbird or 83 Thunderbird or 1983 Ford Thunderbird)
Give it a try!
I thought about collecting all the unwanted birds and cougars but I just don't have the room for them. :(
If it's close enough to us then I can store 2. 1 If I buy the E'lan
I saved the 88 from the junkyard.. part of the reason it means so much to me.
Yea, me either... but my thought is if I can grab one or two cars -before- they hit the junkyard and save any good parts or maybe even save the whole car for someone, it's better then seeing them trashed right away. If it ends up getting sped at least I tried.
The Cougar I saw a couple of weeks made me think it was a car the could have been saved.
I saved my 87 from the junkyard, glad I did too.
I saved mine from a freinds yard. It sat for 5-6 years. Not a JY but still saved
I found a 4 eye '86 Bird at the junkyard, the car is in very very good condition (no rust) and I believe have a low mileage, the only thing is a blown head gasket(s)...
I asked to the JK Man to purchase it, and want 600$, I purchased it right now!, so I dont have 600 bucks, I have a lot of things to do on My '85 before, BUT I reserved the '86 for Me and the car is still out of the main junkyard, and I covered it with a 39.95$ cover...
After I finished My "renew" project fot My Bird, NEW PAINT NEED!!!, I'll paid the '86 and renew some things on that and pass to the inspection to have a title...
This '86 is an amazing condition, and I don't want to part out at the JY, for why I purchased it!!!, and saved IT too...
So I have a '88 Bird too (sit just over My home) , I purchased with no title for parts, BUT I guess I'll not parting out too, I feel bad to s a decent fox bird will run again..
Regards,
I always scan the bargain hunter locally looking for T-Birds and Cougars being parted (that's how I found my '87 TC parts car) but an ad only shows up about once every three years. There are never any in the local JY's either - I guess that famous Nova Scotia salt has reduced most of them to dust...
Great to hear about all the saves out there! I feel in a way I 'saved' my 83TC too since I know now it will be fixed up an return to service someday as opposed to what might have happened to it. I can only imagine what you guys feel like that actually 'saved' one from the JY!! Great stories and it would be nice to see some pictures to go along with the stories!
Got my first bite!!! I was looking for 83-84's but got a lead on an 86...says needs brake work but the body is nice. We'll see! :)
There's the one in this thread..
HERE (http://www.foxtbirdcougarforums.com/showthread.php?p=117795#post117795)
I gots no room.....
Anyone local wana save 2 T/C's or an E'lan? I'll do what I can on those:evilgrin:
Ahhhh...there's always room..say someone tells you about a ultra-low mileage TC for hmmmm $500! :)
By the way..the car in the link is a perfect example of what I' be dragging home if it was close. Like Chuck said in that link, it could be a daily driver but if nothing else grab some parts before it becomes a cube!! Better to save some of it then none of it.
In about 3-4 weeks I will be back up to 6 cars......and I'm trying to get down to 4.
I only have covered storage for 2 (the 83 and the 84TC) and I don't want to leave anything else just sitting out. I just don't have much open room....If I did I would be picking up 83-84's all the time....
Chuck, it is time to add onto the garage! :pbb: ...I realize this is unfortunatly not soo easy all the time though :beatyoass:
Even if I could add on...I don't have the land....
(http://www.turbochuck.com/images/Tbird/Tbirdprepaint_3.jpg)
That is all I have to work with right now. I have 4 cars at the house right now....
Yea, and when you do add the garage, it's never big enough! 24'x40' and I could use more...
Like I tell everyone...It's not that I have too many cars, I just dont have enough room:)
Our local Junkyard just never seems to have anymore fox t-birds lying around. Every once in a while I get lucky and find an 87 or 88 Base bird and the occasional XR-7, but lately there hasn't been anything worth saving. Just a couple days ago I went up there to see If I could find an H.O. Plate for the Upper intake on my engine, and to my disbelief there was hardly anything worth even pocketing! I saw an 87 Base w/v6, an 86 Cougar LS, and that was it! I've been looking for a Sport Model/Turbo Interior for a long time now, and was very disappointed again while at the ol junkyard.
Save a car? When and If I ever find one, I will!
Rodsterh....whatever leads you decide to pass on, let me know. We live very close to eachother. I have a trailer and will travel!
Jim
Will do! I just got another lead on an '83 TC!!!!! :grinno: Waiting for more info.
The '86 is a gold V6...130,000 miles, nice interior, runs good, needs brake work.
Here's a pics of the '88 base Bird I'll not parting out finally, I'll remain on the street until 2008.
The header panel is cracked MY FAULT when I pushed with My truck, te car need only a new heads haskets (3.8) and some body work...
I acquired this Bird as an excange, I repaired a tailgate and a door on a 2004 F150 Pick up, The guy paid Me with this bird eheh!:dunce:
I saved my '87 from the crusher, within minutes! It has a small amount of damage from the loader on the right front fender. Drove it to a buddies house on seven cylinders. Pretty cool eh!
You saved the Bird from the death conation just in time, eh!:grinno:
I like a lot this kind of history...
My '86 was going to go to the crusher but thankfully the owner knew I liked Cougars and asked if I wanted it first.
Yeah! I like the people like this, So around Me not tbirds or cougars runs, and the syard owners never remember You asked for this thing, last spring a syard owner I know very closer pressed 1800 cars, and in the lot 3 fox birds and one cougar, he never call Me if I want before, MONEY TALK!!!!...
The only fox Bird I savec is a '86 in exceptionnal condition at an another JY near Me, but it cost Me 600$ bucks, and I'll paid 100$ by month or when I have a little loose, the JY owner keep the car for Me ONLY because I paid the car 600 (he paid 75$ or around), and make a lot unless work to dispart the car, anyway, in My area we have NO demands for any fox birds or coug's, it's a big deal for him, a deal for Me too due to the exceptional condition of the car...
Unless this, this '86 Bird go to press...
Well this isn't new and it has never been realized, that I know of and again risking being called an Idiot here goes....:dunce:
What about starting a national T-Bird/Cougar garage.
This is a national club. How many members? How many would pony up say $50.00 a year to purchase a place to keep our favorite cars. It would involve hiring a care taker perhaps a large pole building or just a fenced and graveled yard with a manned guard shack. Mind you, I want nothing to do with managing, hosting, working, or benefit in any way from this idea, except maybe to store a car.
A national garage would have benefits other than just some place to store or repair cars. We could take control of the popularity of the fox models. With time maybe even increase their value.
Logistics is always a stumbling block, so many arguments on where to put it. Who would make the ground rules for its use? Does a new member get full access after several years of other members contribution and sweat equity? If it eventually goes wrong how do you dissolve and distribute the investment? The idea is a porcupine. Be careful how you grab it.
$50 a year wouldn't purchase much of any kind of storage building or garage, I would think. Even if you had 100 members, for a reasonable example.
you don't have to do it all at once. That's the beauty of it. You first get a piece of land. Then you worry about laying down gravel and fence. Then later a guard shack. Still later you build a garage. You could also think of it in terms of building a store and lock business
I guess the question would be who's going to make the initial investment.
-I've been trying to do this in a smaller way for a few years now. i have about 5 birds, 3 rangers, and 2 shos sitting either in my yard or at my in-laws. ive been searching for say 3-5 acres within a reasonable distance of my house to buy,clear off some of it and put all of them on, but around here at least, people want to sell you alot size or 40 acres. smallest i found is 26 acres and that was for about 45-50 grand. i'm looking for something for 10 grand or less. some acrage is in or around subdivisions, so you know "junk" cars is never gonna happen there. maybe one of these days i'll stumble across some.....
Well rod if you need to store cars bring them babys up here i have some room at the house and at the shop (gfs dads shop that is) So let me know what can be done also your bout 3 hrs from me anyway.
Yeah, you have to have a person or group that have faith in the idea. A person who's extended family say, is into farming but don't intend to dedicate their careers to farming, who happen to like Fox cars could be an ideal candidate. Such a person would have land to expand on if the idea took off or reclaim it after interest died. Of course in a group like this, around what, 1500 members, finding 50 to 100 interested in creating a charter and all the detailed rigmarole which a project like this would entail isn't out of the realm of possibility. Just hard .
To me, anyway, it's interesting to talk about as a planning exercise, even If it has no other value.
Finding land that's cheap where zoning and county laws can't get in the way of what you do with the land is high on the desired list. A year around dry/moderate climate would be ideal too.
The cars are showing up at the yards daily. My personal favorite cleaned out a whole group of foreign and 50's rusted/parted machines. You never know what will be going into the crusher next. Like the car I got my coach lights from a couple years ago. c00ched from the jaws of destruction.
Oh man....more storage means I can buy more cars! :grinno:
I hope it doesn't come to that but if it does...I'll be in touch!! :)
If you guys are looking for one to save from the junkyard, I have the perfect candidate. My '86 isn't selling and I have been informed it has until the end of Feb. to be gone, so if it don't sell by then, it will be going to the junkyard. I hate doing it, but it seems like I'm out of options, here's some pics of it in case anyone wants to buy it from me.
Anyone on Long Island there’s a wt 88 bird 5.0 red interior at Lakewood on rt.109 in Lindenhurst they said the guy drove it there. The only thing is I now the place they won’t sell the car whole they will only part it out cause of title issues.
I saved my current 1987 XR7 from the junkyard (or donation). I intended to spend between $4000 and $5000 restoring it completely. In 16 months, I'm actually up to $10,350 and am looking at another $425 this coming week.
Good rule of thumb seems to be - get a good estimate in your head as to what you think it will take to restore it to where you want it. Then double the estimate. If you still have the stomach for it, go for it. Otherwise you could lease a brand-new car for a reasonable amount of money, and not be constantly aggravated by the wants and needs of a 20-year old machine no one else wants.
I am where I am with my XR7. It looks almost new now, but I still have a problem with the suspension.
I certainly won't travel this road again.
That's a good rule of thumb and has been around in the car restoration field for a long time. With the current costs of supplies, parts, it might be more the 2x these days.
There has to be a desire and a passion for working on these 20 year old machines that no one else wants (or any other old car for that matter). If you are looking for the most cost effective ride, you might want to check out Consumers Report.
I’m looking at 2007 Mustang GT’s and they are nice..but at $30K+ out the door and depreciating from day one, it’s not an easy road to travel either.
$10K+ spent on your car might seem like a lot but looking at the bigger picture, I bet you have a very nice ride compared to what is out there today at that price. Post some pictures and let us see your 'save'! :)
Good luck on your suspension hurdle and hopefully it’s an easy fix.
As far as no one wanting these cars….sure they might not be the number one seller at Barrett Jackson…but there is still a big following and nice ones are getting harder to find.
Location...location..location... I can't believe someone wouldn't pick this up. Get it listed in the classified ads and don't forget Craigslist.
Good Luck
Yea, sorry about that one, the car is in Pepin, Wisconsin, which is pretty much across the Mississippi river from Lake City, MN, and near wabasha, mn and red wing, mn. I've had it in the papers here (Menomonie, WI) and even at $750 obo, no one even called in the 6 weeks I had the ad run for. Now, I have the state on my @$$ to get it gone.
Rodsterh:
I may have sounded more harsh than I should have. I'm pretty pissed this particular car still isn't handling like it should, but I DO love the model, and if the thing responded to all of the repairs and enhancements, I would not sound like this.
And of course if this was a 1987 Toyota Corrola, we would not be having this conversation at all :)
The saga of the $2000 POS suspension can be found here:
http://www.foxtbirdcougarforums.com/showthread.php?t=10894
I feel your pain...been there done that! :) I checked out the other thread and can see why you are 'frustrated'! :)
The good news is you came to the right place for help...there are a lot of great people here with lots of experience.
Don't give up, I'm sure you will get it fixed. One thing that makes your situation worse is the labor costs and skills of the mechanics. A lot of us tackle these repairs ourselves and save some $$$ but believe me...some times Do It Yourself can be much harder then paying the labor! :grinno:
See if you can find someone (a TBird/Cougar fan) close to take it a ride and check it out...a 2nd opinion would be helpful.
Good Luck!