https://fortmyers.craigslist.org/chl/cto/6026248220.html
Well-preserved, stock, and with all of the day-it-was-dealt stuff. Wondering what the hell that hood ornament is...but that would probably be a minor bodyshop fix while still preserving the rest of the paint on the header.
LOL "investment". You crazy :hick:.
Very nice car! Can't go wrong if you're in the market. I'm in if it were Twilight Blue!
Curious, you don't think there's any future gain in these cars?
honestly these cars have a pretty bleak future
Maybe in 25-30 years, I'll likely be taking the dirt nap...
Nope. You can buy a really nice 58-66 Thunderbird for $12-15k. The 67 and up cars for less. The only Thunderbirds worth money are the 55-57 cars and 62-63 M code (390 6bbl) cars. I don't expect even low mile, mint 83-88 cars to be worth more than $7-10k tops.
I keep sinking money into my Thunderbird because I like it, not because I'm betting it'll be worth money in the future. I don't plan on selling the car so, to me, it's just keeping it around and enjoyable for future use. I never expected to get any sort of return on my "investment" in my car. It's just money I throw away on my hobby and enjoying life.
I feel the same way about my '86 XR-7. I just love to drive it!!
There may be a small exception for the Turbo Coupes & turbo XR7 with 5-speed, but the plain jane 3.8 cars are nothing but parts sources... Auto versions won't have nearly the value and 5-speed swaps won't help much as it's easy to determine pedigree from a Marti report... They'll have to be original, unmolested examples and in excellent condition... Unfortunately these vehicles are not Muscle or Pony cars...
Speaking of Muscle cars, a dealer offered me $4000 for my Cobra Jet(slightly over it's orig window sticker price) -- That was in 1978, I paid $1500 for it five years earlier... Of course we were in the dark days of performance, mfgrs scrambling just to meet emissions, high HP vehicles were nonexistent... Nice muscle cars were already gaining value...
3.8s are parts sources? :mad: (http://"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TIMrFpnfvyI")
Haha. I fall into the I like 'em 'cause I like 'em boat. My 3.8 will never be worth much, especially since I've modified it. Honestly, I wouldn't want to own a stock turbo T-bird/Cougar as molding the clay to your vision is what I enjoy. Just wish it was a little easier to due a-la Moosetang.
In case you ain't noticed my TC ain't exactly stock... Also I've never parted a 3.8(the TC & 5.0 cars both get check marks in that box), for that matter I've never owned a 3.8 either...
If it wasn't clear, I completely agree with your previous post.
lol. NO car is an investment.
Never say never...I wish I would have bought a Ford GT in 2005.
I've seen nice TC's asking way more. I think plenty of us have. Asking and selling are two different things, but if you watch the right publications online, you notice some interest in the late TC's anyway. People "out of the loop" being exposed and saying 'wow that's really cool I want one!'
I'd want to pay closer to $6K for this thing, but I totally see (and yes here's the practical part of it) myself making some money sitting on it for anywhere from 5-15 years which I could, whilst enjoying it occasionally. I'd like to drive a TC to see what the whole package is all about. I've always had a xenophobic "eewww 4-cylinder" prejudice against them. Which is of course stupid but it's a natural tendency when you're deeply entrenched in V8-land.
Two falls ago I had someone who clearly enjoyed one in his teenage years with his wife, HELL BENT on buying my 20th. I think $10k wouldn't have made him flinch. Recently another clearly well-heeled guy posted a CL wanted ad, looking for not one but two solid "easy restoration" 87/88 cats. It's cherry-picking, sure, but it's something.
I'm not seriously considering this, it would not be a smart use for that much money. But I have to wonder anyway. I really think if nothing else, the TC's will be....let's say very annoying to try and get in a decade or so. Let me also state that I am NOT in this sport for profit. Never have been, and can't stand the way the auctions ruin it for the non-elite. I guess it just seems like a really good deal assuming of course there are no hidden demons.
It's impossible to "know"/predict but basically a surprise supercar like that....from a non-supercar-type automaker, plus the heritage, it adds up.
The car that my username comes from...yeah those are even worse than they were new. The only almost-guaranteed blue chip cars are the ones only the super-rich can get anyway...
(Fun fact: the original C12, the "basic bitch", as they only got faster and crazier every year with bigger engines, is by far the most valuable since they only made 5 or 6. I think 4 have already been destroyed, one was a crash-test sacrifice)
The big question is where would you put it? You've already got 3 Cougars. You have to be out of garage space.
These cars are hard to find in decent condition up north. Doesn't make them worth much however.
I disagree. There are many cars that do appreciate in value. I just sold my 1972 Cutlass and I got every penny out of it that I put into in, and when sold, the paint was way worse off than when I bought it. It was still a good 10 foot car, but the older restoration was starting to show.
I bought it September/Oct of 2009. Sold it 4/2017. I used it for 9 years, worked on it, and got my money back. I consider that a "good" investment. I got 9 years of "free use" out of a car.
Most 83-88 T-Bird will never be worth 7k or more. I'd happily buy another one(def a v8 or a TC 5 speed), but it's going to have to be priced right.