Fox Body Thunderbird/Cougar Rescue ?? UPDATE 9/28/13

Topic: Fox Body Thunderbird/Cougar Rescue ?? UPDATE 9/28/13 (Read 6057 times) previous topic - next topic

Fox Body Thunderbird/Cougar Rescue ?? UPDATE 9/28/13

August 11, 2013, 04:55:50 PM

So yesterday I was reading an article in a stang rag about this individual that rescues dead or abandoned project stangs. He restores some for show, others he returns to road worthiness, then sells them. I thought to myself "Why not Our beloved Fox Birds and Cougars!!" If things would work out at the bodyshop I work at, and I demolished the other building, I would have lots of room for the cars, although the lot can hold 75 cars now. Of course I'd have to improve the fencing to keep out the undesireables but there's already security systems there. When I finished one, I'd be selective as to who I would sell them to.

So let me know what you all think about it.

Fox Body Thunderbird/Cougar Rescue ?? UPDATE 9/28/13

Reply #1 – August 11, 2013, 05:51:45 PM

you mean besides the fact that there is no market for these cars? or would you like a better reason not to do it? :)

Fox Body Thunderbird/Cougar Rescue ?? UPDATE 9/28/13

Reply #2 – August 11, 2013, 06:00:50 PM

Quote from: 1WLD BRD;419880

you mean besides the fact that there is no market for these cars? or would you like a better reason not to do it? :)

Unfortunately, that was my first thought as well.

Fox Body Thunderbird/Cougar Rescue ?? UPDATE 9/28/13

Reply #3 – August 11, 2013, 06:38:34 PM

Since there isn't a market yet to support large numbers, perhaps consider picking the ones that have some uncommon features such as sage green cars, 5-speed cars, special editions, rare colors, options, etc. It would be great if someone like you can save at least some from the recycle yard. It's nice to see other people interested in preserving these things even though reality keeps most of us from achieving that to the degree we want. Anything is better than nothing.

Do you have to demolish that building or can it be used to keep some cars out of the weather?

Fox Body Thunderbird/Cougar Rescue ?? UPDATE 9/28/13

Reply #4 – August 11, 2013, 07:17:01 PM

you couldn't specialize in Thunderbird/Cougars, there is simply not enough market for them. The hot ticket would be ANY "muscle car". Start with the cheaper stuff like Fox Mustangs, Birds, Cougars, and work your way up into the higher end cars that cost you more off the bat, but the return on investment would be much greater. Might have to sell 10 lower end cars just to get into a higher end car, but once you built and sold it, you could do 2 higher end cars...

Heck I was watching Barrett Jackson a couple nights ago and a early 60s stepside chevy truck went across the block. 60s body on a 80's chassis, 383, 350 turbo, 10 bolt front axle, 12 bolt rear axle... basically the cheapest of the cheap all the way around and it went for over 20 grand... I "LOL'ed" hard. Look at the prices people are getting these days for stuff. Heck, some of the prices they get for stuff on Fast n Loud really make me "LOL"

Fox Body Thunderbird/Cougar Rescue ?? UPDATE 9/28/13

Reply #5 – August 11, 2013, 07:29:20 PM

Would you do it for the money or for the cars?

Fox Body Thunderbird/Cougar Rescue ?? UPDATE 9/28/13

Reply #6 – August 11, 2013, 09:53:44 PM

Quote from: Cougars 2 go;419887

Do you have to demolish that building or can it be used to keep some cars out of the weather?

Ya I would need to. It's a 80+ yr old office building. Although If I could get it, there is a 10k sq ft body shop in Merrillville available.

Quote from: Cougars 2 go;419893

Would you do it for the money or for the cars?

I would be doing it for the cars. I can't help it, I'm obsessed with these cars. I know that there isn't a great market for these cars except for the few devoted groups of people out there.
As far as the money aspect, I have a chance to get to paint a fully customized 54' Ford P/U. They guy is about finished with all the fab work and about ready to get it painted.

Fox Body Thunderbird/Cougar Rescue ?? UPDATE 9/28/13

Reply #7 – August 11, 2013, 11:51:38 PM

I've thought many times about starting a fox cougar bird junk yard. I used to find them all day long $400 or less. price is slowly creeping up, but.there is still little demand.

Fox Body Thunderbird/Cougar Rescue ?? UPDATE 9/28/13

Reply #8 – August 12, 2013, 10:57:26 AM

I know there isn't much of a demand for them, but I want to try to rescue as many as I can. I'm "not" making this my only source of income, and I don't really care how long I keep a car. Just sayin

Fox Body Thunderbird/Cougar Rescue ?? UPDATE 9/28/13

Reply #9 – August 12, 2013, 04:54:59 PM

Quote from: 1BadBird;419900

I would be doing it for the cars. I can't help it, I'm obsessed with these cars. I know that there isn't a great market for these cars except for the few devoted groups of people out there.

Quote from: 1BadBird;419928

I know there isn't much of a demand for them, but I want to try to rescue as many as I can. I'm making this my only source of income, and I don't really care how long I keep a car. Just sayin

If you're doing it for the cars, then I completely understand and think that is great. But if you're making that your only source of income, you may start losing weight involuntarily because of the very limited appeal these have - at least the Cougars. If this will be your only source of income, you may have a chance with some unique Turbo Coupes so consider starting with one of those if you can get a very solid and appealing car for little money to start with.

Personally, I'd prefer to see Cougars saved as the TBird has a greater chance of survival in larger numbers than the Cougars because more people like the TBirds than Cougars and are therefore more likely to be rescued and such. But odds are the Cougars will give you smaller profit margins, if any at all.

Fox Body Thunderbird/Cougar Rescue ?? UPDATE 9/28/13

Reply #10 – August 12, 2013, 05:32:19 PM

You're right, I didn't mean to exclude the cougars..........shame on me

I'll fix that in the original post title. The wife makes decent money and I'll also be doing other body/paint work as well. :D
I see the typo that I made in that reply

Fox Body Thunderbird/Cougar Rescue ?? UPDATE 9/28/13

Reply #11 – August 12, 2013, 07:01:03 PM

Quote from: 1BadBird;419940

You're right, I didn't mean to exclude the cougars..........shame on me I'll fix that in the original post title. The wife makes decent money and I'll also be doing other body/paint work as well. :D
I see the typo that I made in that reply

I think you did mention both somewhere in that first post though. I was just saying that TBirds have wider appeal among the two options and you may have a better chance of small profits with those. But also because they have wider appeal, they will probably be "saved" in larger numbers than the Cougars throughout car nut world so my suspicion is the Cougars have fewer people "looking out" for them.

Fox Body Thunderbird/Cougar Rescue ?? UPDATE 9/28/13

Reply #12 – August 12, 2013, 08:59:53 PM

Come rescue my car! I been trying to sell forever n can't get rid of it.. I am so fed up car is clean

Fox Body Thunderbird/Cougar Rescue ?? UPDATE 9/28/13

Reply #13 – August 12, 2013, 09:00:21 PM

John, its your dime, and your passion that counts. I can say from personal experience that John is the real deal, and this is a labor of love from a passionate car guy. There might be a limited market, but this will change at some point as people want a cool alternative to a Fox Stang/Capri. I do agree that the Pedigree Birds would be nice to save like Fila's, TC, XR-7 or Heritage/Elan's, and many other oddball configurations. (My Heritage non-withstanding) How is that for a subtle hint?

Fox Body Thunderbird/Cougar Rescue ?? UPDATE 9/28/13

Reply #14 – August 12, 2013, 10:59:15 PM

all I can say is... in another 20 years, there will be very few numbers of our cars on the earth..... They HAVE to be worth something then.... Right?