New Toy

[countryford]

Last week I ended up selling my ole truck (1969 Ford F100). I sold it for a couple of different reasons. With some of the money I made, I wanted to buy me a smaller vehicle that would be fun to drive around. As a Ford fan, I've always liked the Thunderbirds. Well I found this on one on Craigslist, this past Wednesday. They had just posted it that day. I messaged them on Thursday morning asked a few questions and then set a time to go see it. When I arrived, I knew I would be buying it. I made an offer and they accepted it. I ended up driving it home.

 

It is a 1989 Thunderbird Super Coupe. It has the 3.8 supercharged V6 with a 5 speed manual transmission. Has only 95,500 miles. The guy who I bought it from, bought it in Montana about 20 years ago. Underside is clean as well as the interior. The body is solid with no dings(I can't even find a door ding). The hood has some chipping, but other than that, the paint is good. It has a few minor issues, but nothing too major at this time. 

 

[daveamkrayoguy]

A favorite era for me, though I wish with the way people were turning towards trucks and SUV's that buying one New in '95 was like buying those late-'70's Cougars and Thunderbirds, given that you would be saying goodbye to colored interiors (I, so wanted green, though I couldn't get one green exterior to agree with me (one too dark, the other too light) on the outside forcing me to pay extra for the triple-coat Cream) and even the Oil & Voltage gauges on most of the cheaper cars, that this undeservedly wasn't... <span style="font-family: -webkit-standard; font-size: medium; font-weight: normal;">(C'mon, lock the price down at the 1980's $6000!) </span>

 

Ditto for the Auto-Temp & Auto-Lamp, voluntarily doing without, only to find myself buying a couple used ones after that, which did have, along with the service & upkeep headaches that  however, these such cars, still gave you...

 

 

 

 

 

-- Dave

 

[cfz2882]

I remember looking over on of those on display at the mall back in '89. Does it have that "old skool"v8 torque feel with the supercharged v6 and do you hear the supercharger at any time?

 

[48bencix]

IRS

Those T-Birds have an independent rear suspension. Fairly sophisticated chassis. I had a 1990 Mercury Cougar based on the same chassis. Very nice driving cars. Even the Mustang didn't have independent rear suspension until the 2015 model.

 

[fan-of-fans]

It's in nice condition! It reminds me of my grandma's 1992 Cougar she drove.

 

[lorainfurniture]

I almost killed my self in that car. That car has significant lag before the supercharger kicks in, but when it does watch out. I was 18 and got the car at a 45 degree angle on a country road shifting in to 3rd gear.

The supercharger whine is prominent (and amazing) in this car. Thanks for sharing that brought back some fond memories. If I may, what is a car like that worth these days?

 

[jamiel]

Believe that was the Era when they overengineered the T-Bird and overcontented it so much that it was a moneyloser for Ford...

 

[countryford]

Lorainfurniture,
To answer your question about what these go for today. I ended up paying $2000 for it. I had set aside $1600 from the sale of my old 69 truck to go towards a different vehicle. I wanted a Ford from the late 80s to the early 90s. I really wanted a Thunderbird. I had looked at several vehicles that fit that and even some non-Fords. This one ended up being posted last Wednesday evening on Craigslist. By the time I saw it, it was late so I didn't want to call. Plus they were asking $2500 for it. I really didn't think they would go down to $1600. Thursday, my husband had a doctor's appointment. While I was waiting for him, I happened to see the Thunderbird again, but on a Facebook sell it page. I massaged the girl and asked a few questions about it. It belonged to her grandfather who had owned it for the past 20 years. It had 95,000 miles on it. After my husband was done, I told him about the car and about the price. I told him I could probably get it for $2000. We agreed that if she would accept the $2000 to go for it. She and the car were in a town about an hour away from our place. So I messaged her back telling her that I had $2000 cash and would buy the car that day, if she would take it. She messaged me back a couple minutes later saying her grandfather would take the $2000. So me and my neighbor drove over and I fell in love with it at first sight. I drove it and knew it was coming home with me.

I think I got a pretty good deal for the vehicle. I had seen other non super coupe ones for around the same price and some even more expensive. I had also found one with a little less miles, but it didn't run (fuel pump) and needed new tires. Also the paint wasn't in that great of shape. The guy was asking $1700 for it. It was also 5 hours from me so I would have had to figure in the towing it home.

 

[electronicontrl]

Love It!

I too am a Ford fan. Love the Thunderbirds. I owned a 1986 Thunderbird that I bought new and a 1996 Cougar - Laser Red with gray leather interior. Ah loved that car! Thank you for sharing.

 

[yogitunes]

I had a 1985 Mustang SVO....with the intercooled 2.3 TURBO...better yet, an actual functioning hood scoop....

I found it superior to the regular GT I traded in....

 

[countryford]

I'm definitely enjoying it. I had to replace the belts on it. I believe they were the original and were starting to show wear. I also started replacing the heater core. Talk about a pain in the ass. Have to remove the whole dash to do it. Worked on it for 5 hours earlier today and still don't have the heater core out. I'm almost to the end though. I have one more nut to remove, if I can find and get to it. Then the fun part will be to put it all back together.