Yes -- I put out a bunch of flyers this winter with $13,750.00 on it based on the premise that I would not ****er on the price -- either pay it or keep moving along. The more I started looking around, the more I realized that was an awfully good deal when you compared the condition of my truck to what a lot of local dealers had on their lot. Thanks for the info......

 

That generation of TBird was a sales flop. Except for the initial flourish of sales when it was first released they would languish in the dark corner of the showroom. After a while they moved to the back corner of the lot and gathered dust. They were too retro, expensive and lacked an impressive powertrain. From what I saw, dealers tried to sell them as a Corvette competitor but they were no where close to a Vette's performance level.

 

I don't think they were too retro, but they were very expensive -- especially for a two-seat car with limited practicality. I mean seriously, how many households could really afford to spend $40,000.00 on a two-seat drop top made for Saturday afternoon cruises?

The powertrain was adequate, but certainly not "sports car like" in acceleration -- I really don't see any comparison (other than the two seats?) between it and the Corvettes of that era.

From a collector's perspective, one thing that is really attractive about these cars is that you can find them still today with very low mileage -- partly because of the limited utility of the car, but also because a lot of people decided at the time that they would become collectibles, so they bought them and stashed them away in the garage thinking they were going to make a tidy profit some day.

Rule #1 of Collector Cars: If someone tells you when you buy it brand new that it's going to be a collector's item, chances are very, very good that it never will be.....

 

That is one sharp truck. I think I was picturing a '97 or something. That one looks good. Maybe you should just keep it.

 

The only T-Bird of that era that ever interested me was a light green one....with a nude blonde driving it. I was headed towards San Antonio just west of Hondo when this T-Bird came along side on the divided hiway. She was probably in her mid 50's and could have been in Playboy. Haven't seen her or the car since but I did find out there is a private nudist ranch out there. Nope, never been. I wouldn't drop my ukelele anyway.

 

Yes -- and I think it will look even better with a lift and a nice set of rims and tires! I have kept it bone-stock up to this point since I used it as a daily driver on-and-off at times. Now that I have the Cavalier to use as my daily grinder, I have a little more "artistic freedom" with the Ranger.....

 

Well, I just texted the guy that came to look at the Ranger to let him know that I have decided to keep the truck. When all was said and done, I figured that my odds of finding a well-kept Thunderbird a couple of years down the road were much better than finding another Ranger in the kind of condition mine is in. Also playing into the decision:

* The fact that I just purchased the old Crown Victoria last month, and that car is going to take a little time and money to get it into the state I want. Buying a Thunderbird would have cut into the money that could otherwise be spent doing the maintenance and modifications I want to pursue on that vehicle.

* The reality that the wife's Escape will be due for replacement in the next 18-24 months, so some of the money that would have been spent on the Thunderbird can be used on her new rig.

* Surprisingly, my 9-year-old son HATED the idea of getting rid of the Ranger and replacing it with the Thunderbird! I would have guessed that he would have liked the convertible aspect of the car, but whenever I showed him a picture of the vehicle online he said he didn't like it and thought the Ranger was way cooler!

So I guess that's the way it will play out, and I am fine with it. It's nice to have that decision out of the way, as I was really torn as to which way to go -- thanks to everyone around here for putting in their "2-cents" worth on the subject.....

 

I think you will be happy with that decision

 

maybe you should invest in a boat.

 

OMG -- then I'd have yet another thing laying around this place that I'd have to store! I swear to God, I need to move back to the Midwest and buy an old country farmstead just so I can use all of the outbuildings to store all of my crap in.....

I grew up on a lake back in Minnesota and we always had a boat that you could run down to the end of the dock and hop in for a spin. While it was a great way of life, I think I realized early on that the best kind of boat was the one that your dad bought, insured, and purchased the gas for!

Now if I was young, single, and still chasing tail -- then the boat would look like a much more worthwhile investment.....

 

i mean for transportation around houston

i have been itching to buy something older these days.

i want old , but not carbarator old. but I want a limited volume cars.

my picks.

85-86 mustang svo, 91-93 454ss or a 2000 cobra R

financially in that order. the cobra r are going $45 to $55 so I think the wife would be mad. the mustang is a little small for my mid-life but. the 454ss was the truck i wanted at that time but could not afford. really nice ones are $20 - $25k. i honestly feel that is a market that is going to take off. late 80's thru mid 90's truck . righ before they started making them giant. i am also open to a really clean 2001 -03 lightning.
not really concerned with how fast any of them are. the new stuff beats it and in Houston there is no where to safely go fast.

BTW i am laughing, i remember when i got married and the wife told me we needed drapes. i said "why, we have blinds". she said they dont open and close they are just for looks. then i got the price...wtf.

well every house we have owned has custom "drapes" i pull that card when i want to buy something for the car. and after about 3 or 4 days all is good.

 

Ahhh -- missed the play on our lovely weather the past few days.....

That was one of the factors that went into my buying the '87 Crown Victoria last month -- I feel the EFI on that car is going to be much more reliable over time than the earlier "carbed" models. I know with my brother-in-law's who have '60's era classics, they are always "futsing" with the carbs and as time goes by there seem to be fewer and fewer old school mechanics who really know how to tweak them the way they need to be!

And like it or not, those late-80's to early-90's cars is really where the collector car hobby is going! Prices are still very reasonable on most of them -- even for examples that are extremely clean and well-maintained. And when you start attending local shows you will be amazed at how much interest these previously overlooked cars are starting to generate from the folks who are out to enjoy the afternoon!

While my "Vic" is no hot rod by any stretch of the imagination, I promise you that it will garner tons of attention on the show circuit just because it's pristine, original, low mileage, and something completely different from the endless rows of over-restored '69 Camaro's and Chevelle's that over-populate most events!

Of the list you gave, I think the 454SS truck is the most attractive. I remember drooling over those things when they were new but I couldn't have afforded one in my wildest dreams back then. Now, $20-$25K for a nice one is very doable if you are middle-aged and have had any kind of economic success -- and their value will continue to go up as clean examples become rarer and the guys who loved them when they were young reach the point in their lives where they can buy one as a toy.....

 

BOAT:

Break
Out
Another
Thousand $$

 

You can say that again!