Inherited 1982 ford thunderbird with 58,000 miles

[johnnycharger]

I inherited this thunderbird from my Grandparents. It has always been garaged. Is anybody into these cars?

[TruckDriver]

If it was white with white interior, it would look just like the 1980 I had years ago. Mine had the 302, and would go pretty good for what it was. Wasn't a bad car. Was fully loaded. I don't think they have a big market following though.

[johnnycharger]

Nice! I'll bet the 302 was nice. This one is an inline 6. I think they are nice cars. The interior is super plush. I am looking forward to driving it once I do the fluids and plugs.

[Aero426]

Looks like a clean old car.

All the Ford teams raced this body until the aerodynamic 1983 model came out.

[new2muscle]

 Put it up on blocks, do the long-term storage preps, and turn it into a future barn find....

[Mytur Binsdirti]

Sell it along with this gem and maybe you can get 3 grand for the pair.   



http://www.ebay.com/itm/Ford-Other-Base-/281973935312?forcerrptr=true&hash=item41a6f4ccd0:g:JjQAAOSwHxVW7xL2&item=281973935312

[6spd68]

I don't think they have a big market following though.

As a Fox-body T-bird owner, I can vouch; 80-82 have very little following.  Value wise, you're looking at what Turban said lol.  You can convert them to a 302 or bigger fairly easy though.

I would drive it as is.  You're not going to get much from the 6-banger, but it'll go forever if you treat it kindly.  It should sail down the road nicely, and feel similar to a G-body in ride.

Nice score considering 

[charge69]

For an '80 model, it looks to be in fine shape.  Change the fluids, check the belts, and shine her up!  Drive it for a long time to come! Very nice score!

[stripedelete]

They had one of these in last episode of the Amerikans.  I was wondering where they found it.....

It's a perfect example of bad styling also being timeless. 

I agree.  Drive it.

[Patronus]

Jump it 

[johnnycharger]

Hi Guys
Thanks for all of the good info! I'll probably just putt around with it for a while and then go from there...

[Charger_Fan]

Man, that car looks super clean. And it's a decent color, too!

[Lighthorseman]

I remember those from the eighties...  Sure - not some insane muscle-machine, but I really liked the lines of them.

If I had one today, I'd daily-drive the wheels off it...but I don't.  If I had the keys to your garage, then things would be different. 

A trip to Safeway for groceries?  I'd take your awesome T-Bird.  When I wanted to lay rubber all the way down the block, why...I'd take your Charger.

Thanks for loaning me both cars, by the way.   

[6spd68]

Man, that car looks super clean. And it's a decent color, too!

Minus the red interior...  That was Ford's version of 70's Green throughout the 80's/early 90's 

[GOTWING]

my grandmother replaced her 73 Charger with one just like this same color too. She hated it had lots of "issues" My cousin got the charger and well it went down hill fast.

[Charger_Fan]

Man, that car looks super clean. And it's a decent color, too!

Minus the red interior...  That was Ford's version of 70's Green throughout the 80's/early 90's 

I kinda like the "porno red" interior.

[GOTWING]

Put Cragar SS mags and chrome sidepipes on it.

[440]

You should do this...

www.youtube.com/watch?v=-iyhB3FjMHo

[VegasCharger]

Back in 2003 I was given a 1981 Ford Thunderbird from my GFs stepfather. He lived in a trailer park and he had to get rid of it or else it would've been impounded. I spruced it up, got it running and sold it for $300.00 two mounths later. That was the plan so we could use the funds towards a summer vacation. It was that caramel orangish color, similar to the Thunderbird pictured below. For some reason I kinda grew on the car in that 2 months. But I couldn't keep it, I had way too many cars at the time. Plus the plan was to sell it and use the money we made from it.


Does the A/C work on that 1982?

[johnnycharger]

I remember those from the eighties...  Sure - not some insane muscle-machine, but I really liked the lines of them.

If I had one today, I'd daily-drive the wheels off it...but I don't.  If I had the keys to your garage, then things would be different. 

A trip to Safeway for groceries?  I'd take your awesome T-Bird.  When I wanted to lay rubber all the way down the block, why...I'd take your Charger.

Thanks for loaning me both cars, by the way.   

Lol! good stuff! Be careful in my garage there is a lot of beer in there as well!

[johnnycharger]

Lol. A lot of fun comments on this one. I like the "porno red" too  

Cragers and lake pipes would look sweet but may get in the way if I install curb feelers down the road....lol

It would definitely be a blast to make it a 10 second car. That lesabre is sweet.

I haven't checked the A/C yet. I know it was working before because my Grandparents lived in the Mojave desert and it gets a little hot there...

[b5blue]

  Actually any Ford Fox Platform car is proven reliable. I had 2 and both worked like dogs for many years with the 200 six being run to well over 200K miles with no overhaul. My Zephyr wagon was the same colors and engine. The C4 auto was rebuilt at 160K miles and the engine would foul number 5 and 6 spark plugs every so often but so easy to change. I kept a cheap socket and wrench with 2 plugs in the glove box. (The wife was proud to report every now and then she'd swapped them out.) Sold for 250.00 to a friends mom with over 230K on the odometer it was still getting her around 4 years later. Change out the radiator cap they like them in good condition.
  V8's use different sub frames and actually you've the best engine out of that era, the V6 were not as durable and V8 weak gas hogs. If the windows start acting up look at the seals and channels they get stiff and hard then over stress the window motors and gear sets.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Thunderbird#Eighth_generation_.281980.E2.80.931982.29 

[johnnycharger]

  Actually any Ford Fox Platform car is proven reliable. I had 2 and both worked like dogs for many years with the 200 six being run to well over 200K miles with no overhaul. My Zephyr wagon was the same colors and engine. The C4 auto was rebuilt at 160K miles and the engine would foul number 5 and 6 spark plugs every so often but so easy to change. I kept a cheap socket and wrench with 2 plugs in the glove box. (The wife was proud to report every now and then she'd swapped them out.) Sold for 250.00 to a friends mom with over 230K on the odometer it was still getting her around 4 years later. Change out the radiator cap they like them in good condition.
  V8's use different sub frames and actually you've the best engine out of that era, the V6 were not as durable and V8 weak gas hogs. If the windows start acting up look at the seals and channels they get stiff and hard then over stress the window motors and gear sets.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Thunderbird#Eighth_generation_.281980.E2.80.931982.29 

Wow! Great info! Thanks!

[6spd68]

V8's use different sub frames and actually you've the best engine out of that era, the V6 were not as durable and V8 weak gas hogs.

B5Blue is Very right.  Thunderbirds came with the SO 5.0(Stock 155HP, 2something TQ), where as the Mustangs came with the HO version.  You can mod them by throwing the Mustang top end on, but it still wont give you GT #'s, best to just get a built setup and drop it in.

As I and everyone else stated though, just keep the in line 6, and cruise her 

[440]

I had an 84 Thunderbird which was a great car, however that looks more like the Lincoln LSC (Luxury Sports Coup). The LSC basically had Mustang running gear.

You could find a wrecked 5.0 and transplant the running gear....  Still aim for a 10 second sleeper though :-)