14K-Mile 1976 Ford Thunderbird Special Edition

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312 miles a year isn’t a lot, I probably ride my Honda Motocompo around the storage facility more miles than that every year. This ultra-luxurious 1976 Ford Thunderbird with the Crème and Gold Luxury Group package has traveled only 14,655 miles since it was new, according to the seller. They have it posted here on craigslist in Milford, Massachusetts, and they’re asking $14,900. Here is the original listing, and thanks to FordGuy 1972 for sending in this tip!

In case you were wondering, $14,900 is $1.02 for every mile that it’s traveled so far. That’s a good deal for this car, but maybe not if it actually had 114,655 miles. I don’t think it does, it’s too nice. The sixth-generation Thunderbird was made for model years 1972-’76, and although production in 1976 – the last year for this generation T-Bird – was up a bit from the previous year to 52,935, it was way down from the high point with the 1973 Thunderbird, which had sales of 87,269.

Unless a person has the money to send your mid-1970s car to a custom shop to have the bumpers shaved and tweaked as you see on every tv reality show, it is what it is, there’s no changing that look. These cars are nice looking even with the bumpers but they could have been so much better, at least visually, maybe not safety-wise. You want big bumpers today, I’ve been hit at red lights twice in the last seven months by texting drivers, it’s absolutely ridiculous out there.

In the final year of the sixth-gen, Ford offered Thunderbird buyers three special luxury group designer package options. This was the most expensive one, the Crème and Gold package, at $793 ($4,136 today!), the Bourdeaux package was $700, and the Lipstick luxury group package was $546. The interior of this car was about as nice as it got for Ford in 1976. The seats are beautiful and they look perfect both in the front and the rear. The trunk didn’t get any special treatment but it looks clean. Originally from West Virginia, this car is still riding on its original Michelin X radial tires with thin white walls, to back up the low-mileage claim.

The engine isn’t quite as clean as I would have expected, but a weekend of detailing would do wonders here and could bring this car’s value up a bit. This is Ford’s 460-cu.in. OHV V8, which by 1976 was saddled with 202 horsepower and 352 lb-ft of torque. At the time, 10 mpg wasn’t exactly fun, not that it is today either. But for a fun weekend cruising car, this would be great. Hagerty is at $10,200 for a #3 good-condition car and $22,100 for a #2 excellent car. Depending on what the underside looks like, it’s probably priced right on the money. It runs and drives 100%, according to the seller. Any thoughts on this Thunderbird?

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Comments

  1. Bob_in_TN Bob_in_TNMember

    Thanks Scotty. A good example of a big, flashy luxury coupe of its day. Looks to be in great shape. In the big picture, not all that expensive. Would make a great cruiser.

    Texting while driving: When texting was “invented”, wonder if anyone realized an unintended consequence would be an increase in traffic accidents.

    Like 12
  2. bobhess bobhessMember

    When I first saw this series I couldn’t believe Ford even put their name on the cars much less call it a Thunderbird. Bulk on wheels.

    Like 6
  3. Bick Banter

    Right now. Without any further delay. Ford needs to break out this trim package immediately on its CUV and SUV lines.

    Like 8
  4. Big C

    My favorite big bird. Power, luxury and class.

    Like 8
  5. Maggy

    These were great derby cars.

    Like 3
  6. Arthur C Bailey

    Gawgeous !!! My favorite is the big birds… I have a 76 tbird lipstick..

    Like 2
  7. Robert Levins

    Our neighbors had a 1975(or)1976 T-bird with the Bordeaux package, and fully loaded w/moonroof. For some reason it looked even better than the Lincoln MK-IV! The dashboard on the T-bird was “cockpit like” with the round gauges and stacked warning lights. When it drove down the road at night, you definitely knew it was a T-bird with the “bar of lights” spanning the entire width of the rear end! It was a magical car – right out of a sales brochure. Yeah, the 70’s car brochures portrayed a mystical, dreamy world and in a way it was. Great article! It will make a great car for someone.

    Like 14
  8. Dan Marsh

    Looks like an oil filter attached to the air cleaner…

    Like 0
  9. Keith

    I had one of these and could not believe how bad the gas millage was. 10mpg on the freeway was just the end to love affair for this car. Nice car to sit in but needed to own a gas station to make it fun to own.

    Like 5
  10. Joe S.

    I worked at a Ford dealer in 1974. 1974 was also the first year of the Gold Luxury Group. My first time ever seeing/touching a Ford product with a window sticker price over $10k. :)

    Like 1
  11. PRA4SNW

    Not the same car, but amazingly similar to one that’s been here before:
    https://barnfinds.com/time-capsule-t-bird-1976-ford-thunderbird/

    Like 1
    • Scotty GilbertsonAuthor

      Thanks, PRA4SNW! I was going to reference that one but then I noticed that the seats weren’t leather and it wasn’t the same special edition, but it sure looks similar and similarly perfect.

      Like 2
  12. Donald Porochonski

    Sacrilege! I wonder if you get swap that lunker engine out for the Ford twin turbo v6. Power and better mileage. Wouldn’t be original anymore but it would be more practical.

    Like 1
  13. Mike Shores

    I had one of these just like the one pictured. It was a boat to drive and I always felt like I was in a pimp-mobile! 🤣. Ended up trading it for a 1980 Turbo Trans Am which I really loved!!

    Like 0
  14. terry

    Theres one for sale same color combo in Edmonton Alberta at the Northgate Chev gmc dealer have no idea what they want for it give them a call at 1-780-476-3371 drive by it everyday

    Like 2
  15. RickyMember

    Concerning the 460 engine. You’ll notice the air cleaner has what looks like an oil filter canister on it. Had one on my 78 Lincoln, finally found what it’s purpose was. It was to reduce air intake noise. Strange.

    Like 2
  16. StanMember

    Gorgeous and the 460 option. 🙌🏁

    Like 2
  17. Emel

    The Car & the Bumpers has disappeared.

    Real bumpers are a necessity these days with all the vaxcidents.
    lol

    Like 1
  18. P Wentzell

    I have ALWYS loved this color combo (yeah, I’m weird that way). I saw an identical T’Bird last summer at a used car lot, it belonged to the owner of the lot. An Uncle of mine had a 1975 T’Bird but in triple brown. One of the largest cars I ever piloted (the other was a friend’s 1970 Sedan De Ville (Black over White, hence: Orca) Both cars were BIG.

    Like 0
  19. Bruce

    I would say by looking at that engine that it has seen more mileage than stated it should be pristine for that mileage claim .If you have a very clean and tidy car make sure the engine bay is clean.Bruce,

    Like 1
  20. Robert Levins

    You can bump up the fuel mileage somewhat by de-smogging it. 3-4 miles per gallon, if your state exempts classic cars that are 25+yrs old. 3-4 miles per gallon doesn’t seem like much but on a 25 gallon tank, 75-100 miles more of highway cruising does make it a little more palatable. From the factory, these cars did only about 10mpg, even highway. Yeah they ate up gas just like a big jet. Originally designed before the first OPEC oil embargo, with almost no thought to fuel economy. Gotta love’em, I do. Great article!

    Like 2
  21. Mark Fitz

    I was surprised to see on My Classic Car that the 351 4v had more power.

    Like 0
  22. Hugh

    Beautiful car beautiful color too. I had a 75 LTD landau same color loved it.

    Like 0
  23. Joe S.

    Has anyone mentioned the ‘Shish Kabob’ cigarette lighters in this generation T-Bird and MK IV???

    Like 0

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