Although his final years as Ford President saw him at loggerheads with his boss, Lee Iacocca, and Henry Ford II were cut from the same cloth. Both saw small cars as a necessary evil to increase sales volumes and profits, but both enjoyed the effortless isolation provided by what are often referred to as “land yachts.” That is why they loved cars like this 1976 Ford Thunderbird. It is a big, bold car with a genuine sense of presence. This one is beautifully preserved, and with only 26,000 miles on the clock, it should offer its new owner years of classic motoring pleasure. The T-Bird is listed here on Craigslist in Wichita, Kansas. It could be yours for $16,995, and I must say a big thank you to Barn Finder T.J. for spotting this gentle giant.
Ford launched its Sixth Generation Thunderbird for the 1972 model year. It remained on sale until 1976, sharing much of its architecture with the Lincoln Continental Mark IV. This was a wise cost-cutting decision because T-Bird sales had slumped during the previous generation’s production run. The Sixth Generation was also the largest and heaviest to wear the Thunderbird badge, a fact of which Iacocca was proud in an automotive environment where many manufacturers were downsizing their latest models. The seller claims this car is a Glamour Edition, which comprises a cosmetic enhancement package that includes stunning Jade Starfire Metallic paint and a matching Dark Jade vinyl top. This car’s presentation is all you would expect from a low-mile survivor that has led a sheltered life. The paint shines beautifully, with no signs of flaws or imperfections. The vinyl is in as-new condition, and there are no signs of panel bumps or rust. The trim is in good order, the wire hubcaps are undamaged, and the tinted glass looks flawless.
This Thunderbird’s interior is as impressive as its exterior, with no faults or problems deserving criticism. The Dark Green vinyl upholstered surfaces look spotless. There are no signs of marks or physical damage, the carpet is excellent, while the dash and woodgrain trim are equally impressive. If anything surprises me about this interior, it is the vinyl on the seats. This is a highly optioned classic, and I would typically expect the original owner to splash a few extra dollars for the more luxurious cloth trim. Still, the vinyl wears better and isn’t as prone to deterioration. Therefore, it was probably a wise choice. The T-Bird is a luxury car, meaning the new owner receives air conditioning, power windows, power locks, a power driver’s seat, cruise control, a tilt wheel, a rear defogger, and an AM/FM stereo radio with a power antenna.
By the time this Thunderbird rolled off the line, Ford had adopted a “one size fits all” approach to drivetrain configuration. Buyers received a 460ci V8, a three-speed C6 automatic transmission, and power assistance for the steering and brakes. That V8 should produce 202hp and 352 ft/lbs of torque. Those figures are modest by modern standards but were what owners expected during The Malaise Era. The ’76 T-Bird needs every spare horsepower it can find because, with a curb weight of 5,004 lbs, it is a heavy beast. Performance is all you might expect from this combination, with the ¼-mile journey taking 18.7 seconds. However, most buyers in 1976 were more concerned about effortless open-road cruising, and this car is up to that challenge. It has a genuine 26,000 miles on the clock, and it seems there are service records and other documents confirming the claim. It runs and drives perfectly, performing faultlessly on a recent long road trip. Flying in and driving home is a viable option for the new owner.
This 1976 Ford Thunderbird is a stunning car, and its overall presentation guarantees it will turn as many heads today as it would have when the first owner took delivery. It has no apparent needs, and its verified odometer reading places it in elite company. However, there is a downside. Thunderbird values have taken a significant hit during 2023. There is no sign that the trend is easing, meaning that purchasing one as an investment is a high-risk strategy. The price of this one is realistic in the current market, and that may be a prime consideration for some. If long-term investment potential takes a back seat to motoring pleasure in your life, this T-Bird is worth serious consideration.
Of course the large bumpers detract from the overall look, but that front license plate bracket alone could be melted down and made into a Kia.
Rear bumper seats 4
5000 lb Monster. Came one way from the factory 🏭 and Ford didn’t bother fooling around.
460ci, Cruise-O-Matic, 2.75 gear ⚙️ 3.00 option. Fabulous 🙌
Completely impractical, but hugely eye-catching. No sneaking in the back door with this T-Bird. “Look at me”, in spades.
I would like to see this paint/interior color scheme on something like a special edition high end F-150. Given the current crop of blah colors, it probably wouldn’t sell… but I would like it.
I actually said “WOW!” outloud LOL..That’s a stunning land yacht..the colours are amazing.
If it was silver and black it would be awesome
I’m wondering if this is actually leather. My mother had a ‘72 with leather and the seats look very similar.
Your correct. The seats are leather. I owned one of these and they were always trimmed in leather..
I had a 76 and it had leather
I’d hate to be in a small car & run into this 5,000 pounds! Give me a pimp daddy hat with feathers to offset all that beautiful green. And then let’s roll!
I’d love to have a nice 70s era t bird. My buddys brother just got his first read job as a mechanic at the local Ford dealership and he bought one of these off the lot for employee discount I would assume. I lived that car! Loved everything about it. Sadly I never owned one
When everything should be green. But nice car
Maybe now is the time for you to own one. This is a great price and opportunity. Hope you’re able to purchase it!
Good thing a camo paint scheme option was not offered in 76, this could have posed as a “tank” given the size and weight. The 70s was the panic end of big car marketing for US auto makers as off shore small car options were becoming of age. Even my mid-size Ford Torino wagon was somewhat of a barge. This one is nice, almost enough to make me want to buy it but it lacks a sense of practicality if to be used as an old guys driver. Maybe best placed in a museum.
I’d put dual exhaust on it, and enjoy every minute of owning this beautiful car if I could afford it. I hope it finds a good home.
I’d go that direction also but that is just a start. I’d cam it, install hi rise & Edelbrock carb. Install headers to dual exhaust. You’ll probably drop 1.5 seconds in your et.
I’m with you, but I’d spring for Edelbrock EFI in place of the carburetor. You might need new heads to raise the anemic “malaise era” compression ratio though.
Note that these got the 429 as the base engine through 1974, with the 460 as the optional power plant. By 1975, the emissions rules had sapped power so badly that the 460 became the standard (and only) engine choice for these. You can make a 429 into a 460 with a “stroker” crank, though.
In love.
Too busy looking with the mudflaps and the wire wheel covers and not a fan of that vinyl roof color it doesn’t match the paint color very well.
EuroAsian Bob is always finding some good ones. Love the green on green.
I owned a black 75 with a white full vinyl top. We repainted it with bc/cc PPG products in 1975. Put a 1/2 black vinyl top back on, got the roof chrome from a 76. It had a black dash with all white interior. No tilt, power seat, or door locks. Factory duals. I don’t think the 75-76 had single exhausts. Had it for 20 years, most of thay was under a cover stored. Beautiful car. The new owner was looking for one, or it never would have sold.
I’ve never seen one of those without electric windows. Usually cars like that have at least standard power windows and the rest is optional.
Beeeeaauutiful!! I don’t think I could talk the Mrs. into building an addition to the garage so it would fit. That ‘fly-in, drive home idea would be awesome. I’d get about a bazillion looks of envy on my way back to Michigan. Oh well… Best wishes to new owner, take care of her, she’s a real lady decked in emeralds.
I live in Wichita and would look at it and do a test drive if anyone is seriously interested. I am retired and need some excitement.
Call me at 316-684-6060
HomerCook
An impressive agglomeration of bad taste in vinyl and chrome. Someone’s idea of Cleopatra’s barge, but it doesn’t float my boat.
You would rather have a 2023 rat gray Honda Civic?
Pretty sure these “special edition” Ford’s and Lincoln’s all came with a choice of full leather or a cloth and leather combination seating surface. Of course between the dye and the processing used back then, the leather felt like Naugahyde or worse. Beautiful example of the final gasp of 70s excess!
I had a maroon 76 with leather and power everything and 4 wheel disc brakes with the hydro boost. The only option it didn’t have was a sunroof.
As an owner of a retro-bird, I must say Ford lost its way with this ridiculous pimp-barge.
Striking is the best description of this Bird. I’m amazed that it does NOT have tinted glass. Maybe that would’ve been too much green!
I had a 72 Bird, maroon with white leather. Beautiful car but with the smaller bumpers it was a much better looking car.
Great looking land barge. In a perfect world I would pump some big power out of that 460 and burbling dual exhaust that woke up under the loud pedal.
If loving you is wrong I don’t want to be right. Man, what a looker. Green and lots of it. This thing is simply beautiful.
“The entry into the hobby is too expensive”, not so, look at this. Yes, you will be replacing wear items, gaskets, etc., but the foundation is solid and you can drive it to events and be confident you will get there and home.
And there’s lots of go fast goodies for the 460 V8, along with some handling upgrades to tame some of wallow in this classic “luxobarge”!
Triple white, 1/2 top, moonroof, spokes and 1.5 inch whitewalls, NYC Disco Nites!!!
I inherited my dad’s 1976 Thunderbird in 1980. She was a Bicentennial edition just like this one. Silver, alloy rims and Power everything, red vinyl, or leather interior, and carpet. She was indeed a land yacht and was a pure pleasure to drive on long interstate trips. Traded it in at 100k miles and should have kept it. Can’t believe this one has only 26k miles. She’s a real beauty too.
I had a 1973 they where a poor man’s Lincoln mark friend had a 1974 Lincoln mark same car little different styling
A friend of our family had an extra set of the wire wheel covers from these Birds, and my folks had a 77 Lincoln Continental. I would take off the stock wheel covers from the Lincoln in the spring and put on the wires until late fall. It made the car pop with the wires on. Loved this era of cars!
I wish I had kept my 1976 Thunderbird and done some modest updates on that 460. I would have deleted as much of its early emissions components as possible. Replacing the intake with an Edelbrock air gap dual plane and adding a same name carburetor. It would have helped boost that 202 hp a little bit. Mine did have a dual exhaust with cats and may have worked with that some. This is a clean 76 Thunderbird and would be a reliable driver and easy to work on too.
The color is amazing. Other than that, yuck × infiniti. What a pig car. Thank God the Torino bird came in 77
I had a ’76 T-bird Emerald Edition. I like big old cars but that one always seemed underpowered and thirsty. 12 mpg highway and couldn’t even do a one-wheel peel. It was quiet and smooth, but I ended up trading it for something that ended up being stolen property. Idiot gave me all of his information (including letting me see his license) for the bill of sale though, so his little teenage butt ended up in what the cops called “big boy jail”. Saw it for sale at a not so local dealership a few months later for a mere $900 (in 2010)… and didn’t like it enough during my ownership experience to buy it back.
My 76 Bicentennial edition Thunderbird was Silver exterior with alloy silver rims, red leather interior with hi pile red carpet, AC of course, cruise control, front PB discs, clocked it once at 135mph racing a Chevy 454 truck in the mid 80s. Gosh, I miss that car.