I don’t know what it is about the fifth-generation Thunderbird but almost every time I see one it looks like it’s in a brochure, it’s just that kind of car. The seller has this gorgeous, original personal luxury car posted here on craigslist in Hollister, California and they’re asking $14,000. Thanks to T.J. for sending in this tip! Here’s the original ad in case someone grabs it in the next few days.
See! Can’t you just picture an ad where an architect and a developer in suits are looking at some drawings rolled out on the hood? Even though there isn’t an architect or some other dapper gent with a white tuxedo and a cigarette standing next to this 1968 Ford Thunderbird, the setting and nice exterior photos almost don’t look real. The seller has really laid out some nice photos here, well done. Speaking of well done, the seller says that this car has always been garaged and has never had any rust. I’m assuming that doesn’t mean normal surface rust which is visible in a few areas. This car is basically priced at Hagerty’s #2 excellent condition value of $14,600.
The fifth-generation Thunderbird was made from 1967 to 1971 and I’ve always wondered what a four-door version would have looked like… Ok, just kidding, they actually made a four-door version. And to make them as cool as the tuxedo-wearing smoking architect’s two-door version, Ford gave the four-door cars suicide doors. And, both two-door and four-door varieties were hardtops. So to sum it up, there is no uncool fifth-generation Ford Thunderbird. I guess now that I think about it, the only thing I would change on this car would be the color.
And another thing, I would add power windows. Ford really dialed up the personal luxury feeling of the Thunderbird for the fifth-generation cars, moving it closer to the Lincoln Continental Mark III. This era of Thunderbird was a few inches longer than the previous generation but was still several inches shorter than the Mark III was, it was a nice compromise. The interior of this car looks perfect to me for the most part, both front and rear. Even the trunk looks great. This car was bought new in Reno and spent most of its life in dry Winnemucca, although they get around 15-inches of snow a year and 8-inches of rain.
As if everything else on this car wasn’t desirable enough, other than the one-size-fits-all radiator hose, that 429 Thunderjet adds to the appeal. This one would have been conservatively rated at 360 horsepower and 480 ft-lb of tire-shredding torque. This car has “New dual exhaust. New brakes ,rotors, master cylinder, fuel pump, spark plug wires etc.” Have any of you owned a fifth-generation Thunderbird? Bonus points if you post a picture with you in a tuxedo standing next to it.
FINALLY! – a fair priced car.
Gone already – I hope it went to someone who keeps it,
& not a flipper.
Regrets but tuxedos are only black. White dinner jackets are another bird. And wow this ‘bird looks sharp in white!
Went very quick, great looking T-bird and a fair price. Guess it should be no surprise.
Hey Scotty,
I owned a 68 landau coupe.
I had the engine rebuilt and loved it.Fast.Big . Like a zaftig Mustang.
I was single at the time and that back seat was made for sin. Seriously. That rear couch is curved for a reason. And that reason my dates approved of. As in G-whizz!
And that dense roofline hid it all!
I swear the designers must of drawn lots, hired a few party gals and experimented with a Kama Sutra playing deck after hours. It just worked too well not to.
Moving on: I loved the all-American 60s glam! Lizard skin vinyl roof.Landau bars. Rear side windows that slid sideways into the roof.Oooh! Look! An inviting red vinyl interior that looked like genuine Twizzler skin! Plus, there was a host of 007 gizmos and idiot lights for a touch of mystery and elegance. In a fun, cheesy way.
The only downside? The occasional moron Boomer or “greatest generation” geezer telling you “ thats not a real T- Bird! “
Then again, if I don’t aggravate at least one purist a day, I get these headaches.So, it all worked out.
I eventually bought a new Lincoln MkVIII to keep company with my MkV.
At the time, a friends car blew up the day his awful girlfriend dumped him for a has-been drunk TV comic. He was broken-hearted I sold it to him for $1.00.
You read that right:a buck.
Why? Well, I loved the car too much to haggle price with some picky, mean car-guy with dirty fingernails. I’d rather give it away and make a friend feel better.
He had it for years until it got mauled by a drunk mommy.
He sold the wreck to an Elvis impersonator who jammed my rebuilt engine down a throat of a Mustang .I hear that Thunderbird heart still raises hell up and down Lonely Street.
Now would you repeat that all please?
Great story Andy. Nothing like real life.
I recall seeing that back seat on a friends back in mid 70’s & my thoughts exactly came to mind. Like a lounge couch in a bar scene from Boogie Nights that screams for a horizontal couple. Maybe with some luck someday I’ll find one on Turo.com & rent it. Just to re-christen that back seat one more time.
Actually have found a couple nice classics while occasionally browsing, from the 60’s to early 70’s very reasonable to rent. One was a 69 El Camino SS 396 4sp, flawless for $125 a day w/ 200 miles allowed. I was quite surprised seeing that and another true muscle car, I believe a Chevelle or Camaro from 70-72 like the same deal. If can’t afford the ridiculous prices, this can be that fix to get ya by now & then.
Hey Scotty,
I owned a 68 landau coupe.
I had the engine rebuilt and loved it.Fast.Big . Like a zaftig Mustang.
I was single at the time and that back seat was made for sin. Seriously. That rear couch is curved for a reason. And that reason my dates approved of. As in G-whizz!
And that dense roofline hid it all!
I swear the designers must of drawn lots, hired a few party gals and experimented with a Kama Sutra playing deck after hours. It just worked too well not to.
Moving on: I loved the all-American 60s glam! Lizard skin vinyl roof.Landau bars. Rear side windows that slid sideways into the roof.Oooh! Look! An inviting red vinyl interior that looked like genuine Twizzler skin! Plus, there was a host of 007 gizmos and idiot lights for a touch of mystery and elegance. In a fun, cheesy way.
The only downside? The occasional moron Boomer or “greatest generation” geezer telling you “ thats not a real T- Bird! “
Then again, if I don’t aggravate at least one purist a day, I get these headaches.So, it all worked out.
I eventually bought a new Lincoln MkVIII to keep company with my MkV.
At the time, a friends car blew up the day his awful girlfriend dumped him for a has-been drunk TV comic. He was broken-hearted I sold it to him for $1.00.
You read that right:a buck.
Why? Well, I loved the car too much to haggle price with some picky, mean car-guy with dirty fingernails. I’d rather give it away and make a friend feel better.
He had it for years until it got mauled by a drunk mommy.
He sold the wreck to an Elvis impersonator who jammed my rebuilt engine down a throat of a Mustang .I hear that Thunderbird heart still raises hell up and down Lonely Street.
Hard to know who got punked there. Awesome Bird, though.
gone
The bench seat is disappointing. With the available bucket seats and the console that swept up into the dash, the interior was like a mid-century modern living room.
That front bench seat was part of the “Swinger’s Package”.
The 67-68’s of this generation were the best-looking. The tail lights changed and the front headlights no longer were hidden on the 69-71’s.
Headlights did not come out of hiding until 1970 models, when the “Bunky beak” front end first appeared.
The perfect thunderbird. The big motor option and all the torque w the
cruise-o-matic 3 spd auto. Gold.
I don’t mind saying it…… these cars are not even close to what a T-Bird was intended to be. C’mon, 4 doors (suicide mind you) and one butt ugly looking design which was more of an attempt to market a watered down version of a Lincoln.
Everytime I see one I’m reminded of factory pics of full size clay mock-ups of cars still in the design phase which thankfully in most cases were changed but sadly, this one looks like a rush job to meet a deadline.
love this gen – much by the only suicide dor Bird (thnx 4 the cite Scotty).
I’m w/anglia – fair price, I’d go 2, 3 hundred more if the 4dor just to score it.
“Gone” how much?
Hi, Scotty.
Just wondering and I’ve never noticed before but, you refer to the torque stats as ft-lbs. Was that due to copy/paste, your preference for the naming convention or just to keep the article period correct?
Thank you for the info!
P.S. My girlfriend in 1969 was given her father’s 1966 T-bird after he bought another car for himself. Guess what her favorite song was . . . ?
Although I am partial to older Thunderbirds from ’58 to ’71, this is my least favorite. It reminds me of a ‘Dustbuster’.
My dad had a four-dour with the suicide rear doors. White like this car and with the 429.
So funny about the architect/ developer line. My dad owned one of these and he was an architect/developer.
Mick, your comment reminds me of an encounter from 20 years ago. I was working on the training materials for a new vehicle launch and was reviewing some data with a GM engineer. I wanted to be sure we had the specs right and I happened to ask him, “Would you confirm which is the correct term—pound-feet, or foot-pounds.” He paused for a few moments, looked at me, and in a straight, dead-pan voice replied, “newton-meters.” I broke out in laughter.
Put this against an olds Toronado, same year both huge engines , one front wheel drive, one rear wheel. What were prices then, size compatible ? Who would win in a race? Thanks.
I had a green ’71 and yeah , that back seat . ‘Nuff said .
The car is back for sale with new pics:
https://sfbay.craigslist.org/sby/cto/d/hollister-1968-ford-thunderbird-429/7441014502.html