While the name of this website is “Barn Finds“, it’s pretty obvious that not all of our featured cars are actual barn, garage, shed, carport, etc. finds. Things started out that way, and we still do feature “found” cars but variety is our spice so you get to see a little bit of everything here. Today, however, I am going to feature an actual barn find, it’s a basement find actually – pretty much the same thing, and it’s a 1964 Ford Thunderbird. It has been sitting under a Cockeysville, Maryland building for 41 years, it does run, and it’s now for sale, here on craigslist for the best offer.
Right out of the gate, I’m suspicious of any “make an offer” sale – you end up negotiating against yourself. That said, it doesn’t disqualify this old Bird from a review. So, being a 1964 model makes this T-Bird a first-year offering for the fourth-gen (’64-’66) edition, the one that is my favorite. Offered as a convertible, a coupe, and a Landau (a hotted-up coupe and our subject car), Thunderbird sales reached about 98K units in ’64 with the Landau edition managing 22K copies.
Dusty and dirty is what I’d call this Thunderbird. It’s tough to get a thorough look at the exterior due to all of the storage mung but from what can be discerned, the body looks pretty complete though banged up. The seller suggests, “Body is very good” though I wouldn’t necessarily agree with that sentiment. There’s a dent or two, surface rust that is evident (with the bumpers in particular), the fender skirts are missing, as are the wheel covers, and the driver’s side lower quarter looks as if it’s loaded up with Bondo.
This Bird takes flight with a 300-gross HP, 390 CI V8 engine and an automatic transmission. The seller adds, “had motor running and sounded good with no noises at all. Needs good going over with new hoses and belts and carb rebuild“. The odometer reads 35K miles so it has probably been once around.
The interior is said to be “near perfect“, but as with the exterior, it’s hard to say due to the dust storm. The upholstery doesn’t look torn though the dashpad appears to be discolored. It’s basically a blue vinyl environment but even that’s hard to tell with certainty. One thing is certain, the wrap-around back seat was a unique and notable design touch. Oh, and I found the wheel covers, they’re on the back seat.
It’s original, that’s for sure and a thorough cleaning would do wonders to help a prospective buyer determine what they’re getting for that “best offer”. Back to that matter, are you OK with best offer sales or would you be inclined to take a pass?
Looking at the first photo only, that’s some serious dust when you have to look closely to even determine what color is the car.
I like this generation of T-Birds, specifically for their highly-styled interiors.
Looking at the quality of the body repair on the left quarter and valence, I’d say that their description of the body as “very good” differs radically from mine! I wonder if a/the windows were down, as the interior is incedibly filthy? At any rate, it appears to have good potential for resoration. I dislike “make me an offer” ads, because you’re probably going to be insulted; give me a base to start from, whether high or low, and we’ll go from there! GLWTS!! :-)
Don’t buy one of these without looking inside the trunk. The seals were notorious for leaking, and the cardboard backing on the trunk lining held the moisture and the trunk rusted out. (learned the hard way). Owned a 1965, and the trunk rust repair was more than the car was worth.
Pass……pig in a poke
Amen to that!
Dittos… a real POS. Wouldn’t waste my time on this one!
I’ll bite. $750. Delivered to my door.
Big C, we regret to inform you of additional shipping costs due to added weight from dust dirt and possible has maz
First person to name a number loses.
Also title is missing but has title info?
First year of this square tail look. Might be a nice ride. 390s stout engine with plenty of parts available. Thinking about it
A girlfriend in the 70’s had a 66 and it was a luxurious sports car (at least she drove it that way!). It was the first swing away steering column I’d ever see and back then, I thought that was amazing!
Did daddy take the third away?
Kinda. She wanted to trade it in on a 70 Mustang. Daddy wouldn’t let her. She bought the Mustang anyway and Daddy kept the TBird.
I had a pretty nice 65 which I practically had to give away. Not much of a market for these birds.
Excellent interior? Where? Under the dirt and grime? A lot of stains on the seats.
Missing title?? I’ll pass on this one.
Couple of hours with a pressure washer would have been a good idea to sell this old Bird. Then maybe a couple bucket of soapy water to the inside and could have named a price. But that would have been work I suppose. Wouldn’t a couple of photos with a cellphone before the cleaning suffice to show yep it was in the basement? Probably has zero into the car and it’s all profit. Could be a decent car there, but maybe the grime is hiding something, these are nice cars. Myself had a 66Town and country landau with the 428 years ago and it was a great car. From the tilt away wheel to the overhead console.
I’ve never been uncomfortable with “make an offer”. All they can say is “NO”. If that hurts your feelings – especially if the seller is rude about it – than you probably shouldn’t be bidding.
Broke back window, wrong dash ,rot on drivers side inter fender, bondo babe 800 at best
Sounds like we got us a bidding war here folks!
Back in the 70’s I had a nephew by marriage that while still in high school and working at the local hospital in the kitchen saved his money and bought a 64 Thunderbird because he had always liked the body style. There was a steep but short hill he had to climb to get home, he complained that it actually took a quarter tank of gas just to climb that hill. After High School he went to the Naval Academy never heard from him again.
God Bless America
What color is the car? Can you tell through all that dirt?
i like this model simply because its familiar – I grew up w/it, aged out w/it…
If ever to own a bird I like 5th gen (’67/1) due to the suicide dor & that or the performance I could get with the fox platform’n size/weight.