The luxurious Ford Thunderbird continued its growth spurt in the late 1960s and the most popular model in 1969 was the Tudor Landau with its expansive blind quarter roofline. It accounted for more than half of Thunderbird production that year and made for a car as elegant as its Lincoln brethren. This edition looks to have been sitting out in a field for quite some time and will need a complete restoration if you have the time and resources. Located in Burley, Idaho, this big Ford is available here on craigslist where the price has been dropped from $5,000 to $4,000 OBO. Thanks, Jayden P, for keeping your eyes peeled for the old T-Bird.
For 1969, the Thunderbird was an evolution of the 1967-68 models. Changes were subtle, like the addition of a new T-Bird emblem upfront with jeweled inserts. These inserts also appeared out back on the rear tail lamps which were separate units for the first time since 1965, and the car’s trademark sequential turn signals were still there. At sales of 49,272 units, the Thunderbird was off the pace of the Buick Riviera for the first time and less than half of what Pontiac mustered with its Grand Prix, which was an all-new car that year.
The seller’s car is the Tudor Landau with bucket seats, which accounted for 12,245 cars or about a quarter of all T-Bird’s assembled for ‘69. The seller provides little information about this car other than it has 66,586 miles and comes with an automatic transmission (but they all did). These automobiles had Ford’s biggest powerplant at the time, the 429 cubic inch V8. With the hood popped open on the seller’s car, there doesn’t look as though there’s been any activity under there in years.
Sitting outdoors for who knows how long has done this car no good. The paint is about gone as is the vinyl roof, replaced by an ample amount of surface rust. The driver’s side front fender doesn’t match, suggesting the car was in an accident at some point and perhaps that’s why it’s been left to Mother Nature to do her thing.
The interior is dirty and dingy, and the upholstery has begun to succumb to the elements. The headliner has already fallen and if you pulled up the carpets, don’t be surprised to find rust there. The car is sitting nearly even with the ground thanks to flat tires. This will be an expensive car to restore, and I would be concerned about all the electric doodads that automobiles like this were dependent upon even back then. Is the car collectible enough to warrant a project?
Very rough, cannot understand why someone thinks a car sinking in the dirt. With some serious damage due to the storage conditions is worth that kind of money.
That’s because this site features more fishermen than serious sellers.
Steve R
The undercarriage is likely swiss cheese.
I think the seller meant he’ll pay you that amount to haul this pile of junk away.
Parts car at most
WOW all you need is a rust free body!
Looks like a great 429 for a 69 Mustang project… But for no more than $2500.. Scrap the rest.
I ended up buying this car for $400. My intent was to pull the drivetrain for a swap into another vehicle, but it is actually in better shape than the pictures would suggest. I plan to strip it down to basics and make a bit of an oddball hot rod out of it. Something cheap I can take to the strip and do a little bracket racing just for the fun of it.
Let it keep sinking
So is the field fancy or the car.
I had an identical car as this in 1973 purchased from a crappy car lot for about 1800 dollars. It had 80000 miles. Also had the factory power sunroof. Must of had a hard life as it had a main bearing knock for first few seconds when cold. Transmission also slipped. But that car was fast for a big car. Drove it from southern Oklahoma to California taking my 85 year grandma to see her sister I was the ripe old age of 18. This was just before the national speed limit dropped. Set the cruise to 77 mph on I 40. First time to see the ocean and the then magical land of California. Eight track played moody blues almost constantly. Stayed in Santa Barbara then to Sacramento driving along the coast for a while then 101. Back to Santa Barbara for one day of rest. We left at 4 am the next day and made it to Albuquerque that evening for another stay with relatives. Next day Roswell with relatives and then home. No issues with the car. This particular car would make a great parts car as it has lots of options. Likely frame too rusted to restore. I still want a 69 two door standard hardtop with the rear quarter windows and no vinyl top.
The epic road trip, still fresh in your mind decades later.
Bob… Yes. I still recall that trip very well. It was also the first time my Grandma had been out of OK except for a trip to NM. I did not know how rare the sunroof was until years later.
The underside might not be as bad as people think it is. Burley IDA is not a damp climate.
Somebody call Derek Vice Grip. I want to hear the descriptive words he uses when he encounters the smell!🤣
Oh man, his descriptions are the best! My favorite: “It’s like boiled dog vomit and Twizzlers!”
This car has been sold … to me. I waited until he got down to $1,000 and it wasn’t worth it. I offered him $300 and he turned it down so I left. A couple of weeks later he texted me saying he would sell it for $400 if I was still interested so I went and picked it up. I initially planned on pulling the 429 engine, C6 trans, and 9 inch rear end so I could put them into another car, but I have since decided to get it back on the road as it is in better shape than the pictures indicate.
And yes, the smell inside was horrific as was all the mice nest I had to clean out of it.
Gotta give you a lot of credit for taking that disaster. My first car was a ’67 Thunderbird with the suicide doors that I also paid $300 but it was in much better shape and drivable. Unfortunately, a few months later, I totaled the front end on an ice patch but don’t remember what I did with it afterwards.