There are some cars that are inherently not desirable, but still begin to trends upwards on the interest-o-meter when you realize how few still exist in road-going condition. The 1986 Ford Thunderbird is a perfect example of this phenomenon, as it is a car that doesn’t rate very highly on the desirability charts but it’s hard to ignore one in the lower-tier, non Turbo Coupe trim that has somehow remained in exceptional condition since new. The Thunderbird seen here on craigslist shows just under 50,000 original miles but looks like it has about half of that, and the seller is asking $7,000 on Long Island.
Like I said, the Turbo Coupe is the hot ticket, and if we were looking at such a model with similar mileage, the asking price would be considerably higher. That being said, this example is notable simply for not ending up on the downward slope of becoming a cheap and useful beater like so many Thunderbirds and Cougars became after their third or fourth go-round. The seller says the appearance in pictures is no fluke, with even the underside of the trunk lid still shining like new. The bodywork shows no evidence of rust or major dings or dents, making it even more likely this is a total grandma car.
Inside, you get a taste of the future with that rad digital gauge cluster, certainly far more high tech than your grandma or Aunt Sally was used to. I’d even be willing to bet she complained about it to the salesman, pining for a return to the analog gauges of her youth. Funny thing is, many of us are yearning for such gauges, as a a traditional tachometer and speedo becomes a thong of the past. Still, in a car of this vintage, it’s nothing but cool. The seller notes the Thunderbird was well-equipped from the factory, and comes with a whole host of options, including power windows, locks, trunk, and a power driver’s seat.
The 3.8L V6 was certainly a familiar face in Ford’s lineup by this point, and while it was far from exotic, it also got the job done rather cheaply. The engine bay is pristine in this example, and if I’m right and this is a grandma or grandpa-owned specimen, there’s a very good chance it’s been dealer serviced since new. The seller discloses no issues of any kind, so hopefully, this one is as good as it looks in pictures. $7K may be pricing it slightly ahead of what the market is commanding for one of these personal luxury coupes at the moment, but an offer of $5K seems very fair to me.
I’ve always liked this generation of T-Birds. I think the styling has aged well, they still look good today. I agree, the Turbo Coupes are the ones to have. But a clean “grandma” example like this would be a nice, low-stress cruiser.
I love it, but 7k is too much, especially for a 3.8. I truly want an 87-88 5.0, but they are hard to find and expensive when found. Nice 86.
A thong of the past? I hope they don’t find one of those in grandmas car!
Better hope it doesn’t need a heater core.
Trunk alignment looks a little off on the right. Maybe Grandma got rear ended?
With thong of the past…c’mon dude…you didn’t have to go there.
My best friend’s mother had one of these with the 5.0. He left my house one day doing a one-wheel peel for about 50 yards on that poor little 215/70-14 tire; wire wheels and all. A hilarious and shocking sight.
Amazing how Ford just ‘stretched’ its Tempo/Topaz platform a few inches both lateral and longitudinal, flipped which end did the driving, and VOILA… A new T-Bird or Kitty is born. But that dash/interior – soooooh late ’70s!
Not based on Tempo/Topaz. It is based on the FOX body ie Mustang, Capri, Fairmont, Zephyr, etc.
ICEMAN:
THAT’s the platform I was thinking of! Yeah, just add a few inches to the length and track, and drop the new Thunderbird or Cougar on it. Did FOX also underpin the forthcoming Continental 2door?
I had the 3.8 in a 84 Mercury Cougar LS. It seemed like the previous owner got it from a grandma also; however, they didn’t take care of it, and it had blemishes. But the paint was still in very nice shape, and the engine bay was clean. It ran very good and was dependable. When I sold it this year, I could only find one person interested in it, and had to let it go for only $700.
There is another grandma owned 83 Thunderbird Heritage nearby. Seller is asking $6,750. It has the 5.0 with 74,875 on the clock, and the color looks like tropical yellow. I like the rear tail lights on the 83 better than this 86 Tbird.
I have a friend that recently sold his 1984 Thunderbird. He bought it new, off the showroom floor. It had miles comparable to this, being parked after 4 years of year round use. It was very clean, with surprisingly little rust for a car that had previously been driven year ’round in Milwaukee. It was white with a red interior. I passed on it at $3,000. Maybe I should have bought it.
I own what used to be my Grandmom’s 1986 Thunderbird. 3.8L V6 currently with 44,000 miles. Base model just like this white one. All original and garage kept. I pulled the engine and dropped the trans last year. Rebuilt the C5, and overhauled the 3.8 to bring the compression up to 9.2:1 on 93 octane. Let’s just say that it will run circles around a turbo coupe and 5.0, while still looking like Grandmom’s car. Not quick off the line, but I kept up with 2018 WRX on the highway with no issue. The 3.8L is well under appreciated it, but you can beef them up and turn them into a ‘Super 6’, which costs less than a 5.0 engine swap if you do it yourself.
I got my 84 Cougar LS on a trade for my 85 Jeep Wagoneer with the 2.8. The Cougar had the 3.8, and it ran 99% without problems. The only issue I ever had was when cold starting it, and putting the transmission into Neutral during warm up and after placing it into Drive from Neutral which would cause it to hesitate as if there were a fuel issue. So I just started leaving it in Park during warm up, and I don’t recall having any issues after that.