Substantially untouched since its acquisition in 1979, this 1969 Ford Thunderbird in Carbondale, Illinois may need a thorough mechanical going-through, but mostly looks like a ten year-old car with 51,000 miles on the clock. Sadly the power headlight covers are flipped up in this shot, because nothing’s cooler than hidden headlights. This specimen of Ford’s premier luxury coupe comes to market here on Craigslist, where $14,900 makes it yours. Highlights include Midnight Orchid paint, leather brougham interior, air conditioning, and the rare and interesting fiber-optic rear lamp monitor. Thanks to reader Gunter K. for spotting this luxury cruiser.
Careful storage has preserved the leather and other interior materials. The seller documents myriad amenities including power locks and windows, power antennae, air conditioning, tilt steering wheel, and 8-track stereo.
The elite Thunderbird buyer need not be bothered with engine options. It’s first-class all the way with the 360 HP Thunderjet 429 cid (7.0 L) V8. Years ago my Dad scored a ’66 T-bird for $1200 that I brought back from the dead, and its 300 HP 390 had no problem igniting the tires. This 429, with its 10.5:1 compression ratio, no-doubt makes the T-bird feel lighter than its 4400 lb curb weight.
Back seat passengers get first-class treatment from the wraparound opera seats. The centrally-mounted rear lamp monitor reports rear light activity in the rear view mirror path via fiber optic cables originating in the lamp housings. This technology existed at least from the 1960s through the 1980s.
The Thunderbird landau treatment began in 1966, and featured prominently in Ford’s marketing literature, despite availability of less formal rear pillar treatments most years. Some Thunderbirds featured what Ford called the Two-Door Hardtop in ’69. Muscle cars may get the bulk of the attention, but the classic car hobby reaches far beyond that world, and this sweet T-bird will make someone a fine driver after it returns to safe running condition. Would you consider putting this well-kept T-bird in your driveway?
Ford touted the rear seats as “lounge seating”, and I believe 1969 was the last year for those, as ’70 Birds were restyled completely.
Nice review. This model just grows on you
I love the purple.
Always had a sweet spot for these BIRDS, At one time I had 5 of them, Everyone a different color. They were HOT WHEELS back then. The headlight doors are no problem, I’ve had two different Fords and a Mercury that I fixed on my cars, and a few for friends. This old girl needs a set of 2 inch white walls and she’s ready to cruise.
Fiber-optic lamp monitors have always captivated me. No computers to calculate whether a bulb is working or not, just fiber-optic cables passively transmitting light from the back side of the bulbs to the lamp monitors. Not only will they show you when a bulb has burned out, they will show you when a bulb is getting weak.
Parents had a 92 Park Avenue with that for all the lights positioned on roof in front! They traded for a 99 it didn’t have it!
Yeah, could have saved many a scofflaw some cash. In our small town paper( a dinosaur in itself) they publish the “court report”, listing all the infractions of a busy day in small town America, but what always gets me, is they list what they found on the “stop”, illegal this, paraphernalia, fugitive that, booze, drugs and the last thing, defective license plate or tail light. I always think, if that stooge just would have had that $1.39 tail light bulb, NONE of that would have happened. I guess that’s why crooks are crooks.
But are you referring to the drivers, or the police?
Let the games begin! Your turn Howard. fasten your seat belts folks. No need to spend money on a Lear Jet ride.
This 1969 Thunderbird might have the optional anti-lock brakes. If so the computer was installed on the bottom of the glove box. It is a black box 9 in, x 3 in. x 3/4 inch thick. This pulsated the brake pressure several times per second. This option was only available on Thunderbirds and Lincolns. I believe it added $1,100.00 to the window sticker. I had two cars with this option and it saved me on the Ohio Turnpike when a car pulled in front of me.
I believe this car to be one of several that were housed in an old Ford dealership for decades, the next town over. Would always drive by and look at them, through the dusty showroom window. Owner also had several parts car T-birds covered up in the fenced area around back.
I too, have always been fascinated with fiber-optic light indicators. I had three or four Cadillacs with them both on the front fenders and mounted on the roof just above the back window. Such a nice touch. I wish cars still had them.
I had a 69 Thunderbird Landau, it was the color of a new penny. Awesome color! Mine also had the bucket seats. I really loved that car, except that it had multiple issues. I bought it in 79, $300, which I thought was a steal. The AC didn’t work, the passenger side window only worked occasionally, and the driver side was intermittent as well. It had a power steering fluid leak that we never did quite cure. I eventually gave it away, to a waitress at Kountry Kitchen restaurant in Florence, KY. What a fool I was to dump such a cool car, I regret it to this day. At the same time that I gave it away, I also abandoned a 64 Cadillac Fleetwood 60 Special, just because it needed new ball joints, and I didn’t think it would make the trip back up to Columbus. Nearly a year later the Caddy was still parked where I’d left it, but later on it was rescued by a gas station owner with an interest in old cars. Ah, the stupidity of youth, thank dog I eventually grew up.