Although the eighth-generation Thunderbird was never offered as a convertible, apparently with enough cash, about $12,000 according to the seller, you could have one custom made. That’s the story behind this 1982 Thunderbird, which the seller claims is the only 1980-82 Thunderbird convertible conversion ever made. The seller of this car doesn’t provide many details about how or why it was stored, except that it was on the East Coast for 12-15 years before it recently was pulled from storage and moved to the Los Angeles area, where it’s currently for sale here on Craigslist for $11,500.
The eighth-generation Thunderbird, introduced in 1980, was Ford’s second effort at downsizing the model, which had grown from its original two-seater configuration to a nearly 4800-pound behemoth by 1972. It was based on Ford’s fox-body platform, which it shared with the Fairmont and Mustang. Although the 1980-81 models were available with a 302ci V8, in 1982 a 255ci engine was the only V8 option.
According to the seller, this car was purchased new in New Jersey and driven about 57,000 miles before being put into storage. The seller describes the car as fully-functional and says that it even passed a smog test recently. The paint is described as presentable with some minor imperfections, and the interior is said to be in very nice condition. Based on the available photos, there’s no reason to doubt the seller’s claims.
Under the hood, the little V8 looks as clean as the rest of the car, and provided shots of the underside of the car further support the seller’s claims about the car’s condition. This may be a rare car in an excellent state of preservation, but is it desirable enough to deserve a five-figure price tag? This model’s styling wasn’t a hit when it was introduced, and I dare say it hasn’t aged as well as some of its contemporaries. Thanks to the Mustang, the fox-body platform has a ton of aftermarket support, though, could this become the ultimate sleeper?
Nice can opener model
A outside convertible conversion
Looks cool but not rare
“the seller claims is the only 1980-82 Thunderbird convertible conversion ever made”
That may be for the best.
lol
And what jewel do YOU drive? LOL
This seems like a prop vehicle from Dallas
Pass.
I just saved $11,500 by not buying it.
Angliagt why didn’t you save your rude comment too?
Wow, way over-priced! My grandmother had a 1980 T’Bird. The 2 good things it had going for it were the 302V8 and the TRX suspension package. I was a new driver then and I got to drive it a few times. Actually handled pretty decent, compared to my folks Dodge Mirada.
Looks like a big Chrysler K car to me.
No K car had hidden headlamps or that tail light that goes all the way across like the late 60s T Birds.
Significant car. It was this model that convinced CEO-to-be Don Petersen that Ford had hit rock bottom.
Hey, I didn’t say it was good. Just significant.
Can any California resident tell me if California still has the huge fee to pay to register an out of state car there?
If so, it would seem that any state other than California would be the place for this one.
Miguel, no. The $300 “smog impact fee” was ruled unconstitutional in 1999. They had to give a lot of it back.
Damn Rich, I should have been there to get some of that money.
I paid a lot of those fees over the years.
I know California DMV had to refund hundreds of thousands of dollars to classic car owners as every year the registration fee would go up and it was learned that California was using a book for the values of those cars that just added a percentage to the value per year with no regard for the actual value of the car.
They had been scamming the residents for years.
Bad enough no more hidden wipers.
But what’s with the big ugly vent windows on both doors?
Some birds then had em – some didn’t!!!
http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2013/10/junkyard-find-1982-ford-thunderbird-town-landau/
If an option, who would want it? Could not have been cheap to tool up either.
At least they opened, though, unlike on some foreign cars.
Roof is too high, like on mustangs of this era.
Could you get those vent windows on mustang too?!
They were an option, and I think they look better without that vent window.
I love vent windows they provide a nice flow of air when just opened a bit. All cars without them have terrible wind noise when a window is just opened a bit.
Only GM cars from the 60’s, 70’s, etc. without factory a/c & without front vent windows have astroventilation – which is a chest high vent at either end of dash that can be opened & are adjustable for direction & amt of FRESH DIRECT OUTSIDE air flow. There is no need at ALL to crack open a window, as long as car is moving & it is not very hot outside.
So you can actually blow cool air on your face (& heated air on your feet if you turn the heater on)!
Astroventilation is actually advertised in the youtube ’68 caprice commercial.
Some GM cars had the extremely rare fan assisted astroventilation, so the car did not have to be moving, from what i heard.
Oddly, AMC, Ford & Chrylser cars from back then with no factory a/c & no front vent windows do NOT have those vents in the dash!! -I wonder why!! So,on THOSE you DO have to crack open a window. All they have are floor vents for the feet, which GM cars also have.
Joe I’ve driven lots of those GMs and the air from the vents always seemed warm and not that cool or fresh. I still prefer old fashioned vents like the one’s on this Bird. I also like opening them all the way for a blast of air right on me.
On my friend’s 68 camaro with no factory a/c, the air from those astro vents is just as cool as if window was open. However, i been in a ’70s Firebird WITH a/c, & if slide controls are set on vent position with temp slid to coolest & a/c OFF, you do get somewhat lukewarm air coming out of vents , possibly because it’s passing through the a/c system & not coming directly from the cowl.
It’s interesting but not at a 5 figure acquisition price.
And gone…
But seriously, a one-of-one? More likely a “one of (who else would want) one”.
fahrvergnugen….I bet I can say the same for whatever you drive.
Since a bull rammed the side of my Dodge truck and modified the bed is it now a one of one?
Yes Jay it is a one on one but at least it was a Dodge pickup which there are hundreds of thousands running around. Tell your ex wife to rear end it next time not hit the side.
Back in the day I owned a series of T-Birds. 1st 1 was a 1969 Landau. #2 was a 71. followed by a 72, then a 75…..The 5th and last one was a 1981 Landau; I loved it. it did everything I wanted and more. 255 motor/ Auto trans. I pulled my car hauling trailer with a car on it many times with zero problems. If I wanted a smooth ride it did that well too. All 5 T-Birds were fairly new when I bought them. When GM granted option 1 discount to family members I switched to GM and have been driving them ever since!
The only thing I don’t care for on this T-Bird is the small rear window and the high-ish price.
Fairbird? Thundermont?
I may quit subscribing to this site. As usual 90% of the comments are made by people that probably talk mess about their own mother. Pretty sad. I guess some of the people on here have an ugly spouse and get their kicks running everything and everyone down.
I love these cars and fell in love with them when I saw Charles Bronson drive one in Death Wish 2. These cars ride great and handle even better. The 255 with the 4 speed auto with overdrive get great mileage. Those tail lights at night are beautiful as they all light up all the way across.
I bet the codgers making nasty comments on here drive some boring Honda or a 55 Chevy that gets 10mpg and ride like a brick.
I bet all the codgers on this site drive a modern Honda or a 55 Chevy that gets 10 mpg and rides like a brick over a dirt road. LMFAO!
Derek, what do you think people should be driving? Are the only two options a Honda and a 55 Chevy?
Here is my daily driver. I am not sure if it fits in with your invented narrative.
And just so you know, I don’t give a crap about the gas mileage it gets, and I pay a whole lot more than you do where I am.
Miguel my problem with this site is that 90% of the people leaving comments seem to enjoy being a prissy queen and running everything into the ground. NO ONE says anything nice about anything anymore. I like your Ford but trust me if they posted it here all these bitter old farts would tear it apart. THAT is my problem. I just wonder if people these days are really that angry with themselves or get off berating others. I don’t know why they bother even bother? My motto is if you can’t say something nice then STFU.
Derek, I think you are looking at it wrong.
When there is a nice car posted there are nice comments.
A lot of us lived through the years when all you could get were these crap boxes like the car above.
I am not sure how old you are but when you come from a time when you close the door and hear a thud to a time when you close the door and pieces fall off, that does leave a good lasting memory.
I agree with you in one respect. I have seen even decent cars generate comments about crushing it, which I would never do.
I have a completely rusted out, even the roof, 1974 Dart 2 door. Since I can’t bring myself to ever scrap a car, I keep going over in my head how I am going to save it. Most people would say it was not worth it, but I just can’t do it.
I am 57 and have had 85 cars since 1977 when I was 16. Ranging from 1957 to 1986. I have grown to appreciate some early 8os cars compared to todays plastic bubbles they are pretty. All years and makes have good and bad. Even 1950s and 60s cars have had quality issues. I would never tell anyone what they like is crap like many on here. It’s a high school mentality.
Another thing Miguel I have driven a Fox Body T Bird it was a great car smooth ride handled great and got better mileage than your land barge Ford. So unless you’ve had 85 cars like I have I’d save your lousy opinion for cars you have first hand knowledge of.
You are funny Derek.
When I moved from the US to Mexico I sold my collection of 115 cars. I have had many more that I bought and sold, so yes I think I have you beat by a mile, if you want to have a competition.
The Fox Body anything was crap and will always be crap. They feel cheap and even though they might drive smoothly, when they drive, they don’t do anything particularly well.
Do you have anything else to say?
Have to completely disagree with you. I liked these Thunderbirds when they were new, and I still like them. In fact, I just bought an ’80 Silver Anniversary edition. I like almost any cars before the grey jellybean look took over, and I wouldn’t disparage anyone’s car. We can’t all like the same thing.
Not really 115 to 85 is not a mile. I’ve driven many more than I owned. You have your opinion and I have mine. All cars from all eras have issues. Late 50’s early 60s GMs had lousy automatics. Mopars had rust and quality issues from 57 to 1962. So NO you have not proven your point. All you have proven is that you are a jerk who likes to run other’s vehicles down and I appreciate ALL cars from the past despite their issues. People like you take the fun out of the old car hobby. I’m glad you went south. The further away from people who have class and manners and respect for other’s interests the better. YOU are exactly what is wrong with is site and others. You sound like a whiny 14 year old comparing your &^%$ to other boys…LOL!
My last word on this will be that you need to look into a mirror.
Have a nice day.
HAHA now you are funny. I love looking at the cars they put up here and I refrain UNLIKE YOU from leaving disparaging remarks. People like you hate yourselves and get off running others down. BYE!
Derek,
All I see is you dumping on anyone who has a different opinion than yours.
Matt more like dumping on people that just continually leave negative remarks. I wish you and others would just take your negativity elsewhere. These cars are posted here for car enthusiasts it’s not a hate forum for bitter old men.
I like the styling of these cars. Fords attempt to keep a popular design going, but downsize and change with the times. My grandparents had an 81 Cougar in the same color scheme. Nice car except it was dead and on its way to the crusher by 1989. My uncle bought a brand new 86 turbo coupe, black with maroon velour…now THAT was an awesome T-bird
Jim that is a beautiful car.