Walking into a dealership and buying a car off the showroom floor is a wonderful experience. However, ordering one tailored to your taste happens once in a lifetime for a fortunate few. The original owner followed that path with this 1967 Ford Thunderbird. While it isn’t unique, some features help it stand out. It is a solid survivor that needs a new home. Therefore, the T-Bird is listed here on eBay in Kokomo, Indiana. Bidding sits below the reserve at $11,800, with time remaining for interested parties to stake their claim.
Ford introduced the Fifth Generation Thunderbird in 1967 with radically different styling from its predecessor. Gone was the bullet nose, with a more aggressive appearance dominated by a grille with concealed headlamps. The original owner ordered this car during the first production year. They chose Raven Black paint to grace its panels, but interestingly, they deleted the vinyl top. This is not the first T-Bird of this vintage I have seen without vinyl, but the total is definitely in the minority. The seller describes the condition as “mint,” with no visible flaws or issues with the paint. This is impressive, considering the car is claimed to be an unrestored survivor. The panels are straight, and there is no apparent external rust. The seller managed to get the Ford on a lift, exposing surface corrosion but no steel penetration on the underside. The area in this shot looks particularly heavy, and addressing it before it deteriorates further would be wise. The chrome is excellent, and the glass seems flawless.
The positive vibes continue inside this Ford, with its interior as impressive as its exterior. The Black upholstered surfaces are spotless, with the seats exhibiting no stretching that comes with age. The carpet is immaculate, and the overall condition is consistent with the claimed odometer reading of 56,000 original miles. The dash, pad, and bright trim look fantastic, with no physical or UV damage. Features like the ice-cold air conditioning, power windows, AM radio/8-track player, and the tilt-away wheel will attract potential bidders. Everything works as it should, with no problems or issues reported.
Most Thunderbird buyers in 1967 elected to stick with the entry-level 390ci V8 to power their new purchase. This is easily understood because it provided excellent performance. However, some wished for more under their right foot, which was the case with this car’s original owner. They selected the optional 428 V8, lifting power and torque from 315hp and 427 ft/lbs to 345hp and 462 ft/lbs. The increases weren’t dramatic, but I haven’t heard many owners wish their classic had less power! There was no manual transmission option, meaning the buyer received a three-speed automatic and power assistance for the steering and brakes. The listing shows an odometer reading of 56,330 miles, and it appears the owner holds verifying evidence. It is in excellent mechanical health, with the seller raising the possibility of the winning bidder flying in and driving home behind the wheel of this classic.
Sales totals had fallen consistently during the Fourth Generation Thunderbird’s production life, with Ford hoping the new model would arrest the decline. It improved the situation…albeit briefly. The company sold 77,976 T-Birds in 1967, marginally higher than the previous year’s 69,176. However, the total plummeted by over 50% by 1971 and would only rebound with the release of the Sixth Generation in 1972. This car is a spotless survivor that has only attracted eight bids, but its overall condition and recent sales results suggest it should pass $20,000 before the hammer falls. Would you be interested in this classic at that price?
This 428 has a 10:6 compression ratio per Ford advertising. Could it be driven with 91 octane gas/ethanol without having to use fuel additives?
Possibly,if the timing was knocked back a couple degrees .
At 19, I bought a 67 T-Bird from an older gent for $200, he said that he just wanted the car gone. I thought I scored a deal. The car needed a bit of work but it was remarkably clean, burgundy with white interior and the same 5 spoke wheel covers as pictured on this one. I bought the car with the intention of doing the little bit of work to get it running reliably and then resell it for a hopefully a little profit. Boy, oh, boy, was I in for it. I started by doing all of the routine stuff, plugs, wires, cap and rotor oil, all filters, some fuel lines, drained the coolant. Car ran better but was still bogging down at WOT. Next, carb got rebuilt. Car started to run a lot better, actually really well. Then, the following day, had a hard time starting. Long story short, I ended up replacing the starter, than shortly after the alternator and battery. Drove fine, started fine, til it didn’t. Replaced the distributor and seemed like the car was back to running tip top. Finally going to sell it and boom heater core goes out. Even doing the work myself with the exception of getting the carb rebuilt, I think I just about broke even when I sold the car. Not to mention all of the hours I had working on it. It definitely did not work out as I had planned.
I know that was a hard lesson to learn at 19, but at least you got it over with early in life. Some of us had to be taught over and over that used cars are just a money and time pit that can never be completely filled.
New cars are more so a money pit. I’ve done well with every flip and all muscle cars as well as 3 boats.
That’s what happens with a $200 “Bottom Feeder” example. The rule of thumb back in the day was anything that ran was worth $100 (now that number is about $1000, but I digress). The problem is, which you learned the hard way is, that it’s cheap for a reason! The rule when buying a used car is, buy the nicest example you can afford, because condition matters. Caveat Emptor!
Does it have the manual or the power bucket seats?
Stunning and you never see 67s. A former co worker had a black 67 four hardtop and this was 30 years ago. He said parts were very hard to find even then.
@Adam – A vinyl top wasn’t standard equipment on the base Thunderbird, so it wasn’t “deleted” on this example, it simply wasn’t ordered.
Absolutely correct- this car is the Two Door hardtop, with no vinyl top available from the factory, since a vinyl top was standard on the 2 door or 4 door Landau models.
This beauty needs side moldings. And apparently, cornering lights are extremely rare on ’67’s
Nonexistent would be a better word, since the NHTSA rules requiring side marker lights, with or without cornering lamps, weren’t enforced until MY 1968! I consider the examples used on the 1968-69 T-Birds to be hideous blemishes, like two (2) giant zits on the chin of an otherwise gorgeous supermodel, LOL!
I agree on the side moulding, though, to protect against parking lot dings. Aftermarket self-adhesive side moldings were available at any auto parts store, in a wide variety of complementary colors (white, black, blue and tan)! My Dad added side moldings to Mom’s 1967 T-Bird back in the day with such moldings.
The factory took notice, and made side moldings available starting in 1968.
Not nonexistent, Robert. I did find a couple examples.
There used to be guys that made a good living installing body side moulding. They would have a van outfitted with every color and width of moulding. The car dealerships would phone them if a new car customer wanted moulding installed. Everyone would make a cut, salesman, dealership and installers. I used to watch these guys install moulding by eye with no tools. Perfectly level every time!
Your mom’s t-bird sounds like my kind of bird. I love stripper models.
Learned to drive stick shift on my dads 70 Falcon. 3 on the tree straight 6 with rubber mats on the floor and simple center caps on the wheels. Yup, strippers.
That’s what I like about this bird. Simple, clean and motivated with that big bad boy under the hood!
Robert Atkinson. Your mom’s t-bird sounds like my kind of bird. I love stripper models.
Learned to drive stick shift on my dads 70 Falcon. 3 on the tree straight 6 with rubber mats on the floor and simple center caps on the wheels. Yup, strippers.
That’s what I like about this bird. Simple, clean and motivated with that big bad boy under the hood!
Cornering lights were standard equipment on 1967-1976 Thunderbirds.
I must respectfully disagree, since my Mom’s ’67 did NOT have cornering lamps the entire time she owned it, and they didn’t magically grow into place after she sold it, LOL! Her car was what we called a “stripper” back in the day, and not because it danced around a pole wearing pasties and a G-String, LOL! No, her T-Bird didn’t have air conditioning, a vinyl roof, power windows, power locks or a stereo radio. Just standard equipment, which included an AM radio, fortunately!
Re Boatman: were those true ’67’s or early 68’s, sold from September – December 1967?
The 1967 T-Bird was introduced on 30 September, 1966, and the 1968 model made its debut on 22 September, 1967. Source: Automotive Mileposts web page. See link below:
http://automotivemileposts.com/prod1968tbird.html
Don’t know. Could be.
Other than the side markers, the 1968 examples had two (2) other distinctive features. First, the windshield wiper sweep was changed in 1968, to comply with new Federal glass coverage rules for windshield wipers. In 1968, the wipers swept in parallel, in 1967, they swept facing each other leaving a big unswept triangle in the middle of the windshield. Starting on 01 January, 1968, the only engine choice for the T-Bird was the 429 cubic-inch “385” block engine family. The two “FE” series engines, the 390 and the 428 “Thunderjet” engines were dropped as the “FE” engines were being phased out of production.
Side marker lights were federally mandated from 1968 and up on all makes, including imports. Cornering lights were an option on most cars except for luxury offerings like Cadillac, Lincoln and Imperial where they were standard. Later, around the late 60s, you could order optional corning lights on makes like Buick, Oldsmobile, Ford, Mercury and Chryslers.
Cadillac did forty years of standard cornering lights on their cars and then they went away. Why? I have no clue. I think they were very helpful and should be standard on all makes and models.
They are now an option on Cadillac Escalades. Tiny little LED squares, but very bright. Have seen very few Escalades with them.
Had an old buddy back in highschool and he bought a 68 with a 429 from the Dodge dealership for 200 bucks back in the day and the interior was to this day the finest interior that has ever been designed. And that 429 with true duel exhaust had the sweetest big block rumble.Thought it could have been faster on take off but it had such a high gear ratio that I’m sure that if it had wings it could fly. And it rode as you were floating on a cloud. STICK your E-Cars where the Sun doesn’t shine! Way to go Ford for such a timeless classic.
This year is my favorite T-Bird bar none! Live the design even love this color just wished it had the 429 but I would accept a 428 lol! Nice car !
This might be the nicest 4 seat thunderbirds I’ve seen. And it has a 428 under the hood. Nice.
Very nice!
It’s gone.
Owner is asking $23K
And just like the song by The Eagles, it’s…”Already Gone”….When something sells that fast you have priced it too low.
Love that side view! Reminds me of my Arora HO car!
I like the Tbirds before, 4th gen, and after, 6th gen better than this 67 model. Almost looks like a rehashed, mid size Mark 111. But love it’s condition, especially the 428 and a working AC. It looks to be an authentic and clean survivor, what’s not to love?