This 1965 Ford Thunderbird Convertible has spent more than half of its life stored away in a barn, but it has now been dragged out to be sold as part of an estate. It’s a pretty forlorn-looking sight, and it’s debatable as to whether this will make a viable restoration project, or whether its ultimate fate will be as a parts car. It is located in Monroe, Wisconsin, and has been listed for sale here on eBay. With bidding now sitting at $1,225, the reserve hasn’t been met.

There’s no hiding the fact that the light of day reveals that the Patrician Green Thunderbird has some rust issues. They are pretty extensive, and externally, they impact upon the rear quarter panels, the rockers, and the lower sections of the front fenders. This sort of rust doesn’t spell the end of the world, but the harsh reality is that this is merely what can be seen on the surface. Like an iceberg, the majority of the issues lie sight unseen below the surface. The wheel wells are showing some significant issues, while the floors are also looking pretty rotten. The trunk pan is rotted out, while the frame rails, in particular, the rear rails, are in need of either repair or replacement. This is when there simply has to be some serious questions raised about the viability of this car. Being a Convertible, structural integrity is paramount. From what we can see from the photos, the Thunderbird is lacking big-time in this area, and addressing these problems is going to cost a pretty penny. So, viewing it purely from a parts perspective, it still has a bit to offer. The external trim and chrome is almost all present, and it is either in reasonable condition or fit to be restored. The tinted glass looks like it’s good, and even the white power top looks like it might be okay with a clean. Add in the doors, deck lid, and the hood, and there are certainly some decent parts to be salvaged.

Standard fare for 1965 was the 390ci V8, 3-speed Cruise-O-Matic transmission, power steering, while for the first time, power front disc brakes were a standard feature. By this stage, the Thunderbird Convertible had become a big, heavy car, tipping the scales at 4,762lbs. This made it a full 110lbs heavier than the Hardtop, meaning that outright performance was more in line with the Thunderbird’s luxury leanings, rather than those of a sports car. It isn’t clear what sort of state the vehicle’s drive-train is in. The owner doesn’t mention whether the engine even turns freely, but with the rest of the vehicle’s condition indicating that it has spent some considerable time exposed to damp, then there is a very real possibility that the engine could be locked. If it does turn freely, then that will be a bonus. One positive aspect here is the fact that the car does appear to be mechanically complete. That means that if it is being considered purely as a parts car, then there are plenty of components that could be salvaged and refurbished to assist with the restoration of another vehicle.

I guess that at some point we would be hoping for a pleasant surprise, and for this car, the high point has to be the condition of the interior. The carpet is showing more indications of moisture issues, while the door trims look like they are also damaged. Looking past that, the rest of the interior trim actually looks quite good. The seats should respond nicely to a clean, the console looks to be in good condition, while the same would appear to be true of the dash and cap. In addition, the interior does appear to be complete, meaning that items such as power window switches, the factory radio, clock, the mechanism for the “tilt-away” wheel, and numerous other parts, could easily find their way onto another vehicle.

When I look at a classic car like this Thunderbird, I try to find some reason to justify its restoration. With this particular car, that would seem to be close to an impossibility. The rust is so extensive that it would take a lot of time and money just to return the vehicle to a structurally sound state. We then have to consider what might be involved in getting it running and driving once again. Factoring this in just sees the tally growing ever larger. Today, it is possible to buy a pristine restored Thunderbird Convertible for under $40,000, while there are some very nice original examples available in the market for around $20,000. To me, that seals this car’s fate. However, even as a parts car, it still has plenty to offer to the next owner. Maybe every cloud does have a silver lining after all.