This 429 V8 equipped Thunderbird has been parked since 1993 and needs some work before it will be ready to hit the street, but it’s covered just 60k miles since new and appears to be a solid find! The owner can’t work on it due to health problems, so he’s asked Reader Abe F to help find a new home for it where it can be enjoyed. If you’d love to get this Ford back on the road, you can find it in the second owner’s driveway in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada and has a current bid of just $1,000 CAD ($756 US)!
While Abe hasn’t tried to start the car, he did put oil in each cylinder and was able to turn the engine over with a wrench. I’m sure it’s going to need the usual repairs, such as dropping the gas tank, servicing the brakes and giving the engine a full tune-up. This 385 series 429 is a beast of an engine, with a factory horsepower rating of 360 and around 400 ft-lbs of torque! The engine alone is worth more than the current bid and while it would be a shame to separate it from the car, just imagine having it in a Mustang!
The inside is actually in good shape. There are a few splits in the upholstery and some discoloration, but it could definitely be used as is! The dash is in fantastic shape and all of the original trim looks beautiful, plus it comes with all the trim to make it into a Landau. While the damage to the driver’s seat is a bit of a bummer, I think an upholstery shop could fix that easily and then redye all of the upholstery. It wouldn’t be as good as new, but it would look good and save a ton of money.
Hopefully, a reader snags this Thunderbird and gets it back on the road. It has its issues, but it really does look to be solid. At the current bid, it would be worth buying even just for parts! So, take a closer look at it via the link below and then tell us what would you do with it in the comments.
Seller’s Listing: Here on eBay
- Asking Price: $5,500
- Location: Winnipeg, Manitoba
- Mileage: 60,479
- Title Status: Clean
- VIN: 8y83n104763
List your car here on Barn Finds for only $50!
As of this writing, the link to view the T-Bird on eBay is incorrect. It leads instead to a Barn Finds story about a pair of AMCs.
Additionally, the 429 is a very tight fit in a 1969 or 1970 Mustang. It would go better in a 1971-1973 Mustang, or a Torino of similar vintage.
I thought about finding one of these T-Birds and making it into a drivable version of the Hot Wheels Custom T-Bird from 1968: hood bulge, Spectraflame paint, redlines, and maybe even zoomie headers. I also would have done a 4-speed swap, but struggled with an idea for making it look factory. The featured car looks too nice to use as a basis for such a project, or be purchased merely as an engine donor.
This car is sort of like a mildly attractive woman who has aged well. As some of us older gentlemen are learning there is much to be appreciated in women of a certain age.
The color is era appropriate and the lack of a vinyl top accentuates the form nicely. Sprucing up the interior would make it a very comfortable place indeed.
And then there’s the 429 – who wouldn’t want one of these motors? Nice find. Shine it up and drive it.
Looks like a no a/c Thunderbird.
Looks very fair for the price. Just a heck of a long way from most of us in the 48 states. Likely worth the trip…
Here’s the link:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/1968-Thunderbird/223605551551?hash=item340fedf1bf:g:ly4AAOSwS-FdQFbB
Great find!! I never really liked this body style on the 68 but what’s not to like about a 429 big block??? It would be a shame to rip the motor out of a car in such good shape!! However it’s more a luxury or family car than a sport or muscle car!! Hard to decide where to be on this one!!!
I noticed the vents on the rear deck.
Does this car have flo-thru ventilation, what Chevy calls “Astro Ventilation”?
I have always been a T-Bird lover. Although my interests go in another direction now! I have owned 5 Birds in the past, when they were fairly new! My favorite was a 1969 Landau. Also owned a 71 Landau, 72, 75 and a 1980. Wonderful rides with lots of power. Gas was also cheap then. I would like to find a 1969 Landau once more, but closer to the Northeast USA and ready to drive. In years past I enjoyed finding classic rides that needed work, but now (age 72) I just enjoy the ride and the power of my 5.7 FI.
Not bad.
Great price.
Grab it
With Del on it…..and of note – the top 10 sexyest hub caps from the factory !
The 1968 Tbird is sold to a lucky party in Tbird is sold to a lucky guy in Tennessee