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READER AD: 1971 Ford Thunderbird Landau Survivor

What Makes It Special? This is a bone-stock, nearly perfect example of a 1971 Ford Thunderbird Landau. Numbers matching 429 ThunderJet and transmission that operate flawlessly. One of only 4,238 produced this last year of suicide-door T-Birds. Nearly as-new inside and out with very minor blemishes. Original keys. Uncracked dash, flawless “Alligator” vinyl top, perfect carpet and door panels and working original non-converted AC, cruise, and clock make this time capsule a rare Bird indeed. I have tons of recent pictures.

Body Condition: The body is utterly rust-free and chrome unpitted and uniformly bright. The original top is perfect as is. All four original headlights. Each panel is factory inked “PAINT OK” and production stickers are all in place and very good. The body has no dings or dents and the mostly original paint still shines. Carpet is flawless.

Mechanical Condition: Numbers matching engine and transmission operate strongly and properly. Brakes are strong, especially the front discs. Everything works as new with the exception of the horn, and one window regulator is not operating. Wipers, radio and sequential blinking turn signals are all good.

Seller’s Listing: Here on eBay

  • Location: Colorado Springs, Colorado
  • Mileage: 24,131
  • Title Status: Clean
  • VIN: 1Y87N127203

List your car here on Barn Finds for only $50!

Comments

  1. Avatar IkeyHeyman

    I like the look of this, the color, the suicide doors, even the tacky landau roof trim. I want to believe the mileage is correct, but how has this 48 year old car racked up only 24K miles? No explanation coming from a seller with, I might add, zero feedback on EBay.

    Like 2
    • Avatar Jeffrey Bennett

      The mileage really is about unbelievable- I bought it with 23,774 a few years back from an estate in a roundabout way-it came with their house. The explanation I got was that a 96 year-old woman got it new for her 50th birthday and her husband drove her in his vehicle most of the time, as was the custom back in the day. So it was largely unused. Once I got it it was examined locally by Phil Long Ford where it was purchased new. They decided that due to the condition of 21 different parts of the car they looked at that the mileage was indeed for real. The reason I have no feedback is because I just cannot remember my old password on our 2001 eBay account and had to start over since our email server is now no longer in existence. The car speaks for itself; it is for real. Not perfect, but a great survivor.
      -JB

      Like 3
      • Avatar Harry

        What is the asking price?

        Like 0
  2. Avatar sparkster

    Quiz: What was the first year of the 4 door Thunderbird ?

    Like 0
    • Avatar IkeyHeyman

      ’67?

      Like 7
    • Avatar Ron Turner

      1967 was the first year for the 4-door Thunderbird. The 4-doors were made from the ’67 through the ’71 model years.

      Like 3
  3. Avatar Rex Kahrs Member

    More photos would be nice. But the roof is awesome, and the Bunkie Beak is killer. Love it.

    Like 3
    • Avatar Stillrunners

      Nice car – thought these were a nice offering style wise for the years .Agree on the color…looks good

      Like 0
  4. Avatar Alan Brase

    Front discs? I’d guess there were discs at EACH corner. These were a little related to Lincolns, which had 4 wheel discs in 1965.

    Like 1
    • Avatar Rick Krivoniak

      No, the 1965 Lincoln had drum rear brakes. My ’71 Thunderbird 4-door Landau (sadly rusting away in my back yard) has rear drums. I can’t find the first time Lincoln or T-bird offered 4-wheel discs, but it was a rare option on my ’79 Trans Am.

      Back to the T-birds though. The wipers are hydraulic, operating off the power steering pump. Mine had the rim-blow horn. When getting in inspected, I had to tell the techs that they had to squeeze the steering wheel and the engine must be running for the wipers to work. The ’67 interiors were so cool, but each subsequent year, Ford took a little bit away and by ’71, they were somewhat plain. Still loved mine.

      Like 1
    • Avatar Alan Brase

      I guess I might be mistaken about discs on the rear. I had a 1969 but perhaps never actually looked at the rear brakes.

      Like 0
  5. Avatar Jeffrey Bennett

    The mileage really is about unbelievable- I bought it with 23,774 a few years back from an estate in a roundabout way-it came with their house. The explanation I got was that a 96 year-old woman got it new for her 50th birthday and her husband drove her in his vehicle most of the time, as was the custom back in the day. So it was largely unused. Once I got it it was examined locally by Phil Long Ford where it was purchased new. They decided that due to the condition of 21 different parts of the car they looked at that the mileage was indeed for real. The reason I have no feedback is because I just cannot remember my old password on our 2001 eBay account and had to start over since our email server is now no longer in existence. The car speaks for itself; it is for real. Not perfect, but a great survivor.
    Sounds mean too- gotta love the beak out front as well :) -JB

    Like 2
  6. Avatar normadesmond

    Funny, my mother had a mid-70s Town Car in this color combination and it was butt ugly, but this looks good. Go figure.

    Like 2
  7. Avatar grant

    I love it, but I think I’d go ahead and repaint it, the “mostly” original paint is about half, really and once I saw the difference I can’t unsee it. I do have to wonder why the car was repainted from the rear doors back.

    Like 0
  8. Avatar DAVID6

    😲 i hav a 67 q code landau need’s
    a new home

    Like 0
    • Avatar charles Flowers

      You have it listed anywhere?

      Like 1
  9. Avatar Graham Lloyd

    Had a 68 for a while. Loved the suicide rear doors. 67 and up Thunderbirds are a hidden treasure. Don’t see too many of them, especially the 4 doors. But those doors do certainly attract attention.

    Not a high dollar car, so buy the best you can find. They can be difficult to get some parts for, just like anything old. What shocked me was the price of front brake discs. 150 bucks each. And the vacuum headlight doors can drive you nuts chasing down leaks.

    Lovely highway car. Or anywhere car for that matter. Just make sure you measure your garage first. Deceptively large cars.

    Like 2
  10. Avatar charles Flowers

    Well, I need a reason to go to CO…….

    Love this period of autos, late 60’s to 71. Like the Ford and Merc’s best.

    Having the right engine is a nice added touch. But bucket seats and a console are almost a have to have for me.

    I too am not sure about the miles either, nor how that will be baked into the cake on the pricing.

    Be interesting to see what the market will say.

    Hope it goes to someone who will drive it regularly.

    Like 0
    • Avatar Del

      Price ?

      A car listed without a price is a fishing exhibition.

      Like 0
      • Avatar PatrickM

        Expidition…

        Like 1
      • Avatar Eric B.

        Expedition

        Like 3
  11. Avatar GeorgeL

    As an impressionable 6-year old back in ’71, I loved T-Birds (and Mercury Cougars) for their sequential turn signals. It was always a treat to be behind one in traffic and get to watch those in action!

    This generation was my favorite of the T-Birds, though I do prefer the models with the hidden headlights. GLWA!

    Like 1
  12. Avatar John

    Since it’s an eBay auction the price is subject to change so there would be little sense in listing the price

    Like 0
  13. Avatar PatrickM

    I really don’t need a reason to go to Colorado Springs. I have family in Cheyenne, Wyo., just a couple hundred miles up I-25. I could make a weekend of it to visit the Air Force Academy and Garden of The Gods, again. Might as well stop by and pick up the T-Bird while I’m in the neighborhood. I could fly out and drive back. Fun trip. All I need is the money. Thanks BF..Keep ’em comin’!!

    Like 0

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