The seventh generation of the Ford Thunderbird (1977-79) went on a diet like some of the cars over at General Motors. But they still looked big even with eight inches less in length and 900 fewer pounds. This ’77 T-Bird was the seller’s daily driver for several months, but it developed a vacuum leak that may have rendered it unreliable. So, it’s available as a set of cheap wheels here on Facebook Marketplace for $1,500 in Naugatuck, Connecticut.
For 1977, the Thunderbird rode on the smaller chassis used by the previous Ford Torino and now also by the LTD II, which replaced it in 1977. It looked a lot like the Ford Elite, which the company peddled from 1974 to 1976. The goal was to better compete with the likes of the Chevy Monte Carlo and Pontiac Grand Prix. A smaller engine could propel the ’77 T-Bird, and the 302 cubic inch was chosen for that job. 351 and 400 CI engines were optional, and there is no mention of what sits under the hood of the seller’s car.
The seller’s photos don’t help much except to point out how rough the roof is on this car, which the seller doesn’t try to hide. He’s owned it for a couple of years and added to the odometer reading of 29,000 miles (which we suspect has turned over). A vacuum leak developed that the seller believes comes from the hideaway headlight covers. We’re told the interior is nice except for the headliner, yet the only photo is of the steering wheel.
With the visible “rot” and the seller saying the headliner is toast, an easy assumption is that the roof leaks. But the car does run and drive, and the asking price is on the cheap side. He wants to sell it to have time and money to work on other projects. All offers will be considered, but some may be declined. Thanks to “Zen” for uncovering this running project.
With the close up photos of the roof with that bad of rust, and being from the north east, I guarantee that body is hiding plenty of rust also. I guess they’re worried because of that, somebody’s going to low ball an offer for it, hence possibly declining offers.
Don’t slam the door shut when you get in. The roof may cave in on you!! That’s some bad looking cancer. Almost terminal unless you want to make it a chop top….
At the very least you’ll get a rust shower.
I’ve never seen a roof rust like that.
I know they aren’t trying to hide that rust, but to take up close photos sure doesn’t do them any favors for any offers.
Forget the car, someone tell me about that house!
Dang – that’s the 1st thing I noticed! Reminds me of Billy Joel’s lair…
This looked like a great deal until I saw pictures of the
rust on the roof.
Junk when new, definitely junk now… send to the crusher! If it’s got the 400 6.6, maybe pull and save it. I had a heck of a time finding some heads for a 79 Bronco we’re restoring.
Yeah. Ford sold almost a million of those “junk” T Birds, between ’77 and ’79.
The vacuum leak is probably because the metal vac canister is is rusted FUBAR-style…hmmm…maybe the whole bird is FUBAR…
These cars were notorious for roof rot they had a padded vinyl top from the factory that would soak up water like a sponge and they would stay wet. If you owned one from new you could not let them sit outside in rainy weather even going through a car wash was off limits. Not one of Fords better ideas!!
yeah, nobody is restoring this. 500.00 parts car at best.
I wonder how the frame looks on this car. I had a white one with a red roof and I hate that I traded that car because it was one of the best cars I’ve ever owned. Mine had a vacuum leak on the headlights but I drove it anyway. The rust do cause some concern but if this was where I was at, I would probably be on this after an inspection and get rid of this headache called a’99 Cadillac Escalade!
A COMPLETE TURD !
If there is little rust underneath (doubtful), the easiest thing to do is cut the roof off a donor car and weld it up.