The Cleanest Old Bird: 1967 Ford Thunderbird

'67 T bird

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This “T-Bird” has spend the last 34 years in the garage. Listed here on craigslist Carbondale, Illinois is this “like new” 1967 Thunderbird Landau with a negotiable price of $14,900. This is one of the 37,422 which listed for $4,704 in ’67.

'67 T bird engine

According to the seller this car has 38,000 actual certified miles in total. There is a 390 V-8 with an automatic transmission to power you along.

'67 T bird front int

In the beautiful original red interior you have, power windows, a tilt steering-wheel, A/C, and the factory installed radio.

'67 T bird back int

All appears to be in order in the backseat as well. Doesn’t it look amazing?

'67 T bird truck

Is that the original spare sitting there?  We don’t know and it isn’t mentioned in the ad.

'67 T bird rear left

This car is wearing the original factory paint. The present owner purchased this car in 1981 from the original owner, drove it home and parked it in the garage. The owner does not let us know if this car is a driver. We don’t know how often the car is started and/or driven. The owner will show you the car by appointment only. You are asked to make contact for additional details. If you want a clean T-bird, it may make sense to contact this owner.

Motor-on,
Robert

Auctions Ending Soon

Comments

  1. grant

    I love these big old Fords. This is just gorgeous.

    Like 4
  2. Woodie Man

    In inflation adjusted dollars its for sale for just what it cost in ’67 more or less. Love the red interior. Bring A Gas Station

    Like 2
  3. randy

    He is at the top of the price range for this one, I’d love to have another T-bird this body style.

    Like 1
  4. JW

    He states he bought it from the original owner in 1981 then brought it home and parked it. Who does this with a big Thunderbird? I could see doing this with a earlier version of the model or a musclecar or a rare car/truck but a every day land yacht NO. It is a nice find but the story doesn’t make sense to me.

    Like 2
    • Jason Houston

      Well, he probably did what many amateur ‘investors’ do – he just got bored with it and now wants to dump his Big Mistake on a Bigger Fool. Very common with this type of car that carries little or no collector interest.

      Like 0
  5. Rich

    It’s taken a long time for these square birds to grow on me. I never liked them until recently. Despite the low miles and excellent condition I just don’t see this worth his asking. These still haven’t taken off in the market yet.

    Like 0
  6. krash

    …..makes sense to me….

    …one drive and the buyer realized this beauty had the same appetite as a black hole..

    ..he then fell into a 35 yr. coma….and recently returned from his Rip Van Winkle-like state when gas prices fell below $2/gallon…

    I’d buy it just to put the seats in my kids’ rec room…

    Like 0
  7. Mark S

    Wasn’t there a 4door version of this car, with back door being suicide doors I remember a neighbour have on of these as a four door. Is there anyone out there that knows for sure if I’m right or wrong?

    Like 3
    • francisco

      Yes, Mark, there was a 4 door. And yes, the back doors were suicide doors. A friend’s rich father had one when we were in high school. We abused it every chance we got.

      Like 1
    • Jason Houston

      There was not only a 4-door with suicide doors, but it was “even less attractive” than the 2-door model. What’s worse, they still built it as late as 1971, when the so-called Thunderbird fell under Bunky Knudsen’s Pontiac regime.

      Like 1
    • Chris

      Yes the 4 door had suicide doors. Love the interior.

      Like 1
    • Fred

      Yes I have one

      Like 0
    • Don Peterson

      Yes I have a 1967 4 door thunderbird Landau with around 80K on it with a rebuilt engine and transmission. Yes, they have suicide doors and a swing away steering wheel! Its in a museum for 5 years, but coming out now for sale. They are not as bad on fuel as some of the older Lincolns and Cadillac’s!

      Like 0
  8. RobertAuthor

    Mark S

    You are correct sir there was a 4 door. Here’s one on Hemmings:
    http://www.hemmings.com/classifieds/dealer/ford/thunderbird/1697566.html

    Like 1
  9. Ed P

    Wow, this is a car to go cruising in style. The seller said the price is negotiable and I think this is a great car for the right price.

    Like 1
  10. randy

    Absolutely a great car at the right price, I think it is worth less than 10K though, the seller may have other ideas. Lots of folks swinging hard for that home run.

    I had a ’69 4dr, I loved it.

    Like 1
  11. Jason Houston

    Truly a gorgeous, beautiful well-kept car, but it’s not a true Thunderbird. The last real Thunderbird was 1966!

    Like 1
  12. Luke Fitzgerald

    Jase – despite how good this appears – I gotta agree with you – good car for someone tho’

    Like 0
  13. Jason Houston

    When I worked at Ford, we referred to ’67-’69 Thunderbird as “full power vacuum cleaners”.

    Like 0
  14. Cassidy

    I’d love to own this beauty! Where did I put my gas station?

    Like 0
  15. Jason Houston

    It’s my understanding Ford offered an optional “gas station trailer”, which you could hook to the rear bumper and tow your own station with you wherever you traveled! I can’t understand why it never caught on…

    Like 0
  16. Mark S

    I say you stick an Eco boost v6 with automatic overdrive into it and leave the gas station on the street corner where it belongs then install 4 wheel disc brakes, upgrade a/c, and rack and pinion streering.

    Like 1
  17. Jason Houston

    Yes, but then you’d end up with a worthless hack job. I’d rather have the car in the nice, virgin gorgeous original condition it’s in, even if it is ugly. Sure would look great next to that aqua Cougar!

    Like 0
    • Mark S

      Hack job is a matter of opinion don’t you think, after all we wouldn’t want to see it turn into a trailer queen or a museum slab would we Jason. The only way this is ever going to be viable is to make it more fuel efficient other wise what good is it. I quests we could put it behind the barn an let it sink into the ground.

      Like 0
  18. randy

    You guys that are fixated on fuel mileage need to find the Prius forum.

    Once you drive this generation of T-bird, you’ll be convinced that it is a T-bird.
    The very last of them though. ;>)

    Like 3
    • Jason Houston

      Thanks for that, Randy.

      If they can’t afford the gas it takes to power a high performance collector car, they should go to either the Prius forum or the “Let’s Hotrod Our 1987 Toyota” forum.

      Like my dad says, “Champagne taste, beer income”.

      Like 0
      • Fred Franke

        I am the owner of a mint 68 Coupe Landau. Nobody ever said that I am driving an ugly car…..

        Like 6
    • Mark S

      I was just trying to make a point with you guys, I see comment after comment about how terrible this car is on gas I thought I’d throw in a solution with my Eco boost comment. I also know that some guys on here think that this car should be preserved at all cost while at the same time thinking it ugly and undesirable. I think it is funny how some guys are so offended by the idea of modifying a car is the destruction of history when in fact modified cars is part of the history. Look at the doodle bug a depression era mod to turn a car into a tractor or a post ww2 hot rod made out of a modal A. Are these not just as historic as the original car. You no some of these rat rods are going to get tucked away for decades before they reemerge then they will be historically significant. Finally to those of you that have a perfectly restored original don’t you think that it goes up in value every time one gets cut up or scrapped after all isn’t that what makes anything rare.

      Like 1
      • randy

        Hey Mark, it’s a valid point, and would be a great option if the swap did no permanent damage, and could be returned to the factory configuration with no evidence. That way you could drive the car, and put it back to stock when, if the value took off. That would also save the original driveline to boot.

        Like 0
      • Jason Houston

        Sure all those modified cars “have historical significance”. Look how many Packards, Pierce Arrows and Cadillacs were cut down into tow trucks during the Great Depression because they were useless gas hogs. They have historical significance, too, but does that make everyone who sees them rave that one of them may have been saved? Get real. That doesn’t make them desirable, expensive collector’s items any more than Bin Ladin’s existence makes him a world hero. Keep things in perspective.

        Like 0
  19. Jason Houston

    Hey, that’s a great idea. That way, it can rust away and someone will give it to a customizer, because “it’s so far gone serious hobbyists wouldn’t touch it anyway.”

    I drive Fords with big 390s that get lousy mileage. So, by your thinking, I guess that makes me a jerk, because I won’t put a 4cyl. automatic overdrive in with a/c, orange flames, and big goofy circus wheels. After all, who gives a *** about the appearance or originality?

    Right?

    Like 0
    • Mark S

      You are mis quoting me, I nearer said four cylinder as that wouldn’t work I never said anything about flames or big wheels so I’ll say this again get off your soap box your sounding like an idiot.

      Like 0
      • Jason Houston

        What’s the diff. between 4-cyl and goofy wheels? A modified car is a modified car. There are thousands of versions of what ‘modified’ means. There is only one version of what a stock, properly restored car is. Get off your Silly Wagon, you’re sounding like an idiot.

        Like 1
  20. D. King

    The gas-hog comments have me curious. How many gallons per mile, anyway?

    Like 0
  21. randy

    This car only offers “smiles” per gallon. Back when I was driving my ’69, I did not keep track of such things, so I cannot tell you. It had a huge gas tank that would last all week though.

    Like 0
    • Jason Houston

      I drive those same cars and I don’t record mileage, either. When I was in high school I only bought as much gas as I could afford, usually between 50c and $2 and that would have to last me all week. I didn’t care about gas mileage then and still don’t today. If I did, I’d own a lovely, beautiful 1998 Honda pickup, or some ridiculous load.

      Like 0
  22. Mark S

    Hi Randy thanks for your comment. The funny thing is if this were my car I’d leave it stock I was just trying to point out that there are always options. And your right having the original engine out would save a lot of wear and tear on it.

    Like 0
    • Jason Houston

      So would removing the seats, gas tank, transmission and brake shoes save a lot of wear and tear on those, too. Get the sound, logical reasoning at work here?

      Like 0
      • randy

        Mr. Houston, you have been trolling this car ever since it was posted. Go back and re-read all of your posts in order, and tell me if you can make since of your comments. You are all over the place on this one. Are you a politician, or lawyer? Do you know what a sound reasoning mind is? Tell us what you want to hear, and I’ll type it in for you.

        Like 0
  23. D. King

    Still don’t have an answer to my question. I know Detroit cars in the ’60s were pretty dismal on gas consumption, typically around 15 mpg–is this car worst than that? (My ’69 Sonett used to get about 36 mpg, and we get about 25 mpg in our ’64 Porsche 356 SC.)

    Like 1
  24. Ed P

    My ’70 Plymouth Fury had a 383 2bbl. I got 14mpg in commuting and 18 highway. I would imagine this T-Bird would be in this range.

    Like 1
  25. Jason Houston

    It’s basically your typical large Ford with a 390, so it isn’t much different from an LTD hardtop with full power and a/c. Ford, Mercury, Chevrolet, etc. would all be about the same.

    Like 0
  26. Bill

    I’ve always liked that body style. A lot of red, though. Interior looks like a bordello.

    Like 1
    • Jason Houston

      You would love my mom – she thought all red cars looked like something a hooker would drive!

      Grinning aside, red interiors are gorgeous. The problem with car makers today is they’re afraid to use vibrant colors on interiors any more. Buyers have six magnificent choices: gray, beige, beige, grey, grey or beige. How exciting!

      Like 0
      • D. King

        Ditto for the exterior colors, too–add black and white to that list. I read an article a couple of years ago that asked the question if the dealers determined the colors on their spec cars, or if buyers only purchased those colors, so that’s all dealers would order. I suspect it’s the former.

        Like 0
    • francisco

      How would you know that, Bill? Hmmmmm?

      Like 0
  27. Jason Houston

    If you study the history of colors, you’ll discover the colors today (except for white) are essentially the same as in the 1930s – just a lot of muted, dull colors that lack any degree of inspiration. When times are happy, manufacturers come out with exciting colors, as in the post-war years. But if times are uncertain, as they have been the last few decades, we get all the recycled dull crap. There have been a few exceptions in the 90’s when a few bright colors appeared on the small, cheap cars but, sadly, they didn’t last.

    Like 1
  28. Jason Houston

    For RANDY: YOU have been guilty of the exact same thing, so don’t be the pot calling the kettle black. If you’re so jealous, find a hobby of own and quit being envious of legitimate hobbyists. Go stick to your ratrod baloney, or whatever it is that gives you a rise. In other words, GROW UP.

    Like 0
  29. randy

    Show me where I wondered all over the road on a single car here.

    Like 0
    • Jason Houston

      I wonder about what’s at the end of the universe, and things like that, but I have no idea what you wonder about.

      Like 0
  30. RoselandPete

    I can’t believe people looking at this car are concerned about mileage.

    Like 2
  31. Pat

    It’s Spring 1973, married less than a year (struggling) , and we found a 68 T-bird, 4 door, to replace my bride’s 66 Mustang which was hit and “totaled” by a 15 year old, “uninsured” motorist who took his grandmother’s car for a joy ride. Small claims court judge awarded us $2.00 per week from this little SOB. Anyway, we paid $800.00 for the T-bird, installed a $200.00 complete exhaust system and within weeks,…the “GAS SHORTAGE” hit. Odd, even days, long lines, outrageous price increases, and often enough you couldn’t buy a drop of gas no matter how much you were willing to pay. No brainer…we gotta sell this thing !!! But to WHO ??? Finally my dear old dad (rest his soul) shows up at our house with a “friend” who’s a used car dealer and is willing to “help”. By the time he got through scaring and badgering the hell out of us, we turned the car over to him for FREE, and I believe we even “thanked” him for “helping” us out of our dilemma. So yes, they did make 4 doors, and they were gas eaters. Glad we can look back and laugh at ourselves now. And yes, I’d buy it again. I think they were elegant.

    Like 1
  32. Tom

    I had a 1968 with the 390 4V and got 15-17 MPG on the freeway. I thought that was great as my Dad got 7 MPG on his 1969 Cadillac Sedan de Ville at the time. I loved that T-bird. Comfortable and handled well. I loved the hide away headlights too!

    Like 1

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