It’s great to see an ad for an old car where, while still in sales mode, the seller is able to acknowledge the car that is up for sale does have some real problems. This rather nice looking 1962 Ford Thunderbird Coupe with a 390 V-8 in it, and 107,000 miles on the clock, offered for sale here on craigslist in Suffolk County on Long Island appears to be rather honestly described by its seller. However, not everything is revealed.
While he says it needs “some body work,” (and a muffler, and some interior work….), there is no description of the extent of body work needed, and no pictures that reveal the real condition of the body. Clearly the interior is solid, and the engine looks clean, but a prospective buyer needs to know more.
This ad does tell us a lot about the car, certainly enough to make a decision about whether to go see it. The seller says it will come with a new carburetor and a carpet kit, plus spare front and rear bumpers. The car is presently painted black but was originally white.
The pictures of the car on jackstands are explained by the seller – it was put up to keep the tires from getting flat. This owner has had the car for some ten years, keeping it stored in a pole barn and “taking it out for a stroll once in awhile,” so presumably it does run, drive and perhaps the brakes work too, though no details are given.
In case you were wondering, it’s not an M-code car, and the seller also points out that it is a 53 year old used car (i.e. do not expect perfection) and repeats that it needs bodywork.
As the seller points out, at $4,500, this is a pretty good start for a driveable classic. But whether even that asking price is reasonable can only be determined by a close inspection of the car, and particularly of the mysterious bodywork we already know it needs.
Older Fords from the Northeast usually suffer from the dreaded tin worm, found in many areas under the skin, and the cost of structural repair could be excessive. Still I hold out hope this car is as solid as the seller claims, it’s a nice looking old bird that hopefully will fly again.
These have been budget friendly for a while. I would think they are bound to increase in value sooner or later. They obviously are not the most desirable T-bird or even 60s Ford but still have a fabulous 60s interior and nice lines. This is one vehicle that has grown on me quite a bit in recent years and this one seems worthy of a closer look
They are budget friendly on the car but not the parts. An interior kit will cost close to $5k. I’m doing a 62 for a friend. I told him I wouldn’t restore the car because of cost. But his parents bought it new and he wants to do it. He’ll have over 25k in it.
The styling of the 62 & 63 are my favorites. Because of the tail lamp design during these years, I ended up with a 63 Galaxie 500 when I got back to the states.. Great cars..
Did you consider the reason for bodywork being rust? Black paint seems to make rust disappear in photos.
There is not a single pic. Of the sides of this car, so how bad is this car. Seams like the seller is trying to hide something.