To my mind’s eye, finding a cheap coupe with a V8 is one of the most turnkey entry points into classic and/or muscle car ownership. Any car I’ve owned with a V8 has been interesting to me just for the noise alone, and the respectable acceleration is an added bonus. This 10th generation Ford Thunderbird is far from the most collectible model ever made, but it makes an awful lot of sense if you want a big-body cruiser that will be cheap to run and responds well to modifications. Find it here on eBay with no reserve and bids sitting just over $1,000.
This Thunderbird is offered by our favorite car donation seller on eBay, and unlike some of the other examples we’ve featured, this one runs and drives and even has cold air conditioning. These were fairly hardy vehicles when new, so I’m not surprised it’s still a runner. Condition-wise, it looks pretty tidy, with a pretty raspberry red paint job and basic alloy wheels. It’s not a high-end Super Coupe model by any means, but that’s OK; it will be a great deal cheaper just owing to the fact it doesn’t have a body kit, snazzy wheels, and a supercharged six-cylinder engine.
I know that sounds like a loss, but I love the idea of a basic, V8-powered sedan. This was the last run of the 10th generation cars, so the exterior has been updated slightly with new front and rear fascias that make it look like a solidly mid-90s car before Ford lost its mind and migrated to the jellybean-era Taurus and F-150 models. Basicl gray cloth is boring but easy to live with, and it looks like this Thunderbird has power seats in addition to power windows and locks. The interior looks clean with even the steering wheel still presenting well, suggesting it was used carefully even though it ended up on the donation pile.
The so-called “Modular” V8 produced 205 horsepower and 280 lb-ft of torque, which is more than enough for daily driving. I’d swap out the wheels for something more modern – perhaps the 5-spokes from a later SN95 Cobra – and upgrade the exhaust. If Belltech or someone else makes a lowering kit for it, I’d throw that on, too. Mileage is listed as being just over 108,000, and based on the condition, it appears accurate. The final hammer price is sure to be under $5,000, which is a bargain for a V8 cruiser in time for summer .
Totally agree Lavery, I’d apply your theory to any four-door car as well w V8 juice. 👍🏁