There's one in the town I live in. @ 1st, I thought it might be a 57. The guy wants $1500. Has a 390 engine that runs he tells me. Something is wrong in the trans, though. He says when put into gear, it doesn't go. I have no ideas on it though. For $1500, I say yes. I'll put pics I took of the exterior. Totally forgot to take them of the interior! Here she is:








Thanks!!

 

Nobody? Come on, I'm dumber than a rock!! Thanks!!

 

No.

First off, it's a 65 with 66 tail lamps, and the middle bird is missing. I kinda doubt the center section works correctly, but if it does, the wiring has been messed with. OR, it's a 66 with a '65 front clip. Either way, that's messed up.

There's a LOT of rust... what I see imports that there's more, lots more, especially underneath.

The front ends on these things are *heavy duty*... and some parts aren't available any more. It's been a while, but the reason I got rid of my '66 was that the brake pads were not easily available, and the brake boosters kept going out.

Everything runs on vacuum in the car. The door locks, the rear vent, the brakes, the air conditioning, the trunk release from the inside (if it has it)... figuring all that out is very fun.

The dash is cracked. Major PITA to deal with. I wonder what else inside the car is messed up.

Watch out for the radiator tank on the top of the car. You need it, but they are notorious for leaking.

Everything to fix this car is expensive. Everything.

If it had *actually been* a '66 standard hardtop, it would be a steal, because they're kinda rare. But being it's "just" a '65... and parts of the 65 are gone... I wouldn't buy it. Not unless it was for parts, and then for about 750 or so.

But... if you were to use it as a body only, and fix the rust, then put *all modern* suspension and engine and such... electrify the vacuum stuff... then maybe it'd be a fun car. Expensive to do, but fun. Trying to restore it? Have an even more huge wallet, you'll need it.

My bottom line: Go find something else. This is not the car you're looking for.

 

I'd think you could ebay parts and triple that investment!

 

houtex, Thanks!! I can't always understand the simplest words. I could that!

ttillub, I wasn't thinking eBay. But hopefully getting it running & then reselling it. Prob won't now.

 

I've owned several of these T-Birds (64, 65 & 66). Everything Houtex mentioned is right. My Last one of these was a 66 Town Landau about 15 Years Ago. It had the Wide Roof With the Big Chrome S Bars on the Roof, I Loved that Car and Drove It All Over Town, but Parts are Expensive, and Hard To Find. Unfortunately they don't have quite the support of the Thunderbird Community as Older Models, I'd pass and try to find a nicer one. You can pick up a really nice one for FAR LESS than what it would take for you to make this one a Nice Car Again.

 

Yeah I would wait and pay more for one in much better condition because you will be putting so much into it just getting it restored that you coudl have bought one in better shape. Let some guy with big bucks put it back in shape.

You could also do like me and get a 80's model Tbird.... You can do virtually anything to it that can be done with an Fox Mustang. I have done a lot with my 84 including dropping in a 95 Mustang dash and a 1987-88 headlamps.... It's coming along nicely. I just have to get focused on what is really important and that is the mechanical restoration.

 

I slept on the idea a night. I don't have a normal brain, so mine needs time to process stuff. I decided I won't get it. I am just not smart enough or have the $ needed to pull this off! Oh yeah, I get disability so I don't have a real job. I am kinda overseeing my friend's 65 Mustang. If I buy this car, I would have 3. Yep, not going through with it. Thanks to every one who weighed in. See ya!!