Hi everyone. I just wanted to check in. I just picked up a 1985 thunderbird 30th anniversary edition. I am planning on doing a restoration on it, although it is in very good shape already
It needs very minor body work and a paint job.
A little history about me with thunderbirds. My very first car was a 1984 thunderbird elan, then i got a 1988 thunderbird 3.8 liter, then i jumped to a 1995 thunderbird. I sold that one in 1999, and havent had a thunderbird since. It has been about 10 years, and i decided it was time to pick up a thunderbird like i had as a teenager. I really wanted anything from 1983-1988 since those two body styles were my favorites. I looked at quite a few of them until i found the 30th anniversary edition, which i bought on the spot.
As far as restoring it, i just started minor stuff like cleaning up the interior, basically going over it to find out what it needs. Mechanically it seems really sound, i drove about 150 miles home from where i bought it with no issues at all.
anyway, as the restoration progresses i will post up more pictures of it
Here are the starting shots of it. this is the day after i bought it. Ignore the fact that it is filthy, i havent yet washed it.
(http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f124/youpey/Thunderbird/IMG_0328.jpg)
My tbird with my everyday car
(http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f124/youpey/Thunderbird/IMG_0362.jpg)
more pics
http://s46.photobucket.com/albums/f124/youpey/Thunderbird/?start=all
very nice. i always liked the anniversary models.--irv
Very nice! The Anny TBird has to be favorite 83-86 by far.
Great looking T-bird it looks like a real keeper !!! :headbang: nice :deal:
Sweet car.Finding parts can be a real adventure,but I seem to enjoy it.Good luck with it.You're in the right place.Get involved.we're here if you need us.
yeah, i am definitely having trouble finding some parts. like i need an air cleaner cover for a 5.0 in good shape. hopefully i will find maybe a good junk yard around here
awesome car! I love the elan/anniversary paint scheme. thats definatelly in my list of future buys. I actually have a whole bunch of 30th anniversary memorabilia...all I'm missing is the actual car! If you dont mind me asking, how much did you pay for that car?
Very Nice, I want it...
i got it for 2000. sorry for the really late reply. this is the first time in a while i have had a chance to really read the forum
i just had to replace the tire, and will change the others. hopefully on saturday, i will get it over to the classic restoration shop to get an estimate for fixing the small dings and a paint job
the interior is good, and the engine is 90% good appearance wise. mechanically it is sound
Nice ride!!! Was that the one that was posed in the LEADS on stuff for sale? That would look good in my driveway!! Man I wish my wife would be open to getting a bird or cougar....
yeah, it was the one in the leads section, only i hadnt found this site until after i bought it. here is the whole story on the car.
my entire life i wanted to restore a classic car, but between getting married and other things, it never made sense. Well, i had a vacation in boston with my wife, and since everything in boston costs so much, i saved every penny i had for about 2 months.
we ended up spending 1/3 of the money i had saved, leaving the classic restoration possible. while in boston one night, my wife fell asleep and i was bored, so i started looking on ebay for an 83-88 thunderbird. i couldnt find any i like (except one that was way out of my price range)
the rule i had about finding one, it must be 83-88, and it must have a v8 and not red. (sorry red guys, i dont like red cars)
so i kept looking but i couldnt find anything. one day, i just decided to look on ebay, completed auctions and i saw this one. i emailed the seller asking if it was still available. I also asked his price for the car. i knew i had no more then 2000 to spend, so if it was in the range i would go look at it. it was 3 hours away. thankfully the 2000 was the lowest he would go, so it was in my range.
i had 2 to look at before this one, both ended up being pretty bad, but i was strait with the seller. telling him i had one to look at ( i looked at the first one before i emailed him)
after looking at the second one, and saw it wasnt what i was looking for, i emailed the guy telling him, if he would accept my offer of 2000, i would come see the car, and i would bring cash. i didnt want to make too many trips, basically no more then 1 to look at it/buy it and one to drive it back. since i was paying cash, i got to drive it home that day with his plates. which was awesome because it was so far away.
that is the story, i knew as soon as i saw it and drove it on the test drive that i was buying it. the seller was great, by far the best experience i have had with buying a used car.
i do have to say, i hate when sellers lie, the first 2 cars i looked at could have saved me 2 trips. the first car, i emailed the seller asking if there was any rust, he said no. when i looked at it, every body panel not only had rust, but rot too. the second was painted black, but was originally red. since dont like red cars, and i was restoring it, i would have had to keep it as red, and i didnt want that
i am very happy with my purchase. it made it back from the 3 hour drive with no problem, even through NY city in rush hour.
i am still trying to find a 30th anniversary trunk uncut key.
I think 85's are the best anyway:evilgrin:
GREAT find!!!!! Have fun with it :D
They show up on eBay occasionally.
Welcome to the 30th Anniv club, its a great place to be. :)
I finally took the car out on the highway, and i have to say i forgot how good the V-8 sounds with open throttle. i love it
Very nice!!!
here are the rules of the thunderbird that i told my friends before they got in it
1. No smoking in the thunderbird. If you decide you have to smoke, you MUST pay for the repairs of the emergency brake, the ding/rust repairs and the entire paint job. In addition you will be required to pay for any damages the smoking has caused
2. No setting the thunderbird on fire. This will probably damage the car, and you will be responsible for buying me a new thunderbird of my
choice
3. There is no spitting in the car, spitting outside the window is allowed as long as no spit goes inside the car
4. There is no vomiting in the car. If you vomit in the car, you are responsible for paying for all cleanup, plus painting the car and fixing the emergency brake
5. Farting is allowed one time per person, per 100 miles. One long continues fart is allowed and recommended.
6. There is no kicking, punching or karate chopping any part of the car. If you do this, you will be let out of the car gently at what ever place the incident happens
7. There is no scratching or denting of the car, accidental or on purpose. You will be responsible for buying me a new Shelby GT500 if you do this. MSRP = $45,000
8. If you are in the front seat, you must wear your seat belt, I am not getting a ticket for you
9. You are not allowed to open the door of the car while we are on the road, moving or standing. It is only allowed when entering the car or exiting the car.
10. Paying for any repairs the thunderbird might need at this time is allowed and strongly recommended.
Most of all just have fun and enjoy the ride while in the thunderbird
i drove the car again tonight, i absolutely love driving it. it really brings back memories of when i was 18 and free of worry when i had my first car an 84 thunderbird elan
i just picked this tool set up
http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00935137000P
now i should have 95% of all the tools i should need for the t-bird
i am glad it was on sale 40 dollars off, that made it affordable.
i was looking at mac tools, and they were much more expensive, so i figured i didnt really need mac. since craftsman are guaranteed for life, i just have to bring it back to sears and they replace the tool on the spot, no questions asked
the t-bird finally passed inspection. i am good to go. it had failed for ebrake and the gas cap was no good.
the e-brake was fixed temporarily, it has the in gear auto release.that was messed up, so it wouldnt lock into place. the mechanic disconnected the vacuum line so it could go through until my replacement part comes in.
I like your rules, especially 7 and 10. And I don't let people smoke in my car either, nor ride without seat belts. Looks like you've got a real nice car to work on.
thanks. just a couple of small repairs left and a paint job and i am good to go