Well the Thunderbird is put away for the winter (it doesn't leave the garage again till after April 1st) so I washed the Mark VII yesterday morning. Washing it makes the paint look quite a bit better than it actually is. The clear-coat is shiny but the paint below is splotchy, dull, and missing most of it's metallic sparkle.
(http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa33/thunderjet302/Mark%20VII/markvii%20front_zps4lmfbvcf.jpg) (http://s198.photobucket.com/user/thunderjet302/media/Mark%20VII/markvii%20front_zps4lmfbvcf.jpg.html)
(http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa33/thunderjet302/Mark%20VII/markvii%20rear_zpsumerjzow.jpg) (http://s198.photobucket.com/user/thunderjet302/media/Mark%20VII/markvii%20rear_zpsumerjzow.jpg.html)
(http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa33/thunderjet302/Mark%20VII/markvii%20interior_zpshturqgqa.jpg) (http://s198.photobucket.com/user/thunderjet302/media/Mark%20VII/markvii%20interior_zpshturqgqa.jpg.html)
At this point I'm not quite sure what to do with this car. I don't drive it much as it's a spare car. When I have the opportunity to take a "pleasure drive" in nice weather I take the Thunderbird 99% of the time. This Mark VII needs a bunch of work cosmetically to make it even close to the condition of the Thunderbird. But for the $800 I paid for the car 3 years ago and the $350 or so I've spent in parts on it the car isn't costing me much to keep around.
I was gonna say...ugly??? I knew you paid less than a grand for it..remains a good score! And they're just very handsome period. I'd be proud to daily that thing...
Well the paint looks pretty ugly on it :hick:. The shape/design of the car is very nice looking. The paint is just ugly. I did only pay $800 for the thing. I already have a daily driver (Focus) so the Mark VII just kinda sits around. The Thunderbird is the toy car and quite a bit more fun to beat on/flog....
I spy a dent and some rust
I would as well! Always liked that type of car, but like you, I enjoy my birds too. Drove the birds more miles this year than my mustang.
Yup. It came with those when I bought it. $800 cars tend to have those things :hick:.
My Thunderbird also performs much more enthusiastically than a stock 5.0 HO, which makes it much more fun to drive than the Mark VII.
Stock 5.0 H.O. with even more baggage to haul around and at best 3.27 gears...
Still better than a stock TBird or Coug though!
There is surprisingly only about a 150lb or so weight difference between my Thunderbird and Mark VII. My Thunderbird has every option but a sunroof so it's a heavy ass pig. In stock form the Mark VII is probably noticeably faster than a stock 5.0 Thunderbird/Cougar.
Still an awesome looking car, though :headbang:
Especially when the light hides the paint flaws :hick: