Car Collector Chronicles - THE FORUM

Tbirdsps · Guru

1986 Thunderbird

D Yaros-Forum Admin · Guru

From the pics, she does look to be in excellent shape. On the matter of restoration, the question I would ask is, "To what end?" If she is to be a daily driver, that would guide me as to how much I would put into her. Likewise, only with more money involved probably, if I were restoring her to sell.

First things first, get the engine running properly, and put some (used) tires on her. The rest will then fall into place.

Tbirdsps · Guru

D Yaros-Forum Admin wrote:
On the matter of restoration, the question I would ask is, "To what end?"

My enjoyment of course. It really makes no financial sense to restore a car where the absolute top value may be $3-$6K max. It's salvage value is pretty low especially on the west coast. Nobody wants them. From Oklahoma and points east there is a much bigger following. Probably because you could sit out in the lawn chair with a cool beer and watch them rust. Not exiting recreation. I just like the style. I like the style of the 87-88 models better but I have what I have.

D Yaros-Forum Admin · Guru

Steve,

Then, it seems to me the wise course is to get her running the way you want, throw those used tires on her, and maybe a set of decent seatcovers, and you are ready to drive the h... out of her?

Anything/everything else would fall into the "work in progress" category! wink

Tbirdsps · Guru

Since I don't "need" the car I can do everything to it prior to driving it. Mechanically it is sound. OK it probably needs a new serpentine belt and an oil change. Cosmetically it needs attention. Plus those minor accessories like heat, air and radio Ha Ha.

I'm in the must have hard parts to get mode. Door window tracks is really the only thing that is real hard. Then if I change the interior color all the seat belts. If I choose my exterior color carefully I can keep the taupe interior. Taupe, a funny word for tan with a red tinge to it.

Ford has for years employ women in the design department. Thus the color taupe. Men have few colors in their vocabulary: Red, blue, tan, yellow etc. None of this fancy stuff like lemon blossom white or mulberry, mauve and the like. :) See, I can't hardly think of any and cannot spell fieusha.

Ooops, got a little off subject there.

So, being in the desert white is high on the list of colors with charcoal below the lower trim moldings. Sort of a Turbo Thunderbird color scheme. I like maroon but it makes the rear of the car body look heavy from the side and here it would look dirty all the time. We try to avoid darker colors. Cloth seats are a must! Never vinyl here and even leather can create sweat. Wearing shorts is a no no with either leather or vinyl. Interior temps easily reach 160 degrees in the summer. That has created a warp in the consolette panel where the mirror and window switches are located. Fortunately it has had cheapie seat covers on the front seats from new. It was the virtual little old lady from Ridgecrest car from new. The only document I'm missing is the warrentee card. She's looking for it. I have the pamphlets for the radio, tires etc that she got when she bought it.

So, all those things have to be considered during planning. I could paint the seats. Yes paint. Color Bond products are fantastic and are better than SEM products in my opinion. I've used both. That would save at least $500 just for unfaded upholstery.

http://www.bryndana.com/index.html

Picture of the documents:

10-24-09 045.JPG

In the picture you'll notice all the rust on the car. I've removed the trim and it's just on the surface.

D Yaros-Forum Admin · Guru

Have to admit, I am not sure how fushia is spelled either?

I would certainly go to all lengths necessary to avoid having to chang the interior color! I do like the 2-tone exterior color idea. It would be different, that is for sure.

I would think window tracks would be easy to find at a parts yard, like Desert Auto?

Speaking of the desert, where precisely in the desert are you. I have spent quite a bit of time at 29 Palms during my time in the Corps. I found I really like the desert. It is a fascinating place of one takes the time to see it. But, don't five me that line about, "It is a dry heat!"

Tbirdsps · Guru

We are about 110 miles or so north of 29 Palms. 90 miles east of Bakersfield. 90 miles west of Death Valley.

It truely is a dry heat. Once over 100 the humidity is around 5-6%. We start complaining about humidity when it gets to 11%. An exposed slice of bread goes stale in 3-5 seconds. There's a new cookbook that shows how to bake cookies on the dashboard with the windows closed. 115 degrees feels a lot better hear than 90 does in your neck of the woods. The big plus is no tics and no mosquitos. We don't need to have screened porches with a bug zapper on all the time.

D Yaros-Forum Admin · Guru

I can truthfully relay that Milwaukee does not have mosquitoes. Why? I do not know. Perhaps the breezes off of L. Michigan keep them away?

At the same time, even though it is already April, the temps here have yet to reach into the 60's. The best we can hope for at present is something in the high 40's! Spring should get here around mid-May!

Tbirdsps · Guru

Oh no! I'm being tempted again. There's a 1990 Super Coupe with a 5 speed (manual) tranny for sale here. The interior is perfect. I'm being distracted again...

D Yaros-Forum Admin · Guru

The Super Coupe was not a super-seller in the troubled late-'80s market, but its low volume plus its many laudable qualities argue for it as a future collectible.

Tbirdsps · Guru

Well I decided not to fix her up.

I sold it. Somebody will get good parts or fix it up but not me. It's just too hard, and hot, to get started. Also I found out besides the door window rubber being unobtainable one of the cats is broken and those are unobtainable in it's original configuration. So, off it goes on Friday. I tried to give it away and there was no takers. I guess free scares people.

If it was a Cougar I could whack the top off and make it a roadster with a little welding underneath. Can you imagine how light it would be without all the window and door lock stuff? But the Tbird body lines doesn't allow for it. There's a few Cougar convertables running around.

DYaros · Guru

And was the sale to someone local? Since you could not "give it away," out of curiosity for what did it sell?

-- Edited by DYaros on Thursday 23rd of June 2011 01:51:24 PM

Tbirdsps · Guru

$200. Going to salvage. I offered it to a guy that has one just like it with a banged up front end for $100. He never called. Now he'll have to pay double just for the front bumper and grill.