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LEADS on T-Bird/Cougar Stuff For Sale / 1988 Ford Thunderbird
Back in October, my '88 Thunderbird was rear ended while out on a car club function. After the month long process with dealing with the insurance companies, they have decided the vehicle is a total loss.
I have looked at the vehicle and do not think it is something I am able to repair myself so I would be looking to sell the car.
As you can see in the photos, the car was in impeccable condition (minus the accident damage, obviously). I have talked over salvage rights for the car with the insurance company and the price difference has me to believe the car will go to salvage, and I think the car has much more benefit to someone who has the means to rebuild it / needs parts than it just to go to a salvage yard.
The details on the car : An '88 Ford Thunderbird LX with a 232 V6 engine. 98,000 miles. I have owned it for about 3 years, and have kept it maintained on Ford's Fleet Maintenance service guide for the car. (more extensive than the standard service). It has power seats, AM / FM Cassette and Graphic Equalizer, A/C, Power Mirrors, Power Doors. A good amount of new parts on the car (which I could go into if someone needed).
The bad news : The collision was on the passenger rear with the damage I can tell being to the rear bumper, passenger rear fender, rear tailing, rear trunk lid (possibly minor), exhaust system (it sounds a bit louder than before and the tailpipe was on that side so I assume something is misaligned somewhere), and rear unibody (I am attaching the photos from the body shop estimate for you to see. I'm not a body guy so I can't tell you how much would be involved in that outside of the estimate).
The good news : The car is completely driveable. I drove it from the accident site to home, a distance of 97 miles. It made it home under its own power, and minus the louder exhaust, I didn't notice any driveability problems. The interior is incredibly clean with very few blemishes (some cracking on the uppr dashboard is about it), and its has a clear title.
I am only listing the car here because A: I have benefited for some tech information from the forum (even if I was a bit of a lurker and didn't post, I was still learning the car), and B: I would think it would be people from this forum who would appreciate the notification of this vehicle available.
I'm not going to make millions off the car. The importance for me is that it goes to someone who would rebuild it and put it back on the road, or if not that, someone who will take the car for parts to get another car on the road. I've been around vintage vehicles and antique automobile clubs my whole life. I wouldn't want to see it head to a derby, or to salvage, which again is where I think it would go with the insurance company.
So if there is someone out there who would want to bring it back to life or bring another to life with it, please let me know.
The car is located in Mc Henry, ILL; a north-west suburb of Chicago nearing the Wisconsin state line. I will log in frequently to check posts and will answer any questions anyone has.
Thank you again,
Chris