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Topic: 87 Thunderbird LX, V6, 86K miles, virtually rust free, what's it worth? (Read 2512 times) previous topic - next topic

87 Thunderbird LX, V6, 86K miles, virtually rust free, what's it worth?

Someone local to me is looking to sell his 87 Thunderbird LX V6. It has 86k miles and is virtually rust free, besides some surface rust here and there. The car also has an almost mint interior with a CRACK FREE dash. It has every option but a sunroof. The catch is the car hasn't been run in 8 years. There was an issue with the transmission where it was shifting odd and developed a leak at one of the cooler lines. That puts a damper on things. Up here where these things rust out (gotta love the salt belt :mullet:) if it ran it's a $2-2.5K car easy. He's wondering what to ask for the car in it's current state and, quite frankly, I'm not sure what it's worth. It's not a se value car by any means, but again, it hasn't been started since 2009. I'm thinking $1000-1200 is a fair price to ask. What are your guys thoughts?

Exterior:




Only exterior rust spots:



Engine bay (brown stuff is undercoat):



Chassis:





Interior/Trunk:


88 Thunderbird LX: 306, Edelbrock Performer heads, Comp 266HR cam, Edelbrock Performer RPM intake, bunch of other stuff.

87 Thunderbird LX, V6, 86K miles, virtually rust free, what's it worth?

Reply #1 –
Offer him $1200 less then he is asking, cause thats what he would end up doing if he wanted to make it drive. $1000+ for the trans and at least $200 to get it back on the road.
Quote from: jcassity
I honestly dont think you could exceed the cost of a new car buy installing new *stock* parts everywhere in your coug our tbird. Its just plain impossible. You could revamp the entire drivetrain/engine/suspenstion and still come out ahead.
Hooligans! 
1988 Crown Vic wagon. 120K California car. Wifes grocery getter. (junked)
1987 Ford Thunderbird LX. 5.0. s.o., sn-95 t-5 and an f-150 clutch. Driven daily and going strong.
1986 cougar.
lilsammywasapunkrocker@yahoo.com

87 Thunderbird LX, V6, 86K miles, virtually rust free, what's it worth?

Reply #2 –
Quote from: Haystack;461629
Offer him $1200 less then he is asking, cause thats what he would end up doing if he wanted to make it drive. $1000+ for the trans and at least $200 to get it back on the road.

I'm not trying to buy it, I'm trying to figure out what he should ask for it. The guy is in the local Thunderbird club and he contacted me to get an idea on what to price the car at.
88 Thunderbird LX: 306, Edelbrock Performer heads, Comp 266HR cam, Edelbrock Performer RPM intake, bunch of other stuff.

87 Thunderbird LX, V6, 86K miles, virtually rust free, what's it worth?

Reply #3 –
I'm going to tell the owner to price it at $1500 if he doesn't fix the transmission, $3000 if he does. Seems fair based on overall condition of the car.
88 Thunderbird LX: 306, Edelbrock Performer heads, Comp 266HR cam, Edelbrock Performer RPM intake, bunch of other stuff.

87 Thunderbird LX, V6, 86K miles, virtually rust free, what's it worth?

Reply #4 –
Sorry I can't help you, but what is that maroon car with the white vinyl top parked beside it? Looks like a mid '70's Olds Cutlass.
Tom

87 Thunderbird LX, V6, 86K miles, virtually rust free, what's it worth?

Reply #5 –
Around here it may be worth $500, ONLY if someone has a parts car with good trans... With trans replaced, maybe $1500...

87 Thunderbird LX, V6, 86K miles, virtually rust free, what's it worth?

Reply #6 –
Quote from: Tom S.;461651
Sorry I can't help you, but what is that maroon car with the white vinyl top parked beside it? Looks like a mid '70's Olds Cutlass.
Tom


It is. There's also a mid 80's Grand Prix in there too.

Quote from: TurboCoupe50;461653
Around here it may be worth $500, ONLY if someone has a parts car with good trans... With trans replaced, maybe $1500...

See up here that's a like new car :hick:

He could get more out of it, even in it's current state, if it was a 5.0 or 2.3T car. V6 cars just don't have any value.

I floated the idea of buying this car and an 87-88 5.0 parts car to convert it. Wife put the kibosh on that real quick. Apparently she thinks 4 cars is enough.....
88 Thunderbird LX: 306, Edelbrock Performer heads, Comp 266HR cam, Edelbrock Performer RPM intake, bunch of other stuff.

87 Thunderbird LX, V6, 86K miles, virtually rust free, what's it worth?

Reply #7 –
Quote from: thunderjet302;461655
I floated the idea of buying this car and an 87-88 5.0 parts car to convert it. Wife put the kibosh on that real quick. Apparently she thinks 4 cars is enough.....
Tell her I have five and when the Bird is back up that'll be six... That's cars tagged & insured(or at least will be for Bird)... I have a F350 U-Haul storage shed, plus the remains of a TC & Comet... Once I'm finished stripping, those two need to go away...
Quote from: thunderjet302;461655
It is. There's also a mid 80's Grand Prix in there too.

That GP is '76-'77 at newest, the small G bodies made their first appearance in '78... Though the more I look at it I ain't sure it a GP, still older than '80s...



1976 Grand Prix

87 Thunderbird LX, V6, 86K miles, virtually rust free, what's it worth?

Reply #8 –
The red with white top car is a Cutlass. To the left of the Thunderbird is a black 83 Grand Prix.

Well anymore than 4 cars and I have to start lawn parking them. That'll go over really well.
88 Thunderbird LX: 306, Edelbrock Performer heads, Comp 266HR cam, Edelbrock Performer RPM intake, bunch of other stuff.

87 Thunderbird LX, V6, 86K miles, virtually rust free, what's it worth?

Reply #9 –
Pretty sure you said ya own your home, add some concrete for "rv" parking ;).

Around here id say he might get $2k out of it, it does seem to be in pretty good shape overall. I think $3k would be fair running and driving, maybe even $3500.

If its just the fitting that goes on the end of the trans coolers and up to the side of the trans, those lines dont really go bad but the fittings do. Mine that have leaked all had neglected motor mount issues. A couple of bucks per fitting and an adjustable wrench would fix that leak. They had em on the shelf at the parts store in the dorman section.

Id tell him to throw a battery at it, hit it with starter fluid to see if it runs. If it will, then go after an oil change and the trans stuff and try for the $3-3500 range.
Quote from: jcassity
I honestly dont think you could exceed the cost of a new car buy installing new *stock* parts everywhere in your coug our tbird. Its just plain impossible. You could revamp the entire drivetrain/engine/suspenstion and still come out ahead.
Hooligans! 
1988 Crown Vic wagon. 120K California car. Wifes grocery getter. (junked)
1987 Ford Thunderbird LX. 5.0. s.o., sn-95 t-5 and an f-150 clutch. Driven daily and going strong.
1986 cougar.
lilsammywasapunkrocker@yahoo.com

87 Thunderbird LX, V6, 86K miles, virtually rust free, what's it worth?

Reply #10 –
Yeah we own the house. It's a city lot so it's not huge. I've been playing with the idea of a garage bay addition but that would just result in one of the current cars getting a slot in the garage.

I basically told him $1500 as it sits, $3000-3500 if he gets it running. More if it was a V8 car obviously.
88 Thunderbird LX: 306, Edelbrock Performer heads, Comp 266HR cam, Edelbrock Performer RPM intake, bunch of other stuff.

87 Thunderbird LX, V6, 86K miles, virtually rust free, what's it worth?

Reply #11 –
Well Photobucket is now being a dillhole. Here's the link to the album, till I move pictures somewhere else. http://s198.photobucket.com/user/thunderjet302/library/87%20Thunderbird?sort=3&page=1
88 Thunderbird LX: 306, Edelbrock Performer heads, Comp 266HR cam, Edelbrock Performer RPM intake, bunch of other stuff.