Skip to main content
Topic: So I may have found a 88 Sport....how much should I offer? (Read 1508 times) previous topic - next topic

So I may have found a 88 Sport....how much should I offer?

I was driving near where I work and I drove by a dark blue 87-88 T-bird. I did a double take and went around the block (it's not like there are lots of 87-88 T-birds left in Chicago) to take a look. It looks to be in pretty good shape with just a little minor surface rust starting on the lower part of the driver's side door. It has blacked out trim (Sport only), floor shifter, dual power seats, and dual exhaust, all of which appear to be stock. I could not see the mileage though. There was not a for sale sign on it but I left a note on the windshield for the owner to contact me. So based on the fact that the car is not a rust bucket how much do you think I should offer for it? Really I don't know what a fair offer would be. I only paid $900 for my 88:D.  How'd I get it so cheap? Well it used to belong to my dad's cousin from California who drove it up here to tidy up my great uncle house after he died. She then bought a new Volvo and didn't want to take the T-bird back with her. So I got it for $900 :banana:
88 Thunderbird LX: 306, Edelbrock Performer heads, Comp 266HR cam, Edelbrock Performer RPM intake, bunch of other stuff.

So I may have found a 88 Sport....how much should I offer?

Reply #1
I'd offer no more than $900 dollars.
84 TC 302 -5.0L/t5/7.5 locking rear and a 3.45 gear, Edelbrock Intake, Aluminum Heads, Edlebrock 65mm Throttlebody, Edlebrock Cam, 24lb injectors & MAS Air Sensor calibrated via chip,  BBK headers, Catback H pipe, Magnaflow lers :evilgrin:
:pics-stfu:

 Project Thread with pics

So I may have found a 88 Sport....how much should I offer?

Reply #2
Hard to say.  I know you do not know yet, but does it start, run ok, drive ok,  is the interior nice or a mess?  If it drives good, has no visible issues other than a bit of minor rust it could be worth 1200-1500.  If it does not run, has engine or trans issues, has 300K on the clock then i'd offer parts car price even if you know you can fix it  To most people these are just 20 year old cars, which means offer whatever the going rate for a 20 year old car is in your area.

So I may have found a 88 Sport....how much should I offer?

Reply #3
Quote from: mjbtbrd;269735
To most people these are just 20 year old cars, which means offer whatever the going rate for a 20 year old car is in your area.

Based on the info you gave thunderjet302, I'd open with about $500 - $900 Cdn.  That's the going rate around here... and trust me, foxes are rare.  I'd need to know more about the car before I could come up with a number for a final offer.  But mjbtbrd has a point:
Quote from: mjbtbrd;269735
If it drives good, has no visible issues other than a bit of minor rust it could be worth 1200-1500

And plus, you don't need to worry about shipping!
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
Operation: X Marks the Spot
5.0L SEFI, AOD, 8.8" 3.02 TracLok - All Stock

So I may have found a 88 Sport....how much should I offer?

Reply #4
It largely depends on how much you want it, and truthfully, if it's in good shape and you're only willing to offer $900-$1500 you don't want it very much.

Yes, to most people these are merely 20 year old cars, but we aren't most people. We actually want these things, and we know how hard they are to find, so we should be prepared to jump at the opportunity when we find one. If you don't, it may be a long time before another comes along.

What sucks is that it doesn't work the other way. These cars are desirable when we want to buy one, but are just run-of-the-mill 20 year old cars when trying to sell one. We get excited when we see one for sale, but fans of these cars are almost as hard to come by as the cars themselves...
2015 Mustang GT Premium - 5.0, 6-speed, Guard Green - too much awesome for one car

1988 5.0 Thunderbird :birdsmily: SOLD SEPT 11 2010: TC front clip/hood ♣ Body & paint completed Oct 2007 ♣ 3.55 TC rear end and front brakes ♣ TC interior ♣ CHE rear control arms (adjustable lowers) ♣ 2001 Bullitt springs ♣ Energy suspension poly busings ♣ Kenne Brown subframe connectors ♣ CWE engine mounts ♣ Thundercat sequential turn signals ♣ Explorer overhead console (temp/compass display) ♣ 2.25" off-road dual exhaust ♣ T-5 transmission swap completed Jan 2009 ♣

So I may have found a 88 Sport....how much should I offer?

Reply #5
Well it's not like I need it :hick: My 88 is in much much better shape than this Sport I randomly found. It would take quite a bit of work to make that Sport look as good or go as fast as my current car. I'm just trying to figure what to offer the owner incase they call me and want to sell it. I just saw it and figured what the hell I might as well buy another Fox:hick:


And no I'm NOT selling my 88 T-bird LX to get this Sport. Don't ask :p
88 Thunderbird LX: 306, Edelbrock Performer heads, Comp 266HR cam, Edelbrock Performer RPM intake, bunch of other stuff.

So I may have found a 88 Sport....how much should I offer?

Reply #6
Quote from: thunderjet302;269753
I'm just trying to figure what to offer the owner incase they call me and want to sell it. I just saw it and figured what the hell I might as well buy another Fox

And keep it alive!  If a member of this board buys a fox... man, it has no exucse not to live on :evilgrin:

You know, when I come accross any Cougar/TBird...
if it's for sale I leave my info...
if it's not for sale I leave my info... and this website!
Unfortunatly, no one that I've left a card for has become a member :(

Just my little rant ;)
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
Operation: X Marks the Spot
5.0L SEFI, AOD, 8.8" 3.02 TracLok - All Stock

So I may have found a 88 Sport....how much should I offer?

Reply #7
Quote from: Thunder Chicken;269744
It largely depends on how much you want it, and truthfully, if it's in good shape and you're only willing to offer $900-$1500 you don't want it very much.

+1

To me, a northern boy, rust is the big factor. I know you said it wasn't rust free, but obviously, the closer to it, the better. I think a true rust free roller should be worth at least $1000 (whatever that is worth).
1987 Turbo Coupe - Son's car
1987 Super Coupe - Son's project car
1934 Ford - My project car

So I may have found a 88 Sport....how much should I offer?

Reply #8
Quote from: FLSTCI71;269782
+1

To me, a northern boy, rust is the big factor. I know you said it wasn't rust free, but obviously, the closer to it, the better. I think a true rust free roller should be worth at least $1000 (whatever that is worth).



True. The guy hasen't called yet but the car is still sitting there. If I don't hear from the owner in a few weeks I might stop by the house and ring the door bell just to see what's going on with the car ;)
88 Thunderbird LX: 306, Edelbrock Performer heads, Comp 266HR cam, Edelbrock Performer RPM intake, bunch of other stuff.

So I may have found a 88 Sport....how much should I offer?

Reply #9
Well now you can get rid of the 95 and have a 5.0L winter beater :D
1987 20th Anniversary Cougar, 302 "5.0" GT-40 heads (F3ZE '93 Cobra) and TMoss Ported H.O. intake, H.O. camshaft
2.5" Duals, no cats, Flowmaster 40s, Richmond 3.73s w/ Trac-Lok, maxed out Baumann shift kit, 3000 RPM Dirty Dog non-lock TC
Aside from the Mustang crinkle headers, still looks like it's only 150 HP...
1988 Black XR7 Trick Flow top end, Tremec 3550
1988 Black XR7 Procharger P600B intercooled, Edelbrock Performer non-RPM heads, GT40 intake AOD, 13 PSI @5000 RPM. 93 octane

So I may have found a 88 Sport....how much should I offer?

Reply #10
Quote from: ZondaC12;269839
Well now you can get rid of the 95 and have a 5.0L winter beater :D


x2

POR 15 it and undercoat the whole thing!
1986 Cougar LS

So I may have found a 88 Sport....how much should I offer?

Reply #11
Quote from: Thunder Chicken;269744
It largely depends on how much you want it, and truthfully, if it's in good shape and you're only willing to offer $900-$1500 you don't want it very much.


I agree with the other two paragraphs about us not being normal people and us getting excited bout these cars, but there is no reason to simply blow money on something that really isn't worth it. For example, there is an 88 sport around my area which the guy wanta 1700 for. It has a little rust in the fenders and on one door. He has the spare parts and they are okay. I talked to him a month ago and he lowered it only to $1,500. Since then he has come to the conclusion that its not worth it, and  is abvertising it for $1200 now.

So I may have found a 88 Sport....how much should I offer?

Reply #12
Quote from: jpc647;269874
I agree with the other two paragraphs about us not being normal people and us getting excited bout these cars, but there is no reason to simply blow money on something that really isn't worth it. For example, there is an 88 sport around my area which the guy wanta 1700 for. It has a little rust in the fenders and on one door. He has the spare parts and they are okay. I talked to him a month ago and he lowered it only to $1,500. Since then he has come to the conclusion that its not worth it, and  is abvertising it for $1200 now.
...So in other words, you don't want it very much. Just like I said ;)
2015 Mustang GT Premium - 5.0, 6-speed, Guard Green - too much awesome for one car

1988 5.0 Thunderbird :birdsmily: SOLD SEPT 11 2010: TC front clip/hood ♣ Body & paint completed Oct 2007 ♣ 3.55 TC rear end and front brakes ♣ TC interior ♣ CHE rear control arms (adjustable lowers) ♣ 2001 Bullitt springs ♣ Energy suspension poly busings ♣ Kenne Brown subframe connectors ♣ CWE engine mounts ♣ Thundercat sequential turn signals ♣ Explorer overhead console (temp/compass display) ♣ 2.25" off-road dual exhaust ♣ T-5 transmission swap completed Jan 2009 ♣

So I may have found a 88 Sport....how much should I offer?

Reply #13
I mean I want it, but I know its not worth anything. I have a hard time spending time wasting money just because someone thinks its worth its weight in gold.

 

So I may have found a 88 Sport....how much should I offer?

Reply #14
Quote from: jpc647;269971
I mean I want it, but I know its not worth anything. I have a hard time spending time wasting money just because someone thinks its worth its weight in gold.


Well said.

While some on this forum might value these cars immensely, and it is true you don't see them all that often...they certainly don't retain value like a mustang does.