I think it's time...

Topic: I think it's time... (Read 4897 times) previous topic - next topic

I think it's time...

Reply #30 – March 25, 2011, 07:30:56 PM

Quote from: Thunder Chicken;356330

Though I'll agree the asking prices are getting higher, I maintain that these cars will never go up in value until people like us are willing to pay the prices. Because if a bunch of guys that love the cars won't pay them, nobody will...

until there's only a few left.... Then they become a rare find for collectors.

It could happen.

I think it's time...

Reply #31 – March 25, 2011, 08:20:07 PM

It's all in your mentality.

For years, I and you and everyone else here got used to the fact that we could stop by the boneyard and get what we needed. Or wanted.
Then about 10 years ago our supply of used parts started to dry up.
About 5 years ago, my local supply completely went away.
Our collective wad is offically shot.

Now, we have each other, and eBay, and sometimes swap meets.
And we don't get to pick and choose. We have to take what we can get sometimes.
Far cry from the way things were not long ago.

I almost had a cow last week when I passed up an all black '88 XR7 on the road here in town.
Trust me...I live 70 miles from where these cars were built. There were so many of them back in the day that you couldn't drive 2 miles without seeing one.
Now, I have to say out loud that I saw one! I saw one!

It hurts.

But you know, I grew up with these cars, from being a mere 17-year-old kid fresh out of high school, to over the hill now.
And these cars are like a pair of old slippers: a little beat up, but worn in like no other, and comfy as hell.

So I see them as my friends. And I don't turn my back on friends that deserve my respect.

It takes the most special kind of stupid in the world to love an orphan car that nobody else gives two s about, search high and low for the dumbest parts imaginable, rebuild it with your own hands (because there isn't another soul around that's stupid enough to help you), and drive it like it's the last of its species.

Don't know about you but I signed that deal for the rest of my life. :hick:

I think it's time...

Reply #32 – March 25, 2011, 09:01:38 PM

Quote from: daminc;356338

until there's only a few left.... Then they become a rare find for collectors.

It could happen.

Yes, and we're the collectors :hick:

Sadly, even many members of this site who claim to be big fans of the cars will move on when it becomes even less practical to own them. It's happened already - there are many old members who would have been considered high profile members back in the day who have sold off their Thundercat and moved on to different pastures...

I think it's time...

Reply #33 – March 25, 2011, 09:21:28 PM

Quote from: EricCoolCats;356350

It's all in your mentality.

I almost had a cow last week when I passed up an all black '88 XR7 on the road here in town.
Trust me...I live 70 miles from where these cars were built. There were so many of them back in the day that you couldn't drive 2 miles without seeing one.
Now, I have to say out loud that I saw one! I saw one!

Every time. I even have my wife doing it now. I saw an 87-88 bird at the Wal Mart gas station the other day, most of it was covered up by the gas pumps/other cars, but I saw the body side molding and knew right then what it was. My heart leaped, does every time, and I had to drive around the station to get a closer look. There is an 87 bird who's owner works at a local CeeBee foodstore, and I purposely take the long way home everyday from work just to see the car and see if it is still there.

And Thunderchicken is right, we are the collectors, 10-15 years from now we are going to be the ones looking for and paying the big bucks for these cars,and if we don't they will be even closer to extinction then they are now, which isn't seeming so far off.

I think it's time...

Reply #34 – March 25, 2011, 09:47:59 PM

I apparently am in the minority , but so far I have not had a hard time finding anything yet, and I see cougars and birds all the time driving around here .

And on this page here on any given day there better than 200 of them for sale

http://www.jaxed.com/cgi-bin/mash.cgi?cat=cp&itm=thunderbird&loc=&fil=&ys=1983&ye=1988&ps=&pe=&pgs=100&submit=++++go++++

I think it's time...

Reply #35 – March 25, 2011, 10:18:39 PM

Quote from: EricCoolCats;356350

Don't know about you but I signed that deal for the rest of my life. :hick:

I'll be right there with you till the end. I've been there since I was 20

I think it's time...

Reply #36 – March 25, 2011, 10:57:43 PM

We have witnessed first-hand the changing times of cars in yards being used for parts, to cars being appliances thrown in the recycler to become a Chinese tv. Not just our Tbirds and Cougars, but everything. The "green" mantra is to recycle everything and not let anything touch the Earth through any harmful means. 10-20 years ago, it was plastics. 20 or more years ago it was a Native American standing on the side of a road crying 'cuz of litter. It's a perpetually growing bandwagon. Hell, in another fifty years we'll all just be walking everywhere. And in about 20 years, auto hobbies will be only museum types. That said, the time to save parts that you have or find, is now!

I think it's time...

Reply #37 – March 25, 2011, 11:05:29 PM

I saw a fox cougar today on my way home...had to do a double take to make sure. I'm in this for the long haul, I'm already working on fixing the body up so she won't fall apart. Hopefully this is the last winter she ever has to see. I've even contemplated moving to a state that doesn't have snow;)

I think it's time...

Reply #38 – March 26, 2011, 10:59:25 AM

Quote

And my search for an 87/88 Cougar, four-eye Bird or 88-92 LSC continues...

I'm with you on that one. I've always kept an ear to the ground for an LSC SE that isn't rotten from northeast winters.

I've been thinking about calling this dude just to see the car. I would have no interest if it were any other model, but I have a soft spot for the '88 XR7 and this one looks like it could be brought back from the brink. Plus, it's nearly identical to the '88 XR7 I had 10 years ago.
That car would actually turn heads if it were cleaned up and driven daily.

Who wants to sell me an engine harness?

http://pittsburgh.craigslist.org/cto/2267092950.html

Quote from: "Craigslist"

[SIZE="1"]1988 MERCURY COUGAR XR-7!! HAS THE 5.0 ENGINE ALL POWER LOCKS. MIRRORS AND WINDOWS. INTERIOR IN GREAT SHAPE!!! HAS 160314 MILES ON IT. HAS HAD AN ELECTRICAL FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT..ON THE FIREWALL...NEEDS NEW WIRING HARNESS, MASTER CYLINDAR, AND SOME VACspoogeE LINES. HAVE EXTRA DASH PARTS EITHER CARBON FIBER OR WOOD GRAIN. ALSO HAVE 2 SPARE DOORS, FENDERS AND EXTRA HOOD. BRAND NEW TIRES, BREAKS, ROTORS, WATER PUMP, WINDSHIELD AND STARTER. ALSO HAS AN AFTER MARKET FAN ON IT. TINTED WINDOWS. NEW EXHAUST FROM THE CAT BACK MAGNA FLOW LERS!! DUAL EXHAUST!![/SIZE]

I think it's time...

Reply #39 – March 26, 2011, 11:02:58 AM

For thunderchicken and cougarcragar

http://phoenix.craigslist.org/evl/cto/2285509394.html

I think it's time...

Reply #40 – March 26, 2011, 12:08:51 PM

Here's a perception of collectability, lol: http://duluth.craigslist.org/cto/2285318658.html

I think it's time...

Reply #41 – March 26, 2011, 12:47:06 PM

Hey Cougarcragar, if you get it I have what it needs here and I'm close. Just let me know so I don't sell it. It's from the 87 Sport 5.0. I still need to pull the engine harness, and the mastercylinder will need to be pulled as well. But it's here.

I think it's time...

Reply #42 – March 26, 2011, 01:12:09 PM

You got it, Jay, and thanks. I'll see if he still has it.