Fix it? Sell it? or part it out? May 11, 2009, 09:58:22 PM I have a 1984 Thunderbird 3.8 V6 35,000 miles with a blown C5 Transmission. Can't seem to get a good idea on what something like this would sell for if I got it back on the road.If its a $500 car, then obviously not worth buying a $700 transmission.If I disassemble it for parts I have to deal with the storage issue for a couple years I guess.It has some issues with the trim, the headliner falling down and a little rust.Trying to figure out the best option. Quote Selected
Fix it? Sell it? or part it out? Reply #1 – May 11, 2009, 10:02:37 PM Keep it, you'll be doing this is you sell it........ Quote Selected
Fix it? Sell it? or part it out? Reply #2 – May 11, 2009, 10:04:54 PM I would post up pictures if I were you. That is a really low mileage car by any stretch. Alot of the parts could be worth some money if there in good shape. You never know when you will run into someone like eric who wants a 100% factory correct car. The 83-84 years are the rarest because they cannot use 85 up parts. Quote Selected
Fix it? Sell it? or part it out? Reply #3 – May 11, 2009, 11:25:25 PM Pictures. +1It's hard for me to imagine a 35K mile car only being worth $500. Pictures can be misleading too, but post some up. It should help us help you. Quote Selected
my $.02 Reply #4 – May 12, 2009, 12:27:01 AM If the car is in good shape, pull the engine and trans and store it, even if that means wrapping it in plastic and burying it in the back yard. Get another drivetrain, eg a carb'd 302/auto and swap it. You should be able to get a decent used combo for less than $1K with just a little patience. Quote Selected
pics Reply #5 – May 12, 2009, 08:25:00 PM a couple picsIt was my dad's car but he hardly ever drove it. it has some rust but not really bad body rust. The lower edge of RH door panel, the black metal trim at the base of the windshield, the wheel covers have some corrosion. It was mostly kept in an open carport - out of the weather but still humid in MD. Some of the plastic moulding is curling away from the body. (the short pieces) The rubber window seals are cracked. The interior is pretty nice except for headliner falling downI'd like to get it running then get rid of it. only saw one sold for over $1000 on ebay and it looked like mint condition. not sure where else to look to figure out what it might sell for if I spring for a transmission Quote Selected
Fix it? Sell it? or part it out? Reply #6 – May 12, 2009, 08:36:50 PM Wash-n-polish it!!!! id bet ill shine!!!!! then id bet you can get at least $600 for it even with bad trns....(with right buyer) the trns issiue obviously hurts.... but look around thoroughly...You just might get a deal!!! Quote Selected
Fix it? Sell it? or part it out? Reply #7 – May 12, 2009, 08:39:13 PM Fix that you silly man! That body looks rot free! Quote Selected
Fix it? Sell it? or part it out? Reply #9 – May 12, 2009, 09:39:30 PM ummmmm,that there is a keeper.I would fix it up. Quote Selected
Fix it? Sell it? or part it out? Reply #10 – May 12, 2009, 09:41:52 PM Hardly any of our cars are worth anything to most people, but we aren't most people, are we? =P Fix it! Quote Selected
found a driveable parts car Reply #11 – May 22, 2009, 07:58:38 PM with a working c5Number of Thunderbirds I wanted - 0Number of Thunderbirds I now have - 2Hopefully I can put the trans from this one into the low-mile one ( the nice brown one) Then I will have one sweet girl magnet ......right? Quote Selected
Fix it? Sell it? or part it out? Reply #12 – May 22, 2009, 08:37:32 PM That brown one looks pretty basic (no power windows or mirrors). That makes it a rare one. I'd bet it's a pretty rare colour too (don't see many brown ones). I say keep it. It'll never be a babe magnet (brown!) but it's worth hanging on to. Quote Selected
Fix it? Sell it? or part it out? Reply #13 – May 23, 2009, 12:03:35 AM Quote from: Thunder Chicken;273754That brown one looks pretty basic (no power windows or mirrors). That makes it a rare one. I'd bet it's a pretty rare colour too (don't see many brown ones). I say keep it. It'll never be a babe magnet (brown!) but it's worth hanging on to.Yeah, and no power locks or passenger side mirror. Quote Selected