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Topic: Fix it? Sell it? or part it out? (Read 1575 times) previous topic - next topic

Fix it? Sell it? or part it out?

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.

Fix it? Sell it? or part it out?

Reply #1
Keep it, you'll be doing this is you sell it........:punchballs::punchballs: :punchballs: :punchballs:
FOXLESS!!

1994 Lincoln Mark VIII


Fix it? Sell it? or part it out?

Reply #2
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 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

Fix it? Sell it? or part it out?

Reply #3
Pictures. +1

It'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.
1987 Turbo Coupe - Son's car
1987 Super Coupe - Son's project car
1934 Ford - My project car

my $.02

Reply #4
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.
__________________
Twin '85 TCs
White/ Grey 2-tone
#1 (left): undergoing top-to-bottom rebuild     
#2 (right): DD, power everything (sorta)
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]

pics

Reply #5
a couple pics

It 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 down

I'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

Fix it? Sell it? or part it out?

Reply #6
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!!!
[/IMG]
Just enjoyin the ride!!!!

Fix it? Sell it? or part it out?

Reply #7
Fix that you silly man! That body looks rot free!

Fix it? Sell it? or part it out?

Reply #8
Fix it!
1986 Mercury Cougar - 2.3T/T5 swap, TC brakes and suspension and rearend, 3" exhaust, 255 lph fuel pump, Stinger BOV, Gillis MBC @ 18 psi
2003 Chevy Suburban Z71 - Daily driver
2015 Chevy Volt - Wife's daily driver

Fix it? Sell it? or part it out?

Reply #9
ummmmm,that there is a keeper.I would fix it up.
Never drive faster than your guardian angel can fly.
:birdsmily: :birdsmily: :birdsmily::birdsmily: 
  [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
:birdsmily: :birdsmily: :birdsmily::birdsmily:
1983 base model,1969 302 (originally a v6),upraded c5,currently 30,441 original miles.

Fix it? Sell it? or part it out?

Reply #10
Hardly any of our cars are worth anything to most people, but we aren't most people, are we? =P Fix it!
:cougarsmily:5.0 HO, E303 cam, Exploder/Cobra intake, smog pump delete, Ford Taurus electric fan, MAF conversion, BBK headers, MAC 2.5" off-road exhaust w/x-pipe, AOD w/shift kit, 8.8 Trac-Loc rear w/disc brakes, 5-lug conversion w/'98 Mustang GT 17" wheels, Mach 1 springs:cougarsmily:

found a driveable parts car

Reply #11
with a working c5

Number of Thunderbirds I wanted - 0
Number of Thunderbirds I now have - 2


Hopefully 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?

Fix it? Sell it? or part it out?

Reply #12
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.
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 ♣

 

Fix it? Sell it? or part it out?

Reply #13
Quote from: Thunder Chicken;273754
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.

Yeah, and no power locks or passenger side mirror.