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Topic: Why do I feel like I should buy this as an investment LOL ('88 TC) (Read 2058 times) previous topic - next topic

Why do I feel like I should buy this as an investment LOL ('88 TC)

Reply #15
I've seen nice TC's asking way more. I think plenty of us have. Asking and selling are two different things, but if you watch the right publications online, you notice some interest in the late TC's anyway. People "out of the loop" being exposed and saying 'wow that's really cool I want one!'

 I'd want to pay closer to $6K for this thing, but I totally see (and yes here's the practical part of it) myself making some money sitting on it for anywhere from 5-15 years which I could, whilst enjoying it occasionally. I'd like to drive a TC to see what the whole package is all about. I've always had a xenophobic "eewww 4-cylinder" prejudice against them. Which is of course stupid but it's a natural tendency when you're deeply entrenched in V8-land.

Two falls ago I had someone who clearly enjoyed one in his teenage years with his wife, HELL BENT on buying my 20th. I think $10k wouldn't have made him flinch. Recently another clearly well-heeled guy posted a CL wanted ad, looking for not one but two solid "easy restoration" 87/88 cats. It's cherry-picking, sure, but it's something.



I'm not seriously considering this, it would not be a smart use for that much money. But I have to wonder anyway. I really think if nothing else, the TC's will be....let's say very annoying to try and get in a decade or so. Let me also state that I am NOT in this sport for profit. Never have been, and can't stand the way the auctions ruin it for the non-elite. I guess it just seems like a really good deal assuming of course there are no hidden demons.
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

Why do I feel like I should buy this as an investment LOL ('88 TC)

Reply #16
Quote from: rodsterh;459977
Never say never...I wish I would have bought a Ford GT in 2005.

It's impossible to "know"/predict but basically a surprise supercar like that....from a non-supercar-type automaker, plus the heritage, it adds up.
The car that my username comes from...yeah those are even worse than they were new. The only almost-guaranteed blue chip cars are the ones only the super-rich can get anyway...

(Fun fact: the original C12, the "basic bitch", as they only got faster and crazier every year with bigger engines, is by far the most valuable since they only made 5 or 6. I think 4 have already been destroyed, one was a crash-test sacrifice)
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

Why do I feel like I should buy this as an investment LOL ('88 TC)

Reply #17
The big question is where would you put it? You've already got 3 Cougars. You have to be out of garage space.

These cars are hard to find in decent condition up north. Doesn't make them worth much however.
88 Thunderbird LX: 306, Edelbrock Performer heads, Comp 266HR cam, Edelbrock Performer RPM intake, bunch of other stuff.

 

Why do I feel like I should buy this as an investment LOL ('88 TC)

Reply #18
Quote from: ThunderbirdSport302;459959
lol. NO car is an investment.

I disagree. There are many cars that do appreciate in value. I just sold my 1972 Cutlass and I got every penny out of it that I put into in, and when sold, the paint was way worse off than when I bought it. It was still a good 10 foot car, but the older restoration was starting to show.

I bought it September/Oct of 2009. Sold it 4/2017. I used it for 9 years, worked on it, and got my money back. I consider that a "good" investment. I got 9 years of "free use" out of a car.

Most 83-88 T-Bird will never be worth 7k or more.  I'd happily buy another one(def a v8 or a TC 5 speed), but it's going to have to be priced right.