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Topic: Holy !!! (Read 2466 times) previous topic - next topic

Re: Holy !!!

Reply #15
Quote from: Bird351
No love for the "4-eyes" around here sometimes..

Hey, at least he didn't say Cougar... at least the bird can be represented here without fear.

Re: Holy !!!

Reply #16
Yeah, I just think the 83-86s are almost the red-headed stepchildren around here sometimes. People pushing others to stick 87-88 noses on 'em, etc. I actually prefer the "4-eyes" look because to me it looks a little more aggressive, for lack of a better term. (esp. if you black out the headlight surrounds, etc.) I just went back and re-painted mine in gunmetal metallic (to match the 2-tone I made the car) and clearcoat, and I love how it came out.

I don't have a problem with the 87-88s.. obviously I don't, since I own one.. but it just seems like the 83-86s are almost disliked. Maybe things will improve when Chuck's "clone" is all painted and everything. That was getting favorable responses even before primer.

Re: Holy !!!

Reply #17
The 4 eyed birds look waaaay better in my book.  The nose isn't so long, the roofline and c-pillar is way sleeker, the decklid is lower and more elegant.



I'm the opposite with the Cougars, I like the 87-88 for its more aggressive nose, more curvy rear window, and more upright trunk.  Looks more like a Merc should. 



But anyway, nobody should hate the 4 eyed models.  They were here first, made Ford plenty of money, and paved the way for the 87-88s because of their success.
pro-five-oh

88 Cougar XR-7...5.0HO, T-56, and much more                             
85 Thunderbird 30th...#2471, 29k, all original and might actually stay that way

Re: Holy !!!

Reply #18
I prefer the 85-86 T-Birds over the 87-88's, which is saying something considering I've had two 87-88's (one of each) and only one 85-86 (an 85 base V6). To me the "four eye" look perfectly bridges the "muscle car" look with the modern, aero look. On the other hand, I prefer the 87-88 Cougars over the 85-86 models - not so much because the 85-86 versions look bad, but because the 87-88 is such an absolutely perfect automotive design in my eyes. Ford hasn't gotten a design so "right" since, until the '05 Mustang.
 
That being said, as for the value of that car: I've said it a million times, a car is only worth what somebody is willing to pay for it. These cars have a very limited appeal to the general public. They're big, they're slow, and they are getting harder to fix due to lack of parts. We all love them, but we are in a minority.
 
There is not a Fox T-Bird fan around that would not love to have that car, but whether there's one willing to part with $15k for it is another question. The car has a few serious misgivings that prevent it from being the cream of the Thunderbird crop:
 
It's an automatic
It's missing some very desirable options (leather and moonroof)
It's an '86. Try to defend the 86 as you might, there is no denying that the intercooled, PRC and ABS equipped, four-wheel disc brake'd, 8.8" rear, 11" front brake, 190-horsepower 5-speed 87 model is a better car overall (from the factory). Looks are subjective, but performance is not. Yes, you could add a lot of that stuff to the '86 (disc rear, 11" brakes, intercooler, 5-speed) but that would destroy the originality of the car.
 
The fact is that these cars are not desirable enough, even to us, to spend that much on a pristine example. We'd pretty much all rather buy one in just "very good" condition and then have guilt-free fun with driving and modding it. Sure, if I hit the lottery I'd consider it, but until then I can think of much better places for the money.
 
And yes, I'm aware that styling wise the 83-84 is almost identical to the 85-86, but I like the 85-88 interior much more than the 83-84, and driving the car, the interior is what you look at. That's why I didn't include the 83-84 in my "which ones I like better" list - I do like 'em, but they come in third.
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 ♣

Re: Holy !!!

Reply #19
Both those sellers need to get a reality check, The tc in the condition that it is in i would say should fetch maybe 5-6 k and that Mark i would say the same, 40 k for that mark?

Re: Holy !!!

Reply #20
Quote from: 20th anny 5.o
Both those sellers need to get a reality check, The tc in the condition that it is in i would say should fetch maybe 5-6 k and that Mark i would say the same, 40 k for that mark?

Didn't you read any of the replies here?