Times are changing

Topic: Times are changing (Read 6362 times) previous topic - next topic

Times are changing

May 05, 2014, 11:47:03 AM

I don't know if anyone has brought this topic up before, but has anyone thought about how rare our cars have quickly become these last few years? Between the "cash for clunkers" and people just simply throwing these cars away, you just don't see them on the road as often as you used too. In Owensboro, Kentucky alone, I'm always keeping an eye out for an 83-88 Cougar or Thunderbird. You just DON'T see them anymore.

On a side note, it's increasingly harder to find certain parts for our cars as well. I remember the days of going to junk yards to find seats or emblems, etc., but now I can barely find parts on Ebay! And you can forget about finding reproduction fenders or corner panels! It's easier to purchase and find parts for my parent's '66 Mustang than it is for my '85 Cougar.

This isn't a rant or anything like that. I just find it interesting how rare these cars seem to be getting. I'm curious what will happen to the value of our cars in the next ten years or so.

Times are changing

Reply #1 – May 05, 2014, 12:05:57 PM

I seriously doubt the value will go up much anytime soon. you can still get parts out here, but not like you used to be.able to. Guy right next door to me drives an 87 bird, another guy that works next door to my work has an 87-88 turbo coupe.

Times are changing

Reply #2 – May 05, 2014, 02:16:28 PM

they've been rare around here for years. I think you guys up north had a whole lot more than we ever did anyway. The seemed to never stray too far from their production plant lol.

Times are changing

Reply #3 – May 05, 2014, 02:18:50 PM

I know of about Three silver turbo coupes right around where I live, another metallic gray, and a few 5.0 and v6 birds. Theres more than you'd think its just about catching them on the road, thats the tricky part

Times are changing

Reply #4 – May 05, 2014, 02:55:23 PM

I have mental notes of where countless cat/birds are. Most are in people's yards or driveways. I never see them on the street though. There is one beat-up 87 'bird that drives around town, but that's about it. There are none in the local junk yards either. And I live near probably 15 yards. None exist in any of them.

Oh the good old days. I remember when I had my first cougar, there was 3 ROWS of fox cougars and thunderbirds at one local junk yard. Probably 75+ of them. Now there's nothing. That's the thing with any old car though. We are lucky enough to be on the fox platform, so drivetrain and suspension parts will be plentiful for a long time. But take care of those bodies, they will be gone soon enough.

Times are changing

Reply #5 – May 05, 2014, 03:03:09 PM

Derik , Might see Paula's cougar over at this weekend's BBQ fest event in Owensboro friend.

Times are changing

Reply #6 – May 05, 2014, 03:39:30 PM

Quote from: DerikWayne;433300

I don't know if anyone has brought this topic up before, but has anyone thought about how rare our cars have quickly become these last few years? Between the "cash for clunkers"

This made a pretty big impact on Panther cars didn't it? I really didn't think so, and my mom suggested it in the midst of my frustration at every used car lot across the country wanting 4-5 g's or MORE for a nice Vic / Grand Marq. They used to be $1000 or less vehicles...not so easy anymore.

I feel like as far as cougars / thunderbirds, nothing has changed in my neck of the woods anyway since I started driving. People know me as the guy with not one but TWO cougars, with mods and loud obnoxiousness no less. Then again I don't see many people playing with fox mustangs, either.

Times are changing

Reply #7 – May 05, 2014, 03:50:39 PM

Quote from: ZondaC12;433317

every used car lot across the country wanting 4-5 g's or MORE for a nice Vic / Grand Marq. They used to be $1000 or less vehicles

I noticed this too. When I wanted a winter beater, I thought I'd get a crown or a grand, but man, a nice one is untouchable! I never saw that coming. I saw one for a grand the other day and it looked like it was ready for the demo derby.

Times are changing

Reply #8 – May 05, 2014, 05:59:09 PM

It's not just these cars getting rare, and it's not necessarily cash for clunkers. It's mainly high s prices making them disappear from junkyards, and with lower parts availability fewer people are keeping old cars on the road. When's the last time you saw a Chevette? Or K-Car? Or Tempo? 80's Escort? There were millions of all of those things on the road back then - all of my friends in high school in the late 80's were driving those cars, and now they're rare as hell.

Times are changing

Reply #9 – May 05, 2014, 06:47:28 PM

I was looking at a 87 grand marqui wagon earlier today. $700, body is in good shape but it doesn't run.

Times are changing

Reply #10 – May 05, 2014, 08:36:56 PM

My DD since Thanksgiving. The MO title said "Transfer on death" so I think this used car lot owner inherited it or got it for a few hundred. $2600 total including shipping it here from Pacific, MO. The whole underneath looks like that. The driveshaft and rear axle have a LIGHT coating of surface rust. I had just enough time to get some Transtar Body-tec and Rusfre black non-rubberized on a bunch of spots, drill holes in the stupid spot at the front frame bulkheads to make drainage exist and solve a design flaw, this year I'll be coating everything copiously. The Vic was great (still have it) but got wrecked up awhile back, I really always wanted 4 power winderz and the reeeealll plush seats. Plus there was hidden rust I found too late. For $800 locally it was great at its original intent but it was time to step up.

I couldn't believe I found one this cheap. And the 69K on the odometer has to be real. The gear lever is way too tight not to be LOL. Thing is, a lot of these dreamer-price cars....sit. No one's going to pay 7K for a 150-horse 4000 lb 15 MPG realistically, old-ass barge from a time still wrought with quality issues for interior bits, paint and such. All I know is I'm extremely thankful and love the shiznit out of this thing. Everyone says I'm driving grandpa's car. Why wait 'til I'm a grandpa to enjoy REAL luxury?

3.27 axle, I'll get a basic Trac-Lok unit, throw on the GT40 setup I bought for the Vic, and it'll be the Power Broker. Or something like that lol

Times are changing

Reply #11 – May 05, 2014, 08:53:16 PM

I loved my wagon, but at 16mpg i couldn't justify it. i traded my cougar for it, and i would do it again in a heart beat.

Times are changing

Reply #12 – May 06, 2014, 10:15:11 AM

Yeah I don't see many of the older Vic's/Marq's either. Or many of any generation really. It does seem that the few older style ones that I do see are super cool though. I never seem to see any old rust buckets driving around.

Times are changing

Reply #13 – May 06, 2014, 08:39:08 PM

Really seeing any car from the 80's is a rarity. Be it GM, Ford or Mopar. I think is just those years are dried up and gone, except for us few enthusiasts that care for cars of the 80's (regardless of manufacturer)

Times are changing

Reply #14 – May 08, 2014, 12:00:51 AM

I know of a few birds and one cougar up here, but most are beat to death. The cougar is the only one I do see on the road, it's in rough shape but sounds pretty strong. Minnesota winters aren't kind to these cars. I'm still amazed how clean mine is, other than some speckled surface rust underneath it's completely solid.

The problem with fox birds/cats is that, other than us enthusiasts, nobody sees them as anything other than parts cars and s steel. The Mustangs get all the nostalgia and the drag guys like the Fairmonts and LTDs, so our cars slip through the cracks and get forgotten about. By the time everyone else catches on, all the birds and cats will be gone.

I got lucky with my Town Car too. I bought it for 750 bucks from a lady who just needed the money. It's a little rough, but I couldn't find another panther anywhere for under 1000 in anywhere near the condition mine is in. For a winter beater, it doesn't get more luxurious.