Collectible Thunderbirds Design, Style and Fashion – Part 3 of 5
You can still find good cars out there in the six thousand or so range that can only go up in value. Keep in mind that these cars are spendy to restore. So, if you find a low mileage original car in the fifteen thousand dollar range, it is probably a better buy than a five thousand dollar car that needs a lot of work.
1967 was the first year for the "Big Birds." For the five year production run of 1967 through 1971 the Thunderbird was back to a body and frame construction shared with the Lincoln Mark III. Design and styling of the 67 through 69 years is quite good. Also, these years you could have bought a four-door thunderbird sedan with suicide doors on the rear. These are quite collectible. Not many were made or sold. If you find one, buy it.
The 1970 and 1971 Thunderbirds were restyled with a longer hood and beak-like front end that made the car look like a Pontiac. We have owned a 1970 Thunderbird and I can tell you that it is very easy to crunch the grille in a parking lot. From the driver’s seat you cannot tell how far that beak sticks out there. Still, the car has a sleek and no-nonsense look about it that says "personal luxury" ready to move out fast. The collectors are just finding these cars. If you find a "cream-puff" four-door or a 1970 with the beak uncrunched, buy it now. You won’t find one if you wait till later. Production was down to about 40,000 cars in 1970 so they are not plentiful.
Next we have the 1972 to 1976 "Luxo-Birds." From 1955 to 1971 the phrase "Unique in All the World" applied to the Thunderbird. With the 1972 to 1976 Thunderbirds the T-Bird became a blatantly rebadged Lincoln Mark IV. It had virtually all of the toys and luxury of the Mark with a price about $2,500 lower. I own a 1973 Thunderbird with a 460 cu. in. engine. I love it.
I love the 67-69 Thunderbirds I own a 69 four door with a sunroof. I am hoping they will gain in value. I do not care for the 70-71 because of the Pontiac nose. The performace of the 429 cu inch motor is great in these cars. However after 1971 the HP and performance drops off. The 72-76 Birds I feel are not as good looking as the 67-69. I feel because of the low number of 67-69 left plus the fact that there were less 4 doors than two doors that these cars are way under valued in the classic car market. If the market ever recognizes the 67-69 features such as power and styling and the fact that their are so few left I feel the price on these car would go thru the roof. But without the appreciation and demand it remains to be seen.
My son has a 1970 thunderbird with suicide doors. At one time when we looked these were not even on the collectable list. I have been trying to find out more about them lately, and about all I can find is what you say here, buy one, they will be someday. Can you tell me approximately what they are worth today in monetary value. This one belonged to his grandad and I am sure he will not sell it , but was ofered 5000.00 for it and we were just wondering if this was what they are worth or was the guy trying to pull one over on us or is it even worth that at this time