Jan 22, 2019  •  For Sale  •  17 Comments

Clean And Green: 1975 Ford Thunderbird

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Thunderbird was a growing car. By the time it reached its 20th birthday, it had grown from a 175.3-inch two passenger car in 1955 to a 226-inch six-passenger car in 1975. Ford led you to believe in its brochure that the Thunderbird was the best luxury car buy in America. Built on the platform with the Continental Mark IV, it did provide a few thousand dollars savings over that car. At 42,685 sales in 1975, it was the slowest year for Thunderbird sales in this generation from 1972 to 1976. This is a 1975 Ford Thunderbird for sale here on Craigslist in Orange County, California. Thanks to Barn Finds reader Pat L. for finding this car and bringing to our attention.

The Thunderbird appears to be in good condition and is rust free. The vehicle has received a new paint job at some point in its original color. There were 20 available colors for your Thunderbird in 1975. Those were the days when you could buy a new car and not see yourself riding down the road five times while driving 25 miles. The vinyl top is original which looks to me to have some discoloration, but I can’t tell if there are cracks. The matching bodyside molding also has some discoloration.  It was originally a California car that went to Arizona and then back to California.

The seller has some extensive paperwork that goes with the car. Many mechanical repairs have been made to restore this car but the only thing mentioned is the brakes. This car includes Ford’s deluxe wheel covers. The rear has wide segmented taillights with the backup light in the center.

Inside we find a medium green leather interior. It has held up well except for quite a bit of cracking in the driver’s seat, including some rips. This Thunderbird has the luxury steering wheel used by Ford with the cruise control setup and woodgrain treatment, but it’s unusual to see a car of this status from the seventies with no woodgrain on the dash.

The engine in this Thunderbird is the 460 cubic inch V8 big block with 4 barrel carburetor and SelectShift Cruise-O-Matic transmission. The seller has a long list of repairs and parts list for this ongoing restoration. The vehicle runs and drives solid and all running and driving-related mechanical issues have been addressed. The car has 107,229 miles. The seller is asking $8,700. That may be a bit optimistic. Hagerty lists the average value for a 1975 Thunderbird at $6,700. It depends on what the mechanical items addressed are if it’s worth the asking price. Are you interested in a 1975 Ford Thunderbird?

Comments

  1. TimS
    Jan 21, 2019 at 3:45pm

    There’s a light blue example of this in my town. Not this clean but well maintained. Not a bad price for this one if it doesn’t need that much over again in work to be a part time driver.

    Like 2
  2. Howard A Howard AMember
    Jan 21, 2019 at 7:25pm

    The old man had a T-bird like this, might have been a bit older. I just remember what a tank it was. He didn’t keep it long.

    Like 0
  3. Stevie G
    Jan 22, 2019 at 8:10am

    I had a 1976 Thunderbird like this. Beautiful car in very clean condition. Mine was a local Milwaukee car but had always been stored in the winter so there were no rust issues. It was burgundy with matching crushed velvet interior & matching vinyl top that surrounded a power glass moonroof. I really loved driving that car…felt like a pump in it lol. I had a hard time selling it, finally letting it go for a measly $2,600 to a friend after advertising it on Craig’s list for over 6 months. My friend loves that car too. Not a bad car, just no value. I think the owner of this one needs to stop smoking whatever he is smoking & price this car reasonably. Maybe I should have consigned mine to a vintage car dealer. Might have got more out of it that way….

    Like 3
  4. leiniedude leiniedudeMember
    Jan 22, 2019 at 8:52am

    Nice old boat, but I would rather have the truck in the second photo. I need some help on that device fastened to the right side of the air cleaner? Smog something? Thanks.

    Like 0
    • Tom
      Jan 22, 2019 at 12:24pm

      That thing on the side of the air cleaner (looks like an oil filter) is a silencer to quiet the intake sounds. Funny, some cars today amplify that sound!

      Like 1
      • leiniedude leiniedudeMember
        Jan 23, 2019 at 5:57am

        Thanks Tom, funny is right! Take care, Mike.

        Like 1
  5. slickb
    Jan 22, 2019 at 9:51am

    Ford did a really bad job on there corvette competition…

    Like 4
    • dweezilaz
      Jan 22, 2019 at 10:01am

      Part of my “How I Learned To Despise Ford In The 70s” collection, SlickB.

      ‘More road hugging weight’. Yeahhhhhh

      Cue the “just an old car” and “make a nice winter beater for $500” crowd, though

      Like 3
      • slickb
        Jan 22, 2019 at 10:20am

        Amen :)

        Like 1
  6. Del
    Jan 22, 2019 at 10:24am

    ThunderBloat

    Like 1
  7. Del
    Jan 22, 2019 at 10:25am

    Thunder Bloat…

    Like 0
  8. Del
    Jan 22, 2019 at 10:27am

    Thunder Bloat

    Like 0
  9. Pappy2d
    Jan 22, 2019 at 11:59am

    Sure is green.

    Like 1
  10. Tom
    Jan 22, 2019 at 12:26pm

    That’s one fancy Gran Torino!

    Like 0
  11. Tim Kempinger
    Jan 22, 2019 at 2:09pm

    Had a 1973 that left me standing on a corner in Winslow, AZ. Busted timing chain.

    Like 2
  12. Bradley HoweMember
    Jan 22, 2019 at 3:08pm

    Well I personally like it. Had a non running 73 in the same color, which I believe was called Medium Green Glow Metallic. Wanted to restore mine but it just didn’t make sense to put that money in it. Finding one like this that doesn’t need a restoration is more cost effective. The ride in these cars is incredible.

    Like 0
  13. Vance
    Jan 22, 2019 at 4:30pm

    Permission to come aboard sir. This is the begining of all Ford’s to lose the individual looks and attractiveness. The bumpers were all huge and bulky looking, and they all had that floating boat-like feel. They were good solid cars, but looks wise not so much. I am a Ford guy, but my Dad didn’t have a lot to choose from. I think the owner is a little on the high side but it is clean. This is probably. 4-5k car.

    Like 2

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