Silver Survivor: 1975 Ford Thunderbird
If you’d like to cruise – or better yet, float – back to the year 1975, then feast your eyes on this “Big Silver Bird” (the term Tarzan used in describing the first airplane he saw in the sky). The seller’s father bought it 30 years ago from the original owner. The son, who now owns it, has pampered it and shown at a few car shows the past two years and states, “It needs nothing and is ready for its next caretaker to enjoy and show off.” Located in the Houston, Texas area, this clean, well-preserved 1975 Thunderbird is listed here on Craigslist for $11,500. Another shout out to our fine feathered friend, Larry D, for sending this ‘Bird our way.
The sixth-generation Thunderbird was introduced in 1972 along with its cousin, the restyled Lincoln Continentl Mark IV, and had a five-year run. As a cost-saving measure, the two coupes shared the same roofline, doors, and inner body panels. 1975 marked the 20th Anniversary of the Thunderbird, but other than introducing some color-keyed luxury groups in copper, silver, and jade, plus adding a few more items to the already long list of standard equipment, not a lot had changed from the 1974 models.
The seller claims it had one repaint in its original Silver Starfire finish in the ‘80s along with some tasteful red pinstriping. Based on the photos, the paint still looks very presentable and the matching bodyside moldings, silver half-vinyl roof, chrome, glass, and trim look very good also. I’m not seeing any issues with the outside of this 47-year-old Thunderbird.
And now to the interior. And what an interior it is. We had neighbors with the same overstuffed red leather couch and recliners look in their downstairs family room. I had to chuckle at the seller’s description of this ‘70s luxury cruiser cockpit: “Red tufted leather and thick, plush carpeting surround you in luxury. Power windows, power steering, power brakes, power mirrors, real fake wood, updated A/C and factory sound system ensure your comfort. Everything is in working order ready for you to enjoy and to impress your friends.”
The overall condition of this interior is, indeed, impressive considering it’s almost 50 years old. Even the “24-oz. plush cut-pile carpeting” looks well preserved. The photos tell the story and supports Thunderbird’s brochure sales pitch that read, “When you add deep-cushioned comfort and the quiet performance, you can appreciate why we believe Thunderbird is one of the world’s most distinguished personal luxury cars.”
Not surprisingly, the engine bay is clean as well and houses the big 460-cubic-inch V8 that generated 220 horsepower when it left the factory. The seller states that “a new carburetor has recently been installed and the mechanicals have been gone over and carefully maintained. The engine looks and runs brand new, and the automatic transmission shifts smoothly.” 89,000 miles are on the odometer and based on the overall condition of this car, that could be the original mileage.
Yes, this is a big, long, luxurious car and a far cry from the original two-seater “personal car” concept of the ’55 Thunderbird. I’ve kept from using the usual terms of land yacht and barge to describe this Thunderbird because I remember these cars when they were new and floating down the highway. Sure, they were big, but so were most of the other cars on the road (a Ford LTD was only an inch and a half shorter). Hey, it was the ‘70s. It’s hard to believe that was 50 years ago. And you’re probably looking at one of the best preserved ’75 Thunderbirds we’ve seen here on BarnFinds.
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Comments
Nice Bird, But the $11,500.00 might be a bit too much. These were sweet HIGH WAY Cruisers and the MPG wasn’t all that bad. I had a 73 Marquis with the 460. Great on long trips and not bad around town. The only down side will be trying to fins a place to park.
Very nice, today you list two cruisers the TBird and 75 Caddy my family owned both in the late 70’s just after I got my license. I learned to drive around Chi-Town and rode the lap of luxury in these kind of vehicles. I need a project but this one ain’t it doesn’t look like I’d have to do anything but drive.
Well done, Ron!
Nice car. Good write-up Ron, thanks for not crucifying the car for being out-of-touch with today’s perspective. In the 70’s, this was something special. I’m not surprised at the repaint, the silvers and silvery blues of the time were particularly short-lived. Check out the instrument panel face which is color-keyed (instead of being fake wood). Most of us would prefer the smaller-bumper 1972, but like Ron says, it was the 70’s and this is what we got. Cruise in style.
For Craigslist, the ad is particularly good. I think we have seen this seller recently on another car.
This is one of those cars:
Don’t need it.
Couldn’t justify buying it.
No place to park it.
Wouldn’t want to put gas in it.
But I sure would like to slip behind the wheel, into that cushy red leather seat, and just go for a long drive.
The old man had a “Big Bird” like this for a short time. It was after the ’68 Lincoln I got my license on, but before his Cadillacs. I forget the year, I don’t remember the big bumpers, so, ’71 or ’72, I just remember, it FELT heavy.The Lincoln, was justifiably, a big car, but the T-Bird was just a tank. At 5100 pounds, it qualified as a tank. Heavy steering, braking, lackluster performance from the biggest engine they made,( cut back to a paltry 220 hp here) and of course, fuel consumption, the doors weighed a ton, all let you know it was a heavy car. Still, the ultimate “Gentlemans Cruiser”, a T-Bird feature from the get go, these, I feel, were the last of the real T-Birds.
A friend has a 73. Very uncomfortable. These cars are giant outside but not on the inside . Sorry if I offend you Bird guys. I prefer the 64 to 66 models.
You must be referring to the back seat area – legroom.
I do remember my friend’s new ’73 torino having a much much smoother ride over horrible roads, compared to anything you can buy today! & surely this even bigger t-bird rides even better! & has plenty of front seat legroom.
I can just imagine your opinion of the 1980 fairmont based t-bird. lol
I had a 76 Cream and Gold edition and what a cruiser that car was. Drove from Ohio to Arizona and back 3 times in that car and not the thriftiest car on gas it sure did make traveling a dream. Really nice cars they were back then.
The poor man’s Lincoln Mark, but ugly.
This is a super nice car in a nice color combination. Some observations – where is the fake wood that was mentioned? I see red or burgundy trim everywhere, even the instrument panel, which surprises me a bit. Maybe on the right side of the dash, but it’s hard to tell from the photo. Also, it has Ohio license plates, but the car is now in Texas? The photos look more like Ohio than Texas in the background.
When I see this car, I think of this movie chase scene:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ylB_ldiYCkE
Seems that the asking price is very reasonable. Had a 72 and 73 thunderbird. Very nice highway cars. Not my choice of colors but that’s just me
Nice car, if it had a moonroof I might be a player
Thank you, Ron.
Two words: L A N D Y A C H T
I love it for what it was, back then. My father had (and I drove) a ’74 Mark IV, and I think these two cars were “cousins”!!
Chalk one up for the human race.
I had a burgundy ’76 T-bird like this. Bought it from a friend who owns a salvage yard. Original owner passed away, their kids didn’t want it, so they junked it to my buddy. It was a NICE car. Burgundy velour interior, sunroof, came with a glove box full of receipts that dated back to 1977. Miles were verified through receipts as original (about 80,000 3 years ago). It was quite a looker. Terrible gas mileage lol. I never got better than 12 or 13 mpg out of it, but I didn’t care. I loved driving ot!
Anybody know what years, if any, the thunderbird had sequential tailites?
I would doubt this one has em, tho.
Anyone reproducing matching red plush carpet floor mats? I would think this car came with color keyed ones standard.
Still with floormats? They were extra cost back then, if available at all.
I am 51 years old, not old enough to even buy a car then. I assume you are the same age, or older. You must know this too. I just don’t get your fixation with color keyed matching floormats lol.
IMO such floormats just make the interior look so much better, espec with good carpet.
Every car(all used & all blue inside) i bought(including a lowly 4 door ’70 boxy falcon) had either factory or autoparts store blue floormats. All of the cars are now in the junkyard but i still have the mats, that have all been waiting in vain for 25 yrs for a new “car” with a blue interior to mate up with. One of the old cars had the factory blue mats but no tinted glass or power steering. Go figure. lol
@joenywf64
I remember the mid-60s T-birds having sequential taillights.
I’m the person who submitted this car to BF. This car along with all the others in silver remind me of this song by Marc Cohn. If you really listen to this song, you become submersed in it and really feel like you are there. God love those Silver Thunderbirds!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=88Ko1xIkuHI
Great looking car save for that “gawd-awful” rear bumper that must weight 80lbs +. Hideous! but then again you can’t blame the manufacturers when it was mandatory back then. Too bad.