30K-Mile Time Capsule: 1973 Ford Thunderbird
If you were in middle-management or maybe were a budget private eye in the early-1970s, you may have had a car like this 1973 Ford Thunderbird. It wasn’t a Lincoln Continental Mark IV like Bill Conrad drove in “Cannon” but this is one spectacular car. The seller has it listed here on craigslist in Albuquerque, New Mexico and they’re asking $12,500 for this T-Bird.
Ford de-beaked the front end of the 1972 Thunderbirds a bit and it was a welcome change, at least for young SG. I was never a fan of that look even as a kid and a few car companies continue that bird beak, or worse yet, the cut-off bird beak look, such as Subaru a few years ago and Toyota. This is a sixth-generation Thunderbird and they were made from 1972 to 1976, right in the sweet spot for men’s fashion, if you can call it that.
This car screams early-to-mid 1970s to me with the white vinyl top and white trim, both of which were redyed in 2018 according to the paperwork that’s included with the sale. That look is just like white shoes and a white belt in this era. I’m not a fan of the mullet coming back into style, which apparently it is right now, but I wouldn’t mind a little more Herb Tarlek in cars today rather than the diagonal bodyline creases and/or gray blandmobiles out there. Who’s with me?! (crickets)
The condition of this car, whether you like the vinyl top and wide white body molding, is phenomenal. The underside photo makes me weep like a child, look at how nice it is underneath! Did I mention that this car has a mere 30,000 miles on it? The only flaw I see inside or out is that tiny mark on the side of the driver’s seat bottom, otherwise, that white leather looks fantastic both front and rear and the trunk is cleaner than our refrigerator. This is one incredible time capsule, and it’s priced right. Hagerty is at $13,500 for a #3 good condition car and this one is all of that, plus 10% for AC and you’ve got a bargain right here, folks.
The engine was the top option for this car at this time, a Ford 460 cubic-inch V8 which at this time had around 215 horsepower. That wasn’t a lot of power for a 2.5-ton car but this car isn’t about speed, it’s about carrying you back to 1973 and it’ll do that in style. It runs and operates like new, including the AC, everything works, and the seller says you can jump in and drive it cross-country with no worries. Well, maybe other than gas mileage and $5-a-gallon gas. Have any of you owned a sixth-generation Thunderbird?
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Comments
Scotty is right, here is another car which screams 1970’s. Great Herb Tarlek reference (WKRP, one of my favorite shows of this general time), and I’m with you on today’s “diagonal bodyline creases” (and other ‘styling’ features which seem to exist only for the sake of busy-ness) and “gray blandmobiles.” So if one approaches this T-Bird as a representation of its era, it’s great. I’m pretty sure you would have fun with it at Cars & Coffee, and for cruises in the country with the local car club. Alas, the post is already gone.
Another great find! This is soooo much better than all of today’s boring give up gray blandmobiles. I’ve had three silver/gray cars and will never, ever buy another one.
Too bad the OEM’s don’t offer better color combinations today.
There was one of these semi hopped up in the 1994 movie “The Crow”. The character that drove it was aptly named “T-Bird. I never cared much for the nose of these or the big beak cars, I prefer the next Gen flip head lights, but that rear light bar looks cool lit up at night. I could not agree more on the lack of color in todays cars, particularly the interiors. It’s been over twenty years since I’ve owned a car with an interior Color that didn’t match most roof shingles.
When these cars were new, my uncle tried to buy one at the Ford dealership where he also worked as an auto mechanic. He felt the salesman did not treat him as a serious buyer because of his position so he instead bought a new loaded 1973 Monte Carlo with a 454 from a competitor. Years later I worked in a Datsun dealership and their best salesperson knew not to make assumptions based on how a buyer was dressed.
Does anybody else recall seeing a lot of these with vinyl tops that separated from the windshield header and inflated like balloons at highway speed?
Already Gone.
I had a white one with a white padded vinyl roof and red velour interior.. Beautiful car that seemed to float on the highway. Quiet and smooth.. Only problem was parking it. The front end was so far away I had trouble judging the distance from another vehicle.. Had to sell it when the kids came along..
This is a nice find.
We had two puppies that decided one afternoon that the vinyl roof on our 1974 Thunderbird was either 1) tasty or 2) fun to chew off. So, ballooning of the top was not exactly our problem. No worries though, it got just 8 mpg so both made the decision to get rid of Mr. Whale a bit easier.
gone
Father owned a ‘76 brand new same color . Beautiful in person (and Unique look ) sportier than MarkIV . For the middle manager , not the boss
I owned the Mark IV, 1975, same motor, best riding car I’ve ever owned, Cannon did drive the Lincoln, but all the co stars drove these, in Barnaby Jones too, Quin Martin productions ran only Ford products, I love the white interior and top, cars today are ugly with rhyme black wall tires
I like this, and I have a 1974 Thunderbird, white vinyl top and interior, a really sharp original paint in royal blue. Steers so easy, and does ride oh so smooth.
..owned/drove/loved a 1972 Thunderbird not unlike the above image. This baby was full-optioned with honest-to-god the largest factory sunroof ever seen. Swinging the front end this beast into the supermarket lot would send people and shopping carts flying. Too much fun. While it was a powerless behemoth, it was a wonderful piece of 1970’s excess. Miss that baby to this day…
I guess repro steering wheel horn covers only come in black?
Not sure which car has the longest door – this, Cannon’s car, or 2nd gen f-bodies.
I love these cars!
About 3 or 4 years ago I sold a 1976 Thunderbird about the same color, velour interior. It had that huge sunroof someone else spoke of here. I loved that car, but I had so many cars at the time that I had to sell something.
I have a 1979 Cougar that I have been thinking of selling (financially stressed after spending a year not making money). Similar feel as these, but smaller. 302 engine in the Cougar. Kinda sad…same gas mileage as this, but less power lol.