T-Bird Prices

[Brad]

Re: T-Bird Prices

This is why I have always argued that there is no reason to have a daily driver AND a Tbird that you love to drive buy only on the weekends...it's depreciating whether you drive it or not, so why hold it so that someone else can enjoy driving it.

[hammer55]

Re: T-Bird Prices

yea I have had that first hand experience

Agreed! I'll get one and save it for my daughter. That way, she won't be after me to drive mine when she turns 16! I've seen what 16-year-olds can do to cars. No way is she driving my bird!

[WVIncagold]

Re: T-Bird Prices

I was offered 50 grand for my inca at fords at carlisle. the guy REALY wanted an inca. But truly i think he was not all that serious. but these cars will depreciate and i agree that they will probaly get in the 8000.00 to 10000.00 range before all is said and done. We will not see any upswing until around 2025 or so which is about how long it will take. one need only look at the 80 cars to see that those havent appreciated that much. The T Type buicks and grand nationals are somewhat holding their own but you can get a nice corvette for around 8 grand. The major problems with this kind of speculation is that these cars unless they are lucky, parts will become scarce. computers will be broken and who knows by 2025 you may not be able to even drive them due to cost of fuel unless you mod it to accept alternative fuel types. The classics will always be that and like my 57 there are many reproduction parts to keep them alive because they were simple. Todays cars are much more complex and there are way to many specific parts that won't be found in reproduction. So drive it and enjoy it and maybe buy another when they sink into that below 10 grand range. Having collected cars and worked and restored them for over twenty years i have seen the people speculating and thinking they are investing. put your money in a mutual fund it will do better and you will get rewards quicker. Keep in mind also that they use to have diffrent special models. for 57 there are the E and F cars. the E car came with dual carbs and the F was supercharged. So if your looking for a special car and talk truly rare then you would want to get a willow green F car with power seats and windows. Now that was something special. With our cars today there is very little to differntiate them besides color and a couple of specialty things which will start to go out in ten years. there is no special engine options and they came pretty much decked out. Rim options and heated leather seat and select shift trans really are not going to influence anybody to pay more money and as the years fade and destroy the two part clear coate on these cars they will be repainted to match peoples desires. and who knows maybe ford will come out with a retro bullet bird later on who knows what the future holds. Barret Jackson and his Ilk have in my opinion ruined the hobbie. now everybody thinks they should get big bucks for their POS old car. And there is allot of people who say "Rare" when it really is not. Will i sell my inca or 57 probably not but then again i bought them both to have fun and enjoy. And thats what its really about.

[Hannah3]

Re: T-Bird Prices

Which leads me to ask how do the classics get along without leaded fuel?

[FlaBird1]

Re: T-Bird Prices

Which leads me to ask how do the classics get along without leaded fuel?

Hardened valve seats and premium unleaded fuel. I found that Turbo Blue Gas works well if you can find it.

[Red Bird Dave]

Re: T-Bird Prices

I've said this before, but to repeat ... my guess is the cars will bottom out at about $10K. This will happen in 2 more years and then the price will hold for a couple of years. Remember, these will be 7-10 year old used cars! Watch what happens to many of them at that point. You may even consider buying one to save as a parts car then.

Once the attrition sets in and a large number are junked, they will start to climb back or at least hold the value at about $20K. I doubt most of us will still be here to see the car reach collector status.

The point is, price is not a factor to most of us. We own them because we love them and we love getting together with other owners at TBird gatherings. It's a fun car that has created a social life of it's own. There aren't many cars that have done that.

Enjoy the car, drive it, do whatever yanks your crank, but if you are trying to make money with it .. forgetaboutit!!!

David,
Couldn't have said it better!

Red Bird Dave

[MATBird]

Re: T-Bird Prices

Which leads me to ask how do the classics get along without leaded fuel?

There's a lead additive that we use. Can be bought in most automotive stores

[Latebird]

Re: T-Bird Prices

The "new" birds ain't goin' no where in price...except down.
(exception NM 007 P.C. Roadster and MM edition)
Drive 'em and enjoy 'em!

Gotta Love It!

[hammer55]

Re: T-Bird Prices

just bringing this to the topp incase anyone wants to be the first


IF THEY GET THAT LOW ILL BUY MORE THAN ONE, any of y'all want to sell me your birds for 10,000 in two years let me know, lol,(try to keep the miles down tho)[/quote]

[WVIncagold]

Re: T-Bird Prices

Only if i don't get there first! the great thing is owning both a 57 and the new T-bird is i can say your not missing much if you are wanting the same feeling. ford did a great job of capturing the abience of the early birds with these new models. So drive them enjoy them and have a great time knowing you have a little bit of history. Plus most Tbirders seam to still have our hair so we don't suffer from the corvette problem which happens when you buy one all of a sudden you develop male pattern baldness.

[fums6]

Re: T-Bird Prices

A nice 02-05 will nver drop to $10,000. Owners love for the car and scarcity will keep the price up. Dealers set the prices by what they will pay at auction. The Tbirds are still and will remain a sought after car. That is of course unless you sell yours to a dealer then the son of a gun will tell you everything wrong with the market "right now"!

[BirdsAndBugs]

Re: T-Bird Prices

but these cars will depreciate and i agree that they will probaly get in the 8000.00 to 10000.00 range before all is said and done. We will not see any upswing until around 2025 or so which is about how long it will take. one need only look at the 80 cars to see that those havent appreciated that much. The T Type buicks and grand nationals are somewhat holding their own but you can get a nice corvette for around 8 grand. The major problems with this kind of speculation is that these cars unless they are lucky, parts will become scarce. computers will be broken and who knows by 2025 you may not be able to even drive them due to cost of fuel unless you mod it to accept alternative fuel types. The classics will always be that and like my 57 there are many reproduction parts to keep them alive because they were simple. Todays cars are much more complex and there are way to many specific parts that won't be found in reproduction. So drive it and enjoy it and maybe buy another when they sink into that below 10 grand range.

Some good points. I'm seeing 2002's in the low $20,000 range. Not bad for a car that is 5-6 years old. That's 50% from the original $38,000 - $42,000 sticker price. Have you checked out a Lincoln Town Car lately? They lose close to 50% in the first year!

In regards to other specialty cars, I've noticed that some of the cars I liked in the 80's can be bought quite reasonably even for very well kept examples. I've seen Hurst/Olds, Oldmobile 442's, Buick Grand Nationals, and other well kept examples in the $10,000 - $15,000 range.

One car I've found interesting is the 1994-1996 Chevrolet Impala SS. The 1996 models (only year with analog gauges and the center console) were holding their values better than the earlier models with the best examples commanding a premium. However in the past couple of years, it seems like interest has waned for these cars in general.

[hammer55]

Re: T-Bird Prices

heres one for 5000.00



2002 Ford Thunderbird Deluxe
Yellow, 2 door, 2WD, Convertible, Automatic, 8 Cylinders. </SPAN>
Classified Ad: bbbbuyu ( ~2,381 mi. away)
410-864-0083 (Daytime) 410-864-0083 (Evening

[BirdsAndBugs]

Re: T-Bird Prices

$5,000 is either a misprint or one hell of a deal.

Speaking of prices, here are some completed listings on eBay. Not many actually sold and changed hands based on the auction results.

http://motors.search-completed.ebay....QQsacatZQ2d100

[Borla Babe]

Re: T-Bird Prices

For $5,000. I'll buy it! This has got to be a scam. Just called the number to talk to the owner, it's a fax number.