Restoring the interior is likely to cost some dough, but that raises the question of whether it is worth the effort and expense. Whipping its panels and paint into shape should not be complicated or expensive, especially if the buyer can perform most of the work themselves. There’s no doubt that at $7,500, this 1966 Ford Thunderbird Town Landau would represent an affordable project car. The interior isn’t weighed down with optional extras, but it features factory air conditioning, a tilt-away wheel, and an AM radio.
That would be my first port of call if I were performing this restoration on a budget. They also might hit the jackpot locating good secondhand parts on auction sites like eBay. The buyer may have greater success with a bit of persistence. I’ve had no success locating a dash pad or the missing components for the console, but I admit that my search was brief. If an upholsterer can’t repair the splits and seam separations, a replacement cover set will cost the owner $1,800. The scale of the mountain that the buyer faces can best be demonstrated by the cost of seat upholstery. It is serviceable, but it will need attention sooner or later if the buyer desires a factory-fresh appearance. There are also splits and flaws in the seat upholstery and a few issues with the door trims.
66 THUNDERBIRD INTERIOR DESIGN CRACKED
The carpet is toast, the faux-timber trim has seen better days, and I suspect that the dash pad is probably badly cracked under that carpet cover. While this classic is in sound mechanical health, and its panels and paint should represent an affordable restoration for the next owner, the interior is likely to consume a few dollars.
He uses the word “excellent” when describing how the vehicle runs and drives, suggesting that this is a turn-key proposition for its next owner. He has installed a new fuel pump and carburetor, and this combines to ensure that this old Ford is in sound mechanical health. All of the components for both the front and rear brakes are new, while the owner has rebuilt the front suspension. Potential buyers will enjoy this next bit because the mechanical news appears to be nothing but positive. The T-Bird might be a heavy beast, but that V8 allowed it to blitz the ¼ mile in a neat 16 seconds. Power steering and power front disc brakes were standard fitments on the ’66 Thunderbird. This monster pumps out 345hp, which gets to the rear wheels via a three-speed C6 automatic transmission. The original owner delivered on that front by ordering this classic with the Q-Code 428ci V8.
66 THUNDERBIRD INTERIOR DESIGN DRIVER
That sort of weight demands something special under the hood if the driver desires respectable performance. The Landau Bars are missing from the C-pillars, but new reproduction pieces cost $105, so fixing that issue won’t break the bank.Īt 4,409lbs, the 1966 Thunderbird could never be described as a lightweight. The tinted glass seems to be in good order, as is most of the trim and hubcaps. The vinyl top looks quite respectable, with no tears or splits.
The owner doesn’t mention any issues in his listing, and if the T-Bird has spent its life in the drier climes of Arizona, it may be a rust-free survivor. There are no dings or dents worth noting and no visible rust. It would undoubtedly benefit from a cosmetic refresh, but the new owner will apply the fresh paint over pretty straight panels. The paint holds a good shine for its age, but it has plenty of small marks, chips, and scratches. The Thunderbird is finished in Diamond Blue with a matching vinyl top. You could take it home by handing the owner $7,500. The T-Bird is located in Sun City, Arizona, and is listed for sale here on Craiglist. I have to say a big thank you to Barn Finder rextreme for referring this beauty to us. Our feature car is one of those vehicles, and it also appears to be an extremely affordable project car. The Town Landau offered the best sales total, with 35,105 people handing over their cash to park one in their garage. While sales figures of 69,176 were by no means a disaster, it still marked a drop of 12% over the previous year and a substantial 33% drop compared to 1964. The 1966 model year was the last for the Fourth Generation Ford Thunderbird, and it was also its least successful of that era.
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