1965 Ford Thunderbird

Coupe

390 V8

Automatic

5Y83Z139878

Clear

Gasoline

1965 Ford Thunderbird Up for auction on eBay today is a really nice very original Thunderbird. I bought this from an Oregon Ford dealer that took this Thunderbird in on trade. They loved this car so much that they planned on keeping it for resale. They put the car in their shop and began doing all of the things that Ford dealers require that they do before selling a used Ford. This task is fairly easy on late model vehicles that they keep. They do the 100 point inspection and usually spend a thousand dollars on repairs and parts and then have a high quality car for public consumption when they are finished. For those of us that deal in and know classic cars.. This normally straight-forward activity can quickly get way out of hand as it did for this Ford dealer. Today, most mechanics rely on diagnostic equipment to determine what is wrong with a vehicle. They plug in a device to the car, and replace the part that the computer tells them to. That is not the case with a 1965 Thunderbird. So, here is how a modern line technician can get over his head in a classic car… Problem: Can will not start please advise. Technician: Replace battery.. Still no start Replace starter and solenoid.. Still no start.. Replace ignition switch.. Still no start.. Replace neutral safety switch!! Car starts. So this is how the repairs go. Fixing and replacing classic and expensive parts left and right.. It just got out of control and before the guy in the manager’s office figured out what was going on the shop had a $2,500 bill against the car. Good for me and you, bad for him. This list also included push rods, rocker arms and valve cover gaskets. He sold me the car with several items still to go realizing that he may never find his way out of this hole if he dug any further. The car had been sitting for years, so I put together another list of what I knew needed to be done to the T-Bird. The fuel tank needed to be resealed and the carb need to be rebuilt from the fuel varnish. It needed new points, condenser and plugs and the typical stuff. The engine is strong though. The 390 V8 has good compression and it runs well. It does not smoke or run rich. It drips 4 or 5 drips of oil a week. The transmission shifts smoothly and when it should with no slippage. The brakes will stop the old girl on a dime and she runs straight down the road with very little wandering or play in the steering wheel. The power windows all work, even the cool power wing windows. It is a dependable neat old car. I do stress “old” car though, of almost 50 years. Please know about old car ownership and either be mechanically inclined or know a good old school mechanic or you may run into expensive problems that might have been just a simple fix. Yes, it has been repainted, but in its original color. Other than that, it looks like all the original interior and engine and glass and chrome. The paint looks to be 10 years old or so maybe a few more. There are a few rust bubbles that I photographed, but I would not call the car rusty. There are no problems with the floorboards or trunk areas. I don’t think it has ever been in a crash. Everything fits well and lines up properly. I would consider the paint to be a 7.5 on a 10 scale. A good cut and buff would help a lot as there are some hard water spots. Add to that some repair work and paint of the bubbled areas that I pictured, and she would look beautiful. As I said, the interior is original. It is in remarkably good condition considering its age. The headliner looks just like new. The carpet has some staining but that is mostly under the cool vintage rubber floor mats. If you are looking to show the car or if you are a person that likes perfection, the carpets will need to be replaced. I have driven the car quite a bit, and I think I have worked out all of the bugs, but I am selling the car AS-IS. Please ask any questions or do and inspections before you bid. I am setting the reserve low and fully expect the Thunderbird to sell. Keep that in mind as any bid could be the winner if your bid meets reserve. One other note that I want to include as this seems to be a new trend in bidding. Bid cancelations according to eBay rules can only be used when an incorrect amount is entered. The bidder must then enter the correct bid to stay in conformity. Please bid with honor and purpose. If you are new to eBay and just want to buy the car, call me! I am totally reasonable and am happy to do a deal the old fashioned way. Most of my sales go this way and I am perfectly willing to complete the whole sale through eBay to protect us BOTH. If you have less than a score of 5 transactions I may cancel your bid. Otherwise, bid and bid with confidence. Thanks for checking out my auction!! Justin 503-969-5127