1977 Ford Other

six cylinder

7K91L140375

Clear

Gasoline

Meet Mildred! I've known her since she was new, and I was half my current age. But the time has come to part company. Although still mechanically sound, rust in the unibody is rendering her unsafe. A good welder could probably make her whole again, but why? Rust free bodies are available regularly on eBay, and that would be a far more sensible choice. Mildred has always been garage stored, and senior citizen driven. She was originally purchased by a neighbour lady of my parents. It was sold to my parents drove her for years. By the time they passed and I inherited it, I was part of the senior crowd. I drove her regularily until about two years ago, when the body condition made it impractical. I did keep her running, "in case of emergency", but the emergency never happenned. Here is the good: Her drive train is essentially good. When tuned, the engine ran nicely up until the last time I started her last spring. (Was going to start her again this fall, but the battery was dead, and the gas is getting old.) The automatic transmission and remainder of the drivetrain are good. All glass is decent. The front windshield is relatively new, thanks to a visit from a local deer a few years back. Side windows are like new. There is a bit of frosting at the corners of the rear windshield. The front seat is fair, with a broken seam and a small tear (pictured). The back seat is like new. If you are over three foot tall and have ever tried to get in the back of one of these, you'll know why. Door panels are decent. Shocks and tires were replaced a few months before I parked her. The radiator was rebuild about ten years ago. Body wise, the front bumper was striaghtened and rechromed, and the drives side front fender was replaced with a rust free Arizona one compliments of the same deer. Hood and trunk lid are both decent and reusable, as is the grill, headlight doors, lens, and other trim. The bad: Although the engine runs great right after a tune up, plugs 2 and 6 foul shut fast. Mildred does need valve attention. My mechanic told me when I was still driving her that it was likely just a cleaning needed, but he did not pull the head, so that is not a promise. The power steering control valve leaks, but will serve as a core. There is a crack in the center of the dash pad, and the carpet is rotten. The ugly: The back bumper rusted off a few years ago. In recent years, the driver's side front floor has become spongy and about half of the trunk floor has become a fond memory. As a whole, Mildred is not worth restoring but too good for the scrap yard. She would be a good doner car for your restoration.