Looking for a 63 T-bird

[Guest]

I am looking for a 63 Thunderbird. I would like to find one without rust(would'nt we all!). I've been watching ebay. Just thought members could help. Thanks, Mike

[YellowRose]

Looking for a 63 T-bird

Did you see this one in St. Louis? It was on eBay and said sale had ended. It did not say it had sold. It is a good looking car.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Ford-Thunderbird-NO-RESERVE-LOADED-1963-Ford-Thunderbird-2-Door-Coupe-z-code-SHARP_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQitemZ130338608082QQsspagenameZRSSQ3aBQ3aSRCHQ3aUSQ3a101

Also check Craigslist..

http://www2.jaxed.com/cgi-bin/mash.cgi?cat=cp&itm=thunderbird&loc=&fil=&ys=1963&ye=1963&ps=&pe=&pgs=50&submit=++++go++++

[Coral]

A project car or one already through resto?
I've got about 35 / 40 ad sites to check through...PM me a price if you don't wish to post it here...but any other information would be helpful to me to send you links on...

I would like to remind you there is a sweet 60 available that is ready to roll!

[Guest]

Hello:
Thanks for the help. I would like to find a car ready to roll/show. Price to $10K. I have a 63 I've taken apart in anticipation of restoration. I've come across so much rust the body work to correct it almost dictates I should cut my loses and get another bird. Rust/ cracked dash pad/bad door panels/bad repaints,are issues I would like to avoid. Please help me. Thanks, Dr. Mike

[Coral]

... well this will be a challenge...

[Guest]

Looking for a 63 Bird

... well this will be a challenge...

Sorry, It seems like most of the birds I've looked at have 3 out of the 4 issues I described above. I could accept one of them. Thanks, Dr. Mike

[texastomeh]

Rust/ cracked dash pad/bad door panels/bad repaints,are issues I would like to avoid.

COME ON, Mike - don't be a WUSS!!

Only joking you of course! RUST is the BIG one that you want to avoid as much as possible. I say; "As much as possible" because, face it, these cars are almost 50 years old and 99.9% are gonna' have some rust. Just avoid "Terminal Body ROT".

Trust me; cracked dash pad, bad door panels, bad repaint - while some work (fun?) and time consumers - are not that big of a deal!! I KNOW from experience!!

GOOD LUCK!!

texastomeh

[Guest]

I am looking for a 63 Thunderbird. I would like to find one without rust(would'nt we all!). I've been watching ebay. Just thought members could help. Thanks, Mike

Mike, seems like just the other day someone in one of these posting forums had made mention that they were selling a 63 roller for $700, the engine and tranny were extra, but cheap. Maybe you can search out the post and get the man's name. His location was, I believe, in St. Louis.

[simplyconnected]

...I would like to find a car ready to roll/show. Price to $10K. I have a 63 I've taken apart in anticipation of restoration. I've come across so much rust the body work to correct it almost dictates I should cut my loses and get another bird. Rust/ cracked dash pad/bad door panels/bad repaints,are issues I would like to avoid. Please help me. Thanks, Dr. Mike

Wouldn't we ALL love to find a show car for ten grand!!! Good luck. If you have a 63, you probably own one of less than one-percent left in the world (thanks to rust).

Now that all the parts are out of production, hard to find; consequently expensive, welcome to the world of 'restoration'.

Classic cars are a very poor investment. Want returns on your money? Put it in the bank and leave restoring alone. It requires multiple skills, extensive resources, and lots of money. A proper paint job costs me $2,000. I can get a whole decent used production car with modern technology for $4,000.

Unless you are passionately in love with your '63, you probably will never restore it (how long has it been apart?). So, sell it to someone who is in love with it. Give him a good price because judging from your problems, it won't be cheap to restore and it will gobble a lot of time.

I restore classic Ford cars. 99% of the job requires cleaning rust off and preparing parts. The assembly portion goes fast and easy. I enjoy wrenching on mine. (Sorry Ray) But, it is truly a labor of love. - Dave

[Guest]

Mike, I looked at the For Sale ad that I had earlier referred to and now see that it was you that had placed the ad for the sale of your present car as a roller with the separate eng and tranny.

Furthermore, I would agree with what simplyconnected had advised about the restoration of rusty old cars, in as much as what you've got right now certainly for $1000 would be a great place to start. At least you know what you are starting with. Best of success to you however you choose to proceed.

[Guest]

Looking for a 63 T-bird

Wouldn't we ALL love to find a show car for ten grand!!! Good luck. If you have a 63, you probably own one of less than one-percent left in the world (thanks to rust).

Now that all the parts are out of production, hard to find; consequently expensive, welcome to the world of 'restoration'.

Classic cars are a very poor investment. Want returns on your money? Put it in the bank and leave restoring alone. It requires multiple skills, extensive resources, and lots of money. A proper paint job costs me $2,000. I can get a whole decent used production car with modern technology for $4,000.

Unless you are passionately in love with your '63, you probably will never restore it (how long has it been apart?). So, sell it to someone who is in love with it. Give him a good price because judging from your problems, it won't be cheap to restore and it will gobble a lot of time.

I restore classic Ford cars. 99% of the job requires cleaning rust off and preparing parts. The assembly portion goes fast and easy. I enjoy wrenching on mine. (Sorry Ray) But, it is truly a labor of love. - Dave

Dave:
I never said or indicated I entered the old car restoration hobby as an investment. I have had my car apart now for about 6 months. I've just reached that point of discovery where the cost of rust repair far outweighs the value of the completed vehicle. By the way I'm listed as a newbie on this site but I'm 57 years old and have restored a half dozen old cars over the years. Unlike some others on this site who bombard it with endless questions with no seeming plan to their restoration project, I know what it takes to get a project done. Your response seems to indicate I should give up and leave the serious restoration to guys like you. I would have expected more from a web site which I thought was set up to support it's members. Mike

[Guest]

Hey Mike,
Nice '63 on Ebay, item number #300375763206 1 DAY 20 HOURS NO BIDS!!! $5200.00 NO RUST!!!
Also '63 on Ebay, item number #320459853048 1 DAY 6 HOURS NO BIDS!!! $8,000.00 NO RUST!!!
Richard D. Hord

OOPS! Just goes to show I'm not perfect!!!

[Coral]

Hey Mike,
Nice '63 on Ebay, item number #300375763706 1 DAY 20 HOURS NO BIDS!!! $5200.00 NO RUST!!!
Also '63 on Ebay, item number #320459853048 1 DAY 6 HOURS NO BIDS!!! $8,000.00 NO RUST!!!
Richard D. Hord

Unless something is goofy with my PC, that first number went to a figurine of a baseball fella

[Guest]

Hey Cathie,
Thanks! Haven't you ever heard the old saying that's almost as good as Baseball, apple pie and Thunderbirds?
Richard D. Hord

[simplyconnected]

Why would someone bid $5,200 (the only bidder), and then renege on the deal? Something isn't right.

Here's the first auction: Item #300370130535, ended Nov. 30.

I figure the guy looked at the car and decided it wasn't worth the money. He may have lost his $500 deposit.

I noticed the car is wet for the picture, no photos of the underside or under the trunk carpet, and he says the engine has new gaskets. He doesn't say it was overhauled and he doesn't say if it burns oil.

We will see how it goes...