Why so many little 'birds for sale?

[40cpe]

The auction site has had several '55-'56 'birds for sale for quite a while.

While the prices are all over the board, it seems that a nice driver could be had somewhere in the mid-$20's. Other than a soft market, is there a reason that so many of these cars are available now?

I've had my '40 for 25+ years and am considering selling/swapping for one. I had one in my youth and have never quite gotten over it.

[Oldmics]

Interesting question

I"m a late to the party Bird guy.Loved them when I was in high school but could never afford one as a kid.

Bought cheeper machines that I hot rodded and learned on then my life changed and cars were all but forgotton till I reached my mid 50s.

Bought a 56 Bird and started to really get back into cars in general but specialised in Baby Birds.

What I know is that on the average any specific model year car usually only survives in any fashion in the 8 - 10% range.

The survival rate for Baby Birds is around 22%.These figures come from the CTCI Thunderbird club.

So almost a quarter of all of the Baby Birds built are still on the road with more being found and saved all the time.

The collectability of these cars was defined in magazine articles as early as 1959 and early 1960.These articles were claiming the cars THEN as a future collectable machine.

I think that the shear number of the cars still around along with the changing demographics of owners is what is creating the percieved large amount of Baby Birds availiable.

The original owners are at the point that they are headed off into that drive in in the sky.

There children may or may not cherish there parents cars.This would be the first realm of these cars becoming availiable.

As I said many were saved over the years and a lot of these classics are now on the 5th plus ownership since they were built 58 years ago.

There great cars unless you want to drive them.

Rolling pieces of art work as I call them.Uncomfortable for long trips.Hot interior temperatures due to the exhaust manifold placements. and cant see if your over 5 - 11 due to the windshield top placement.

Parts are expensive BUT they do reproduce almost everything for these machines.

If your considering purchasing one I would suggest familiarising yourself with the usual rust locations and pitfalls of these cars so you spend your money wisely.

Dont buy one with any fiberglass replacement parts (such as fenders,quarters and rockers) and the oddball colors usually bring more money on a resale.Make sure you get a real Ford convertable softop.

The repro softops are nice but have no value.

Mid 20s will get you a nice car if you know what you are looking at.

The "E" and "F" models are much more expensive.

Cool cars.I"ll have two or more till I"m done driving

Oldmics

[rick55]

Loved your comments Oldmics. I am just over 6' and have the usual back issues of the seniors. Can't even look at getting in my friends '57 and with the top on, its completely out of the question.

[paul2748]

There great cars unless you want to drive them. -Old Mics

Baloney - My 56 with a stock seat is very comfortable. I just finished a 6300 mile trip from NJ to Oregon to CA to IA and return to NJ and never had had a sore back, cramps , etc. Two others who drove went with me and they didn't complain either. It was the second time I did this with a basically stock bird.

[miker98038]

Well, I bought my first 55 in 1967, at the age of 17. So that's my attachment. I bought the current one in 1999, the day before my 49th birthday.

I think the bulk of the comments above are right on. I'd add that Ford's failure to keep the car a two seater, let alone build it on the Lincoln platform, took a lot of continuity away. The Mustang is coming up on 50 years, and even survived the Mustang II fiasco. GM, from a bad start kept at it with the Vette, through some pretty bad years, but look what they get for those cars now. The E and F birds are an exception, but they built almost none of them.

I love my little bird, but when I bought it, stock, fresh paint, wire wheels, 3sp o/d, power seat, and no power anything else, I paid 20k. I knew then that this was a hobby, and nostalgia, not an investment. My son would gladly have my 67 Camaro RS conv, but not the bird. And unless he finds someone like me, he won't get much for it when I'm gone. But it's been worth every penny to me.

I used some industrial tank insulation material to insulate the floor. Really helps. Add a/c, really helps. Buy the cheap bubble foil insulation at Home Depot, and lace it between the top and the bows in hot weather. I still can't sit in the seat for more than two hours, and 400 miles is a long day. I do 850 in my daily driver.

Worth every penny, and hour, and skinned knuckle.

[teejay99]

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I'm a certified Ford nut but for some reason the Bird never appealed to me enough to buy one . I have a lot of Fords on my bucket list but not the T-Bird . The '57 was probably my favourite for styling and I lost interest after about '63 .
I know guys ( and gals ) in the local T-Bird club and , of course , they are proud owners but I've always thought they over valued the Bird when it was time to sell ......
but I suppose that's common .

[zoegrant]

I think "old mic" sums it up pretty well.....there are a lot of 55-57 birds for sale but from all the cars I have looked at I think to get a great running bird in a strong #3 condition one has to spend around $27-$32000 with two tops,skirts and good paint.....
The higher asking prices are usually based on what the current owner spends on "personalizing" the car to meet the owners needs and desires...John in CT



I"m a late to the party Bird guy.Loved them when I was in high school but could never afford one as a kid.

Bought cheeper machines that I hot rodded and learned on then my life changed and cars were all but forgotton till I reached my mid 50s.

Bought a 56 Bird and started to really get back into cars in general but specialised in Baby Birds.

What I know is that on the average any specific model year car usually only survives in any fashion in the 8 - 10% range.

The survival rate for Baby Birds is around 22%.These figures come from the CTCI Thunderbird club.

So almost a quarter of all of the Baby Birds built are still on the road with more being found and saved all the time.

The collectability of these cars was defined in magazine articles as early as 1959 and early 1960.These articles were claiming the cars THEN as a future collectable machine.

I think that the shear number of the cars still around along with the changing demographics of owners is what is creating the percieved large amount of Baby Birds availiable.

The original owners are at the point that they are headed off into that drive in in the sky.

There children may or may not cherish there parents cars.This would be the first realm of these cars becoming availiable.

As I said many were saved over the years and a lot of these classics are now on the 5th plus ownership since they were built 58 years ago.

There great cars unless you want to drive them.

Rolling pieces of art work as I call them.Uncomfortable for long trips.Hot interior temperatures due to the exhaust manifold placements. and cant see if your over 5 - 11 due to the windshield top placement.

Parts are expensive BUT they do reproduce almost everything for these machines.

If your considering purchasing one I would suggest familiarising yourself with the usual rust locations and pitfalls of these cars so you spend your money wisely.

Dont buy one with any fiberglass replacement parts (such as fenders,quarters and rockers) and the oddball colors usually bring more money on a resale.Make sure you get a real Ford convertable softop.

The repro softops are nice but have no value.

Mid 20s will get you a nice car if you know what you are looking at.

The "E" and "F" models are much more expensive.

Cool cars.I"ll have two or more till I"m done driving

Oldmics[/QUOTE]

[zoegrant]

I have been the care taker to many T-Birds thru the years and most have been automatics but the feel of actually driving a standard 3 speed with overdrive in proper working condition is fabulous...In my 56,the ability to cruise along at 65 to 70 mph turning 1900 to 2200 rpm is extremely enjoyable compared to a 3 speed non overdrive or even an automatic....If you have a friend with a 3 speed and overdrive ask him or her for a ride on the interstate to see what I am talking about....beautiful.....John

[ronn]

I believe the reason so many birds are avail- the guys who like them are passing away.
They are for an older crowd, whereas a mid year vette appeals to a wider spectrum.
Just my opinion and will probably get rebuffed for my comment....

A nice bird can still be bought for 20k, not so with a mid year vette-need to spend at least 35k.

[zoegrant]

Ronn....I agree that most t-bird owners are older maybe 68 to 78 years old....I am 69 and the youngest owner I know is 60 and most of my t-bird friends are 70+ yearsI also agree with the coments you made on Corvettes...
I disagree with the $20,000 "nice" t-bird....a solid # 3 car with one top is more like $27-$29,000...two top t-birds solid #3 is about $29-31,000.....there are many low price t-birds ...20 footers... but they are usually upon close inspection really #4.....I dont mean to say that a real bargain does not come up from time to time because they do but not as often as one may think....John in CT

[krackerjack1951]

has any one seen the 54 olds concept that never went into production,,GM thought more of the vette,,the olds was a beauty,,much nicer than the introduction vette..John Wayne bought the first vette available,,said it was small and over rated ,,gave it to his best friend Ward Bond..didnt like the little bird either..my 2 cents.

[1936ford64]

I have (3) early "T" birds and I'm taking them with me. Any low roof car is difficult to get in and out . Why would anybody buy an ugly fiberglass, rough riding, very difficult to get in and out of car, they have sold a lot of Chevrolet corvets, some people thrive on punishment. When I go, I'm going in style

[Ric Dean]

Originally Posted by 1936ford64

I have (3) early "T" birds and I'm taking them with me. Any low roof car is difficult to get in and out . Why would anybody buy an ugly fiberglass, rough riding, very difficult to get in and out of car, they have sold a lot of Chevrolet corvets, some people thrive on punishment. When I go, I'm going in style

.. In the mid-1960s while stopped at a City Traffic Light I witnessed a Corvette Convertible in front of me, get hit head-on by a Steel Car just sitting there in the intersection waiting to make a turn from the other direction; this Steel Car was rear ended and pushed into the Corvette. If you can picture all this happening both Cars just sitting still, the Vette driver never took his hands off the wheel but the Vette’s Body was gone all the way back to the quarter panels; it appeared to have just blown-up, pieces flew 50 ft., I gave up a quest to ever own a Plastic Car.

[34pickup]

I once owned a 57 Bird because I had always wanted one, they were beautiful automobiles. I made the mistake of buying one in poor condition thinking I would restore it. Well, I soon found out just how expensive T-Bird parts are. I should have listened to a friend who said to buy the absolute best car you can afford because they are expensive to restore. I ended up selling it in pieces at a loss because it was a money pit. Lesson learned.

[foxfire42]

I bought my '57 Bird in October 1964 for $2,400 with 25000 miles on it. I still have it but now it has 96,000 miles on the odometer. My only complaint is my legs are having a hard time lifting me up and out of the seat.

[turnpikecrusier]

I'm trying to sell a 56 tbird for my friends widow , it's a beautiful car. I drilled new holes 2 in back for the seat,I'm 6ft and I fit. I would love to add it to my collection but 39,000 is what she wants. I'll prob take it to Arizona next month,along with my 90 mustang.

[junkyardjeff]

I would like to find a non running 55 to tinker with if one can be found that is not too rough.

[raceron1120]

Does anyone here have experience with actually having bought a 'fixer-upper' 55-56 TBird recently? That is, maybe one that runs but is an original unrestored car that's complete but shows its age?

Reason I ask is because I'm looking at one in that condition. Runs, solid, is complete, I think it's a 3spd w/overdrive, 2 tops... but hasn't been on the road in 30+ years so assuming all the soft stuff will need replacing. I'm guessing $4K-$6K price range but maybe I'm low?

[Oldmics]

I think your a bit low.

Lets quantify exactly what you are seeking a value on.

Is it a 55 or a 56?

It starts and moves? Will it stop?

Rust concerns? Get it on a lift and look at the rockers and everything underneath.

Let us know and perhaps we as a group can be of more assistance.

Hey,arnt you a buddy of Terrible Ted? I have seen you on the Lansing Heritage Forum .

Oldmics

[raceron1120]

(from Oldmics); think your a bit low.
Lets quantify exactly what you are seeking a value on.
Is it a 55 or a 56? '55
It starts and moves? Will it stop? Starts-yes. Move & stop? Unknown so far.
Rust concerns? Get it on a lift and look at the rockers and everything underneath. Yes on rust but haven't gone over it as completely as I'd like to. Hoping to do so within the next few weeks.

Let us know and perhaps we as a group can be of more assistance.

Hey, arnt you a buddy of Terrible Ted? I have seen you on the Lansing Heritage Forum. Nope, that would not be me. I have not been to Lansing with my car, farthest west so far has been Webberville. I don't know Terrible Ted - at least not be that name.