Beschreibung
This car was on my brothers bucket list. He wanted a "big brown lolloping Labrador" of a car to use and that's exactly what we bought. We used it far and wide in 2019, traveling over 4000 miles at an average of about 19 mpg which isn't bad for over 2 tons and 7 litres of big block. We didn't go anywhere quickly, preferring to mop up the adulation and watch the dropped jaws. I've owned many interesting cars but none attracts as much attention as this leviathan in its understated camouflage metallic brown with chrome accents.
I drove my brothers family to his last appointment just before lockdown and the car has waited patiently for me to get her ready for sale. A couple of weeks ago we took her on the MAC Classic and drove 300 miles over the weekend, most of the route over small Herefordshire and Welsh single track roads and she coped well. We would have finished the route in good time, but diverted to tow another driver back to their Hereford hotel. The Thunderbird took everything in her stride and didn't miss a beat.
When I was looking for a suitable American car, I traveled the length and breadth, searching for a car that fitted the bill and lived up to the words in the advert. If you're looking for an American car you'll know what I mean. This car is completely original and not messed about. It's had paint at some point but it's pretty good for a 50 year old car. It's solid without rust problems. I'd be looking at cleaning and sealing under the car, but for now it's as Ford delivered it without rust or salt attack.
The interior is not bad, most plastic is good with some cracking on door cards. You can see from the speedo there's not much dust or decay. Having looked at this car from top to bottom I'd say the mileage is genuine but I can't prove it. If it was 175k or more I think there'd be more obvious wear on seats, door hinges, stone chipped glass etc etc. Most of the bulbs and lights appear original as well. There is some "folksy" wiring for the speakers on the rear shelf and the changes to brake/ indicator lights, but nothing that a few hours wouldn't tidy up.
The seats are have cleaned up well, but the upholstery buttons on the front seats need attention. It's a really nice place to be and the electric windows work as they should. Cruise control works off the steering wheel as it should, but it takes some getting used to. The radio and clock don't work, but most everything else seems to.
We put 4 tyres on the car in 2019 and they've been inflated at 50psi in storage to keep them round. The rear silencer was removed and Infinity Exhausts made up the rear pipe in stainless to make a bit more noise.
If you're looking for a huge 1970's American car in well above average condition to act out your Kojak or Cannon childhood dreams, come and have a look at my brothers Thunderbird. It'll make you smile.
