Fox hunting is almost too easy on Craigslist. It’s simple: pick your body, pick your tolerance for condition, plug in a number and mile range and go. If you aren’t stuck on Mustangs, chances are good that you’ll come in under budget or get great bang for your buck. Why? Because lots of people ignore most anything that isn’t a Mustang. That isn’t good, bad or whatever, it’s just the way things are. And it’s a bit of a shame, because the whole platform, from the earliest Fairmont through to the last SN-95 based Mustang can be made to rock. And some can rock more economically than others. Take this 1984 Ford Thunderbird. It’s an Aero Bird, so looks aren’t a big issue.
It’s packing Ford’s turbocharged 2.3L four-banger, a giant-killer to anyone that speaks turbochargers, and has five forward gears and three pedals. So far, all of that is a win. So, what’s the loss? Other than the 1980s styling and the small wheels, nothing. With a purchase price under four thousand dollars (and more realistically like $3,500) you could pick it up, clean it up, and start wicking it up without immediately going to an all-Ramen meal plan. Sounds great to us, but what do you think?
Craigslist Link: 1984 Ford Thunderbird Turbo Coupe
It needs nothing?
Nothing apart from swapping out that puny little Pinto motor for a Coyote V8 that is…
There is a guy name Jon Huber that runs those Pinto motors that runs the 1/4 in under 9 sec.
The hideous aero kit is the first thing that would come off the car and put on some ’86 SVO wheels.
Hmmm, Never winter driven accounts for the condition, that area of Ohio is salt central, just inside the snow belt and nothing seems to last up there if its seen a winter.