Picked up a T-Top T-bird yesterday

Figured some of y'all might appreciate this. I've been wanting a T-Top T-Bird project. After a couple months of scouring Craigslist, daily, I finally found a '79 model. Drove about 1100 miles round trip from GA to OH to pick it up. Just got back a few hours ago. The entire undercarriage, chassis, and suspension were restored two owners ago. Engine was rebuilt, but needs some tuning. Rust free car originally from Florida.

 

Nice Thunderbird, don't see many of the t-top ones around.

 

Nice!

Last year for that body style.

 

She's a BEAUTY!!! I have had 4 of these, and so want another. Soon. I would even take the white interior. Suggestion, though. Lose the vinyl top. They only make the C pillars rot out. Good luck with the old girl.

 

I think I may still have the Chero's original blue horn pad, with speed control buttons. If you are interested in it, I'll go check my little store room to see if I still have it. And which engine does it have?

 

Nice looking Bird! I had a couple non T-top versions in the mid 80's but they were used up winter beaters with 80-120 thousand MI miles, they were good riding and reliable evenif they were very rusty and used up.

That looks like a great car, 351W or 302?

 

That car brings back memories. I remember back in high school they were everywhere and CHEAP to get still. Haven't seen one in probably 10 years now...

 

Would be nice with console and floor shift.

 

Thanks guys. Engine is a 302.

Silvertwinkiehobo, according to the seller, the horn pad is in the trunk with the rest of the parts. I haven't had time to drag all of the parts out yet. But, I'd still be interested. Wouldn't hurt to have an extra. Let me know.

MikeT1961, I've been on the fence about the vinyl top. It's in great shape. But, even if I wanted to keep it, I'd probably need to remove it to check for rust, make necessary repairs, then install a new one. My wife loves the white interior.

 

Love the white interior too! Looks like a nice car.
But what's with you members going up in the midwest to haul cars back in the snow?
I need to haul three up that way and I'm holding up.

 

Oh, believe me, I was very nervous making this trip. Being from the South, I am clueless driving in snow. My truck is 2wd with standard (Non-snow) tires. Given how rare T-Top T-birds are, I wasn't going to let this one slip away. I stayed in constant communication with the seller, saw a few days of decent weather, stayed on top of the forecast, and went for it. My work schedule is very flexible, so I can take off when I want (within reason). The roads were 100% clear. The only snow I had to drive on was in the guy's driveway. I knew bad weather was moving in on Thursday morning, so I drove a few hours south, staying overnight in Miamisburg. I did wake up to minimal icy roads yesterday morning, waiting a couple of hours before leaving.

 

Many people born in the midwest are clueless about winter driving too!

I've missed some good chances to move some things up to Illinois. My Dodge truck is still down and out!
That's what I do, check the weather here and there. Actually midwest has been decent so far.

 

Congrats on a beautiful find!! It's too bad I didn't know you were coming through. You could have driven another 45 minutes farther south and stayed the night for free at our house.

 

Congrats! Took my driving test in a '78 Thunderbird and ended up getting one when I was 16. A black '78, no T-tops but it was the second car I owned as a teenager.

 

Congrats on the new beast. Funny how when you get older you look at cars different. in the 90's I had a couple of these but just bought them to flip as they never did a thing for me, to be honest back then I thought they were just plain fugly........ today I look at them with different eyes.

BTW, I didn't even know T-Tops were a option on these, extra cool IMO and I like the white interior.