Low Original Miles/Survivor/Clean Interior/Original 302ci V8

1981 Ford Thunderbird Description

1981 Ford Thunderbird

The eighth generation of the Ford Thunderbird is a personal luxury coupe that was manufactured and marketed by Ford for model years 1980 to 1982. To commemorate the 25th year of the Thunderbird, Ford introduced an all-new body design. Since the 1977 model year, the Thunderbird was marketed as the Ford counterpart of the Mercury Cougar XR7; in contrast to the Cougar sedan and station wagon, the Thunderbird was offered solely as a two-door personal luxury coupe.

For consignment a consigner stated all original low mileage (26,568) clean square and rectangle designed T-Bird. All in working condition, with a padded landau top complete with opera window, and bathed in Polar White, it had its numbers matching engine, and code correct original interior. Design was changing, and this car was marketed to a totally different market than the original consumer group which took a tepid response. Not many around and certainly in this low mileage original condition.

Exterior
Polar White bathes the straight design panels adorning the exterior. The only curved line on this car are the wheel wells, and that is out of necessity. and they are somewhat squared off. A red padded opera window rear landau roof is on the rear passenger section of this car. The top is very nice and has no cracks or errors. Also, a red vinyl trim piece stretches from wheel well to wheel well, terminating at the rear bumper. Body matching Polar White bumpers are seen and these have a chrome trim strip running through the upper part of them. On the bumpers we note some paint chipping and the chrome is becoming de laminated and shows dulling on these trim strips. Single hidden headlights flank a big chromed grille with Thunderbird badging, egg crate insert, and Thunderbird outline hood ornament. All squared off and a few faults, but overall nicely preserved for this all original car. Standard spoked with central large nut design wheel covers in chrome form are wrapped by thin whites all around.

Interior
In the inside, maroon cloth buckets which bump up against each other share a central armrest. Both have centrally mounted controls within a vinyl molded panel. In back a large comfortable rear bench with lots of piping and soft cloth and a central bump take up the rear passenger space. Upfront for the clean dash is more square and rectangle design for the instruments, which are bordered by wood appliqu. The original plastic and wood inserted steering wheel with cruise controls within its central spokes are within easy drivers reach. A central vertical wood appliqu panel houses the original radio, climate controls and a storage compartment. Up top is a square clock with AC and heat vents on either side within the wood appliqu. Red carpet is seen below and is clean, as is the fuzzy red headliner, all clean and no tears or sags from above. Door panels are nicely apportioned with red vinyl and lower carpet panels as well as door and lock toggles and a stylized long vinyl covered pull.

Drivetrain
A pop of the T Bird long hood, and we see the original factory installed 302ci V8. This has a single 2-barrel carburetor on top and an original 4-speed automatic AOD transmission on back.

Undercarriage
Showing some slight patina with age, black unibody construction with clean and rust free floorpans can be noted throughout the underside. Power disc brakes for the front and power drums for the rear, and a fairly new exhaust system presents itself running to the rear.

Drive-Ability
A smooth driver, decent handling, and good brakes. Acceleration was not neck snapping, but cruising was well handled, and all interior controls worked flawlessly, including the A/C.

A low mileage original survivor, with a few areas of wear and normal use but nothing totally remarkable. All in all, a good used 1981 square and rectangle design, this car has some nice added conveniences.

VIN DECODE
1FABP42F0BH157096
1FA-Ford USA Passenger Car
B-Manual Belts
P42-Thunderbird Town Landau
F-302ci V8 2bbl
0-Check Digit
B-1981
H-Lorain, OH Assy Plant
157096-Sequential Unit Number

Classic Auto Mall is a 336,000-square foot classic and special interest automobile showroom, featuring over 600 vehicles for sale with showroom space for up to 1,000 vehicles. Also, a 400 vehicle barn find collection is on display.
This vehicle is located in our showroom in Morgantown, Pennsylvania, conveniently located just 1-hour west of Philadelphia on the I-76 Pennsylvania Turnpike. The website is www.classicautomall.com and our phone number is (888) 227-0914. Please contact us anytime for more information or to come see the vehicle in person.