What should i do?

[oateater]

I have a chance to trade my 66 Mustang conv, 289, 4spd, 4 barrel, for a 55 t-bird with both tops, con.kit, 272 V8 4 barrel, auto even up.

Both cars are equal condition around 20,000. Rust free

He has been trying to sell the t-bird for over a year local only with no luck. I think he believes he could sell the Mustang easier but I,am not sure you can with todays market. He shows some interest in my 38 but I dont think I can let that go.

I,ve always liked those old birds. What should I do?

[daveSanborn]

Are you 100% certain that you wouldn't be inheriting his headaches?  If he's having problems selling it... there may be reasons for this that you're not completely aware of.

I'd pass.

[lethal289]

Keep yours, and offer him 10K for his.

[6t6red]

I'm with Dave on this one.  Ther is some reason he can't sell it.  Keep the 66.

[cmayna]

Unless you're an old lady who would look pretty in a Tbird, stay with the stang.  That's an order  :po

[blue65coupe]

STANG

[rsalway]

Keep your stang. The T-Bird has a much more limited number of buyers if you ever have to sell it.

[AzPete]

In my experience, I have found that when someone approaches me to trade.....they usually have a reason they want to get out from under the car they currently have. I know I have made deals like that in the past on cheap daily drivers for the kids. I would say keep the Mustang unless you absolutely have to have the Bird.

[JeffTepper]

Keep in mind that the market for tri-five T-Birds tends to be people in their 60's, 70's and older (at least around here) while the market for early Mustangs seems to be a broader demographic.  For this reason, I would suspect that values for the T-Birds are probably at or near topping out while there is still some room for appreciation on the Mustangs.  That's not to say that the T-Bird is necessariy a bad investment, just that when it comes time to sell the T-Bird you might have the same difficulty that its current owner is experiencing.  If you gotta have the T-Bird, check around to see what $20K will buy you in today's market and then compare that with the car you are considering.

[oateater]

I found this car for sale and asked if he would be interested in a trade thinking nothing would become of it and to my surprise he said he might be interested. At first he wanted an extra 3 grand and I told him I was not interested. He got back with me and said he had some interest in the matter. All we have done at this point is talk on the phone and exchange pictures. He is suppose to come over this weekend as I have a lift and we can check out the bottoms and he is ok with that. At this point I am leaning towards a no go after reviewing some of your great inputs and I thank all of you for that.

Jeff you sure hit the nail on the head about the age group driving baby birds. I never noticed that before. Maybe because I turn 61 myself next month. [grin]

Thanks for all the advice and believe me when I say I will keep everything in mind when looking at the car. Tried to post some t-bird pictures but haveing problems getting them to post.

[opentrackerSteve]

If you have always wanted an original 'Bird, then go for it if it checks out. you've been successful with your Mustang and they are much more plentiful than the Birds.

If I was offered this situation (trade for my car, straight up), I would investigate thoroughly and if it checked out, do it.

[RustyRed]

I think Dave hit the nail on the head.  When I see cars that are listed as for sale for an extended period of time..... there is usually a reason when you start looking closely at the car.

I've never cared for T-birds myself so I'd stick with the Stang.

[rsalway]

Keep in mind that the market for tri-five T-Birds tends to be people in their 60's, 70's and older (at least around here) while the market for early Mustangs seems to be a broader demographic.  For this reason, I would suspect that values for the T-Birds are probably at or near topping out while there is still some room for appreciation on the Mustangs.  That's not to say that the T-Bird is necessariy a bad investment, just that when it comes time to sell the T-Bird you might have the same difficulty that its current owner is experiencing.  If you gotta have the T-Bird, check around to see what $20K will buy you in today's market and then compare that with the car you are considering.

That is exactly what I was getting at.

[Dne']

Jeff, this is what someone was explaining to me and I'm so glad to see it written. I was trying to sell my '57 chevy and it just wasn't getting any bites, but your explanation pretty much explains it! However, I had a friend that had all three T-birds('55-'57?), but I never really liked 'em all that much.  I'd say keep the '66! The economy is really tight right now and things just aren't selling! If people have money and have the audaicity to lowball and the seller accepts~ it's a buyers market! one day things will get better after all this BS political stuff!
dne'

Keep in mind that the market for tri-five T-Birds tends to be people in their 60's, 70's and older (at least around here) while the market for early Mustangs seems to be a broader demographic.  For this reason, I would suspect that values for the T-Birds are probably at or near topping out while there is still some room for appreciation on the Mustangs.  That's not to say that the T-Bird is necessariy a bad investment, just that when it comes time to sell the T-Bird you might have the same difficulty that its current owner is experiencing.  If you gotta have the T-Bird, check around to see what $20K will buy you in today's market and then compare that with the car you are considering.

[JeffTepper]

Dne'

As timeless as the '57 Chevy is, the people who came of age when that car was new are now in their mid sixties or older.  Those that want these cars to help relive their youth often already have them.  A larger venue like Hot August Nights in Reno might provide the additional exposure you need to find that buyer.  FWIW a couple of my 60+ year old Mustang buddies are also Tri-five T-Bird guys and both of them understand what drives the market and both of them buy and sell Mustangs regularly because that is where the local market it right now.

I suspect that as us baby boomers continue to age, the market for Mustangs that we lusted for when we were young will likewise stall out at some point.  One of the cornerstone's of my automotivbe philosophy is that life is too short to spend it driving boring cars.  As long as I am having fun with my car, I'll keep it....if it ever stops being fun, it's gone.

Regards, Jeff

[guruatbol]

I agree with Jeff.  You should drive what you like. 

I must be in the minority when at my age I like the 57 Fords and Chevys.  I would drive one daily.  I came up in the 70s though.  I like the way they look.  This being said it is less about the "Market" and more about what you like to drive.

If the car checks out and you would like to drive the Bird more than the vert, then go for it.  If not keep the vert.

I have several times thought about getting rid of the Mustangs in favor of something that caught my eye.  haven't done it.  when it happens I take one of the Mustangs out and drive it like I stole it.  I fall in love again.

Now there may be an addition or two for me like a 67/8 Camaro, 57 ford todor, and such, but I doubt the Mustangs will go anywhere.  Oh, also I don't like stock so anything I were to buy would have to be modernized and modified.

So, if you like the bird and want it, who cares about the other factors.

Mel

[RustyRed]

Generally speaking it is a buyer's market right now...unless you're looking for an older Trans Am in my area apparently  :wm?

I ran into one guy at Nifty 50's that was asking $10k for one that is in pretty good shape...not show car but really decent driver.  I told him I couldn't go over $8k and he wasn't interested.  My guess is he'll sell it for $10k but if not maybe eventually after three plus months he'll get tired of having it at which time I'll offer him $7k, LOL!

Flip side is some cars are moving it seems.  I saw an ad on the other side of town a few weeks ago for an '80 Camaro with a low miles 383.  It needed paint but at ~ $4k it was a good deal.  I was too busy to get over there one week and thought o'well the guy will have it for a while.  Wrong...he sold it in about four days.  I was interested in it as much for the motor as anything else.

I wouldn't mind finding a mid 50's model Chevy but they are a bit out of my price range unless you're talking about some of the rust bucket four doors I see for sale from time to time.  A friend of mine in high school had a '57 Belair hot rod that would run high 11's in the quarter and his brother had a hot rod '55 Belair...always loved those cars.

A couple of months back a guy wanted to trade me his '74 Firebird for the Mustang.  To be honest, I considered it because I could find another Mustang to build a lot easier then I could find a '74 Firebird.  But I decided to pass and told him no thanks.  He then tried to get me to buy it but I decided to pass totally...partly because he's five hours away and I was having logistics problems.  Mostly I passed though because he was holding it out to be a 400 car until I decoded the vin and realized it was a 350 car.

[Dne']

 I got on Craigsl and looking at the '50's T-birds just out of curiosity~ They are very Pricey! one was right at 50k and the motor didn't look very clean for the price! They are a neat car no doubt!  Not terribly long ago, Gary and I were driving the '57 chevy, stopped at a light, and a clean black '50ish T-bird came along side of us, waved and complimented My chevy, but it was a nice bird! had the top off; looked like fun, but I think the vert mustangs are much more fun looking as you can carry more people if the need would/should arise! I love my chevy, but do fear if something were to go wrong with it, looks more difficult to work on than my stang!

I'd like to see pictures of the Tbird in question, just for conversation sakes anyway! :craz~~

I just love old cars! :cry

[RustyRed]

If anyone is looking to spend some serious money...

http://www.cars-on-line.com/41199.html

I saw this car up at Classic Pizza here locally last Saturday night.  It is really beautiful, way out of my price range but dang nice.

[rsalway]

The thing about the T-Birds are they only appeal to a very select few (mostly people from that era). I think a Mustang is more like a Model A or a 40's coupe. They can be modified (and it is not frowned upon by too many) to be what you want them to be. A T-Bird doesn't seem to be as versatile. I think the Mustang, like many true muscle cars, appealed to people from that era and even people 20-30 years younger. I grew up basically in the 80's and 90's and I have a lot of friends that would die for a muscle car. Maybe I am biased though, I have never seemed to care for the T-Birds. I can respect them but have no desire for one.

[RustyRed]

The thing about the T-Birds are they only appeal to a very select few (mostly people from that era). I think a Mustang is more like a Model A or a 40's coupe. They can be modified (and it is not frowned upon by too many) to be what you want them to be. A T-Bird doesn't seem to be as versatile. I think the Mustang, like many true muscle cars, appealed to people from that era and even people 20-30 years younger. I grew up basically in the 80's and 90's and I have a lot of friends that would die for a muscle car. Maybe I am biased though, I have never seemed to care for the T-Birds. I can respect them but have no desire for one.

I grew up in the same era...got out of high school in '91 and I say big +1 to the above.

Thing about classic Mustangs though is they do appeal to the younger crowd also....a lot of if not most of the thumbs up and other comments I get when I am out in my Mustang are from kids who can't even drive yet.

[oateater]

I'd like to see pictures of the Tbird in question, just for conversation sakes anyway! :craz~~

I just love old cars! :cry

Here are 3 pics I think are small enough to post.
Inside is real nice with red and white uph. Chrome on the car is really, really nice. Hard to tell from this pics. though.

[Dne']

Well, it looks nice enough! in the first photo, is the bumper really big or something or maybe it's the angle that it was taken at? It has two tops, neat! I guess if it's mechanically sound~ it'd be a difficult call and of course the decision is yours to make. Like my dad used to tell me~ "what ever blows your skirt up!" lol Never really understood what it meant, but I remember it for some reason.
Do you like the car?  We're such materialistic creatures! lol

Here are 3 pics I think are small enough to post.
Inside is real nice with red and white uph. Chrome on the car is really, really nice. Hard to tell from this pics. though.

[AzPete]

The bumper is one of the Continental Kits for the spare being mounted on the rear like it is. I think they had a couple types of rear bumpers for that setup......


Found this....here... http://www.portholeauthority.com/thunderbirdETC/tbird/tbirddesc.html

Continental Kits were only stock* on the 1956 Thunderbird.  If you see a continental kit on a '55 or a '57 - it is an "after-market" add-on - not supplied by Ford though Ford dealerss may have installed.

[oateater]

The problem with that picture of the bumper Is you can't tell where the top of the bumper Is and where that flat panel of the cont. kit begins because It's painted white like the spare tire housing and they should be red the color of the car.

Wish I could get some of these other pics smaller so they would post but not having any luck.