The owner admits that this T-Bird has been stored undercover for the past five years and has received limited use. Maybe that isn’t muscle car territory, but the figure remains respectable nonetheless. However, if the owner poked that V8 with a sharp stick, it could still launch the car through the ¼ mile in 16 seconds. Ford’s intent with the Thunderbird was for potential buyers to view it as a vehicle with luxury leanings. The rest of the drivetrain was standard across the range and included a three-speed automatic transmission, power steering, and power front disc brakes. Potential buyers in 1966 had a couple of engine choices for their new Thunderbird, but the original owner ordered this car with the range-topping 428 V8 that pumped out 345hp in its prime. Luxury appointments include air conditioning, power windows, a swing-away wheel, and a pushbutton radio. Otherwise, the interior seems to have no pressing needs. The owner doesn’t supply any information on this in the listing, so it rates as one of life’s mysteries. It reduces rear-seat legroom to zero, and I don’t believe it would be possible to drive the T-Bird with the seat in that position. The driver’s seat is laid back at an incredible angle, and it makes me wonder whether it is attached to the floor. However, there is one thing that has me scratching my head. There are no glaring flaws like rips or splits, and I get the impression that some concentrated cleaning would have it showing quite nicely. Turning our attention to the vehicle’s interior reveals trim that presents acceptably for a survivor-grade car. The chrome shows no sign of major deterioration, and like the tinted glass, it would be considered acceptable for a survivor-grade car. The owner doesn’t mention any floor or frame issues, so potential buyers might be onto a winner here. There are no problems visible in the photos, with prone areas like the rockers and lower rear quarter panels appearing to be clean. However, things might be pretty positive with this car. Thunderbirds of this vintage could be prone to problems, and many have succumbed to the ravages of the tin worm over the years. However, the most positive piece of news seems to surround the issue of rust. The White vinyl top is in excellent condition for its age and still wears the chrome Landau trims that were a distinctive feature of this model. However, these aren’t clearly visible in the supplied photos, so the car might present acceptably as an original survivor. The owner admits that this Thunderbird isn’t perfect and that its Emberglo paint has some faded spots that the buyer might want to address. A big thank you has to go out to Barn Finder Matt H for spotting this fine Ford for us. The T-Bird is located in East Wenatchee, Washington, and it could be yours for $6,500. It has had limited use recently, so the owner has listed it for sale here on Craigslist. Our feature car is one of those vehicles, and it is a tidy survivor that offers a few possibilities. The most popular derivative was the Town Landau, with 35,105 people handing over their cash to park one in their driveway. The 1966 model year was the final for production of the Fourth Generation Thunderbird, and while it was also marked the year of the lowest production figures for that generation, 69,176 buyers still saw fit to give one of these classics a new home.
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