Vehicle Description
Ford's mid-80s "Aero Birds" are groundbreaking cars and it's only a
matter of time before they find their place in the collector car
world. This incredible 8,601-original-mile 1985 Ford Thunderbird
30th Anniversary Edition would be a great place to start because
it's quite likely the nicest one of its kind in the whole
world.
A lot of these were milquetoast bland, and sadly, that's what sold
back in the 1980s. Fortunately, this one has an awesome blue over
silver color combination that will withstand the test of time and
will always look great. It's also the upscale model, which includes
sporty body-colored grille and mirrors, and in 1985 it was very
forward-looking indeed. Today, it's still a great-looking car that
offers a host of wonderful details that touch on the past but look
to the future. The paint is in excellent condition, as you'd expect
for so few miles, and the shine is just what you'd get from FoMoCo
back in the '80s. There's a hint of orange peel, which is to be
expected, but there's also a fantastic shine, great panel fit, and
absolutely no signs of rust, damage, or repairs. This is a legit
low-mileage car in every sense of the word. The gray body side
moldings wrap into the bumpers to create very clean profile, and
they, too, are in excellent shape with no fading or yellowing due
to age.
The interior is where the low miles really show best, because it
looks virtually new in every single way. Blue cloth upholstery is
unmarked, the cushions underneath are firm and none of it has been
faded by UV rays. The Thunderbird was high-tech in 1985 and offers
a full digital instrument panel that's still very cool today, and
it remains bright and clear. The rest should feel familiar to
anyone who grew up with a Ford in the family, ranging from the two
spoke steering wheel with cruise control buttons built right in, a
column shifter, and options like power windows, seats, and locks,
air conditioning, cruise control, and a tilt steering column. Nice,
right? The only possible demerit is that the A/C isn't as cold as
it should be, but a shot of R12 should fix that right up. The dash
pad isn't cracked, the carpets are plush and protected by matching
30th Anniversary floor mats, and the AM/FM/cassette radio still
sounds decent. The trunk is also 100% original, including the spare
tire up on its own shelf.
But the real reason this 'Bird is going to be a collectable is
under the hood, where it carries the 5.0 liter V8 heart of the
Mustang. Fuel injection was standard equipment, so it starts easily
and idles well when it's cold, and it has those deep reserves of
torque for which the 5.0 is justly famous. It's also impeccably
clean, more evidence of the car's ultra-low mileage, and all the
factory markings, decals, and other details are still fully intact.
It's been maintained properly, so it runs great, but it's also been
preserved, so things like the hoses, clamps, and other
"disposables" are still in place so it's a slam-dunk for
preservation class judging. It's backed by a quick-shifting AOD
4-speed automatic overdrive transmission and the suspension is
familiar Fox-platform hardware, so handling is sure-footed. It's
shockingly clean underneath and the exhaust has a nice V8 burble
from the single tailpipe. Familiar "phone dial" alloy wheels are a
great choice and carry the original 225/60/15 Goodyear Eagle
radials.
What an awesome survivor! Looks good, runs great, and offers
incredible originality. If there's a future collectable Aero Bird,
this is it. Call today!
