1985 Ford Thunderbird 30th Anniversary Edition in Ft Worth, Texas

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!