1972 Ford Thunderbird Hardtop
The 1972 Ford Thunderbird was the first of the 'Big Bird' models. With a curb weight of over 5,000 pounds, these monsters were creatures of their 'bigger is better' time. It's hard to understand what inspired the good people at Ford to turn what had once been a sporty performance runabout into something more along the lines of a limo, but the early seventies were a strange and terrifying time in America. Taking its design inspiration from the Lincoln Continental, the 1972 Thunderbird had a massive front end, a hugely roomy interior, and hulkling blocky styling. Oddly enough, the gigantic '72 Thunderbird was available only as a two-door model. Still, these big old land-yachts are comfortable to ride in, even if they handle more like a boat than a sports car. The '72 Thunderbird had plenty of power under the hood, though. It shipped standard with a 7.0 liter/429 cubic inch V8 engine, and buyers could upgrade to a 7.5 liter/460 cubic inch V-8 if they needed more horsepower to haul that two-and-a-half tons of steel around the roads.
For consignment, something not oft seen, possibly due to its obscurity in the lineup of Bird designs, a 1972 Thunderbird hardtop. The first of the bigger is better era that has a low survival rate due to rust issues. This example is in original condition, nicely preserved with original paint, an assembly line fresh interior, and sporting a mere 25,442 title verified miles on the odometer. Always garage kept and showing much like it would have been in the used car section of your local Ford store in 1974. Peabody, rev up the time machine, we're going back to 1972 to breathe in some originality from the Blue Oval camp.
Exterior
Bathed in the factory applied coating of Dark Brown Metallic, the larger than life straight steel panels are minding their gaps well and nary a spot of rust, surface or invasive, is seen for miles. A dark brown gator grain style vinyl top in very good condition covers the roof with its Landau style B-pillar bars and this car has correct badging all around. Leading the way in the front are dual headlights on each side within black bezels with shiny chrome surrounds. This black and chrome motif carries through to the beak shaped grille, a styling cue taken from Lincoln. Cathedral style marker lamps hover at the pointed edges of the front quarter panels and down low is a massive chrome bumper which gives the car a somewhat smiling appearance when viewed from straight on. On the sides a stainless and rubber guard strip runs stem to stern mid body and integrates into the nicely arched wheel well moldings. More stainless decorates the factory glass and looks just fab. A quick glance at the side profile shows a very Lincoln design, which is exactly what the designers of the time were reaching for. Personal luxury at its finest!. Moving around back, a cavernous trunk provides all the room for your travel goods and leaves room to spare for when your mother-in-law decides to comment on your driving. A full width red reflective tail light is placed just below and moving further down is another larger than life chrome bumper. Standard Thunderbird wheel covers are all around wearing thin whitewall radials.
Interior
The T Birds of yore are famous for utilizing a band of brushed or machined aluminum that starts on the door panels and runs through the dash, but entering the luxury era for the T-bird this car uses heavily padded Ginger vinyl which covers the uppers of the door along with some chrome trimming with an applique inlay. Clean cranks and actuators are noted along with a padded plastic full length pull with more applique dressing up the driver's power seat switches and mirror joystick. Down low is a band of Ginger carpeting housing the door speaker and courtesy light. Moving inside allows us to park our posteriors in heavily padded and buttoned Ginger vinyl seats with a central fold down armrest. In the back is a matching bench that sprawls from side panel to side panel. Ginger carpeting covers the floors and is very clean and is begging to have my piggies wriggled through it. The dash is very clean and original and is in padded brown, and wood appliqu© with plenty of original factory equipment. The headliner is nice and tight as well as clean. Overall interior is very nicely preserved just the way it came from the factory.
Drivetrain
Again, all original and unrestored with only light patina and some surface rust. It is a 429ci V8 under the hood in all its Ford Blue glory. This big mill is fed by the new 4-barrel carburetor with a C6 3-speed automatic transmission on back. A Ford 9" axle with 2.75 gearing and TracLoc puts power out to the rear wheels.
Undercarriage
More originality is found underneath with black undercoated flooring, rockers and frame. Surface rust is making an appearance on the usual suspects, ie: the suspension, rear axle and some of the brake components. A single exhaust, in need of repair due to invasive rusting in the pipes and muffler is on for the mighty exhale. Power disc brakes are on the front of the independent coil sprung suspension and power drums on the rear with the factory 4 link and coil springs.
Drive-Ability
For a mid 1970's car it starts reasonably quick and runs smooth. The power steering works well, as do the power brakes and aside from some notable rough running and hesitation due to vacuum leaks things were top flight. A real trip back in time to say the least.
The first year of the longer, lower and simplistic Bird with many of it's components borrowed from the Lincoln parts bin. This one has ultra low miles, spent its entire life in a garage, and with a nice preserved interior, this one will be good to go with a little TLC. Large and in charge, a cruiser from the square and rectangle design era providing you with all the personal luxury you could ever need.
2Y87N112861
2-1972
Y-Wixom, MI Assy Plant
87-Thunderbird 2 Door Hardtop
N-429ci 4bbl V8
112861-Sequential Unit Number
DOOR STICKER
STYLE 65K-Thunderbird 2 Door Hardtop
COLOR 5F-Dark Brown Metallic
TRIM KF-Ginger Vinyl
AXLE K-Ford 9" 2.75 TracLoc
TRANS U-C6 Automatic
DSO 16-Philadelphia
Classic Auto Mall is a 336,000-square foot classic and special interest automobile showroom, featuring over 850 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.
