Is the Hardtop a good commodity?

[Rick]

After searching Ebay today, I was surprised to find 2 Thunderbird Hard tops for sale by Dealers at a "Buy it now" price of $4999.00 WOW! Both are highlighting the fact that Ford stopped production of the Hard tops in 2006, thus eliminating an OEM purchase. Now I know that members have thus been successful in purchases from $500 to $1500 or so recently from car owners who have sold their hard tops out right. Will supply and demand cause an increase in value for the tops as many Topless T-Birds inter the resale market to buyers who would like the hard top? Also what percentage of our birds was sold without the hard top option? I think Barb would know. Just food for thought....maybe should pick up and store some of these as a hedge against inflation. The cars are still depreciating, however the tops may have bottomed out. Is this nonsense? Chime in.....

[BirdsAndBugs]

Re: Is the Hardtop a good commodity?

Dot Lang's website (www.portholeauthority.com) lists production figures for each color for each year. From that you can get a good idea on how many Thunderbirds were sold with or without hardtops.

My expectation is that as time progresses, there will be more hardtops available and demand will lessen. Our Thunderbirds are 3 to 7 years old. Mileage will rack up and many will eventually wear out. Hardtops don't wear out though and will be salvaged and sold even if the rest of the car gets junked. In many cases, the hardtops have been removed and have been sitting in garages and are probably in better condition than the cars they came off of.

[MATBird]

Re: Is the Hardtop a good commodity?

Rick:
Greg just may be correct now, so don't go buying up a bad investment. - Example:
1955 hard top for sale in a recent TBird mag for $1800. Excellant glass and trim, Black w/white head liner. Just FYI -

[Brad]

Re: Is the Hardtop a good commodity?

If you have space and want a thunderbird investment (especially if you have a steel blue one) buy the rear clip that Rick from World Class Wheels is selling right now on Ebay for $2,500. The sheetmetal alone is worth more than that...especially if you don't need to repaint it. Even though I don't have the space if it was Red I would probably buy it and pay to store it somewhere just for a rainy day...I figure if I had the extra clip there is no chance that some idiot wouldT-bone me on the rear side AGAIN.

[worldclasswheels]

Re: Is the Hardtop a good commodity?

Thank you Brad, I am now taking Best Offers and might even deliver if it is just a couple hundred miles. Thanks again, Rick

[Leroy]

Re: Is the Hardtop a good commodity?

Rick, Some T-Bird owners have more than one top as contrasting colors between the tops and the car bodys become more popular. So I think there will always be a market for these tops as well as these cars. There are three tops on Ebay today, all with bids over $1000.00. I got lucky and found one on Craigslist.com and got it for $400.00. Had the guy listed it on Ebay, who knows what he would've got for it. It was about 200 miles from me and not the same color as my car ( 03 MSG ) and didn't have any of the accessories. Before I bought it I had every intention to have it painted Black when I got it home, but after I saw it on my Black Bird, it's staying just like it is. I love the contrast.
Leroy

[5bird7]

Re: Is the Hardtop a good commodity?

I think it's less than 15% that don't have hardtops.

I really don't think the price on retrobird hardtops has bottomed out yet as they will eventually be more numerous than the car for reasons mentioned above.

Don't try to compare with the 55-57s though - those cars were available with or without hardtop or softtop and many new owners chose the softtop. Two tops on the 55-57 meant extra money initially to buy so original owners usually made a choice of one or the other so the original supply of hardtops was not near as great as for the retrobird.

The Chrysler TC hardtop should also not be used to compare pricing over time since every single one of those cars came with a hardtop and softtop - making the value of those tops go down fairly quickly.

[texasbird]

Re: Is the Hardtop a good commodity?

Hearing what others have spent recently, I think you can do better if you have the patience to watch for a good deal.

Good luck on your search.

[SKIPIFE]

Re: Is the Hardtop a good commodity?

Rick, Some T-Bird owners have more than one top as contrasting colors between the tops and the car bodys become more popular. So I think there will always be a market for these tops as well as these cars. There are three tops on Ebay today, all with bids over $1000.00. I got lucky and found one on Craigslist.com and got it for $400.00. Had the guy listed it on Ebay, who knows what he would've got for it. It was about 200 miles from me and not the same color as my car ( 03 MSG ) and didn't have any of the accessories. Before I bought it I had every intention to have it painted Black when I got it home, but after I saw it on my Black Bird, it's staying just like it is. I love the contrast.
Leroy

Interesting, do you have pictures to post yet???
OOPS.. I looked at your photo gallery, very nice; I have been wondering what colors the MSG top would work with, I think just about all the colors would look good on an MSG Thunderbird with a couple of exceptions.

[MintTbird]

Re: Is the Hardtop a good commodity?

i just bought a MSG top on ebay... dont think it will look nice on VMG but we will see... from all accounts this tops is amazing looking so i will feel bad painting it white so i may offer it up for trade... it would look sweet on a silver, black, msg, thunderbird blue, merlot, ice blue ,or medium steel blue. but who knows time will tell

[BlackShadow]

Re: Is the Hardtop a good commodity?

painting that top would be a shame Just my opinon

[RETROBIRD]

Re: Is the Hardtop a good commodity?

Bought a black top never used and in mint condition for $1,200 on e-bay. I was the only bid. There are 3 more as we speak for sale.