Educate me please

Have been offered a 64 T-bird at what I think is a good deal. Problem is, I know next to nothing about these cars. Seller says the bird is complete and original with good paint, good interior, everything is there, but does not run( don't know why). I haven't seen the car yet.
My question is, any known problem areas for these, I should be looking for? I would appreciate any advice.

 

Look for rust in the frame rails from the rear axle back as well as soft quarter panels and rocker panels. I don't know if it is common to fords of that era but almost every FoMoCo product that I have ever owned from that era had problems in those areas.

 

I'm always leary about a car that's in good shape but "doesn't run"! It makes me think that if it wasn't a big issue getting it running why didn't the seller do it to get a lot more money out of it.

It's kinda like that car you see where the seller says "it's in primer and ready for paint"! Well if it was that nice why wouldn't you paint it?

 

Yea P'n'B is right on those areas being common rust spots. If it has an FE Motor, one of its exhaust manifolds is more than likely cracked. That will be hard to check without it running though. If you plan to run whatever motor is in it currently, you should try to turn it over before you buy, and do a compression check and all the usual tests and checks.


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the power brake boosters were bad about going out on these.

 

Every old t bird I have ever seen sitting around here had the quarters rusted out.

 

Thanks all---at least I now have a better idea of things to look for, if I decide to go for this. What are your opinions of a fair price based on discription, assuming all is as stated? What about replacement parts? easy to find? expensive? At this point I am thinking--keep it stock, opinions?

 

Not running-

Figure the drive train needing completely rebuilt and price/offer accordingly.

 

All the heater controls, e brake and if it has AC are all vacuum controlled. All those lines will be dry rottened. The wipers are fluid drive off the power steering pump.