Everything is said to work on the car, including the original Marchal fog lights (perfect for leaving them on all day like E30 BMW drivers). It also has some parts that are in surprisingly good shape, including a crack-free dash, perfect headliner, and straight body, though the latter has lifting clearcoat. Cobra wheels, new shocks and struts, ported exhaust manifold, new muffler and catalytic converter, and more are included in the upgrades to this car. The 8-year-owner is a mechanic, and it shows in what he prioritized on the car. On some level, it’s surprising the drifters haven’t picked up on this one since with rear-wheel-drive and a turbo, it’d be pretty fun. In dark red with charcoal trim, it still looks reasonably contemporary, and the torquey four should be fun in an early-turbo real-slow-because-there-some-lag-whoaaah-boost-here-we-go kind of way. It’s hard to explain what a change this car was from the stodgy early 1980s Thunderbird, and the large floaty-boat 1970s personal luxury coupes. Check out this 1986 Ford Thunderbird Turbo Coupe for sale for $2000 in Santa Rosa, CA. While most versions of the Thunderbird were the bland 3.8 liter 110hp V6 or the slightly livelier 140hp 5-liter V8, the hot version to have was the 2.3-liter 4-cylinder turbocharged Lima engine with a 5-speed manual, good for 155hp and 190 lb.-ft. It was also one of the first Fords of its time to be designed to compete with the European sporting coupes such as the VW Scirocco and BMW E30 3-series, as well as the developing flood of Japanese coupes including the Isuzu Impulse, Toyota Celica and Datsun 200SX. But this was the first product of Ford’s aero-style design phase, which included hugely successful models like the Taurus and Sierra. Well.If you were to think of 1980s cars that had a significant impact for their manufacturers, the 9th generation Ford Thunderbird would probably not come to mind first. People tell me all the time that I could never have gotten that car to go that fast. Don't listen the the idiotic Chevy freaks that think no Ford can go over 100. These cars can be made to move very fast without too much difficulty. I could get mine up to 140 with 4 people in the car and the windows open without a problem. That means you have serious trouble under the hood that needs attention. Under 100 is a very bad thing, especially for that car. This is important because I have found that VERY few mechanics are experienced in aligning the big old fisher bodies like the late 70's Thunderbirds. Not to mention a loss of power to the road.Īfter you do all of the suspension work, get it aligned by a VERY REPUTABLE shop. Otherwise the car will shake, shimmy, and wonder all over the place. It is very important that you have a tight front end and back end if you want to go fast. Get new front end parts and stick with the techiest bushings and joints (polyurethane). Then rebuild your front end (this is important). Make sure you have the rear sway bar still. New U-joints, bushings, springs, shocks, 4.11 gears (this is the best match) and a good differential that can take a lot of abuse. Get a FMX transmission from a '77 to '79 302 Thunderbird all of those have a split gear set in them. Then get your heads done at a shop, shaved and ported. Get a 390 stroker kit and overbore the cylinders. I would start by rebuilding a 302 for it, and make SURE the engine was cast in Mexico. Drive one for a while and you will see what I mean.Īfter 360k, this car is very sturdy and has NO rattles - a very well built compliment to the Ford Motor Company. I think that these cars are close to the perfection of styling, and well thought-out body design. I had to fight the state to get the title for it. I got this car for $500 at the bone yard I used to work for. I love the thrill of driving such a big car, with such a long hood. The engine has been modified, obviously.Īlthough it doesn't look it, these cars are curiously aerodynamic. I am rebuilding it now with a manual drag tranny and all Detroit rear end. The fastest I ever had it was, believe it, 168.7 MPH. Gas tank and engine were both OK still are. When I got the car it had bad brakes, tie rods and U-joints. The fuel pump and all the fuel lines froze one winter, and I had to replace all of that. I blew the alternator with a hefty stereo. I destroyed the rear differential (tore 1 1/2 inches into the rotary differential housing. I blew the tranny it came with which was a FMX 3 speed with split gear set. Currently I am rebuilding the many times rebuilt tank of a car I have dubbed 'Albatross'.
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