Overview & Reviews

Unlike today, vehicle choices were pretty limited 50 years ago when the Ford Thunderbird first took flight. There were sedans, coupes, station wagons and convertibles, but essentially a Ford was a Ford -- straightforward variations on a common design. With the 1955 T-bird, however, Ford introduced the notion of a sporty "personal luxury car" -- a close-coupled two-seater with V8 power, a cushy ride and elegant styling. It also had the simple construction and reasonable price of a Ford.

What that first cozy Thunderbird convertible didn't have was much extra room for more people and things -- but when this was addressed in 1958, Ford's Thunderbird really took off. That year it became a bigger, heavier car, a four-seater available as a coupe or convertible with a blocky body that gave rise to the nickname "Square Bird." A much cleaner fighter jet-inspired body design debuted in the early 1960s and the sleek, missile-like profile earned these cars the moniker "Bullet Bird." The mid-'60s saw sharper-edged lines for the body, though the basic platform remained mostly unchanged.

Things really started to get weird in the later '60s, '70s and early '80s. Within this span of time, the Thunderbird convertible was dropped, a four-door version with suicide doors and landau irons was offered briefly, the car grew to the size and shape of a Lincoln Mark IV and was then downsized twice, first in 1977 and again to a Fairmont-based platform in 1980. Yep, the Ford Thunderbird "celebrated" its 25th anniversary in fine style, riding atop an economy car's chassis and sporting less than 130 horsepower from its V8 engine. But it did have a heavily padded landau top complete with opera lights as well as a digital dashboard, so things weren't that bad, right?

Interesting things happened during the mid- and late 1980s, when style and performance returned in the form of the Thunderbird Turbo Coupe and its successor, the Super Coupe. The former had a turbocharged inline-4 while the latter sported a supercharged V6. The Thunderbird stayed with this format (standard coupe with V6 or V8 power and the hyper Super Coupe) through the late 1990s, at which point the Thunderbird died a quiet death due to slow sales and general disinterest in the personal luxury coupe market.

For the new millennium, Ford resurrected the Thunderbird. As a full-circle, retro-inspired return of the original two-seat roadster, the new Thunderbird garnered plenty of attention and initial hype. Still more about motoring with a little extra flair and panache than driving fast and hard, the Thunderbird seemed poised for success. It never met with much critical acclaim, however. Sales were brisk at first but slowed considerably afterwards. Ford ended production after four years.

Those shopping for a used Ford Thunderbird built in the last 20 years have lots of choices in terms of configurations, powertrains and styling. The best T-birds from the 1990s are the ones with V8 power. Driving enthusiasts may want to look for the performance-oriented but much rarer Super Coupe from the same era. Finally, the more recent two-seat roadster will no doubt satisfy those with retro "cruising" fantasies and could quite possibly become a future classic.

Most Recent Ford Thunderbird

In 1999 Ford displayed a concept car that brought the Thunderbird back full-circle to its roots as an open two-seat roadster. The response was overwhelming, and three years later it had a production version ready for 2002. The designers did such a great job that this "modern" Thunderbird managed to preserve the sleek styling cues of the original without looking like a four-wheel caricature.

As a basis, Ford used the same platform as it did for the Lincoln LS sedan. As such, some criticism was leveled at the Thunderbird's interior, as it was perceived as being too similar to the LS's and lacking in design flair. At the time, we suspected that buyers would have accepted a higher sticker price in exchange for unique, Thunderbird-specific pieces for the dash and center console. The pleated leather seats and door panels, however, recalled the days when auto upholstery resembled the seating in a diner's booth.

On the road, the new 'Bird performed quite well with its independent suspension and 3.9-liter V8 with a five-speed automatic transmission. But it didn't make the claims of a sports car; its mission in life was that of a comfortable boulevard cruiser. The Thunderbird gained 28 hp in 2003 for a total of 280. Detail changes marked its final couple years, with trim and paint changes and a Light Sand Appearance Package in 2004, and 50th-anniversary badging and more trim changes inside and out for 2005. Though flawed, it was still fun to drive and fun to be seen driving, and it largely succeeded at straddling the fine line between luxury and performance.

Past Ford Thunderbird models

The previous-generation Ford Thunderbird coupe was produced from 1989-'97. At its debut, a new fully independent suspension helped ride and handling, but acceleration was disappointing due to the combination of a hefty curb weight and 140-hp base V6. A more inspiring alternative was the new Thunderbird Super Coupe, (SC) which used a supercharged version of the V6 to produce 210 hp. It transferred its power to the rear wheels through either a five-speed manual or a four-speed automatic transmission. A special-edition 35th-anniversary model of the Thunderbird SC arrived in 1990, and a 200-hp 5.0-liter V8 returned to the Thunderbird lineup in 1991 -- the preferred choice for most Thunderbird buyers.

The base Ford Thunderbird was dropped from the 1993 lineup, and the car was now available either as an LX (with either the V6 or V8), or as a Super Coupe with the supercharged V6. Dual airbags were made standard in 1994, and this car also featured revised front-end styling and Ford's new, more refined SOHC 4.6-liter V8. The Super Coupe flew the coop after '95, leaving just the LX model to soldier on. There was a new instrument cluster in 1997 plus some new colors and a new rear spoiler, but the car itself was doomed as Ford shifted its focus to increasingly popular -- and profitable -- SUVs and trucks.

In reviews of this Thunderbird, our editors wrote that they liked the car's sporty coupe body style, V8 power and reasonable price. With its decent-size backseat, we claimed that it was "a car for closet enthusiasts who need a car that is more mature than the Mustang."

User Reviews:

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  Love it - 2004 Ford Thunderbird
  By T.J.Sullivan - July 21 - 2:00 am

  If you are going to run away from home dont take this car because everyone notices the car

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  Love My T-Bird - 2004 Ford Thunderbird
  By josie - July 21 - 2:00 am

  It is a great little car! Not great on gas but is fast with its V8 engine. It is a Ford and reliable too. I love my hard top and soft top. Two cars in one.

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  A Classic - 2002 Ford Thunderbird
  By off n gone - July 15 - 11:22 am

  Having driven this car over 50,000 miles, I still smile. Car still gets looks and comments every place I go. And I live in SoCal. Could use a little more power, but it more than keeps ahead of traffic.

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  Marks T-Bird - 1997 Ford Thunderbird
  By mark lewis - June 26 - 1:21 pm

  I an the only owner of this car and it has been a total gem for me. I have only had to do the expected maintenance on it in addition to replacing the radiator and exhaust manifold at about 75,000 miles. I recently replaced the serpentine belt and alternator. I use only premium fuel and have gotten from 21 to 26 mpg. I feel that my car is a classic and worth a lot more than what the book might say.

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  T-bird soars - 2004 Ford Thunderbird
  By wilthefinn - June 15 - 10:00 am

  From the minute I saw it at the SF auto show I knew I wanted one. I put 3K down and waited 8 months and when it was delivered to the dealer the sales mgr called me. He said the whole place was abuzz and I should come see why. As I drove up it was parked on Market Street and there was a crowd. Since that day this turquoise beauty has turned heads. People have come up and asked a zillion questions, some ask me for my card and laugh when they realize I dont sell cars. This thing sells itself. With or without the black hard top its a delight to the senses.

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  Great Car! - 1994 Ford Thunderbird
  By Josh - June 5 - 4:16 pm

  This car is one of the best cars build in the 90s. I usually only keep a car 4-5 years. Ive had this for 10 years now. I love this car!

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  THE SPO - 1992 Ford Thunderbird
  By 92tbirdspo - May 23 - 12:52 am

  This car has been in my family since it was bought from the dealership. My Dad gave me the car in 2001. The car has lasted a long time.

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  Thunderbird loyalty - 1995 Ford Thunderbird
  By Drunaus1 - May 11 - 9:33 am

  Excellent machine and very reliable, usual Ford which will let you know symptomatically that something is wrong before you get stuck, pretty much maintenance free (except for oil changes) until about 150,000 miles, would recommend air intake, O2 sensors, upper control arms and spring (expected in the northeast for the mileage, roads are terrible), traction control feature a must for this vehicle for performance and northeast climate. Will need reliable mechanic for some things as mentioned above, not for old school mechanics there isnt a distributor so you have coil packs. I recommend the 4.6 v-8 with all the toys, do it right, only complaint is the location of the cup holders in the center console.

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  I love this car! - 1995 Ford Thunderbird
  By Wesmet - April 27 - 8:33 am

  If you are thinking about buying a Thunderbird and the tranny doesnt slip I would buy it! I have owned this car for over a year and only had to replace the ball joints. Plenty of power and ok gas mileage. Everyone that rides in my car tells me how much they like it.

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  1997 Thunderbird - 1997 Ford Thunderbird
  By Kerry - April 24 - 9:03 pm

  I drove this car for seven years without a single problem. I wish they still built this car. I would buy another one in a heartbeat. It has 154,000 miles on it and still rides, drives excellent.