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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  1996 Thunderbird LX - 1996 Ford Thunderbird
  By B. GARLAND - March 14 - 2:00 am

  Performance of this vehicle is excellent while returning 16 mpg/city and 26 mpg/hwy. Good acceleration for a V6. Comfortable and quiet highway ride with the perfect exaust note under hard acceleration.

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  1992 Super Coupe - 1992 Ford Thunderbird
  By PClark - March 13 - 2:00 am

  Decent car but been known to blow head gaskets and it did. 2 of them in 70,000. If the engine could hold together would be a decent car. Owners might want to be machanics so they can repair the heads on their own

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  Too bad they dont build them anymore - 1997 Ford Thunderbird
  By homeowner-commuter - March 12 - 2:00 am

  With 110K miles, it still runs like a scalded dog. Very fast, good pick-up and tight handeling. The styling is classic and still gets complemens from total strangers. Ive owned a 58, 72, ant this one. They were all great cars, but the 97 is "the best".

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  Dependable, safe and stylish - 1995 Ford Thunderbird
  By Kirk D - March 8 - 2:00 am

  Wifes pick in 1995. I adopted it from her in 98 because she kept running into things (poor front and rear visibility for shorter people). I was hesitant to drive it because Im not into the NASCAR thing. But it turns out it is a great car. I was surprised that the vehicle was so quiet - I cant hear the engine on the highway. A few squeaks after 9 years but nothing major. Interior is stylish. It averages 24 MPG. Transmission is smooth. Some maintenance required but nothing too outrageous yet - water pump, suspension bushings, power antenna, minor oil leak. Has 5-star front crash rating! Traction assist helps in bad weather.

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  A Step back in time - 2004 Ford Thunderbird
  By Tennis ace - March 8 - 2:00 am

  The 2003 Ford Thunderbird is a joy to drive. The leg room in the drivers seat is quite comfortable even for a person over 62. An issue of importance since our last convertible did not have ample leg room. The ride is smooth and quiet. The retro look of the thunderbird makes the car.

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  T-Bird = a gift from heaven! - 2004 Ford Thunderbird
  By guysfun - March 8 - 2:00 am

  This card gains its superior ride from the Little Lincoln LS. The frame and drive train are exct Lincoln and that is why it is so good. The extra truck space and leg room come from the fact that the Lincoln LS is a 4 door car. Making a two door convertible from that plaform gave the design engineers lots of latitude. Stupid looking cheap plastic grill is this cars only problem. Too bad Ford didnt fire up more of the LS options like their mileage computer and other "free" features that are already built into the LS wiring harness.

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  Love My Bird - 2004 Ford Thunderbird
  By O.E. Slusser - March 5 - 2:00 am

  The Car is peppy and fun to drive. I haved owned a 55, 56, 58, 60, and a 63 T,bird. This new Bird gives you the same fun and enjoyment of driving the old TBirds and the comfort (a/c, cruise control, heated seats, rear window defogger, great sound system) and the technology of 2003.

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  I love this machine - 2004 Ford Thunderbird
  By zapwench - March 2 - 2:00 am

  This car is not only beautiful. It is fun to drive and preforms apond a split second. 0 to 123 mph in under 60 sec. I know for a fact. (done it) For only a 2 person car the aventure is surreal. I love my T-Bird. Pearl White w/black inter.

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  wheeee - 2004 Ford Thunderbird
  By relish - March 2 - 2:00 am

  i took the head rests off and now i can see better. is this legal? i have t bird blue w/white top. the best!

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  Millenium Falcon Lives On!!! - 1994 Ford Thunderbird
  By BCM - February 29 - 2:00 am

  Bought this car used with 12,000 miles on it senior year of college and has never let me down since. Now has 170,000+ miles on it and still runs strong.