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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  Ford Should Have Been Proud!!! - 1994 Ford Thunderbird
  By Bird_Fanatic - July 26 - 2:00 am

  I love my 94 T-Bird (v8 interceptor).Ive had a 92 v6 T-Bird (indestructable!) and currently my wifes 97 v6 Bird. The 94 has the special tranny and torque converter...shifts into 2nd at between 55-60 M.P.H, and chirps the tires. It is strong, quiet(until you mash it :) ), and rock solid. My other birds have been very gutsy and very dependable. The 92 had 150,000 miles without EVER being in the shop! Ford should be ashamed of themselves for axing this car...I guess they want the reputation of Fix Or Repair Daily because all they sell now are junky little Focuses and great big soccer mom land yachts!

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  2002 Thunderbird Convertible - 2002 Ford Thunderbird
  By liannjon - July 22 - 2:00 am

  If you loved your Dads TBird, this is the car for you! Once I got it, I didnt even mind the price. We get a lot of attention. The car responds like a dream and I love to hear the roar of a V8 again. Dont mind the two seater - this is not a car for the kids anyway. This car makes you feel too young to have kids.

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  3rd Bird - 1997 Ford Thunderbird
  By LX Sport V8 - July 19 - 2:00 am

  This is my 3rd T-Bird (80,88&97). Love the cars. Since I am 64", I need a lot of room. This car has it! Head, leg and arm room! Plenty of power. The leather option is extrememly comfortable. And since there isnt many of them on the road, I dont feel like Im driving a car which everyone has-like a Grand Am. Independent Rear suspension is awesome too - offers a great ride. Plenty of room in the trunk as well. Only one problem with the car - a defective intake. This caused my coolant to leak everywhere. This was a TSB put out by Ford and was covered by a special warranty (7 year, 100000 miles). Oh yeah, did I mention I get 22- 23 mpg too?

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  The Best Bird - 2002 Ford Thunderbird
  By Gidget - July 18 - 2:00 am

  Well worth waiting for, even if it took almost a year. A pleasure to drive. A real show stopper, literally. Have been flagged down on numerous occasions. Got the "arrest-me" Red and dont regret it. Its by far the best color of them all, and not just my opinion. Could use heated seats though!

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  Our T_Bird - 1996 Ford Thunderbird
  By H.W.Spencer - July 2 - 2:00 am

  Our auto is responsive and dependable. The only thing inside is the location of the cup holders that bothers us. We replaced the spark plugs and wires at 97000 miles.

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  2002 THUNDERBIRD - 2002 Ford Thunderbird
  By JIMNEAT - July 2 - 2:00 am

  Most fun car I have ever owned. Previous cars have been Mustangs, Pontiac GTO and Camaro. The new Thunder Bird provides the fun/looks of the old 2 seat birds with modern technology and reliability. I love it.

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  Love It. - 1996 Ford Thunderbird
  By Wild Willy - July 1 - 2:00 am

  Just a great car. Regular 3000 mile oil change and other. Wax at least once a month. It looks and drives like brand new with 120000 miles. Proud to be seen in it!!!

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  A Great Fun Car! - 2002 Ford Thunderbird
  By asg420 - July 1 - 2:00 am

  nothing beats this car if you are looking for a fun, cool, smooth ride! Besides the looks and sares and thumbs up you get while driving - the car is really comfortable and smooth - Stereo is great with top up or down - Hard top removal needs two people . Conv top works great - HUGE trunk!!!! Seriously for a car like this - the tunk is functional - Try getting that many grocery bags in a boxter or z3 or miatia - If yo love the way it looks - Youll love the way it drives -

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  Love My New T-bird - 2002 Ford Thunderbird
  By birdlover - June 28 - 2:00 am

  Drove past the dealer and saw my new T- bird. Knew it was mine before I bought it. I love the ride and the feeling I get when driving it. Draws lots of looks and filling up with gas is fun. Attendants just stand ans stare at the car. I usually find a crowd around it when I return to wherever I park it.

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  A Dream Fulfilled - 2002 Ford Thunderbird
  By tamkmd - June 25 - 2:00 am

  ...if you have to ask, you couldnt possibly understand. Ive been looking at classified ads for 57 Tbirds for years. This car is as close as I will get, and Im embarassed as to the extent to which it is one of the great joys of my life.