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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  Fun Car - 2004 Ford Thunderbird
  By RJRamos - March 23 - 2:00 am

  Enjoy the comfort and style T-bird brings to driving. Performs on a dime.Does need more trunk room. When handling on the road this car size and weight is more comfortable than many other cars in its class.

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  gas hog - 2004 Ford Thunderbird
  By gorilla - March 19 - 2:00 am

  this car is more fun than my 64 mustang, but sucks up high test gas like a sponge. One day on i-95, i barely touched the pedal & found myself doing 120mph. it cruises at 80mph & its the most comfortable car ive ever had.Miami to Palm Beach is 130miles roundtrip & it uses at least half a tank. if id known how much hightest gas it drank, i never would have bought it.but its a fantastic car otherwise!!! So if gas isnt a issue,buy one.

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  Amys review - 2004 Ford Thunderbird
  By amy40 - March 17 - 2:00 am

  I have only had my T-Bird for a couple of months but so far I absolutely love it. I cant wait to drive it every day especially as a convertible. My husband bought it for my 40th birthday and he compared it with the Mercedes and the BMWs, but he liked the T-Bird the best and so do I.

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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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  Awsome V8 T-bird - 1995 Ford Thunderbird
  By redace98 - February 14 - 2:00 am

  I bought this car used in 97, it had only 28,000 miles on it. I love this car handles great and the v8 engine is smooth and quiet. I would buy this vehicle again if i could. Always my choice for long trips. Few mechanical issues but still going strong.

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  1994 Ford T-Bird LX - 1994 Ford Thunderbird
  By Scottie43 - February 4 - 2:00 am

  I like my t-bird so far. One thing that I dont like is the cup holders ar i the wrong place. You hit it with your elbow. They are located in the center console towards the back. Other than that I have been pleased with t.

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  Very good used car purchase - 1995 Ford Thunderbird
  By datpoet - February 3 - 2:00 am

  I purchased a used T-Bird with V-8. Excellent reliability, and comfort features (if you ignore the stupid location of the cup holder). No problems after 114k miles. Not a winter weather car however, traction in snow is shaky at best.

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  Fun, Fun, Fun - 2004 Ford Thunderbird
  By Steve LoGuercio - January 31 - 2:00 am

  Having owned several Thunderbirds previously,Ford really hit the mark this time. Besides being a fun car to drive, the styling is unique combining the old with the new.The ride is better than you would expect. With the hardtop in place the ride is better than average.The handling is excellent,considering this really is a relaxed cruiser. Its also comfortable and fairly quiet. As for the issue of not enough trunk space, you dont buy a car like this if you want a lot of trunk space. All in all this car is certainly a welcome change.This car is not exactly sluggish either. Its got plenty of pep.

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  Mines A LEMON - 2004 Ford Thunderbird
  By No longer pleased - January 26 - 2:00 am

  Recieved the car as a gift and was thrilled, at first. The car began to leave me stranded...engine would not turn over. Local dealership service dept. has tried everything but can find no answer to the problem. Car has now been in the service dept. for 11 weeks and still no answer to the problem. I absolutely love the car, but I do not love being stranded waiting for a wrecker...NINE TIMES!