Wow. We have an '86, since new. Not in perfect shape like this one, but still starts and drives, no issue. It' a Ford, after all. Would you expect less? Funny, my right control arm snapped at the ball joint. The donor? An '88 Mustang. Exact fit... no mods needed. Lovin' the fox(es). ;-)
@juliadennehy Yeah...that's the virtue of building several models off the same platform! Believe it or not, the tie rods and ball joints for the early Corvettes were 54 Chevrolet sedan parts! Glad you have your Tbird...it should run forever! Thanks! :) Jack
Anybody interested in buying one of these? I have a navy blue 1986 with 67,000 miles. I am the second owner and it's been stored during winters. it's damn near as clean as this one!
@weightfeather1 I've had the automatic overdrive in several Ford products, and the only time it's given a problem was when the kickdown cable end (plastic) came off, and literally killed the tranny...so a rebuilt unit was installed, and no further problems. The new cable has a brass end! That is really an unfortunate byproduct of a bad experience with a car..often it steers the individual away from that make...sometimes it's a good thing, sometimes it was just an unfortunate experience. :) Jack
@weightfeather1 I had a 90 Cougar with the same engine. I bought it used, with few miles, and proceeded to get quite a bit of usage out of it...don't remember how many..but I had heard about the head gasket problem, and decided to trade it in while it was still running ok! Thanks! :) Jack
@sfemales Oddly enough, I saw it again at the car show on this past Sunday...still for sale! Hard to believe...if I needed another car, I'd be tempted! Thanks! :) Jack
Jack, In 1980, Thunderbird moved to the "Fox" platform. Intorduced in 1978, the chassis was rigid (for it's time), featured Strut suspension and rack and pinion steering. Ford underpinned Mustang, Fairmont, Futura, and Thunderbird, and the.Mercury Capri and Cougar with this platform. A 2.3, 140 CU IN 4 cylinder engine was standard except Cougar and T-Bird, where a 3.8, 232 CU IN 6 cylinder engine was base, optional in the others, The 302 V-8 with an automatic overdrive was optional in all.
@jferg7159 Hey, Joe! Yeah, my 88 Mustang convertible is a survivor built on the Fox platform...and it is amazingly strong for the over 100k miles and the years it's accumulated. They sure got a lot of use from that one platform! Thanks for the information! :) Jack
In 83 Thunderbird started their aerodynamic styling which was really different from their massive and super luxurious 72s. When ever I had to rent a car and if a Thunderbird was available I would choose it. These cars were very nice handling cars and great on a highway. I would say this car is a bargain. I noticed someone called those cars junk and I would definitely disagree.
@cheddyrod Hey, Chester! As a former owner of a 90 Cougar, I would agree with you..they are really nice cars! Smooth riding..and luxurious. Thanks! :) Jack
This is a very nice car, I very nearly bought one of these three years ago, it was an '85 though, it had been imported from Texas, it had the exact same upholstery as this one & it had Met Red paint, it was a beautiful car & I loved driving it for the half day test drive I had !
The only reason I didn't buy it was because it had the big Windsor 302ci V8 which meant it would have been incredibly expensive to run here in the UK as a daily driver .... So I had to walk away from it :(
@drewerz01 Hey, Mike...I had a later generation with my 90 Cougar...it was a great road car, the upholstery was unbelievably posh. But you are right about fuel usage, compared to the average car on the road in the U.K, it would have taken a lot of money to keep it fed. Thanks! :) Jack
@JakeDaSnakeFilms Hey, Jake! No question about the V6...the V8 was more desirable. I had the V6 in my 90 Cougar...it was ok acceleration, but I would have wished that a V8 had been available...soon the 4.6 was! Thanks! :) Jack
I always liked that T-bird style. Is it a V6 or V8? I don't like red interior though. My dad had a '85 TB, V8, fully loaded, moonrf, really nice. Bought it new in '85. There weren't many V8's around. When he sold it, I would have bought it, but I never liked the steering wheel column shift it had. I never knew why they didn't put the gear shift on the console, since it had bucket seats anyhow.
@longhairedpig Hey, Eddie! I wish I knew what was under the hood...I suppose a V8, but not sure. My 90 Cougar had a shift on the console, so I think they corrected this problem with the next generation TBird/Cougar. Thanks! :) Jack
@raconter1 Yes, in 1989 & up, the new T-bird & Cougar models did have the console shift. After buying my IROC-Z new in '89, I test drove & almost bought a '90 TB SuperCoupe 5spd & almost again in '91 but never did. I didn't like the motorized front seatbelts. stupid idea from whoever thought of putting them in the cars. So I ended up staying with my IROC-Z for several more yrs.
I think they did offer a V-6...but most probably came off the line with a 5.0. They even had a 4 cylinder Turbo coupe option (not many of those left.)
@dodge09challenger Hey, Brian...thanks for filling that in..I wasn't sure of engine choices. That 4 cylinder turbo was probably what they used on the Mustang of the time. I don't think they made many of them either. Thanks! :) Jack
i have an 81 sportster
sweettooth80 10 months ago
@sweettooth80 Hey, Gordan! Cool! Nice to have! Thanks! : ) Jack
raconter1 10 months ago
Wow. We have an '86, since new. Not in perfect shape like this one, but still starts and drives, no issue. It' a Ford, after all. Would you expect less? Funny, my right control arm snapped at the ball joint. The donor? An '88 Mustang. Exact fit... no mods needed. Lovin' the fox(es). ;-)
juliadennehy 10 months ago
@juliadennehy Yeah...that's the virtue of building several models off the same platform! Believe it or not, the tie rods and ball joints for the early Corvettes were 54 Chevrolet sedan parts! Glad you have your Tbird...it should run forever! Thanks! :) Jack
raconter1 10 months ago
Anybody interested in buying one of these? I have a navy blue 1986 with 67,000 miles. I am the second owner and it's been stored during winters. it's damn near as clean as this one!
underoathfan14 10 months ago
@weightfeather1 I've had the automatic overdrive in several Ford products, and the only time it's given a problem was when the kickdown cable end (plastic) came off, and literally killed the tranny...so a rebuilt unit was installed, and no further problems. The new cable has a brass end! That is really an unfortunate byproduct of a bad experience with a car..often it steers the individual away from that make...sometimes it's a good thing, sometimes it was just an unfortunate experience. :) Jack
raconter1 11 months ago
@weightfeather1 I had a 90 Cougar with the same engine. I bought it used, with few miles, and proceeded to get quite a bit of usage out of it...don't remember how many..but I had heard about the head gasket problem, and decided to trade it in while it was still running ok! Thanks! :) Jack
raconter1 11 months ago
wow that is a very clean fox
sfemales 1 year ago
@sfemales Oddly enough, I saw it again at the car show on this past Sunday...still for sale! Hard to believe...if I needed another car, I'd be tempted! Thanks! :) Jack
raconter1 1 year ago
Jack, In 1980, Thunderbird moved to the "Fox" platform. Intorduced in 1978, the chassis was rigid (for it's time), featured Strut suspension and rack and pinion steering. Ford underpinned Mustang, Fairmont, Futura, and Thunderbird, and the.Mercury Capri and Cougar with this platform. A 2.3, 140 CU IN 4 cylinder engine was standard except Cougar and T-Bird, where a 3.8, 232 CU IN 6 cylinder engine was base, optional in the others, The 302 V-8 with an automatic overdrive was optional in all.
jferg7159 1 year ago
@jferg7159 Hey, Joe! Yeah, my 88 Mustang convertible is a survivor built on the Fox platform...and it is amazingly strong for the over 100k miles and the years it's accumulated. They sure got a lot of use from that one platform! Thanks for the information! :) Jack
raconter1 1 year ago
I used to have one just like it with a blue interior. Previous owner didn't take very good care of it though and as a result it had a short life.
EricTheCarGuy 1 year ago
@EricTheCarGuy Hey, Eric! Sorry to hear of the bad experience...but you are so right...a lack of maintenance can kill any car. Thanks! :) Jack
raconter1 1 year ago
In 83 Thunderbird started their aerodynamic styling which was really different from their massive and super luxurious 72s. When ever I had to rent a car and if a Thunderbird was available I would choose it. These cars were very nice handling cars and great on a highway. I would say this car is a bargain. I noticed someone called those cars junk and I would definitely disagree.
cheddyrod 1 year ago
@cheddyrod Hey, Chester! As a former owner of a 90 Cougar, I would agree with you..they are really nice cars! Smooth riding..and luxurious. Thanks! :) Jack
raconter1 1 year ago
Beautiful small car - ideal as second car - great interior , really
crazyurmel2 1 year ago
@crazyurmel2 Hey, Pete! Ford put a lot of money in their upscale interiors..this is a good example! Thanks! :) Jack
raconter1 1 year ago
Nice car, in excellent condition. I remember riding in one back in 1989. I think $5500 would be a little steep though.
JeffN727 1 year ago
@JeffN727 Hey, Jeff! Yeah..it may be a bargaining price, though....you never know what the seller will settle for. Thanks! :) Jack
raconter1 1 year ago
Not worth 5500, Those cars are junk.
coffeefish 1 year ago
@coffeefish Why do you say that?? :) Jack
raconter1 1 year ago
@raconter1 I believe that it´s very cheap for this nice car !
crazyurmel2 1 year ago
lol yeah
cody56108 1 year ago
I love this generation of T-Birds! Very nice car.--John
jojocats2 1 year ago
@jojocats2 Hey, John...I agree..I remember when they were announced..they seemed so futuristic at the time! Thanks! :) Jack
raconter1 1 year ago
There is an 80s era T-bird in my area.. Cool thing about it is that it's the Turbo-Coupe 5.0! Bad thing is that its really rough.. :(
Sarcasticscum 1 year ago
@Sarcasticscum Hey, Nathan! That turbo would be pretty rare, methinks! Maybe someone will take an interest in it and save it! Thanks! :) Jack
raconter1 1 year ago
This is a very nice car, I very nearly bought one of these three years ago, it was an '85 though, it had been imported from Texas, it had the exact same upholstery as this one & it had Met Red paint, it was a beautiful car & I loved driving it for the half day test drive I had !
The only reason I didn't buy it was because it had the big Windsor 302ci V8 which meant it would have been incredibly expensive to run here in the UK as a daily driver .... So I had to walk away from it :(
drewerz01 1 year ago
@drewerz01 Hey, Mike...I had a later generation with my 90 Cougar...it was a great road car, the upholstery was unbelievably posh. But you are right about fuel usage, compared to the average car on the road in the U.K, it would have taken a lot of money to keep it fed. Thanks! :) Jack
raconter1 1 year ago
I almost bought a white one like that a while back, but the V6'es lack of power kinda turned me off.. still a cool lookin car tho.
JakeDaSnakeFilms 1 year ago
@JakeDaSnakeFilms Hey, Jake! No question about the V6...the V8 was more desirable. I had the V6 in my 90 Cougar...it was ok acceleration, but I would have wished that a V8 had been available...soon the 4.6 was! Thanks! :) Jack
raconter1 1 year ago
@raconter1 yea, if it had been a 90 Thunderbird with a V6 I might have got it because they made 140 HP, the 83 thru 87's made just 120 HP
JakeDaSnakeFilms 1 year ago
I always liked that T-bird style. Is it a V6 or V8? I don't like red interior though. My dad had a '85 TB, V8, fully loaded, moonrf, really nice. Bought it new in '85. There weren't many V8's around. When he sold it, I would have bought it, but I never liked the steering wheel column shift it had. I never knew why they didn't put the gear shift on the console, since it had bucket seats anyhow.
longhairedpig 1 year ago
@longhairedpig Hey, Eddie! I wish I knew what was under the hood...I suppose a V8, but not sure. My 90 Cougar had a shift on the console, so I think they corrected this problem with the next generation TBird/Cougar. Thanks! :) Jack
raconter1 1 year ago
@raconter1 Yes, in 1989 & up, the new T-bird & Cougar models did have the console shift. After buying my IROC-Z new in '89, I test drove & almost bought a '90 TB SuperCoupe 5spd & almost again in '91 but never did. I didn't like the motorized front seatbelts. stupid idea from whoever thought of putting them in the cars. So I ended up staying with my IROC-Z for several more yrs.
longhairedpig 1 year ago
I think they did offer a V-6...but most probably came off the line with a 5.0. They even had a 4 cylinder Turbo coupe option (not many of those left.)
dodge09challenger 1 year ago
@dodge09challenger Hey, Brian...thanks for filling that in..I wasn't sure of engine choices. That 4 cylinder turbo was probably what they used on the Mustang of the time. I don't think they made many of them either. Thanks! :) Jack
raconter1 1 year ago
sweet
cody56108 1 year ago
@cody56108 Hey, Cody! I think it sure is! Incredible condition for that year! Thanks!
:) Jack
raconter1 1 year ago