1983 Ford Thunderbird | Retro Review

Автокөліктер мен көлік құралдары

The '83 T-Bird changed the rules of what a modern American car should look like, and readied the world for the Taurus a few years later.
Show 218 | Original Airdate 03-15-1983
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Пікірлер: 328

  • @dodgeguyz
    @dodgeguyzАй бұрын

    This car looked so futuristic at the time. Still has nice lines today!

  • @michaelhungate7506

    @michaelhungate7506

    Ай бұрын

    It sure did. I remember my History teacher had his brand new 83 TBird. It was sharp and the first hint at thier aerodynamic look of the Taurus for 86. Aircraft style door seals, the look was perfect.

  • @nolimitsnuttbusts4u

    @nolimitsnuttbusts4u

    Ай бұрын

    ​@@michaelhungate7506 Those aircraft style door seals were a big deal for Ford Lincoln-Mercury. Most vehicles adopted that later on.

  • @KenanTurkiye

    @KenanTurkiye

    Ай бұрын

    This and ones like these were the design epitome of what a 'car' was, remember all the diecast toys, they were almost like this. This boxy design needs to make a comeback, you rock 83 Thunderbird!

  • @KenanTurkiye

    @KenanTurkiye

    Ай бұрын

    ....and yes I would go back to the 80's if I could. : )

  • @nolimitsnuttbusts4u

    @nolimitsnuttbusts4u

    Ай бұрын

    @@KenanTurkiye I really like the 2nd generation of this body style too

  • @TJDST4
    @TJDST4Ай бұрын

    John Davis, *I'm* glad *you're* with us.

  • @adamn7516

    @adamn7516

    Ай бұрын

    Yup his voice as been in my ears since I was 15 years old back in the mid 80's. He has followed us Gen X'rs from our teen years all the way into our middle age and beyond. Amazing that over 40 years later he is still not only with us but still doing the same thing.

  • @matthewjones12181
    @matthewjones12181Ай бұрын

    There is a kid in our town who has an 83 Thunderbird that his Dad bought new. His end goal is to completely restore it. It's a cool looking car still.

  • @jralphroman
    @jralphromanАй бұрын

    Growing up in New York I can tell you this was the vehicle of choice for any Bronx pimp

  • @landyachtfan79
    @landyachtfan79Ай бұрын

    It's hard to believe that such a beautiful & clean design is now 41 years old!!!!! Still looks just as modern today as it did back then.

  • @patrickmcgoldrick8234

    @patrickmcgoldrick8234

    26 күн бұрын

    I agree,the Cougars roof rear styling in my opinion didn't do that car any favors,I think the cougar could have been a good looking car if they would have used the Thunderbirds roof.I think Ford made a good move with the styling of the T-Bird,it was bold and with a look that was far from common at the time.

  • @JK-dp3lp

    @JK-dp3lp

    11 күн бұрын

    As much as I like the TBird I dislike the Cougar, the rear roof and windows are awful.

  • @matthewhirsch2306
    @matthewhirsch2306Ай бұрын

    My dad's uncle still has his 83 Thunderbird in the garage. It's hardly been driven since he bought it brand new & still has the original tires.

  • @KartKing4ever

    @KartKing4ever

    Ай бұрын

    Of all of the cars to save like that, doing that with one of these was definitely a waste.

  • @matthewhirsch2306

    @matthewhirsch2306

    Ай бұрын

    ​@KartKing4ever I could probably at least somewhat agree. I think it's been about give or take around several years since my great uncle drove the car. Yet he hasn't really considered selling it off still. If the car ain't used in some years it can be still an interest to someone who wants to buy it & get some work done being restored & etc.

  • @joemcdonough7509

    @joemcdonough7509

    Ай бұрын

    You should reach out to Doug Demuro! He'd want to drive that and make a video.

  • @matthewhirsch2306

    @matthewhirsch2306

    Ай бұрын

    @@joemcdonough7509 as I mentioned, the car belongs to my great uncle. At this point he's probably going to leave it to his sons if not one of them. Besides I won't hold my breath he would have even a small amount of consideration to sell the car.

  • @milfordcivic6755

    @milfordcivic6755

    Ай бұрын

    Why live vicariously through your father's relatives?

  • @compu85
    @compu85Ай бұрын

    I always liked the studio glamour shot sequences of the early episodes.

  • @stankymcgee6742
    @stankymcgee6742Ай бұрын

    I bought an '83 5.0L car with 93K last May for $500. It's my summer daily-driver. Quiet, powerful-enough, and comfy. The CFI still functions flawlessly, AC works, and the AOD transmission is perfect. Great car!

  • @johnnysalazar5399

    @johnnysalazar5399

    Ай бұрын

    A this point, we're better off with older cars, these new cars are expensive crap that break down after 3 months. I have a 95 buick roadmaster lt1 and it's powerful and comfy and the ac is icy cold 🥶 😎

  • @jamesedmonds9946

    @jamesedmonds9946

    Ай бұрын

    Bought a 84 cougar in 94 for 900 that had custom rims that costed like 2k at the time. Drove it for 3 years till I totaled it. It was about time for a new car anyways cause I never changed the oil. Sold the car for like 250 for scrap and the rims for 500... rinse and repeat. I had never paid over 2k for a vehicle except in the n past 10 years. But always wished I would of kept the first car I ever bought and just drove it all my life. Miss that 71 dodge dart with no brakes I paid 300 for in 93... that drove... bought a 2019 Hyundai for 22k in 2019. It got vandalized and costed 9k to fix. Then three months later the motor was knocking. Got rid of it and just bought an old Ford truck for 3k and still going after 5 years...

  • @hankwilliams-hx9ww

    @hankwilliams-hx9ww

    27 күн бұрын

    Just be prepared to do things like fuel lines or the tank, and the catalytic converters. All the rubber trim on the car as well. When you take a car that is 40 something years old with only 90,000 mi on it and then you start driving it daily it's going to start having problems. Maybe not at first but eventually. Just be prepared to put a few more Grand into it.

  • @jamesedmonds9946

    @jamesedmonds9946

    27 күн бұрын

    @hankwilliams-hx9ww my next car will be older. I'm tired of newer vehicles and expensive hard to solve problems. I'd take any old car I used to have over these newer ones and regret treating them as disposable.

  • @johnnysalazar5399

    @johnnysalazar5399

    27 күн бұрын

    @hankwilliams-hx9ww the thing with most older cars is that they are more easier to fix than the newer cars and parts are cheaper

  • @thethomasj1795
    @thethomasj1795Ай бұрын

    These cars were everywhere. The Turbo Coupe with the manual tranny was the best version of this car. It handled amazing. I had the 86' LSC and it is still a top 5 favorite of mine all these years later.

  • @user-sk1eh3pg6j
    @user-sk1eh3pg6jАй бұрын

    Some people call this car ugly. They have never taken a look at GM, Chrysler or foreign automaker's 1983 lineup apparently. And stop crying about the power. None of you were around when it was new. Those who bought it new had no complaints. Torque trumps horsepower. Small wheels, lightweight body & an extra gear in the transmission means it doesn't need alot of power especially when speed limits were 55mph.

  • @akshonclip

    @akshonclip

    Ай бұрын

    Exactly. You look at the 83/84 Chrysler K cars and the difference is night and day.

  • @anthonyrowland9072

    @anthonyrowland9072

    Ай бұрын

    @@akshonclipPeople love the GM G-bodies but I always thought they looked corny. The new Thunderbird looked like a modern car, not a 70s holdover.

  • @nolimitsnuttbusts4u

    @nolimitsnuttbusts4u

    Ай бұрын

    ​@@anthonyrowland9072The G bodies were decent but they don't look proportionately correct. They're too short. Ford Lincoln-Mercury stretched the Thunderbird, Cougar and Mark VII properly.

  • @randallbates9020

    @randallbates9020

    Ай бұрын

    Hmmm I was around when this was new, 19 in fact. We as motorheads laughed at first but a speed shop had 2 and they geared the rear end better and put a small cam in with polished and ported heads and dual exhaust... Quite impressive I must say. Heck my 1983 GT Mustang with its tremec 5 speed is still a joy to drive to this very day although as I am about to be 60 I don't push the envelope like I used to... Lol... Keep those insurance rates down.

  • @user-sk1eh3pg6j

    @user-sk1eh3pg6j

    Ай бұрын

    @@randallbates9020 With a body that can be taken apart and put back together tightly with a screwdriver and 130hp on tap insurance was definitely cheap on these lol. I remember asking my insurance carrier a long time ago why is my insurance on my Taurus GL cheap and so expensive on my Taurus SHO. Same body basically. They said the horsepower difference. Idek want to know how high insurance is on new cars today.

  • @2Kriss2Kross
    @2Kriss2KrossАй бұрын

    What a radical car for ‘83, especially compared to the dowdy previous gen which looked like a 70’s T-Bird that was left in the dryer for too long. A lot of people credit the Taurus for Ford US’s Aero revamp but this was 3 years ahead of that. Would love to have one of these or its Mercury or Lincoln cousin.

  • @nolimitsnuttbusts4u

    @nolimitsnuttbusts4u

    Ай бұрын

    Tbird/Cougar & Tempo/Topaz set the stage for Taurus/Sable to bring us modern day aerodynamics as we know it.

  • @indianasunsets5738

    @indianasunsets5738

    Ай бұрын

    Agreed. The T-Bird was the first real aero design out the gate in that era.

  • @donaldwilson2620

    @donaldwilson2620

    Ай бұрын

    I would also credit the European Ford Sierra for the aero trend as well. It was sold as the Merkur XR4TI in the U.S.

  • @nolimitsnuttbusts4u

    @nolimitsnuttbusts4u

    Ай бұрын

    @@donaldwilson2620 Right, but not in 1983 in US.

  • @anthonyrowland9072

    @anthonyrowland9072

    Ай бұрын

    We weren't a Ford family but they killed it with the thunderbird and the taurus in the 80s.

  • @michaelfolino8414
    @michaelfolino8414Ай бұрын

    My mother bought a brand new1985 Turbo Coupe 5 speed and loved it so much she kept it until 1996. All I remember is that is was amazing on gas and my friends loved riding in it on the rare occasion she'd pick me up after school.

  • @justme307

    @justme307

    Ай бұрын

    The early turbo coupes without intercooler were reasonably quick cars, mid-8 to 60 and mid-16 in the 1/4-mile were nothing to sneeze at back then.

  • @thethomasj1795

    @thethomasj1795

    Ай бұрын

    @@justme307 Those cars had a lot of boost!

  • @stevenlang918
    @stevenlang918Ай бұрын

    My parents have one exactly the same color, same wheels except I believe it was called heritage, fully equipped

  • @bluemax2491
    @bluemax2491Ай бұрын

    Have always loved this body style! It was cutting edge for Ford. Loved watching Motor Week as well!

  • @kevinbarry71
    @kevinbarry71Ай бұрын

    Thank goodness it had an ashtray in the back; you wouldn't want your kids ashing their cigarettes on the carpet

  • @kruzininla

    @kruzininla

    Ай бұрын

    Lol

  • @blairbrown4812

    @blairbrown4812

    Ай бұрын

    Mock if you must, but with marijuana sales on the rise and on the verge of becoming more mainstream, I'm confident that the ashtray is due 4 a comeback

  • @user-sk1eh3pg6j

    @user-sk1eh3pg6j

    Ай бұрын

    This was back when adults rode in backseat.

  • @akshonclip

    @akshonclip

    Ай бұрын

    @@blairbrown4812That’s like saying car manufacturers should install beer holders. Ffs 🤦‍♂️

  • @robertsmith1768

    @robertsmith1768

    Ай бұрын

    @@akshonclipthat’s not a bad idea.

  • @blairbrown4812
    @blairbrown4812Ай бұрын

    0:10 This was probably around the time that we start to see the John Davis that we know and love today.

  • @adamn7516

    @adamn7516

    Ай бұрын

    Yup the show started in 1981 I believe and the show and Jon as host still with us 43 years later. And Pat Goss as well until he passed 2 years ago.

  • @SP84Fanatic
    @SP84FanaticАй бұрын

    This model was quite the dramatic improvement over the 1980-82 Thunderbird. Its styling was unique and modern, yet it still carried heritage cues from previous models. Also, it helped pave the way for more aerodynamic cars in the U.S. over the next several years.

  • @Real-CB-News
    @Real-CB-NewsАй бұрын

    I loved mine! Only thing this car was missing was a proper 5.0L under the hood. The TBI 5.0 was weak sauce. Overall, this was a very nice auto, and great on the highway

  • @RobertSmith-le8wp

    @RobertSmith-le8wp

    Ай бұрын

    Perhaps not fast but still a great engine. To be honest I’ll take the weak understressed engine. I have a 1994 F150 with the 5.0 and it’s got 320,000 and still going strong, whereas my Dads 2012 King Ranch blew the engine at 95,000 despite him babying it and changed the oil at 4,000 miles. It actually cracked 4 pistons. He specifically got that over the 3.5 ecoboost because people told him it would be more reliable

  • @Real-CB-News

    @Real-CB-News

    Ай бұрын

    @@RobertSmith-le8wp Copy that. The 302 is practically bulletproof and totally reliable. Ford missed the market by not offering a H.O. Mustang 5.0L version of that engine in the T-bird in a higher trim level. My only other gripe with the car was the rims (just like the T-bird in the video) were difficult to keep clean because brake dust accumulated in the tiny nooks and crannies. Some 16" alloy Mustang rims would alleviate that tho

  • @nolimitsnuttbusts4u

    @nolimitsnuttbusts4u

    Ай бұрын

    Nobody complained about it back then and if you ordered one new you wouldn't complain either.

  • @georgeprotopapadakis4752
    @georgeprotopapadakis4752Ай бұрын

    My mom bought a brand new one in ‘84 and my grandma drove it for a while when I was a kid. Still remember those heavy ass doors lol

  • @rickreid81
    @rickreid81Ай бұрын

    My family had one one these this the V8. What an amazing & fun car it was.

  • @bln3576
    @bln357614 күн бұрын

    I have an 84 T-Bird. 5.0 loaded, digital dash, power rear antenna, LED headlights and no rust anywhere. 17,000 miles. A real head turner today and fun to drive.

  • @pmafterdark
    @pmafterdarkАй бұрын

    Love these 80's retro reviews.

  • @Underappreciatedclassics
    @UnderappreciatedclassicsАй бұрын

    These are getting so rare!

  • @thewiseguy3529

    @thewiseguy3529

    Ай бұрын

    They've been rare, since about 1990

  • @624radicalham

    @624radicalham

    Ай бұрын

    Junkyards were full of them in 1990

  • @user-li7mk1qo1k
    @user-li7mk1qo1kАй бұрын

    The worlds fastest racecar. Bill Elliott really helped NASCAR expand with his exploits in the Coors T-Bird

  • @Real-CB-News

    @Real-CB-News

    Ай бұрын

    Bob Glidden did well with his T-bird in Pro Stock in the early '80s

  • @GoonSquadLifeMember

    @GoonSquadLifeMember

    Ай бұрын

    "Awesome Bill from Dawsonville!" (Georgia).

  • @tmklunk

    @tmklunk

    Ай бұрын

    Just think how fast it would be with a real race car driver!

  • @robertauvil5451

    @robertauvil5451

    Ай бұрын

    G

  • @williammaceri8244
    @williammaceri8244Ай бұрын

    I've been a Ford man since 1966 when my oldest brother brought home a new Mustang, maybe even before that. I had this thing for big Country Squire and Colony Park wagons, and ever since I was old enough to notice cars, at 5 years old I have loved the styling of the 1959 model year Fords. Both sedans and wagons, the 59 Fords have been in my top 5 all-time favorites. Depending on what I happen to be into, my top 5 is kinda fluid, but it always includes the 59s, oh, and the 1969 Mach Is. I actually owned one for over 35 years and I wish I still had it. I love everything about the 69 Mach I. Sometimes I would just sit and stare at it, from every angle, and that includes the interior too. Then there's the Thunderbirds. There are things I love about every generation. I owned a 1970, a 2 door fastback, 428 4 barrel carburetor that could only get 8 mpg, with a tail wind. From it's Bunkie beak,it's ultra cool taillights with sequential turn indicators and it's fantastic interior, in my opinion the best word to describe it is gorgeous, but not a good car to own during the 1973 oil crisis. At the time, I still had the Mach I, needless to say I spent way too much time in gas lines. I also love the 74 through 76 "glamor birds. They are the same car as the Lincoln Mark IVs.Yes they are huge, but very beautiful. In 1984 I came very close to buying a 84 TurboCoupe, but at the time I was an IBM Customer Engineer which was a field position and my territory was West Los Angeles, one of the most heaviest and traffic areas in L.A. and the TurboCoupe only came with a manual transmission. That would not be a good fit for a car with a clutch so I went with an 84 Mustang with an automatic transmission. It was a black on black hatchback, and it had a 4.6 V8. I drove the wheels off of that little Stang, it turned out to be a good territory car. Today I'm retired and I have a 2008 Explorer, 4.0 V6. My first car that isn't a V8 and I love it. It's my second Explorer, my first was a 97 Eddie Bauer with the 5.0 V8. It was black with medium prerrie leather interior. It had the 15 inch chrome factory wheels. I had all the gold Eddie Bauer trim painted black and it was always the best looking Explorer around. I got compliments about how it looked and the great sounding exhaust of the 5.0. I loved that Explorer. It was very reliable and comfortable, it had every available option including ATC. It had over 200,000 trouble free miles on it when it was jacked from in front of my house and I never saw it again. So, after reading this article on the 83 Thunderbird, I definitely felt a stirring. Maybe I should try to find one. Thanks for a great review!,

  • @smithraymond09029
    @smithraymond09029Ай бұрын

    My neighbor across the street still daily drives her 1984 T-bird.

  • @arnesahlen2704
    @arnesahlen270411 күн бұрын

    I had and loved a (bought used) base-level 1980 Thunderbird, but I remember the amazement with this new design's début. Together the two eras symbolized past and future.

  • @robertdiehl9003
    @robertdiehl9003Ай бұрын

    Top class car back in the day. Beautiful styling with new inovations especially the 84 Cougar digital dash. Solidly built.

  • @mega-hb4re
    @mega-hb4re27 күн бұрын

    Beautiful car, specially the sport model with the 5.0 engine

  • @TheEasyeman
    @TheEasyemanАй бұрын

    I had an 83 or 85 5.0 in teal green. Great car

  • @DRH-dr8fw
    @DRH-dr8fw28 күн бұрын

    I owned 3 Turbo Coupes, '83, '86 and '87...all were great cars! I especially liked the '87 with 195 HP intercooled turbo. Put over 225K miles on it with no major issues and would've gone further but got rear-ended one day. I loved these cars!

  • @thunderray1987
    @thunderray198727 күн бұрын

    Absolutely beautiful Thunderbird! I love the '83-'88 Aero Birds as much as the '80-'82 boxy Birds.

  • @lukasfoster7515
    @lukasfoster7515Ай бұрын

    My grandparents had two of these. One gold and one white.

  • @philarob80
    @philarob80Ай бұрын

    The test driver in the slalom test was definitely throwing his ENTIRE body into those turns

  • @averytulak
    @averytulakАй бұрын

    Such a sweet ride! I swear every single time I see one of these pop up. I watch it right away. The retro soundtrack!!

  • @mumwifeteacher
    @mumwifeteacherАй бұрын

    10 years ahead of its time. Ford was very innovative in the 80”s.

  • @Porsche996driver
    @Porsche996driverАй бұрын

    This new Thunderbird was quite a big deal in 1983! They borrowed a bit of the 635 design and 3 engine choices including a Turbo 4! And that suspension was really tight like a Mustang. This car carried Ford in a new technical and design direction until the ‘90s! Thanks John! ✨

  • @cowboydiecastracing
    @cowboydiecastracingАй бұрын

    Wow! Nice time capsule! Love the retro review videos! Great job!

  • @john_barnett
    @john_barnettАй бұрын

    6:03 I love the ABS built into the chassis instead of a separate unit

  • @djp1234
    @djp1234Ай бұрын

    This guy has been reviewing cars longer than I've been alive.

  • @rocknewtonfilsterwilly7364
    @rocknewtonfilsterwilly7364Ай бұрын

    I loved my 86 turbo coupe. That 4 cylinder would smoke many v8 chevys. Lowest rear end gear ratio of any production car at the time, might still be for all i know. This body style still holds the track record at Talladega set in 1987 by Bill Elliott.

  • @johnmoosey8173
    @johnmoosey817327 күн бұрын

    Loved that T bird generation....the 80s were the best

  • @michaelsimko7694
    @michaelsimko769426 күн бұрын

    My favorite generation of the Thunderbird. Those Aerobirds were a big step forward in the auto industry and are said to have been the prime vehicle that led to the successful Taurus/Sable.

  • @TheMICMusicInspirationChannel

    @TheMICMusicInspirationChannel

    25 күн бұрын

    The Sable had the lexan light bar!

  • @daviddaniel387
    @daviddaniel38726 күн бұрын

    I remember Valine driving one on Knots landing

  • @ChrisSmith-hx8km
    @ChrisSmith-hx8km29 күн бұрын

    Many of the features touted as revolutionary on the 86 Taurus were found here first. A great reminder of that. Doors integrated with roof design and aerodynamic styling.

  • @denniswoodbury8599
    @denniswoodbury8599Ай бұрын

    That's the most aggressive slalom testing I've ever seen from Motor Week and that T-Bird really held its own.

  • @jackjohnson7396
    @jackjohnson7396Ай бұрын

    Had one with the eight for a few months where I worked at the time. Liked it no issues, cool car back then....

  • @TrailBlazerSS502
    @TrailBlazerSS502Ай бұрын

    It ate up the NASCAR circuit within its debut; look what it did for Stroker Ace.

  • @oi32df
    @oi32dfАй бұрын

    The 87 -88 is the best looking one with their grill less facia and flush windows & headlight

  • @dbddecosta
    @dbddecostaАй бұрын

    Whys it always winter in MD in the 80s?

  • @MachtNixPasstSo

    @MachtNixPasstSo

    Ай бұрын

    These were the days before climate change was invented.

  • @624radicalham

    @624radicalham

    Ай бұрын

    Global Warming. Climate Change ...

  • @markaruski
    @markaruskiАй бұрын

    Oh spread your wings and fly again sweet sweet Ford Thunderbird

  • @rushbroussard5399
    @rushbroussard5399Ай бұрын

    Ford Needs To Bring Back The Thunderbird Not The Thunderbird Retro Roadster But The Thunderbird Look From 1983

  • @bluemax2491

    @bluemax2491

    Ай бұрын

    Agreed! But they won't now because it's all about butt ugly SUV's & Crossovers!

  • @rushbroussard5399

    @rushbroussard5399

    Ай бұрын

    @bluemax2491 Ford Needs To Bring Back The Thunderbird Because The Mustang Is Getting Dominated By The Chevrolet Camaro And The Chevrolet Corvette And It Is Because Of Suv And Crossover It Is Because Of Suv's And Truck's

  • @moejr1974

    @moejr1974

    Ай бұрын

    @@rushbroussard5399 Mustang is outselling the Camaro

  • @rushbroussard5399

    @rushbroussard5399

    Ай бұрын

    @moejr1974 The Mustang Is Outselling The Camaro But The Corvette Is Outselling The Mustang And That Is Why Ford Needs To Bring Back The Thunderbird When Ford Has Introduced The Thunderbird It Has Outselled The Corvette And Sense Then Ford Has Dominated Chevrolet

  • @nolimitsnuttbusts4u

    @nolimitsnuttbusts4u

    Ай бұрын

    Just because the Mustang outsells the Camaro doesn't mean it's better. Mustang has always outsold Camaro but it wasn't always better. Mustangs are for female drivers Camaros are for men. Tell me I'm wrong? Lmao

  • @danwake4431
    @danwake4431Ай бұрын

    i had two 84 cougars, one with the V6 and one with the 302 V8. Very comfortable however the footwells were quite narrow. I then had a 94 and it was much more comfortable and roomy inside than the 84s. Still, I really loved the era of 2 door personal luxury coupes, since i also had 2 Cutlass Supremes, an 84 and an 87. I miss that era.

  • @joec1774
    @joec1774Ай бұрын

    Well designed car, especially for the era. Except, I suppose, for that rear-wheel hop. Honestly 21 MPG overall for this performance (relative to the day and age of course), seems pretty decent. Sticker price in 2024 dollars also feels reasonable at $42,000.

  • @nolimitsnuttbusts4u

    @nolimitsnuttbusts4u

    Ай бұрын

    It got stellar mpg because it can only burn so much fuel at 130hp. High torque low rpm does wonders for mpg. That's a concept people can't seem to grasp today. Everything is all about horsepower and 0 to 60 smh lol

  • @Douglas-up2vh
    @Douglas-up2vhАй бұрын

    I was born in 1962. Owned 34 .vehicles. Many Fords. 4 crown vics. Had a 1988 Thunderbird 5.0 and 1987 Mercury Cougar. They were beautiful cars and rode like a dream. God I miss the old days so much. Love this KZread series. Thank you so much for the memories.

  • @transparentcourts6748

    @transparentcourts6748

    Ай бұрын

    My father had a year old Thunerbird every year from 1959 to 1982. ( He represented a Ford dealer who ordered a new black, fully loaded one and he got his old one ) He didn't like the '83 and switched to Porsche.

  • @armandodimarzio1136

    @armandodimarzio1136

    Ай бұрын

    You miss being young

  • @samueldeandrade9058
    @samueldeandrade905823 күн бұрын

    Bela máquina até hoje sou aqui do Brasil abraços

  • @AwesomeEricD
    @AwesomeEricD27 күн бұрын

    I still want one

  • @user-yc2oz8kc5k
    @user-yc2oz8kc5k14 күн бұрын

    I remember how sensational these cars looked back in the day. Can't believe that was more than 40 years ago today.

  • @anthonysaturno8265
    @anthonysaturno8265Ай бұрын

    A beautiful car!!

  • @mikeyspeeds1056
    @mikeyspeeds1056Ай бұрын

    I had the 83 with the V6. Gutless off the line but it did cruise the freeway well.

  • @chadkimmel8957
    @chadkimmel8957Ай бұрын

    My first car.

  • @passing_through777
    @passing_through777Ай бұрын

    One of my favorites. To bad the test track wasn't wet .

  • @mychemicalbromance97
    @mychemicalbromance97Ай бұрын

    my grandma had one and STILL swears it was the best car she ever had

  • @joebrito2066
    @joebrito206620 күн бұрын

    This car looked futuristic back in the 80s.

  • @Andyface79
    @Andyface79Ай бұрын

    The one luxury coupe that got updated for the 80s and sold well (along with the Cougar.)

  • @nolimitsnuttbusts4u

    @nolimitsnuttbusts4u

    Ай бұрын

    And Mark VII....the Tbird that wears a tux ❤

  • @billp5656
    @billp565628 күн бұрын

    This body style allowed Bill Elliott to set an all time qualifying speed over 212mph

  • @cabaneencac5168
    @cabaneencac5168Ай бұрын

    3:00 ''doors curve nicely into the roof'' Especially effective so that a bank of snow falls on your seat cause you just wanted your snow brush which is inside,

  • @nolimitsnuttbusts4u

    @nolimitsnuttbusts4u

    Ай бұрын

    Use a broom 🧹

  • @cabaneencac5168

    @cabaneencac5168

    Ай бұрын

    @@nolimitsnuttbusts4u ...also in the car

  • @nolimitsnuttbusts4u

    @nolimitsnuttbusts4u

    Ай бұрын

    @@cabaneencac5168 talking about the one in your house lol

  • @cabaneencac5168

    @cabaneencac5168

    Ай бұрын

    @@nolimitsnuttbusts4u only have a hoover in the house

  • @nolimitsnuttbusts4u

    @nolimitsnuttbusts4u

    Ай бұрын

    @@cabaneencac5168 Ya know, I never thought of it before but I bet that vacuum cleaner would work in a pinch? 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 I'm going to try it this winter just for 💩's and giggles 🤣

  • @gonepostal9101
    @gonepostal9101Ай бұрын

    “Not much chrome here”. Full length chrome body strip continues around front and rear bumpers, chrome grill, chrome window surrounds. Lolol

  • @TapTapBlipBlip
    @TapTapBlipBlipАй бұрын

    My mom had a '68 Cougar. I wanted a Cougar when I became of age, but that model had a hard ending.

  • @williammurray1341
    @williammurray1341Ай бұрын

    Almost bought one in 1984. However the best deal was 3 years at 11 percent.

  • @mumwifeteacher
    @mumwifeteacherАй бұрын

    Laterally the cyber truck of 1983. Better early review then the Hagerty cyber truck review.

  • @IVR02
    @IVR02Ай бұрын

    It's interesting that this T-bird's styling is something of a predecessor to what would eventually come with the Taurus. Gotta say, the later versions with the flush headlights look a lot better. Also, dig the void set for showing off the interior. I think MW should go back to presenting cars that way. Forget parking the car in a field, how does it look when parked in the void??

  • @624radicalham

    @624radicalham

    Ай бұрын

    I'm betting the void set was filmed by Ford and given to them.

  • @johnnorvaisas
    @johnnorvaisas23 күн бұрын

    I liked these cars

  • @johnnyvegas2067
    @johnnyvegas2067Ай бұрын

    I had a 1984 and loved it. 3.8 V6 would go forever. I traded mine with at least 170,000 miles! Not bad for a ford LOL

  • @sapphir8

    @sapphir8

    Ай бұрын

    For an 80’s American car, that’s a lot of mileage.

  • @bryanwashington9511
    @bryanwashington9511Ай бұрын

    The Thunderbird was one of my favorite cars from Ford, sadly it met its fate in 2005

  • @milfordcivic6755

    @milfordcivic6755

    Ай бұрын

    After 97, it was nothing more than a toy nobody wanted.

  • @nolimitsnuttbusts4u

    @nolimitsnuttbusts4u

    Ай бұрын

    The last one wasn't a Thunderbird. It, and the Lincoln LS, were Jaguars that nobody asked for.

  • @MultiParasite
    @MultiParasiteАй бұрын

    6:20 What is happening to the rear wheels?

  • @nolimitsnuttbusts4u

    @nolimitsnuttbusts4u

    Ай бұрын

    Are you serious? It's called wheel lockup. It's called hard braking. No anti lock brakes.

  • @nolimitsnuttbusts4u
    @nolimitsnuttbusts4uАй бұрын

    I like how they explained it didn't need a lot of horsepower to cruise at 55mph when it showed the wind tunnel. Try telling that to the clowns we have out here today that think everything has to have 100,000 horsepower. I think we need to go back to 55mph speed limits and put a cap on horsepower. Insurance is nearly unaffordable now because everyone drives too fast too recklessly.

  • @pmafterdark

    @pmafterdark

    Ай бұрын

    Don't want to go back to a 55MPH speed limit, but I agree that the horsepower in most cars now is more than anyone would ever need.

  • @moejr1974

    @moejr1974

    Ай бұрын

    I agree about the HP cap

  • @nolimitsnuttbusts4u

    @nolimitsnuttbusts4u

    Ай бұрын

    I'd hate the 55mph max, but too many people like hit each other in excess of 90mph. Like these people don't understand the faster you go when you hit something the more likely it is to be fatal. If 55max is what it takes to reduce fatal crashes innocent people didn't ask to be involved in and lowers my insurance rates then I'll accept it. Reluctantly lol.

  • @nolimitsnuttbusts4u

    @nolimitsnuttbusts4u

    Ай бұрын

    @@moejr1974 Yeah, it makes the engine less reliable. The most reliable engines don't have a lot of horsepower. Like the old TBI 350 GM V8 with 185-200hp is more reliable than the LT1 with 260hp. The old Ford 5.4 with 235hp is more reliable than the later 260hp & 300hp 5.4 V8s. The old 7.3 PowerStroke with 250hp is more reliable than the 325hp 6.0 PowerStroke. The old 245hp Dodge 360 Magnum V8 is more reliable than the newer 345-395hp 5.7 Hemi V8s.

  • @randallbates9020

    @randallbates9020

    Ай бұрын

    Hey I live in the southwest and BS to 55 mph, it's already a very long way to everywhere but at 55 you would need a friggin motel room for the night... Lol... Responsible driving is in the hands of the operator, speed limits being lower is not gonna stop the idiots driving their massive fake pickup trucks at 90 mph, common sense left the building somewhere around 2005.

  • @Alan-lv9rw
    @Alan-lv9rw27 күн бұрын

    I’d buy it if it was available today.

  • @LRGDuran
    @LRGDuranАй бұрын

    Ford also sold a leather members only jacket with a thunderbird logo.

  • @povertyspec9651
    @povertyspec96519 күн бұрын

    So nice of Ford to include a fuel gauge.

  • @bobnomura2068
    @bobnomura2068Ай бұрын

    Amazing what 40 years does to MPG and performance....

  • @624radicalham

    @624radicalham

    Ай бұрын

    It got stellar mpg because it can only burn so much fuel at 130hp. High torque low rpm does wonders for mpg. That's a concept people can't seem to grasp today. Everything is all about horsepower and 0 to 60

  • @AndresSalazarAutos
    @AndresSalazarAutosАй бұрын

    Damn 130hp from a 5.0 V8... oh how things have changed

  • @justme307

    @justme307

    Ай бұрын

    That was an improvement over the 4.2L V-8 that put out 115 HP.

  • @nolimitsnuttbusts4u

    @nolimitsnuttbusts4u

    Ай бұрын

    That 130hp 302 will outlast anything they got today. And it doesn't have to rev to 5,000rpm to get going neither. You won't find a small block today that gets 21mpg with MotorWeek's lead footed test drivers lol.

  • @KenanTurkiye
    @KenanTurkiyeАй бұрын

    3:36 ''....tron like grid.....'' : )

  • @ouch1011
    @ouch101127 күн бұрын

    The front end diving and rear end lifting a foot into the air when braking isn't because the rear end is "light" its because of the prehistoric suspension design. There is no consideration for anti-lift/dive, so the torque of the brakes causes the rear end to lift. You see the same thing when they brake torque it before launching. Modern suspension is lightyears better in this regard.

  • @michaelbloom5342
    @michaelbloom5342Ай бұрын

    That car was so damned good looking. And it absolutely *dominated* NASCAR. So much so, NASCAR hobbled them half way through the season. Chevy was still using boxy Monte Carlos, and simply couldn't keep up. And we can't have that, now can we?

  • @thomash2806
    @thomash2806Ай бұрын

    That’s so funny. 130hp is what a 1-litre churns out these days…

  • @autoguy57
    @autoguy5728 күн бұрын

    This was a typical 80’s car, no thought put into the end user, it was what Ford told the public what they wanted. Of course the push for cleaner exhausts and additional crash standards didn’t help the situation at all.

  • @user-xb5zs2gr4h
    @user-xb5zs2gr4hАй бұрын

    ❤😂😢😮😅😅😅😊😊😊😊 I wish I could find a T bird like that, there’s not many out there

  • @anthonyrowland9072
    @anthonyrowland9072Ай бұрын

    That transmission is murdering that ET. It still trapped 83mph but ran 18.3...

  • @nolimitsnuttbusts4u

    @nolimitsnuttbusts4u

    Ай бұрын

    Dude....it's a four speed in an era we're 3 speeds were highly popular. It has 130hp and a 💩 ton of torque. The torque is what pushed it down the track. And it got 21mpg during their testing. From a large small block with a power sapping accessory drive system + belt driven cooling fan. That said, the performance was excellent. You wanna go faster try its big brother that wears a tux, Lincoln Mark VII LSC with the Hight Output 302. Now that baby will FLY!

  • @anthonyrowland9072

    @anthonyrowland9072

    Ай бұрын

    @@nolimitsnuttbusts4uMy old 2bbl 307 truck only trapped 77 but it ran a 17.7 lol

  • @elilevine2410
    @elilevine2410Ай бұрын

    Give it up for wood tone interior , and the synth jams . Competent simple car ...

  • @Red84GT
    @Red84GTАй бұрын

    I had an '84 Thunderbird turbo coupe briefly back in 2011. I shouldn't have sold it..

  • @davidbaron6647
    @davidbaron6647Ай бұрын

    Oldie 😊

  • @pdennis93
    @pdennis93Ай бұрын

    Where an I get one with missles behind the grille. IYKYK

  • @JarmelSingsKaraoke
    @JarmelSingsKaraokeАй бұрын

    👏👏

  • @MichaelPruitt-mg3sj
    @MichaelPruitt-mg3sj29 күн бұрын

    Sister had one the v8 leaked oil every where on it stayed in shop. Paint was fair at best,it was that wine color like promo , after a year it really wouldn't Polish up clear was gone. Just saying.

  • @kvancy4896
    @kvancy48965 сағат бұрын

    6:03 Very good design, but not so good chassis i think.

  • @MarkMeadows90
    @MarkMeadows90Ай бұрын

    6:19 That 140 ft sign looked like it fainted lol

  • @justme307

    @justme307

    Ай бұрын

    As if it thought it would get plowed into.

  • @MarkMeadows90

    @MarkMeadows90

    Ай бұрын

    @@justme307 right right lol

  • @bmstylee
    @bmstyleeАй бұрын

    I wouldn't mind one of these for a Coyote swap and a 6 speed.

  • @nolimitsnuttbusts4u

    @nolimitsnuttbusts4u

    Ай бұрын

    Keep the Coyote. Take the 6 speed. Add the High Output 302 from Lincoln Mark VII and that Bird will show its feathers and spread its wings past 60 in atleast 7secs vs 10.8 lol. And it'll be dead reliable too.

  • @bmstylee

    @bmstylee

    Ай бұрын

    @@nolimitsnuttbusts4u it's 2024 why would I want an engine from 1983? The Coyote is just as reliable and has significantly more power and a much larger aftermarket

  • @nolimitsnuttbusts4u

    @nolimitsnuttbusts4u

    Ай бұрын

    @@bmstylee Didn't say get a motor from 1983. Said get a High Output 302, that meant get the most powerful one. That's 225hp/300tq with a 6 speed. You'd be surprised what the extra gears do for acceleration without having to go crazy with power. Try it. A coyote ain't 💩. They're overengineered and unreliable. Every time you turn around something breaks on that mfr. Not everything is about power. Keep it original just add the best original H.O. engine for that model line.

  • @gmugrumbach
    @gmugrumbach26 күн бұрын

    130hp V8 in 1983! Yikes! Emissions regulations castrated these machines! Amazing style for the time.

  • @NHRA_FREAK
    @NHRA_FREAK29 күн бұрын

    My grandparents had this as the Mercury Cougar. It was a decent car.

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