I seem to be running into more and more CCs on the way to work in the morning. In a way, I’m torn. On one hand, I always get excited when I see an uncommon set of wheels on the road. But on the other hand, I am on the way to work. I time my alarm to get the maximum amount of snooze time before I have to get up, meaning that usually I have no more than a five-minute cushion. So, no time for stopping!
When the all-new (well, mostly new) 1983 Thunderbird hit the showrooms, it was a revelation. A beauty. The 1980-82 T-bird was the last of the gilding-the-lily-and-hoping-the-customer-doesn’t-notice-it’s-a-Fairmont schtick. Now we had a clean, modern and beautiful Thunderbird. But Brougham dies hard, and a remnant of that was a continuation of the Heritage trim level–itself a continuation of the 1978 Diamond Jubilee T-Bird.
By 1985 the Heritage had been renamed the more modern sounding élan. It was no longer the top of the line, but held the Brougham spot in the Thunderbird lineup. As you’d expect, more standard features and plusher seating rounded out the changes.
The élan’s last fling was in 1986, as the name disappeared in ’87 along with a restyle. Our featured car appears to be one from that year, as it has the CHMSL that was mandated for all 1986 cars. The two-tone paint was rather attractive too, and though the car was a bit worn (and the élan badge missing–all you can see is the outline in adhesive!) it was still a treat to see before arriving at work for another round of coffee and sales reports!
I remember when this generation T-Bird came out. At the time, I was neither impressed with its styling, nor was I amused with its performance, even with its turbocharged engine. The longer the car was on the market, however, the more I liked it. I would’ve preferred it any day over a Toyota Camry. 🙂
I still like these cars, though looking at it through modern eyes the wheelbase seems too short for the overall length of the car. I can accept long overhangs on a squared-off car, but they seem less acceptable on a shape as otherwise “modern” as this.
Rarely seen anymore, so it’s a good find in any case.
I would definitely agree with your assessment, though back in the 80’s this was probably less noticeable when surrounded by a multitude of other American cars with perilously cantilevered overhangs. Don’t know why they didn’t go with the longer 108′ wheelbase from the previous 80-82 Birds. The Mark VII used the longer wheelbase, and looks slightly more balanced when viewed through today’s eyes.
Great point I was thinking the same thing. It’s like that Expedition where I remember liking the looks new but now think it’s old fashioned. I don’t feel this way about the Mark VII because the car is so awesome.
The Mark VII was a awsome car(especially the all black LSC) and was a game changer for the USA market because Ford lobbied hard with the government to abolish the rules that headlights had to be of the sealed beam kind and this allowed cars sold in the US of A to have the so called Euro lights(composite) which had far reaching effects.(imagine the Taurus with sealed beam headlights)
Yeah but lately with every car made having the same grinning blobby headlights I’m starting to lament the LSC for causing it. Somehow car designers seemed so much more creative when they were stuck with sealed beams.
There were tries to do something different–problem was light output. Take the ’93 to ’96 Mark VIII for example. Sleek, narrow composite lamps which looked great but, to recycle one quote about them, “were about as useful as a candle in a hurricane”. I can vouch for this criticism, weakest lamps of any car I’ve ever driven. With the ’97 refresh they went to big, effective HID projectors but they were definitely “blobby”.
Also I wouldn’t say they’re all the same. I think the more vertical orientation of some cars’ lamps (Cadillac and Nissan Z come to mind) are an interesting wrinkle.
Too me the Mark has not aged nearly as well as the T-bird. I was enamored with them when new but now they do not interest me while I still love the early aero bird.
Man, there sure are a lot of people who have overhangs! I LIKE them…
I prefer to call it my 5 mph bumper. One of the better looking body styles of the 80’s, I always liked the looks of these cars. Looks a lot more modern than many cars of that period. They sold really well, and the V8’s seemed to be fairly problem free. One of Ford’s better ideas. Parents had an 89 Cougar. That roofline really messed up the looks of the car.
Calling Bill Elliot…
These are cool. Can’t remember the last time I saw one.
Holy overhangs for a rwd car though!
Bill Elliot wore NA$CAR out with that body style!
Ha! My makeshift pen holder at work …
I have always loved this version of the T-bird and the exterior still looks fresh after all these years. I do however like the 87-88 versions the best due to it getting rid of the square headlights.
I love this car. All these years later I still stop and stare. This was the first example of everyone doing one thing and Ford, rather unexpectedly, coming out with a game changer. At that time Ford wasn’t known for industry leading styling.
The total is far greater than the sum of the parts. The overhang, the borrowed parts, the Fox restrictions – all covered with that beautiful sweeping body.
I don’t mind the individual faults because when she drives by, I still stare.
They also tried to execute a game-changing move by dropping a turbo 4 in the performance version. It may not have caught on long-term or with other cars of the same type, but it was definitely something different.
Always liked these and they still get my attention if I come across one. Even my brother, an avowed Swedish car freak, was impressed by these when they came out.
Have to agree with the others – this was a stunner when new and still looks good today.
I agree. I like its styling now more than I did when it first debuted. But then I was only 7 yrs old at the time. What did I know about car design or styling?
Did you notice the vent windows?
That may be a “quarter glass,” not a vent window. I thought the latter had become extinct by this time.
I recall a 1967 Javelin ad boasting, among other things, of not having a vent window like that pathetic, no-good, hopeless Mustang.
Just looked at the brochure. Front vent windows were optional equipment.
Yes, I still think this was a beautiful, well executed design.
There still was a broughamy trim level on the 1987 and up composite headlight Thunderbirds, I know because I had one for a few weeks that I was flippng, it was loaded to the gills, it even had a power moonroof(that wasn’t working anymore), the weak version of the 5.0, I think the trim level was just called LX, full digital instruments, and 14inch whitewall baby buggy wheels that would squeal enought to make a Quinn Martin production.
My cousin had an ’88 LX. It came from a Ford executive car auction and had everything in the book on it except for leather and, oddly enough, the 5.0. Compared to my base model ’88 it was like riding in a plush velour-lined bank vault. The difference in sound insulation was very apparent when you closed the doors.
It was very quiet, mine didn’t have leather, she had the blue velour, and a tiny over boosted steering wheel.
Another car that was simply everywhere, then suddenly, wasn’t. Count me as another who was smitten with these. Of course, after that 1980-82 mess, anything would have been an improvement.
A friend bought an 84 Cougar as his first new car. He liked the Cougar roofline better, I preferred the Bird. The 3.8/C5 auto was a highly pleasant combo for day-to-day driving.
That silver ‘Bird in the brochure looks exactly like the one I almost bought in July 1984 after landing a new, well-paying job. In the end, my innate tightfistedness made me walk away from a good deal. I wish now that I hadn’t, because I like these ‘Birds to this day.
There were quite a change from the 70s and 80s boxy looks, and were one salvo ending the ‘malaise era’.
’88 T-Bird, 3.8/AOD, base model, white with a blue interior. Blown head gasket and all it was the best car I’ve ever had, bar none.
IIRC it’s stablemate the cougar came with an available 5.0. I liked them pretty much but was married to someone who saw us in town cars. I think pretty much anything reasonably light with a 5.0 and a 4DOE was great. My mechanic friend was not in love with the 3.8 but his reason did not have to be one that held water with a driver.
I used to drive a 1986 T-Bird, and that was one great little car. It still ran like a top with 171000 on the odometer, and the only reason I had to get rid of it was because of all the corrosion from the road salt used here during the long Maine winters. Even though it was mechanically perfect, the body was so badly rotted out that it could not pass a safety inspection. It really hurt when I had to junk it because of the rust.
This is my 84 Fila Thunderbird. It was the top of the line for that year. I still have it.
Another look at it.
I still miss my silver ’87, 5.0 propelled. That was more than enough power for a 16 year old!