The styling difference between the eighth and ninth-generation Thunderbirds is almost like the difference between the Model T and Model A, although even more dramatic. I like the previous straight-edged T-Birds but this new design was sleek. The seller has this 1985 Ford Thunderbird Turbo Coupe listed here on eBay in Hickory, North Carolina and they have a $4,450 buy-it-now price listed.
The ninth-generation Thunderbird was made from 1982 for the 1983 model year until the 1988 model year, mainly as a response or more of a retort to the somewhat-clumsy styling of the previous Thunderbird, which only lasted three years. This era of Thunderbird was updated for the 1987 model year with aero-style headlights, and as you can see, this older version has at least one headlight out. Remember this era? Changing the entire headlight rather than twisting a bulb in the back of a headlight assembly? Now, most people probably don’t even have to do that anymore with LEDs or Xenon headlights.
Sadly, this is the only photo showing the car from the front, or even one showing the driver’s side. Again, my brain hurts wondering why sellers don’t give more photos, as there doesn’t appear that they need to hide anything on this car, it looks fantastic. They do mention some flaking paint on the passenger side rocker, which they show, but there are only four exterior photos.
Thankfully, they do show a lot of interior photos and this car really looks nice inside. The seats look perfect to me both front and rear, and the underside looks relatively good, but it is showing some surface rust under there. The seller says that there is no rust so that’s good. The best part of this car for me is the Borg Warner T5 five-speed manual transmission.
The Turbo Coupe has, of course, a turbo engine! Ok, that was too easy. This one is Ford’s 2.3-liter OHC inline-four turbo, which had 155 horsepower and 190 lb-ft of torque. The seller says that this car has been in storage for years but is started every few months. I have a car with that exact M.O. and most modern vehicles can be stored in such a manner without too much trouble. They do say that the brakes need some help and the AC isn’t working, but it starts right up, runs well, and the clutch works as it should. Hagerty is at $8,900 for a #3 good-condition car so this could be a heck of a find. Have any of you owned a T-Bird Turbo Coupe?
Good write-up Scotty. I always have admired this generation of T-Birds, specifically the Turbo Coupes. The aero styling is clean and attractive, and to me still looks good. The interior styling was sporty and the materials were decent. By this time the earlier problems with the turbo-4 had been sorted out. Especially with the five-speed the performance wasn’t bad.
This example appears to be in reasonably good shape. A bit of time/effort/money, one would have a nice car. Like Scotty says, the starting price seems quite reasonable.
It is a very compelling car. I actually possess the shop manual for this car from this era. This was a reliable car that didn’t rust due to overzealous zinc galvanized steel with lots of chromium as Detroit was trying to rid itself of the rust through reputation from the 70s and very early 80s. The Ford turbo 2.3 has proven itself over the years of being able to handle tons of hot rodding without much money or loss of reliability. This car checks a lot of boxes that I don’t give many end of malaise era cars……..BIDDER UP!🤠
Good, insightful comments Bob. We had an ‘84 and an ‘88. The ‘84 was my wife’s daily driver / grocery getter and the ‘88 came along later and was for fun. I liked both of them but really liked the ‘84. The ‘88 looked better but the ‘84 just seemed like a better all around car. Nice driving and economical with good performance if you wanted it. I’m a GM guy but I’d buy another one of these in a second if it was close by and nice.
As a matter of fact I have a 1987 Turbo Coupe sitting in my garage right now. I have owned a 1983.5, 86, 88, and now the 87. Mine is optioned out just the way I would have ordered it. Silver, black interior, 5-speed, no sunroof, power antenae, both front seats powered, manual boost control. It’s just a blast to drive. This 1985 in the ad is priced right. I didn’t catch the miles but it looks like it was taken care of. Wish I had room for one more!
My Uncle bought a brand new 86 Turbo coupe, black with burgundy cloth. Beautiful car and I loved riding in it as a kid. I remember mimicking his shifting of the gears using the console mounted power seat control for the passenger, It looked like a little shift knob. Really cool car that ended up tossed into a snow bank hard. He fixed it cheap and traded on an 81 brown Porsche 928, another beautiful car that didn’t really work out. The 87-88 T-bird turbo couples were far more exciting looking IMO, but these earlier Fox body Birds have subtle good looks.
I know most people prefer the 87 restyle but to my eye the 83 to 86 version just looked so radical at the time I prefer it.
Can you imagine a car like this today with a modern twin cam v6 or v8 how awesome that would be. Nowadays our powertrains are better but styling and model offerings are in the tank. Nice car here that I hope is saved.
These cars are the perfect candidates for a modern eco-boost swap, IMO.
I owned an 88 5-speed. Doing a 2.3 EcoBoost swap with one of these Birds is high on my list of desirable projects. As it was stock, my 88 was an excellent GT car, it just ate up the highway miles and did so at a good clip. With 300+ hp? It would be marvelous.
I’m wondering if that was Rick from N.H. old car?
I agree with Danno, drop a Mustang 2.3 in there and surprise a lot of people.
I had 2 over the years. Loved them. If only the manual with the V8!
Almost bought one new! Kicked myself that I didn’t, was big enough for the family!
I’d put a coyote with a tremic 6 speed! Lower it just a bit with a bigger wheel and tire package!
PERFECTION!
I had a ’84 Turbo Coupe 5 speed and handling package with the goofy metric wheels. It was a blast to drive with decent gas mileage. The turbo seals went out and I replaced it with a water cooled until. Lost the input shaft bearing on the 5 speed and replaced it with a unit from a V8 Mustang. This would make a great autocross and track day car.
Not sure thats a burn out headlamp, we used to sell aftermarket seal beams that had louvers in them that allowed light through but could darken the lens. Cool car that hasn’t been modified
Had one for 5 days, but financing did not go through. Gold with a black interior was a blast to drive. Seemed to remember that the gas mileage was not that great if you drove it hard.
I purchased a Pastel Regatta Blue ’84 TC in October of 1983. A month earlier I had wandered into the Ford Store in Berea, Ohio and they were taking the car off of the transporter at that time. I asked my rep if it was available-I was smitten by the car, LOL-and he said no, it was special ordered for a customer. Well long story short I stopped in a month later and lo and behold, it was still there. I was told the customer who ordered the car without the approval of his company and he had to back out of the deal. I traded my Mustang GT in that afternoon and drove it home.To this day it still the most favorite car I have owned.
Bill Elliot torched NASCAR for a season or two when these came out. No other car manufacturer had the sloping aerodynamic back windshield which made a YUGE difference.
He won 11 races of 28 in his T-Bird in 1985, including Daytona & Talladega.
Believe it or not, he still holds the speed record for a qualifying lap at both Daytona & Talladega some 35 years later, he set in 1987.
Which also really pushed sales of these turbo coupes.
I have a Coors poster advertising the upcoming NASCAR race
at Sears Point featuring Elliot’s car.While looking at it,I realized that
was probably the last of the real STOCK cars – ones made from cars
the rest of us could buy & identify with.
Bill Elliot also had an indestructible Jon Kasse engine. Not a lot more power, but it could run. If anyone got close, Bill just stepped up the pace until their engine gave up.
I remember loving those races. Ol Bill would just hang out in 2nd or 3rd till it was time then, see ya! Almost made the other cars look embarrassed.
In my opinion those were the absolute best years in nascar. I was more Ford back then, but when Ford went to their global one Ford vision with all this euro parts sharing etc, the designs just don’t appeal to me much anymore. Mostly gm now, and some hondas and mitsubishi too.
Smooth
It looks like this one here uses 15″ rims, with 16″ it would
no be no doubt to qualify its sporty demand. But well,
this are the old days as any manufacturer used smaller rims.
These headlamp set-up looks to me a bit weird and outdated
taken from the shoebox-designed Mustangs of this era but
bulb changing isnt a problem. Persistent inside cleaning
gives more sight at night.
I was so impressed with the new design in 1983 I bought one, and still have it. 5.0L Tutone paint. Great car and quality was Job #1 in 1983. Really enjoyed watching the TBirds on the track and dragstrip. Bob Glidden also had some great looking TBirds.
In 2005 I found a true barn find 83 TC, sitting in a real barn! Red over tan one owner with the original window sticker. Of course I had to buy it too.
I never cared for the odd steering wheel on the 85-86’s. 83-84 had a great looking sport wheel and even the standard wheel was nice looking.
Appears the 85 sold for $4450. Someone got a great deal on a neat car.
My brother had an 87 TC midnight blue,gray interior power everything digital gauges 5 spd. He took me for a ride when I was about 13 yrs old and he had just gotten his DLs from a complete stop he roasted the tires 1st,2nd,3rd, a tiny bit in 4th and chirped them in 5th gear. Honest truth! I fell in love with it and he ended up giving it to me after of course it had wrecked. 87 TC’s FOR LIFE!!!
Sold for $4,450. What a deal! I would have loved to put this in my driveway for less than $5k