Nine generations into the Thunderbird run, buyers could get one of the sleekest versions to date. I didn’t say slickest so put away those torches and pitchforks as I know the early T-Birds are most likely the favorites here. The seller has this 1986 Ford Thunderbird listed here on eBay in New London, Wisconsin, there is no reserve, and the current bid price is $4,700.
According to a 1986 Thunderbird brochure, this car “answers the demands of the 80s”, where a car’s styling should be both appealing and functional. As a person with neither of those traits, I’m jealous of this car. This is the last year of the old-school headlights and the 1987 model is quite a bit more modern-looking with the aero headlights. I prefer the aero headlights, I think it just gives this otherwise sleek design an extra punch.
The ninth-generation Thunderbird was made from 1982 for the 1983 model year until the end of 1988. The seller provides a great video here on YouTube showing this car and it looks amazing for being almost four decades old. It has just under 40,000 miles on it and being a Wisconsin car, I don’t see any rust other than some surface rust underneath. You’ll see that some sort of undercoating has been applied to the underside in spots.
As expected, the interior looks outstanding. In the video, the seller mentions that this car could use a good detailing and it would really look like a jewel with a weekend spent on it. The seats look perfect both front and rear. They do mention that the climate control blower motor needs to be repaired so plan on that.
This isn’t the Turbo Coupe, it’s Ford’s Essex 3.8-liter OHV V6 with 120 horsepower and 205 lb-ft of torque when new. Backed up by a four-speed automatic sending power to the rear wheels, the seller says this one is a great driver and it sure looks like a winner. Are there any ninth-generation Thunderbird fans out there?
Handsome silhouette on this bird Gilbertson. Love the “4 eye” model like it’s brother Mustang. Although both models looked great w the incoming aero treatment as well. Essex V6 built in Canada 🇨🇦 I believe.
I’ve always found the styling on this generation of T-Birds to be particularly attractive. I too prefer the aero nose models, but the four-eye look does give it an early-80’s vibe.
By this time the T-Bird, with its Fox Body roots, had settled into a personal luxury niche which was more “fancier Mustang” and less “cheaper Lincoln.” I seem to remember that they sold pretty well.
This is a well-preserved example. I like the two-tone paint.
I liked the look of these birds, especially the turbo coupe, but was never fond of the 2.3l engine. I had two cars with the 3.8 ( LTD and Mustang ) and found them to be smooth and reliable. That said, if were to buy one of these, I’d want the 5.0
i mean they are far less exciting than the turbo coupe variants but i was unfortunate enough to own a base model 85 like this one instead of a turbo coupe. Dad wasn’t having me in a turbo car lol. i chalked it up to any car could be made to look good with a set of wheels and window so thats the pipe dream i was left with. it was a solid runner and i never had any issues with it and it rode like a lincoln!!!!
i mean they are far less exciting than the turbo coupe variants but i was unfortunate enough to own a base model 85 like this one instead of a turbo coupe. Dad wasn’t having me in a turbo car lol. i chalked it up to any car could be made to look good with a set of wheels and window so thats the pipe dream i was left with. it was a solid runner and i never had any issues with it and it rode like a lincoln!!!!
If you’d said “slickest”, I wouldn’t have corrected you. Ford did a great job with these.
YUCK!🤮 !Please shoot this BIRD 🐦. Totally lacking the class of Thunderbirds (until disastrous 1980) . Oh how the mighty have fallen.i believe sickest is more accurate than slickest
My brother recently bought a 86 turbo coupe , that now has 429,C6,mini tub 9 in.,coil overs,full interior, very cool car..
Sounds a very cool Ford TBird Rw 🙌
My dad had an ’85 Bird. He put 150,000 miles on it. Replaced the water pump, and that funky digital speedometer. Besides tires and brakes? Nothing else. These were great riding and driving cars.
I’m not sure if this is one, but I love the brake lights that illuminate round, even though the light is square. I’ve always thought that was a neat trick on these. These are the best Thinderbirds they built.
My Mother had one of these new. Hers was a maroon color with matching interior. It was modern looking for the time but I hated it. Driving it was like sitting in a cave. The seats were too low and there wasn’t enough window to see out clearly and let in light. I’m sure the Lincoln Mark clone was the same way. Pretty to look at, but claustrophobic.
Bill Elliott’s ride
Awesome Bill from Dawnsonville
This bird body style with the aero nose in 1987 set the speed record at Daytona at 210.362 and Talladega at 212.809. this bird was made famous by awesome Bill Elliott. Everybody else was 8 and 9 miles an hour slower.
Reminds me of the amazing day when he made up two laps under green at Talladega. That was about the time I was just “catching on” to the sport; “hey this is pretty cool.” Back when NASCAR wasn’t the highly-regulated format-driven tightly-controlled entity it is today.
Auction update: someone got a good deal here, this Thunderbird sold for $6,100!