While the late eighties and early nineties might be considered by many to be an overall doldrum period for intriguing autos, Ford came close to hitting a home run for the time with the Thunderbird Super Coupe, IMHO. The Super Coupe, or SC as it was badged, added some fun and excitement to the tenth-generation Thunderbird, both in terms of performance and providing a more sporty appearance outside. Although many modern cars are now more high-tech, the SC was a sophisticated automobile when it hit the market as a 1989 model, with this 1991 example here on Craigslist seeming to still have plenty of excitement left to offer. This one’s in Portland, Oregon, and can also be seen on the seller’s website, MS Motors, where a few additional photos can be viewed. Curvette, thanks a lot for your great tip here!
The heart of the Super Coupe is its 3.8-liter intercooled engine, a V6 featuring an Eaton supercharger offering a max boost of 12 PSI, with its 210 horsepower not sounding all that shabby for the time. In 1991, Ford reintroduced a V8 option for the Thunderbird, but the 302 was only rated at 200 HP, making this SC quicker with 2 fewer cylinders. Although an automatic transmission was available, this one’s got a 5-speed manual, so that’s probably preferable for most potential buyers. More positives are that the seller indicates this one’s only had two owners, and it remains all-stock with no modifications.
You’ll stick out like a sore thumb in traffic with this bright-red finish, and this one’s said to have recently received a fresh coat of paint. It’s not mentioned if any bodywork was performed before the respray, but the sheet metal appears solid and free from any obvious defects, plus the additional lower trim moldings found on the SC really stand out when compared to a base Thunderbird.
This one still looks fairly decent inside as well, with the top area of the steering wheel obviously the favorite section to grasp by at least one of the previous caretakers. Some nice features here include power seats with a lumbar control for the driver, power windows, and power mirrors, but my favorite interior component has got to be that clutch pedal. Is this supercharged 1991 Ford Thunderbird Super Coupe one you’d be interested in pursuing?
One of Ford’s best looking cars of the era. Nice car inside and out.
💯
Definitely one of the best affordable Ford’s of this era.
Keep finding these Curvette!
I agree with Bob. From the Supercharged 6 to the stick and “Arest Me Red” paint. This one sure ticks off all the boxes. Including the beautiful condition. The repaint looks like it was performed to a very high quality.
I just reread what I wrote. I think I meant tick all the boxes, not tick off all the boxes…… We don’t want to upset any of the boxes lol. I guess everyone knew what I meant. I need another cup of coffee……
Sharp car. Preferred transmission. Lots of maintenance items replaced. Assuming the mileage is correct, there should plenty of life remaining. I’m not surprised by the repaint, it seems paint of this time period just went away over time. Plenty to like here.
Wife and I had a 94, bought it brand new. Paint was shot on the hood and top in a matter of years.The car was nice and ran well.
Worthy of the Thunderbird badges 👍
Perfect SC at a low(??) price. An American 635 built for American bods!
The thunderbird SC is a standout American car from this period. Love the 5 speed and colors.
Boy if i had the money i would be on my way to buy this car. I had a cougar with the supercharged motor with the automatic trans loved that car. Always wanted the Thunderbird with the five speed this is more than a fair deal for this car.
In 1989 we drove a brand new Cougar XR7 off the lot in Santa Cruz, CA. This was the Mercury equivalent of the Thunderbird SC. Loved that car! Beautiful in black with platinum leather interior but the best part was the supercharged V6 backed by a 5 speed manual transmission. Wish I had that one back…
I had the pleasure to drive one when I wasn18 years old back in 93. The owner of the car (my sisters boyfriend) was sitting in the passenger seat just smiling. I asked him what he was smiling at and he just looked at the speedo. I to then looked at the speedo and it read 86 mph. Problem was it was a 55mph zone. Great car, fun to drive & drive fast without knowing it. Super smooth & luxuries while being sporty.
I agree with all of the above comments !
I will never forget my first time seeing the SC, I was stunned by it’s looks compared to the ’88 which I already liked pretty well. It was the summer of 1989. I was 17 years old and working at the neighborhood Sunoco station. The station owner surprised his wife with this car as a birthday gift and we all got a close up look and a short ride around too. It was the first time I had seen a supercharger in a factory set up.
I have to indulge and say I really enjoyed the job, one which really doesn’t exist anymore. At this gas station, we sold gas and serviced cars. No mini-mart but we sold cigarettes, Lance crackers, chips and pop from the 50 cent coke machine outside. I stayed busy taking care of the folks on the full serve island. Granny would pull up in her ’70 Buick, the bell would ring and I’d get the regular leaded fuel started, clean the windshield, check oil, tires as needed. At the end I’d flip through my wad of cash to give change or use the old roller to “process” a credit card. My, how gas stations have changed… just doesn’t see like that long ago.
I did the same thing my junior senior years in high school only it was 1971-2 at a JC Penney auto center. When it was slow at the gas pumps they let me change tires. I learned a lot.
I had 2 uncles who had Union 76 stations. 1 was 14 and worked a summer so I could buy a stereo. I think I was 17-18, the second time. Had our shirts with our names on them and a hat. Good ole full-service gas stations, pumping gas, washing windows, checking oil. Learned how to fix flats and mount tires as well. Dealing with cash and those old CC machines attached to the registers. Looking up numbers in books, lol.
Ah the shirts ! Still have one with the Sunoco patch on one side and my name on the other. I plugged tons of tires, did some minor brake work, etc. Every evening at close I had to go pull the underground tank lids and record the levels from a wood stick.
Yep, remember the long wood stick, lol. That and cleaning the bays and bathrooms every night.
I don’t know much about these but 12 grand seems like a deal.
I had the pleasure to drive one when I wasn18 years old back in 93. The owner of the car (my sisters boyfriend) was sitting in the passenger seat just smiling. I asked him what he was smiling at and he just looked at the speedo. I to then looked at the speedo and it read 86 mph. Problem was it was a 55mph zone. Great car, fun to drive & drive fast without knowing it. Super smooth & luxuries while being sporty.
We bot a 94 V8 auto cloth interior , white blue int it was a demo,,wife loved it, comfortable got decent mileage for a V8 sold it after 12 yrs to a friend for kids college car after 3 yrs bot it back and drove it another 2-3 yrs and resold it
I used to sell these when they first came out in 1989-1990. For the time they were very fast, fun to drive and supremely comfortable. This is a nice example, only missing the moonroof and the original stereo has been replaced. $12 grand is still a high number for these as these ‘Birds have not appreciated significantly. Also the SC’s become money pits as they get miles on them. The engine likes to blow head gaskets, some sensors like the crankshaft one have become made out of unobtainium, and many parts (original-type shocks for instance) are impossible to find.
Nice car, I’m afraid I wouldn’t be able to do it any justice because I would make it my daily except for snowy days and it would have to sit outside because I don’t have a garage and here in Hells Canyon ( yes its a real area Google it) we have dropped into the 80s for today but I believe we will be back into the high90s by the end of the week still below the 100+ we have been the last month or so. Either way I would still love to have it.
Carfax says possible odometer rollback. Quick math says 130K+/- miles.
So much for the “Clean Carfax”.
All it takes is the emissions tester to put in the wrong mileage for that to pop up
This would make a fun daily driver. I personally like the ’87-’88 Turbo Coupes best, but this one has the goods.
should have spent as much time cleaning under the hood as they did the rest of the car
Awesome Bill Elliott convinced me to purchase a brand new black “89” SC with the 5 speed. Awesome car at the time and held up well over the years we owned it. At first, my wife didn’t want to spend the money, but after a couple of weeks of rowing on the 5 speed, she loved the decision. Was one sharp car and I’m always tempted to repeat history and this red one would fulfill that dream. Nice write up as well.
Be careful with that rear bumper. Apparently they’re made out of gold.
My brother has the twin to this car, a 1989, same color and 5 speed. His only comes out for shows and club events. He also has a diamond blue ’59 T-bird.