The Ford Thunderbird had been available for over three decades when the tenth-generation cars were introduced in 1988 for the 1989 model year. An interesting fun fact is that there were only three generations of Thunderbirds that had manual transmissions available up until this point, the 1st, 2nd, and 9th-generation cars. This 1989 Ford Thunderbird SC (Super Coupe) has a five-speed manual, making it an interesting project. Thanks to Mitchell G. for the tip!
This is all we get for exterior photos, sadly. I can’t complain too much as the seller actually popped the hood to show the engine, something that can be as rare as seeing a flashing turn signal on American roads in 2024. We don’t know too much about the condition of this car from the listing, other than it has 84,200 miles, but there’s no word on the rust situation. I’m assuming there isn’t a rust situation, it looks solid in the two photos other than some bumper scuffs and a possible small dent in the left rear quarter.
The tenth-generation Thunderbird was made for the 1989 through 1997 model years and, as always, they were a rear-wheel drive luxury car. This car goes one better in being an SC, or Super Coupe. Motor Trend’s Car of the Year in 1989, the SC was a supercharged version with several features, including lightweight alloy wheels and high-performance tires, anti-lock four-wheel disc brakes, a limited-slip differential, variable-assist speed-sensitive steering, special (and almost impossible to find today) Tokico shocks, along with a Mazda-sourced five-speed manual. An automatic was also available.
The seller lists this one as having an automatic, but that sure looks like a clutch pedal and five-speed shifter to me. The interior looks fairly good but has some issues as you can see in the photos. There’s a huge split in the passenger side of the dash top and other cracks, and just a general overall tired appearance.
The engine is a 3.8-liter OHV supercharged V6 with 210 horsepower and 315 lb-ft of torque. This one is said to run and drive but that’s about all the information we get, sadly. Whatever happened to giving too much information in a vehicle listing? They have it listed here on Facebook Marketplace in Houston, Texas, and the seller is asking $5.000. Here is the original listing. Have any of you owned a tenth-gen Thunderbird SC or any Thunderbird with a manual transmission?
I never owned one, but came close. It came down to one of these and a 1989 Toyota Corolla GT-S as I stood on the lot at Carmax in 1994. I picked the Toyota, which made more sense at the time (I was broke, it was less expensive, and still sort-of sporty but not really). Now I view the SC as one of the cars from that era that might make sense to buy and sink some money into, but I wonder how much of a trap it would become with availability of parts, etc.
I always thought these were a decent attempt at more of a grown-up performance car, if you get the idea. Attractive and clean styling, very different as compared to the Turbo Coupe. And you could still get a manual transmission. This example does look tired. Typical Facebook Marketplace ad, lacks info to really decide just how tired.
The sussex v6 3.8 wasn’t the strongest unit. Cool cars 😎 and handsome
$5k, no way. I have seen very nice examples sell for not much more. Cool cars.
These cars are EXTREMELY problematic. They were cutting edge with many features at the time. Electronic components for them are difficult to source, many parts were discontinued by Ford shortly after it’s run. Unless you are a Ford mechanic from back then, have all the shop manuals and access to some parts cars, best keep away.
I had a ’84 Turbo Coupe. It was a blast to drive with the 2.3 litre and 5 speed. It had it issues without a cooled turbo. After replacing the turbo with a water cooled unit and the 4 cylinder 5 speed with one from a Mustang GT, it was very reliable.
I had an SC as a rental car in 1990 while my truck was being repaired (got T boned by a drunk driver). I was surprised that Budget even had something other than a base model. I loved it and wasnt even disappointed when the shop called and said it would be another week til they were done. In 1993 I bought a TBird LX, i think it was. I couldnt afford the SC but i was good with the LX as I just liked that generation mostly. I test drove both a V6 and a V8 and the V8 didn’t really seem much better so V6 it was. By 1996 it had had both head gaskets replaced, a new transmission, a new water pump, and a new ignition something or other. It was the last Ford I will ever buy.
I saw a gorgeous red five speed example in the pick-n-pull. Obvious signs of pride in ownership, shiny paint, no signs of wear on the interior. It even had a little new car smell in it. Why was it in the pick-n-pull? Blown head gasket. I tried to buy it but the yard had already turned in the title.
I had a 1986 5spd TurboCoupe bought new in 85. It was impressively quick for a 4cyl (back then) got great gas mileage, handled very well on all types of roads and the trans shifted so nice. I think that was the best part of the car! Of course I am comparing it to a 1972 Porsche 914/1.7 that I had as a weekend drive at the same time. Sadly, both cars are gone but the memories remain.
I thought about trading in for a 1990 SC but the family was growing and required something considerably larger, with easier access to the rear seats!
I bought a 1991 T-bird when I graduated basic, AIT and jump school in spring of ‘93. It had 10k miles on it and was in new condition. I originally wanted a Mustang 5.0 liter but the insurance was ridiculously expensive so I settled for the bird. It was an LX, not an SC but it was a very nice car. It wasn’t fast at all, but it was luxurious and handled the twisty Appalachian mountain roads between Ft Bragg and southwest Pennsylvania very well and got good gas mileage. I would’ve loved to have a T-bird SC over the LX, but like I said- insurance for a 19 year old kid with a couple speeding tickets was more than the car payment itself. But the T-bird was way ahead of its time, it had 4 wheel disc brakes, fully independent suspension front and back, speed sensitive steering that was amazing and it could cruise the highway at 120 but felt like you were going 65. But like the others said- trying to find parts to keep it on the road is nigh-on impossible, and what you can find is really expensive.
I owned a black one for a while. It was easy on the eyes and a hoot to drive.
I sold it to a fella and the last I heard he gutted it and turned it into a dirt track roundy-rounder. I wanted to cry. That car was too nice for that.
The turbo coupes were great. The 3.8 supercharged, not so much. We had trouble keeping head gaskets on the n/a 3.8, and they threw a huffer on it?!
I had a 92 LX (V6) and a 94 LX (V8). Loved both cars, and put a lot of miles on both. Comfortable and great on long drives. The only problem I had with them was warping front brake rotars