5-Speed Super Coupe: 1989 Ford thunderbird SC

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The Ford Thunderbird Super Coupe is one of the unsung heroes of the 80s and 90s. In general, Ford was building some very tasty specimens coming off the assembly line with a performance bent to them, but it seems the Mustang still stole all the thunder. After all, the Fox body was really coming into its own – who’s going to pay attention to a big, supercharged coupe that doesn’t sound like a V8? Well, it seems that cars like this 1989 Ford Thunderbird Super Coupe listed here on Facebook Marketplace deserve a closer look, especially when equipped with the hard-to-find 5-speed manual.

The Super Coupe, sadly, seemed to answer a question no one was asking. The Thunderbird was clearly marketed to an audience that liked big body coupes – perhaps a hold-over from the 70s and 80s personal luxury coupe era – not someone who wanted three pedals and a supercharged V6 engine. It’s not lost on me that my grandfather’s last American car was this Thunderbird’s sibling, the Mercury Cougar, a demographic that likely was responsible for more than half of this model’s purchases over its production run. However, details like the rear spoiler, front air dam, and sharp alloy wheels tell you this isn’t your grandfather’s Thunderbird.

The 5-speed manual is really the story here, as it makes this Super Coupe infinitely cooler. It’s not easy to find one of these cars equipped with the M5R2 manual, which was supplied by Mazda. I personally love the idea of a big body coupe with three pedals and a high-performance engine, as the automatic just makes it seem like any other American two-door. The Super Coupe drivetrain delivered 12 PSI of boost and gave the 3.8L V6 a healthy 210 b.h.p. and 315 lb.-ft. of torque, made even more entertaining with the manual transmission. You also got supportive bucket seats and a unique steering wheel with an “SC” horn button.

The interior of this Thunderbird SC is in fair condition overall. The seller notes that while his car runs, it needs “…minor things” and hopefully that doesn’t include much engine work considering it was apparently rebuilt not too long ago. The question for me is what’s the most desirable version of this Thunderbird? An SC equipped with a supercharger and three pedals or a later V8 model with the optional sport suspension. Keep in mind, the SC was quicker than the V8 car, but it doesn’t make the same kind of sound from the exhaust. What’s your preferred Thunderbird? Thanks to Barn Finds reader Lothar… of the Hill People for the find.

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Comments

  1. Bob_in_TNMember

    Good job Jeff. I agree, these were fairly interesting and competent cars for their day, specifically when equipped with a manual transmission.

    Can’t really tell much about this example, other than the tires are muddy. Marketing, via verbiage and pictures, isn’t the seller’s forte.

    Like 8
    • Steve Crist

      Drivers side carpeting looks debri-ish, too.

      Like 2
  2. rustylink

    Seller’s description
    Runs and drive good needs minor thing

    But engine has been rebuild by priviouse owner

    The sellers description covers a lot of ground…..

    Like 1
    • Mike76

      So do the pictures…

      A vacuum, Folex cleaner, a scrub brush and an hour could’ve gone a long way. I just don’t get sellers that don’t put in any, or little, effort in selling a vehicle.

      Like 1
  3. fox owner

    $3500 sounds like a pretty good deal to me. Clean it up, drive it. I had a 1990 T Bird base V6, automatic. I loved it but Ohio winter and road salt was not kind to it. With a supercharger and a stick it gets more interesting.

    Like 2
  4. Big C

    Unless I could drive over and see it in person? Those minor things and the 3rd grade description would be a no go for $3500.

    Like 1
    • Dan

      I don’t see where the price or location is mentioned in the ad itself. $3500?

      Like 0
  5. El Grecko

    These were very easy to make a lot quicker. They sell pulley kits to raise the boost 10% or 15% depending on which kit you get. 50hp more is going to make it a lot more lively. These were supposed to be the American version of a BMW 635, but the sorta missed the mark and just were a tad bit big and heavy for what they wanted to be. It was kinda like a “close but no cigar” thing. At 3500 lbs it was actually pretty light for as big a car as it was. Just a bit too big for most folks that wanted a coupe.

    Like 1
  6. StanMember

    I don’t recall the rear spoiler on the Super Coupes. Maybe it was an option? Or did some buyers just order ” spoiler delete”

    Like 0
    • mustang melvin

      No wing available until 1996/97. and it a has a brake light in it. This one may be O.E as it looks similar. He may have liberated if off the same car as the seats, as those are from a 1996/97 Cougar.

      Like 0
  7. wjtinfwb

    Really a great car. The base T-Bird/Cougar were OK, the 302 and later 4.6L versions were sadly lacking in character and performance. The base V6 cars were S..l..o..w.. The boosted V6 was the sweet spot but yet another produce that Ford dealers really didn’t understand and had no idea what to do with. The ’92 and up with the updated interior and airbags was much nicer and I believe coincided with the supercharged V6 getting a power boost to 230 HP I believe. I passed on a cherry ’92 SC with super low miles because it was an automatic thinking I’d eventually find an equivalent 5-speed. That hasn’t happened and I’m not interested in the earlier version or a project like this. But if this is your Huckleberry, I’d jump on it as they’re rare and manuals are even more difficult to find.

    Like 0
  8. Michael Freeman

    I had a ’90 Cougar XR7 I bought new with this drivetrain. They let the Cougar have it in 89-90 then switched it to the 4.6L. Car was fast to be as big as it was, and the fully independent rear suspension helped with the handling. Tokico did the adjustable suspension which was mainly electric motors/solenoids that turned the shock rod to change the valving. The built engine may or may not be a plus as there were internal changes Ford made to allow for the boost and it needed to be built the same way or it won’t last long. When mine got hit on the freeway I was just about to have to buy a supercharger (140,000 mi.) and the only place that had it was the dealer. At the time it would have cost me $1800. I liked the subdued look of the Cougar better as it had the larger wheels/tires but no body kit like the SC. Still if I could make a little room the stick is tempting.

    Like 1
    • Classics Fan

      I agree. I bought a black Cougar XR-7 (supercharged V-6) literally off the show room floor in 1989. Platinum gray leather interior with 5 speed and I even added an aftermarket trunk deck spoiler identical to the one in this article. I still have the Moroney window sticker, around $23k IIRC. Loved that car. Traded it in 1997 with less than 20k miles for a one-year used 1996 Camaro Z28. The Cougar is one that I wish I could have back.

      Like 0
  9. Larry Ashcraft

    My brother has the near twin to this one, except his has a red interior, low miles, and he would never stand to have it this dirty. 5 speed makes it an interesting ride.

    Like 0

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