The seller of this 1987 Ford Thunderbird Turbo Coupe mentions it is a former Motor Trend “Car of the Year” winner, an award seemingly given out to good and awful cars and trucks at about the same frequency. In the case of the Turbo Coupe, however, this is actually a damn fine car (in my opinion) with good looks and a decently entertaining motor. This example is equipped with the optional automatic but still shows well despite some cosmetic needs. Find it here on eBay with a $5,900 Buy-It-Now.
What I like about this listing is the seller highlights the restrained deviations from stock condition, and they make sense for the most part. The seller notes that the electronically-adjusted suspension has been swapped out for conventional shocks, and the exhaust has been tweaked with a catless downpipe and glasspacks for some added performance. Other than “LED headlights” (or does he mean bulbs?), the Turbo Coupe hasn’t been overboosted to the point of practically guaranteed abuse.
While I much prefer to see this with a stick-shift in the console, the interior does look to be as nice as the seller promised. The thickly-bolstered seats are covered in cloth in this example, and all seating surfaces and door panels look very nice. The seller notes that the factory sunroof works as intended, and the A/C still cools. All power functions are also said to work and the dash doesn’t appear to display any cracks. One of the best pictures shows all of the original brochures, paperwork, window sticker and tool kit still with the car.
The turbocharged and intercooled mill was shared with the Mustang SVO of the day and is said to run well. Mileage is under 70,000 and the automatic is paired to a locking rear end. The seller notes that the Thunderbird’s biggest flaws are all cosmetic in nature, and this looks like a worthwhile project car you can drive while the details are fixed. Although I’d personally hold out for a manual transmission example, this Turbo Coupe appears quite healthy.
Exactly…wait for a 5 speed…mine was a 5 speed and it was one of the most dependable cars I ever owned…never let me down until it turned over 200K…overheated it and cracked the head…replaced the head and drove it another 2 years before I sold it…
I just don’t get why anyone would put that much cash on the table for one of these. I love automobiles. He’ll my job is working with them. I sold these when they were new. I just think for that kinda cash you could get something better. Camaro, Mustang, GTI so many better choices for the money.
Yeah, 5,900 is big cash to put on the table you’re right. I was thinking of refinancing my house but maybe not now.
This is better than a Mustang which are better than Camaros. 30 mpg or 145mph dependent on how much boost you use. The faster you drive better it handles, supper bird for the 80’s.
I had as customer who went on a road Trip vacation out west in his T-Bird Turbo and was amazed at the top end speeds it cruised at. 135-145 MPH for miles on end until a tire blew. He slowed down after that .
These were cool when they came out and they are cool now! Look for a price rise for a good one. These always seem to get driven hard and run down on the inside. If I could find a nice one I would jump on it
still interested in a five speed? I have a 1987 5 speed I have had since new, always garaged, no rust, all the options. 970-623-9047.
always begruding liked them & wished for a legit GM alternative.
nothing rwd to be found except ancient G-bodies.
nothing that handled worth a dang.
neighbor had an ’87 in dark red with 5-speed.
while it definitely wasn’t what he thought it was it was still pretty cool, especially looking back now.
if this one was a manual it’d be a no-brainer for $5k.
four cylinder automatics are lame.
I owned an ’87 with the 5 speed and loved every minute of it…the automatics are detuned, so the manual is definitely preferred. The SVO had a smaller intercooler, so the Tbird pushed a bit more power…add a 3″ downpipe and 2.5″ single exhaust, and these spool up beautifully. I also had an ’84 SVO at the time and they were like night and day to drive…cruiser vs bruiser. Now at 50, I’d take the Tbird over the SVO if I could only have one.
Good point on detune. I recall that the AT was rated at 160HP, while the MT put out 190. I’m not sure about torque, nor what was actually different…
I have always thought that the clean styling of the Turbo Coupes has held up very well. I too would much prefer a 5-speed.
No doubt on the T-5 preference. These aren’t difficult to convert, but they are the only 2.3 turbo cars with a hydraulic clutch. SVO & other turbo were all cable.
Beautiful car no matter. I like that these had 6 digit odometers. Much easier to verify mileage is true. Most of us somehow lived in the days before shoulder belts, airbags and ABS and still live to tell about it, lol.
Price MAY be reasonable if the seller solves the ABS light. Could be a 15 dollar wheel sensor or a thousand dollar plus amount of diagnostic work and repair to make things right.
Yes Im a Lima 2.3 lover, hoarder of turbo parts lol…
Just saying, reasonable price if the ABS was diagnosed/repaired. I Could live w/o it for a grand less. Dont think anyone in this niche is looking at a daily driver. I’d yank the ABS bulb and invest in the 5 speed !
Wasn’t the Yugo a ” Car of the Year ? ” Just sayin’….
How much were these new? I bought an Impulse Turbo (Lotus tuned suspension) back in ’89. And this car may have been another of the cars I should have got instead…
Not that I didn’t like the Impulse, but it suffered from lousy GM paint, horrible resale value, and underpowered turbo.
I loved mine! Mine was a 85 turbo coupe with the manual 5 speed. Those peeps that thought their SS monte Carlos were fast got shut down every time by me! That was so funny. And the key reason was the manual! On another note I have a friend who bought another guys 1965 Shelby off this person so he could go and buy a new 87 turbo coupe. He paid under 10k for the Shelby and the guy used it to get his turbo coupe! FF today, the turbo coupe is in the junk years and the Shelby is being restored! And that guy thinks my friend should give him back the Shelby he sold! LOL what a clown!
A coworker s brother in law passed and left him one of these Turbo Coupes , 5 speed. He let me drive it and it was right up there with all the good stuff I had ever driven , he drove it for years and finally sold it and bought a Buick Park avenue !!