It’s hard to believe it’s been 20 years since Ford resurrected the two-seater Thunderbird concept. Being a huge Baby ‘Bird fan, I was excited to see the T-Bird finally get back to its first generation personal luxury car roots. The “Back To The Future” retro design movement had started in 1998 with Volkswagen’s New Beetle and Chrysler jumped in with their PT Cruiser in 2001. Here’s a pampered, low-mileage example that is as clean inside and out as the seller’s garage. This 2002 Thunderbird is currently nesting in Cambridge, Minnesota, and is for sale here on eBay at No Reserve. As of this writing, 38 bids had been submitted with the highest bid amounting to $13,800.
Some exterior styling cues borrowed from the original Thunderbird included an egg crate grill, hood scoop, script badging, and a removable 90-pound hardtop with the iconic porthole windows. Inside, Ford’s design team also remembered the colorful two-tone interiors of the early ‘Birds and this newer version sports a handsome black interior with red color accents on the steering wheel, shifter, instrument panel, door panel, and seats. The leather seats appear to be in very good shape as does the entire cockpit. I know some would prefer a solid black interior, but I personally prefer the colorful black and red treatment.
Under the hood, the very clean red and black theme continues with the Thunderbird’s Jaguar-designed 3.9 liter (242-cubic inch) V8 rated at 252 horsepower at 6,100 rpm. It’s mated to a 5-speed automatic transmission. A photo of the electronic odometer shows only 21,488 miles on the clock.
The resurrected retro ‘Bird opened to a lot of fanfare and hype and customer demand. It exceeded its projected sales goal of 25,000 units with 31,368 sold, but sales dropped significantly over the next three years and Ford pulled the plug after the 2005 model year (when only 9,295 were sold) . For its four-year run, a total of 68,098 new Thunderbirds were sold.
Ford’s resurrected two-seater Thunderbird has had mixed reviews since it was introduced 20 years ago, and some debate its future collectibility potential. I’m not going to get into that argument, but Hagerty’s estimates the value of a 2002 “Bird in #1 Concourse condition at $39,700, a #2 Excellent at $31,700, a #3 Good at $18,500, and a #4 Fair at $14,200. I’ll be curious to see what the No Reserve final bid will be on this nice, clean 2002 example. Somebody could potentially get a good deal on this handsome red ‘Bird.
Got excited when I heard Ford was putting out the new generation Thunderbird. Got unexcited when I saw it for the first time. Big letdown. Wasn’t ugly but didn’t stand out design wise. Could have done much better but missed the boat.
I felt the same way when I first saw the new T-Bird. The word that comes to my mind when it comes to the styling is “unremarkable.” I think if Ford had designed this car to more closely resemble the original T-Bird, they might have had a hit on their hands.
Thought these were ok looking, not spectacular. Biggest let down was the small V-8 under the hood. Design didn’t allow much room under there. Never drove one so don’t know anything about their driving quality. This is a clean example and low miles so should bring all the money.
They still look great on the outside, and that interior is still a huge letdown. A few tweaks here and there would’ve made this car a huge hit, but it looks like the accountants got to it.
I look at this car and I don’t see a T Bird. In my opinion it doesn’t match.
I’m not sure who Ford built these cars for, but I’ve never seen anyone but retired, empty-nesters behind the wheel. People who didn’t care that Ford lifted the dashboard from the Lincoln LS, that it had a Jaguar engine that delivered only moderate performance, or that it shook like a Jell-O mold. They never pushed them hard enough to notice. People who expected a drivers’ car walked away disappointed. In that regard, it was much like the original 2-seat Thunderbirds.
There’s an engine under the hood?
I hate it when they put those plastic covers over
the engine.Just like all of those plastic covers under
the front end & engine.No fun when you go to change
the oil.
The best T-Birds always pushed production car design forward.
A regressive Bird went against the very nature of the car.
What drove the decision of the ridiculous wheel design? Looks like someone got the inspiration from thumbing thru the Pep-Boys generic wheelcover offering. Totally detracts from the lines of the car and gives off a Chrysler Sebring vibe.
Should’ve added a slight flare to the wheel openings and offered a wider wheel/tire combo.
I recently inherited one of these. An 04 Torch Red with over 100k miles. It is a fun car to drive. Small and cramped. Will run 90 with ease.
The as God intended rwd layout really makes this Bird still desirable. Plus there must be enough oomph to still happily peel out of the Country Club ⛳️ parking lot after shooting a 77.
I like it. 👍
This design was too “homogenized” to suite me but I still like it.
Never seen the interior on one before and I definitely like this one.
As I sit here scrolling through the comments it dawned on me that the car has the same shape as my mouse.
I own an inspirational yellow 2002 Thunderbird and it is a fun car and gets a lot of attention where ever I go.
This is a great price for this car.
I worked in several garages, where these were serviced. I sort of like them, but our top mechanic told me not to be stupid and buy one. The 3.9 POS engine was built by Jaguar. The electrical gremlins in these cars will cost you thousands to repair. It takes two people to remove or install the hardtop. I detailed several of them. They were so cheaply made you could see the recycled foam coffee cups through the cheap plastic grille. Stick with a 1963 T Bird.
Think I might be fighting off a midlife crisis thing, I keep finding myself shopping for topless cars like this but I barely have my sunroof open on a sunny day so what’s up with that? I like this but I’m going to stop myself from getting it.
Sad to read so many negative comments from non-owners. I’ve had mine for nearly 10 years. Bought it to replace my 93 Allante’.
With a 50/50 weight ratio, and nary a cowl shake (that most convertibles have) this is a fun driving car that gets stares and comments wherever I take it. This car was not designed to go after the Vette, but has > enough power to have fun.
At the 20-year mark, values have begun to go up. This one should go for nearly $20K as mileage is everything.
A modern day classic. These will only rise in value. These are keepers!
$15,100 now, should go above $20k, also a truck with no reserve.
As a kid back in the mid-’50’s my favorite car was the ’55 Tbird. Since those early days I looked at a few but never did buy one. When the ’02 came out I liked the style, but what the Ford dealers did to add that nearly $15K ‘buyers premium’ turned me off. Finally, in 2010, I swapped a Lexus sedan for a really nice ’02 Tbird. It has been a fun occasional driver, always garaged and never out in inclement weather. Prices are still not up to potential in my part of the world (Washington state) — mostly in the low-to-mid teens for really nice examples.
The designers of this should have taken a good look at how Ford designed hoods – even with hidden wipers – in the ’70s. Plus i see plastic trim here “creeping” up the side of the windshield pillars on the outside! & it looks like they ran out of red for the interior – not so on the very similar t-bird concept …
https://s1.cdn.autoevolution.com/images/news/gallery/1999-ford-thunderbird-prototype-is-rarer-than-hens-teeth_3.jpg
& i would think these light green instrument needles would be hard to see!
https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/eDYAAOSwccdgDIDk/s-l1600.jpg
I wonder if those 2 tiny aux gages are even smaller than the fuel gage on a ’70s skyhawk.
We made the LS and T Bird engine at Lima Engine. Low volume engine only produced for a few years. If I recall correctly it requires premium gasoline too.
I don’t think these look right in this red/black/chrome color combination, which I’m usually a fan off.
A more muted color scheme suits this car’s style a lot better.
I wasn’t a fan when they first came out, but 20 years later, they have worn on me. Pulled up alongside one a few weeks ago and my wife even commented on it, such that if I came home with one, she wouldn’t mind.
Got into trouble with a friend who has a 2005. I referred to it as a “ Ladies Car”. He was miffed! Anyone else think this way?