Vehicle Description
When the retro-styled Ford Thunderbird hit the streets in 2001,
most of them were snapped up and put away as "future collectables."
That's nice, but it also means that prices are up and the mileage
is so low that you risk driving the value out of a car that you
buy. That's why this 2003 Ford Thunderbird is so refreshing: it's
just a car. With enough miles to know that it's been properly
enjoyed and proper maintenance behind it, it's a stylish 2-seater
that can be used, you know, as a real car.
The color is called Whisper White, and it's a classic look on
anything called Thunderbird. The styling recalls the first 2-seater
'Birds of the 1950s, so white was a natural choice and it certainly
looks good on the handsomely styled Thunderbird of the 21st
century. Only 2460 Thunderbirds were painted this color, so it's
not exactly common, and it showcases the car's many design details
that make it special. The grille and headlights are certainly
vintage-looking, finished in chrome, and the vents on the front
fenders recall the faux chrome details on the original. The finish
is in good condition for being 13 years old, with a few touch-ups
here and there and more recent paint on the left front fender and
hood. No matter, it looks great and people will admire this car
everywhere it goes because it embodies everything that' great with
top-down motoring. This is A-list motoring for the price of a used
Honda Civic.
The black and white leather interior should create a sense of
Deja-vu with its pleated seats and brushed metal accents. This car
has obviously been properly maintained, as the leather shows only
modest comfort marks and no splitting, cracking, or significant
wear. The same is true of the carpets, which, in a convertible, is
pretty remarkable, and the door panels don't show so much as a
divot where the driver's elbow might have rested. That's a
testament to the quality of the build as much as the care it's
received. Everything was standard in the Thunderbird, and the
steering wheel is wrapped in black leather. White-faced gauges are
a modern touch that somehow seems to work rather well here, and as
you'd expect, everything works properly. There's a black canvas
convertible top that disappears with the touch of a button, and it
provides great contrast that works well with the white bodywork.
The Thunderbird also offers a good-sized trunk ready for a
vacation.
Ford's 3.9 liter DOHC V8 pumped out 280 horsepower in the
Thunderbird, making for some very entertaining performance. After
13 years, these engines' reliability has been proven and it starts
quickly, idles smoothly, and pulls well in all five gears. There's
a little dust on the black plastic engine cover, but otherwise the
engine is tidy and unmolested, so factory reliability remains
intact. The suspension is supple yet athletic, the perfect
combination for cruising easily and having some fun when the road
starts to twist, but it isn't a sports car. Likewise, the 4-wheel
disc brakes are massive, but that's mostly for security and safety,
not eyeball-detaching race detail. The exhaust has a pleasing V8
burble and a mellow roar at full throttle and those chrome wheels
were unique to the T-Bird and now carry 235/50/17 Uniroyal
radials.
These are really nice cars and are sure-fire collectables in the
future. Why not enjoy the retro look on a more reasonable budget?
Call today!