Vehicle Description
After a five-year absence, Ford launched the eleventh Thunderbird
generation in 2002. Returning to the original Thunderbird formula
of a two-seat coupe/convertible, the new Birds stylistic roots were
the 1955-1957 generation one T-Birds. Utilizing the classic,
timeless look of 55-57, the 2002 Thunderbird retained that iconic
first generations styling in a streamlined, somewhat futuristic
manner. Unlike the Chevrolet Corvette, the two-seat T-Bird was
generally not targeted at buyers seeking a high-performance sports
car, but rather a distinctively styled, comfortable automobile
offering a reasonable level of performance. It was an early version
of the personal car, later mass-produced by so many auto
manufacturers. The drive train on this excellent example is the 3.9
L (238 cubic inch) DOHC V8, a short-stroke variant of the Jaguar
V-8, making 252 horsepower and 267 foot pounds of torque, mated to
a 5-speed automatic transmission. The eleventh generation
Thunderbird is based on the platform shared with the Lincoln LS and
Jaguar S-Type, both very refined vehicles offering solid
performance and high quality. This beautiful example has been very
well maintained and is in pristine condition. It has the classic
porthole removable hardtop and, of course, the standard fabric
convertible top. 2002 Thunderbird production amounted to only
31,368 vehicles, compared to over 300,000 Ford Taurus vehicles! And
this example is rarer still with only 3,791 Inspiration Yellow
models produced. The last generation eleven Thunderbird rolled off
the assembly line on July 1, 2005. This is an excellent opportunity
to own one of these rare birds in very fine condition for a very
reasonable investment.
