Vehicle Description
Two cars literally defined the newfound freedom of the 1950s: the
Chevrolet Corvette and the Ford Thunderbird. Eventually Chevrolet
took their Corvette to the racetrack, while Ford continued to turn
their Thunderbird into the ultimate boulevard king. Now, over sixty
years later, Corvettes are regarded as some of the best curve
carvers in the world, and Thunderbirds, like this 851-mile stunner,
are still turning heads on Main Street. If you looked at a
brand-new Thunderbird in 1955 but couldn't swing it, and looked
again in 2002 but the timing just wasn't right, 2018 is your year!
That's right, we have a pristine 2002 Thunderbird that's so nice it
looks like it could've rolled out of the factory yesterday! So, if
you're still looking to hit the road in refined style, the third
time's a charm!
APPEARANCE
Ford's sensational Thunderbird sprang to life as a 1955 halo car
that fired imaginations and eventually became a legend. In 1999,
Dearborn's favorite son decided it would honor that original by
building a new model to turn just as many heads. And, within three
years, the convertible you see here, affectionately dubbed the
'retrobird', was rolling through production. This pristine
drop-top, originally sold in July of 2002, has been continually
serviced while residing in climate-controlled storage. Backed by a
clean CarFax, the car's slick Whisper White body looks just as good
now as the day it rolled off the truck. And from its great fit to
its blemish-free panels, this Ford is definitely one of the nicest
factory cruisers on the planet!
As one of the most enduring 'retro' designs ever created, the car's
J Mays-penned fuselage looks fantastic from virtually any angle. At
the front of that fuselage, a bright chrome grille hangs small
driving lights below clear, combination headlamps and a
teal-inlayed Thunderbird emblem. Behind that emblem, a composite
hood centers a traditional Thunderbird scoop in front of tinted
factory glass that sports a stylish chrome frame. At the top of
that frame, An Evening Black hardtop latches down over a standard
Haartz soft top to perfectly mimic Ford's original, 1955 dual-roof
system. Below those roofs, chrome ventiports accent re-imagined
fender lines that lead the eye through body-matched mirrors to rear
mounted "Thunderbird" scripts. And behind those scripts, a
contoured Center High Mount Stop Lamp joins combination taillights
to illuminate a second teal Thunderbird, a chrome-trimmed tag
recess and stylish stainless exhaust tips.
POWER
When Ford debuted the eleventh generation Thunderbird it introduced
a car that was faithful to the original concept in virtually every
way. Power for this classy cruiser comes from a 3.9 liter, 32-valve
DOHC V8 that was developed by former captive subsidiary Jaguar.
Code-named AJ35, the Ford-specific mill utilizes variable valve
timing, fracture-split and forged rods, 1-piece cams, and a
reinforced intake to twist 252 smooth horses into 267 lb./ft. of
stout torque. More of a 'comfortable cruiser' than 'flat-out sports
car', the 'retrobird' never pretended to be a Corvette or Porsche
competitor. That said, 0-60 comes at a very respectable seven
seconds, and the car's silky powerplant delivers enough grunt to
provide fun and responsive driving characteristics. Aesthetically,
the entire engine is hidden under an attractive plastic shroud
which substitutes a classic "Thunderbird" script and silver "V8"
branding for traditional views of its componentry. However, you can
still plainly see how well everything has been maintained and, with
a turn of the key, the cylinders settle into a restrained hum of
power.
POWER MANAGEMENT
In the late 1990s and early 2000s Ford developed one global rear
wheel drive platform, code-named DEW, that was set to underpin
everything from select Jaguars to the fifth generation Mustang.
Those competent roots supply this awesome Thunderbird with a
sophisticated independent suspension, which utilizes a host of
weight saving technology to provide a smooth ride and composed road
manners. Behind the aluminum engine, a 5-speed automatic
transmission sends power to a fresh Ford rear end that's fitted
with stout, 2.69 gears. At the corners of the chassis, 4-wheel disc
brakes, which are aided by standard antilock and traction control
systems, ride behind chrome, 17-inch wheels and sticky Michelin
Pilots. All that world-class engineering results in a sturdy
convertible that translates relaxed sportiness into an excellent
combination of cushy comfort and tight handling. And when you throw
your favorite road at this drop-top, it'll chew it up, spit it out
and coddle you in the kind of luxury vintage T-bird owners merely
dream of experiencing.
COMFORT
Ford began the 21st century by producing some of the most
impressive and detail-oriented interiors to ever hit the market.
And the Midnight Black cockpit in this roadster has to be one of
their cleanest designs. The driver and passenger are treated to
heated, power-adjustable seats. Below those thrones, day-one-fresh
carpet is protected by color-keyed floor mats and bordered by cool
"Ford Thunderbird" sill plates. Above those sills, winged door
panels hang slick metal trim behind controls for both power windows
and power door locks. In front of those panels, a highly detailed
dash anchors Turquoise-tipped needles between satin-face gauges, a
6-disc CD changer and attractive metal trim. At the base of that
dash, a great looking console centers dual-zone climate control on
a leather-wrapped shift knob and sculpted waterfall back panel. In
front of the driver, a leather-wrapped wheel spins a pristine,
teal-inlayed emblem around a tilting and telescoping column. And
behind the passengers, a fully finished trunk features enough
luggage room for a quick weekend getaway.
VEHICLE SALE INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING DOCUMENTATION AND
ACCESSORIES
A copy of the car's original Title
The car's factory anti-theft locking lug nuts
The car's never-installed front tag bracket
An extra key fob
A dolly to store the car's hard top
If there's one phrase that describes this crisp Thunderbird, it
would be "luxury sport". It may sound a little clich�, but it's
true. Like their predecessors, these cars have built a legacy of
cruising, seeing, being seen and looking fantastic. Just imagine
sitting down in the car's comfy leather seats, firing up its
throaty V8 and chasing the sun down your favorite 2-lane black top.
It doesn't get much better than that!
SUMMARY
Showroom-fresh classic that's logged only 851 miles
3.9 liter AJ35 V8
5-speed automatic transmission
Dual-zone climate control
Sale includes the car's original Evening Black hardtop
Whisper White paint / Midnight Black leather interior
17-inch chrome wheels
Fully independent suspension / Power rack-and-pinion steering
4-wheel power disc brakes / ABS
8-inch rear axle / 2.69 gears
