Vehicle Description
There's a pretty short list of cars built in the 21st century that
could be considered collectable, but the most recent 2-seat
Thunderbirds have to qualify. Cars like this 2002 Ford Thunderbird
have all the right ingredients: looks, performance, limited
production, and a nostalgia behind them that takes us back decades.
Late-model Thunderbirds are surprisingly affordable, but unlike
most of them, this one has low mileage and has been properly
maintained.
Most of the late-model 'Birds are soft pastels that were inspired
by the '50s originals, but you just can't go wrong with classic
Whisper White on your 2-seater convertible. Showing just 41,570
original miles, this car has spent the last 17 years being a garage
queen, used only on nice days and special occasions, which is how
many of its siblings have spent their lives, too. As a result,
there are no worries about foul weather issues like rust and
there's absolutely no evidence it's ever been hit or even touched
up after a parking lot ding. The factory paint shows a nice soft
gloss that highlights the interesting shapes on the body, including
the way the taillights smoothly blend into the trunk lid. As you'd
expect, there are a few small chips on the nose and rockers, but on
the other hand door gaps are excellent, the chrome bits are still
bright, and there aren't even any windshield wiper marks on the
windshield itself. You want a car that's led an easy life, this is
definitely it.
The black and red leather interior is an awesome choice with the
white body, offering a sharp contrast that will look good decades
from now. As you'd expect from the mileage, it's quite clean
inside, showing only some minor comfort marks on the driver's chair
leather. These cars are supremely comfortable, so it's easy to
settle in behind the wheel for a long road trip, and the seats
strike just the right blend of comfort and support for spirited
driving. Matching black carpets and dashboard make it look tidy,
and the inlaid turquoise thunderbird emblem and brushed metal trim
hearkens back to the original 2-seat Thunderbird with its
engine-turned dashboard. Cream-faced gauges have an elegant look
without being too retro and the rest of the dash is filled with
buttons and displays for the climate control system and AM/FM/CD
stereo. The trunk is as new and like most of its siblings, this
Thunderbird carries both a black convertible top and a
color-matched porthole hardtop for all-weather motoring.
Ford's 3.9 liter DOHC V8 engine was a great choice for the
Thunderbird. It's got decent power, but tire-shredding burn outs
are not really the point. Instead, it's what Rolls-Royce would
describe as "adequate" and delivers that power smoothly without a
fuss. There's a nice V8 burble from the tailpipe that never gets
annoying and when paired with the 5-speed automatic overdrive
transmission, it always seems to be on its toes. Need to get into
that spot in traffic? Easy! Cruising down your favorite country
road? Plenty of punch coming out of corners. Long highway drive?
Effortless and surprisingly efficient. The 4-wheel independent
suspension soaks up bumps without being mushy and 4-wheel disc
brakes are a welcome feature that early T-Bird owners would
definitely have appreciated. Chrome-plated "Premium" wheels add
some flash and carry expensive 235/50/17 Michelin Pilot radials all
around.
As it has always been, the Thunderbird is a fun future collectable
that's eminently affordable today. Call now!