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 T-Bird 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 ultra-low mileage and has been very
well-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
Torch Red on your 2-seater convertible. Showing just 21,055
original miles, this car has spent most of its life as 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 brilliant
gloss that highlights the interesting shapes on the body, including
the way the taillights smoothly blend into the trunk lid. As you'd
expect, 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 leather interior is an awesome choice with the red body,
offering a sharp contrast that will look good decades from now. As
you'd expect from the miniscule mileage, it's almost new in every
way, showing only some very, very faint comfort marks on the outer
edges of the front leather seats that might have been there when
the cow was wearing it. 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. White-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 new 235/50/17 Michelin radials all around.
Documented with the original window sticker, maintenance records,
and manuals, this is a fun future collectable that's eminently
affordable today. Call now!