Vehicle Description
This 2002 Ford Thunderbird Saleen Bonspeed Edition was created as a
Ford prototype and is the only one in existence. When the new Ford
Thunderbird was released, Bonspeed Speed and Design Studio in
Anaheim, CA, was asked by Ford to build a concept car for their
booth. While it was still in clay at the Bonspeed studio, Steve
Saleen saw the car and realized it was a perfect design for a
Saleen Thunderbird. Then Bonspeed and Saleen struck a deal to build
the car as a production vehicle. When Ford announced that it was
limiting the production run of the Thunderbird, the project was
canceled. This is the only complete prototype ever built. The car
features a custom nose, rear bumper, side rocker panels, rear
wings, custom scoop and hard tonneau covers. It sits on air-ride
suspension and specially designed Bonspeed 19-inch forged wheels.
The custom leather interior has RECARO seats and an incredible Sony
sound system with hard drive. This historic award-winning prototype
has been featured in magazines from Super Rod to Road and Track. To
elevate the prototype to the complete and accurate example as
Saleen and Bonspeed intended, the owner commissioned Dominator
Street Rods to go through the car from top to bottom and restore it
to a perfect example of what Ford originally intended as a
performance Thunderbird. It had just over 20,000 actual miles put
on it while it was campaigned and used by both Ford and Saleen, and
the new owner put on an additional 483 actual miles since its
complete restoration. The original 3.9-liter V8 engine was swapped
out to a 4.6-liter, 3-valve Ford Racing crate engine. It produces
350hp and has 330 ft/lbs of torque. It has an upgraded 4-speed
automatic transmission and many other upgraded options and
features. Painted in a stunning special Saleen Silver color, this
rare one-of-one is a magnificent piece of Ford automotive history.
It comes with a complete color illustrated brochure and photos of
the work that Dominator Street Rods completed.
