For Sale: 2002 Ford Thunderbird in Morgantown, Pennsylvania

2002 Ford Thunderbird Convertible

"Last year it was the Chrysler PT Cruiser. Before that it was the Volkswagen New Beetle. But this year, the hottest piece of driveway jewelry in America will be Ford's new Thunderbird. Ford has done a masterful job of translating cues from the classic Thunderbirds of the '50s and early '60s onto the modern Lincoln LS chassis. The resulting car fills a vacant marketing niche for a convertible in the mid 2000's with more emphasis on style than on speed." Csaba Csere, Car and Driver, July 2001

For consignment, a 2002 Ford Thunderbird convertible with a title verified 34,215 actual miles, and this one checks all the boxes with first year exclusive color, a matching accessory hardtop, chrome wheels, and the interior color package. Ford had plans to limit production to 25,000 the first year, but excitement exceeded their expectations and 31,368 were produced in 2002.

Exterior
Thunderbird Blue was a name used for one of the first colors for the 1955 Thunderbirds and used here in two stage metallic coverage of a light turquoise. The black canvas top has its own name too, known as Midnight Black in the Thunderbird world and ours shows in very nice condition including its clear plastic window. The long hood and steeply raked windshield and cab back sitting position puts eight feet of car ahead of you and almost as much behind you as the straight shoulder line of the car becomes the rear fenders that terminate with round tail lights that stand vertical and protrude just enough to be visible to drivers to your side. The body cues pick up heavily from the 50's except for fins being shaved and front fenders blending with flush headlights. Fender vents also summon the classic Thunderbirds but the 17-inch chrome wheels could not have been imagined in 1955. The grille bows out slightly rather than being perfectly vertical and integrated fog lights live in the front body keyed valance. Overall, the exterior is in superb condition with minor imperfections that include touched up scratches, scuffs on the chin, some orange peel on a lower panel, and a single paint chip.

Interior
In a clean nod to the 1950's, the interior package is completely retro, color matched to the exterior and beginning with turquoise armrests on black patterned door panels with a brushed aluminum trim piece. The two tone seats also combine black and Thunderbird Blue with ribbed inserts, a Thunderbird logo embossed on the black leather, and a robust head restraint over each high back bucket seat. An aqua band colors the lower dash which runs right into the center console sides where the turquoise shifter knob appears prominently in its black plastic base. The steering wheel is not left out of the party and has a turquoise upper, the column entering at the midpoint of the dash where that aluminum trim appears again. Just as with the classic Thunderbirds, the colors encircle the cabin. White faced gauges enjoy turquoise needles while the center stack lacks any retro callouts, and is basic black where the AM/FM/6 CD radio and A/C switchgear reside. Behind the seats, a circular storage shelf is walled by a stitch patterned border. Low pile black carpet covers the floor swimmingly. The entire interior is just about flawless.

Drivetrain
Plastic shrouds dominate the view of the clean engine bay where a 3.9 DOHC liter V8 resides and it's rated at 252 horsepower. It's fuel injected and is driven by a 5R55N 5-speed automatic transmission which spins the back wheels with 3.58 gears.

Undercarriage
Super clean underneath with virtually no surface rust and no fluids out of place anywhere, just some road spray that touches just about all surfaces. The knuckles are free of grease. The dual exhaust flows into the original equipment mufflers before heading to the back and the independent front and rear suspension consist of MacPherson struts. Power disc brakes are on all four corners.

Drive-Ability
Ford promoted the Thunderbird as having relaxed sportiness. That implies the ride will be softer than a tightly wound sports car and indeed, this is more cruiser than sports car and provides an ultimately comfortable cabin from which to enjoy the ride. There's decent power here, certainly enough to instill highway confidence, and along with good visibility, great braking, and decent handling, this car performed well, and all operational items functioned as they should. While Classic Auto Mall represents that these functions were working at the time of our test drive, we cannot guarantee these functions will be working at the time of your purchase.

The integration of the exterior color into the cabin not only makes this car a standout, but a more accurate representation of the classic Thunderbirds, baby birds to be exact, from 1955 to 1957. We dare you not to turn your head on the street when you see one of these in traffic. It's impossible. Ford hit a homerun with this design and the car is a comfortable and capable vehicle that looks great among the sea of cookie cutter designs. They also make fine daily drivers and you can ask one of your colleagues if you don't believe us!

1FAHP60A12Y107885

1-USA
F-Ford Motor Company
A-Passenger Car
H-Active Belts, Front & Side Airbags
P60-Thunderbird
A-3.9L DOHC V8
1-Check Digit
2-2002
Y-Wixom Mi Assy Plant
107885-Sequential Unit Number