Vehicle Description
Marketing tie-ins are nothing new, so when the incredible all-new Ford Thunderbird hit the market in 1983, clothing manufacturer FILA stepped up to create their own spin on the handsome new coupe. This 1984 Ford Thunderbird FILA edition captures the era and the car quite nicely, and you'll be pleased to learn that it's also a great car to drive.
The bright white paint with a black lower cladding as a distinctive look in 1984 and is still every bit as striking today. It was actually repainted a few years ago and they wisely chose to not only keep the FILA's special color combination, but replaced the distinctive red and black pinstripes that run the length of the body. It's got a few signs of use since then, but it's pretty obvious that someone has always treated this car as something special and the sheetmetal underneath is in great shape. And speaking of shapes, this aerodynamic Thunderbird was a game-changer, ushering in the aerodynamic age at Ford and signaling to the rest of the industry that boxy cars were over. Add in a color-coded grille, blacked-out trim, and a few well-chosen Thunderbird badges from a later T-Bird, and you get one of the most visually striking and distinctive cars of the '80s. Even 30 years later, this car is dramatic.
The original interior is in good condition, showing the usual wear on the outer bolsters on the driver's seat, but everything else looks pretty good for its age. Buckets were standard equipment in the Thunderbird (who would want a bench seat anyway?) and the supportive chairs are still comfortable today. The FILA edition came with just about every option, including A/C, power locks, windows, and seats, a tilt steering column, and cruise control, making it a fine choice today. The center console is festooned with buttons and switches, giving the car a very high-tech look, but it's all quite stock, from the factory gauges to the AM/FM/cassette stereo in the center of the dash. The A/C still blows cold and you'll probably find that you feel right at home within a few moments of climbing aboard. In back, there's a good-sized trunk that still carries its original space-saver spare tire.
Ford's venerable 5.0 liter V8 was one of the engine choices in 1984, and it's probably the one you want today. Making the same kind of torque as the one they were throwing in the Mustang, the FILA Thunderbird is surprisingly quick and gives you a great whack of acceleration when you step on the loud pedal. The engine bay is tidy but original, and unlike so many other 5.0-equipped vehicles, it's completely stock. The 4-speed automatic overdrive transmission is a willing partner, with quick downshifts and an easy-cruising overdrive gear plus 2.73 gears out back for pretty decent fuel economy. The same Fox-platform hardware that underpins the Mustang is found here, so it's confident but comfortable and the hardware is virtually bulletproof. There's a recent exhaust system that has a nice V8 burble to it and the original alloy wheels have been refinished to match the body, just as it was when it was new. Recent 195/70/14 blackwall radials give it just the right look for 1984.
With only 2532 FILA edition Thunderbirds built, this is among the most collectable. It's also a very reasonably-priced way to get into the hobby with a car that's a lot of fun to drive. Call today!
