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Changes: Ford Thunderbird

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{{Vehicle
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|title=Ford Thunderbird
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|image=[[File:96thunderbird.jpg]]
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|classification=Luxury car
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|bodystyle=2DR Coupe
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|transmission=5-speed manual (Super Coupe)<br>4-speed automatic (LX)
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|cylinders=6
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|enginesize=3.8 liters
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|horsepower=145 (LX)<br>230 (Super Coupe)
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|drive=Rear-wheel drive
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|mpg=19/26 (LX)<br>18/26 (Super Coupe)
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}}The longest-running nameplate of any [[Ford]]-brand product, the [[Ford Thunderbird|Thunderbird]] dominated the midsize specialty segment of the automotive market. Thunderbird's main competition for sales came from its sister division in the form of the [[Mercury Cougar]] XR-7, and Pontiac's [[Pontiac Grand Prix|Grand Prix]].
 
==Year-to-year changes==
  
==Year-to-year changes==
   
 
===1991===
  
===1991===
   
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At the beginning of the '90s, the Ford Thunderbird had three different models: base, LX and SC (Super Coupe).
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At the beginning of the '90s, the Ford Thunderbird was available in LX and high-performance SC (Super Coupe) series. LX T-Birds were powered by the base 140-horsepower 3.8-liter V6 or optional 205-horsepower 4.6-liter "modular" V8. A 4-speed automatic was the only transmission available with either of these engines.
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  ⚫
The SC, with the supercharged and intercooled 210-horsepower 3.8-liter V6 under the hood, had choices of a 5-speed manual or 4-speed automatic gearbox. The SC also came standard with and automatic-ride-control adjustable suspension.
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===1994===
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The Super Coupe was upgraded to 230 horsepower starting in 1994.
   
 
===1995===
  
===1995===
   
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The longest-running nameplate of any Ford-brand product, the Thunderbird continued to dominate the midsize specialty segment of the automotive market. Available in LX and high-performance SC (Super Coupe) series, the '95 models see no sheetmetal changes and minimal mechanical differences compared to the '94s.
 +
The '95 models had no sheetmetal changes and minimal mechanical differences compared to the '94s.
−  
−
Thunderbird's main competition for sales comes from its sister division in the form of the Mercury Cougar XR-7, and Pontiac's Grand Prix. 
  
−  
−
LX T-Birds are powered by the base 140-horsepower 3.8-liter V6 or optional 205-horsepower 4.6-liter "modular" V8. A 4-speed automatic is the only transmission available with either of these engines. 
  
−  
⚫
The SC, with the supercharged and intercooled 230-horsepower 3.8-liter V6 under the hood, gives you a choice of a 5-speed manual or 4-speed automatic gearbox. The SC also comes standard with and automatic-ride-control adjustable suspension.
  
   
−
Ford market research indicates that a high percentage of Thunderbird customers are cellular phone users. So the factory has cooked up a special deal to combine Ford Electronic's hands-free cellular phone at an attractive price with its premium sound system. The option package is called the "cellular phone group."
 +
Ford market research indicated that a high percentage of Thunderbird customers were cellular phone users. So the factory cooked up a special deal to combine Ford Electronic's hands-free cellular phone at an attractive price with its premium sound system. The option package was called the "cellular phone group."
   
−
A new standard feature this year is speed-sensitive power steering that is available when you order the V8 or the supercharged V6. Some of the highlights on the option sheet include traction control, antilock brakes, leather seats, 16-in. wheels and tires, power moonroof, AM/FM/CD with premium sound and leather seats.
 +
A new standard feature this year was speed-sensitive power steering that was available with the V8 or the supercharged V6. Some of the highlights on the option sheet included traction control, antilock brakes, leather seats, 16-in. wheels and tires, power moonroof, AM/FM/CD with premium sound and leather seats.
 
==Retail prices==
  
==Retail prices==
−
As of September 22, 1994:
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As of October 17, 1993:
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*'''$16,830''' (1994 Ford Thunderbird LX)
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*'''$22,240''' (1994 Ford Thunderbird Super Coupe)
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As of mid-1994:
 
*'''$17,400 '''(1995 Ford Thunderbird LX)
  
*'''$17,400 '''(1995 Ford Thunderbird LX)
 
*'''$22,910 '''(1995 Ford Thunderbird Super Coupe)
  
*'''$22,910 '''(1995 Ford Thunderbird Super Coupe)
−
As of late 1995:
 +
As of August 1, 1995:
 
*'''$17,485 '''(1996 Ford Thunderbird LX)
  
*'''$17,485 '''(1996 Ford Thunderbird LX)
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As of July 27, 1997:
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*'''$17,885 '''(1997 Ford Thunderbird LX)
   
 
==Shipping prices==
  
==Shipping prices==
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[[Category:Ford]]
  
[[Category:Ford]]
 
[[Category:2-door coupes]]
  
[[Category:2-door coupes]]
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[[Category:1989 introductions]]
 
[[Category:Discontinued in 1997]]
  
[[Category:Discontinued in 1997]]
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[[Category:5-speed manual vehicles]]
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[[Category:4-speed automatic vehicles]]
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[[Category:6-cylinder vehicles]]
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[[Category:8-cylinder vehicles]]
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[[Category:Rear-wheel drive vehicles]]
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[[Category:Mid-size cars]]

Revision as of 21:26, 26 November 2020

The longest-running nameplate of any Ford-brand product, the Thunderbird dominated the midsize specialty segment of the automotive market. Thunderbird's main competition for sales came from its sister division in the form of the Mercury Cougar XR-7, and Pontiac's Grand Prix.

Year-to-year changes

1991

At the beginning of the '90s, the Ford Thunderbird was available in LX and high-performance SC (Super Coupe) series. LX T-Birds were powered by the base 140-horsepower 3.8-liter V6 or optional 205-horsepower 4.6-liter "modular" V8. A 4-speed automatic was the only transmission available with either of these engines.

The SC, with the supercharged and intercooled 210-horsepower 3.8-liter V6 under the hood, had choices of a 5-speed manual or 4-speed automatic gearbox. The SC also came standard with and automatic-ride-control adjustable suspension.

1994

The Super Coupe was upgraded to 230 horsepower starting in 1994.

1995

The '95 models had no sheetmetal changes and minimal mechanical differences compared to the '94s.

Ford market research indicated that a high percentage of Thunderbird customers were cellular phone users. So the factory cooked up a special deal to combine Ford Electronic's hands-free cellular phone at an attractive price with its premium sound system. The option package was called the "cellular phone group."

A new standard feature this year was speed-sensitive power steering that was available with the V8 or the supercharged V6. Some of the highlights on the option sheet included traction control, antilock brakes, leather seats, 16-in. wheels and tires, power moonroof, AM/FM/CD with premium sound and leather seats.

Retail prices

As of October 17, 1993:

  • $16,830 (1994 Ford Thunderbird LX)
  • $22,240 (1994 Ford Thunderbird Super Coupe)

As of mid-1994:

  • $17,400 (1995 Ford Thunderbird LX)
  • $22,910 (1995 Ford Thunderbird Super Coupe)

As of August 1, 1995:

  • $17,485 (1996 Ford Thunderbird LX)

As of July 27, 1997:

  • $17,885 (1997 Ford Thunderbird LX)

Shipping prices

  • $495 (1992 to early 1995 models)
  • $510 (1995-1997 models)

Gallery

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