Why was the Ford Thunderbird ahead of its time?
Why was the Ford Thunderbird ahead of its time?
The innovative Super Coupe was built ahead of its time and came standard with a plethora of features that are just now becoming popular today. Perhaps that’s why it was named Motor Trend Car of the Year in 1989 — making the SC the second Thunderbird to win the award in just a three-year span.
What kind of car was the 1989 Thunderbird?
The 1989 Thunderbird was far more ambitious. At the time, the T-Bird and Cougar were the only other rear-wheel drive American cars besides the Corvette with independent rear suspension. Depending upon your viewpoint, the SC was either a misunderstood muscle car or an underappreciated American GT—think “big Mustang meets BMW 635i.”
What was the horsepower of the Ford Thunderbird?
With 210 horsepower and 315 pound-feet of torque, the Super Coupe was a wolf in sheep’s clothing. Only special 16 by seven-inch cast aluminum wheels, lower body side cladding, and a “Thunderbird SC” embossed rear bumper separated the Super Coupe from its base model trim.
When did the Ford Thunderbird Super Coupe come out?
It’s always Throwback Thursday somewhere. After the Thunderbird Turbo Coupe was named the Motor Trend Car of the Year in 1987, Ford had its work cut out for them with the Super Coupe set to debut in ’89. Prior to its unveiling, expectations had never been higher and the pressure was mounting for Ford to deliver something special.
What’s the average speed of a Ford Thunderbird?
According to a Motor Trend road test, the changes enabled the refreshed Thunderbird SC to accelerate from zero to 60 miles per hour in a brisk seven seconds and fly through the the quarter mile in only 15.2 seconds at 88.1 miles per hour.
The 1989 Thunderbird was far more ambitious. At the time, the T-Bird and Cougar were the only other rear-wheel drive American cars besides the Corvette with independent rear suspension. Depending upon your viewpoint, the SC was either a misunderstood muscle car or an underappreciated American GT—think “big Mustang meets BMW 635i.”
When did the Ford Thunderbird SC come out?
Ford built about 58,000 Thunderbird SCs; 1990 was the best sales year at just under 22,000. Kreisz’s ’92 SC, which he bought in 1994 as a daily driver and later modified for higher performance, is one of three he owns.
Are there any problems with the Ford Thunderbird?
Tidwell’s past experience as an ASE-certified mechanic has been helpful in addressing the SC’s trouble spots, and he has written an online Ford Thunderbird Super Coupe Buyer’s Guide. Not surprisingly, the SC’s electronics, now decades old, are among those trouble spots.
Tidwell’s past experience as an ASE-certified mechanic has been helpful in addressing the SC’s trouble spots, and he has written an online Ford Thunderbird Super Coupe Buyer’s Guide. Not surprisingly, the SC’s electronics, now decades old, are among those trouble spots.
Is it OK to drive an engine that is misfiring?
Instead from that, misfires can damage other sensors in the engine like the O2 sensors. So, I would never recommend driving an engine that is misfiring for any long distances. Short distances to your mechanic workshop without putting a load on the engine is fine, but do not ignore the misfires and keep driving.
What kind of engine does a Thunderbird SC have?
This T-Bird was a looker, especially in SC guise with its added aero styling and monochromatic appearance. The SC was also a techno wonder. Its 3.8-liter V-6, an offshoot of Ford’s Windsor small-block V-8, used a Roots-type Eaton supercharger, intercooler and computer-controlled distributorless ignition.
The innovative Super Coupe was built ahead of its time and came standard with a plethora of features that are just now becoming popular today. Perhaps that’s why it was named Motor Trend Car of the Year in 1989 — making the SC the second Thunderbird to win the award in just a three-year span.
What kind of engine did the Ford Thunderbird have?
Its supercharged 3.8-liter V6 engine and sophisticated MN12 chassis enabled the Super Coupe to become one of the first domestic cars that could go toe-to-toe with its European challengers on a road course.
Instead from that, misfires can damage other sensors in the engine like the O2 sensors. So, I would never recommend driving an engine that is misfiring for any long distances. Short distances to your mechanic workshop without putting a load on the engine is fine, but do not ignore the misfires and keep driving.
Can a bad spark plug cause an engine to misfire?
If you have separated spark plugs, unplug each coil to see if you can find out if any cylinders are not responding. Replace if you find one faulty or have a trouble code stored for one ignition coil. 2. Bad Spark Plug The second most common cause of a misfire is bad spark plugs.
What was the horsepower of the 1989 Ford Thunderbird?
Ford had to be sure that it wouldn’t make the same mistake with its range-topping Super Coupe in 1989. As a result, engineers developed a supercharged 3.8-liter V6 engine intended to be as smooth as it was fast. With 210 horsepower and 315 pound-feet of torque, the Super Coupe was a wolf in sheep’s clothing.
What should I do about my 1989 Thunderbird?
Like Kreisz, Tidwell recommends joining the Super Coupe Club of America (SCCoA) and its active member forums for information and technical support. He also recommends getting a copy of the factory service manual and the Electrical and Vacuum Troubleshooting Manual. Even routine maintenance can cause headaches—and bruised hands.
This T-Bird was a looker, especially in SC guise with its added aero styling and monochromatic appearance. The SC was also a techno wonder. Its 3.8-liter V-6, an offshoot of Ford’s Windsor small-block V-8, used a Roots-type Eaton supercharger, intercooler and computer-controlled distributorless ignition.
