![]() ![]() However in 2005 there were only five colors available – this one, a bluish-silver metallic, then bronze, red, and black. I believe this color is Platinum Silver (very much a pearl white) and while pretty, it isn’t my favorite color on this, I think a dark gray of all colors would look great here, or perhaps a blue, something to set off the very minimal brightwork. And thus, it sits here in the open behind a gas station a stone’s throw from I-80. It doesn’t look like it needs all that much work to get back on the road, but probably needs more time than whoever’s car this is has at present. The new front bumper is straddling the back, the hood is on the roof, the replacement fender’s already attached and the boxes probably hold a bunch of other necessary stuff. But at day’s end it remains instantly recognizable as a Thunderbird. The Thunderbird has gone through so many different sizes, styles, and personas over the decades that almost anything goes, there really is no “one” theme. I find the taillight design to be excellent, not so much the porthole windows in the removable hardtop, but the overall proportions work for me, especially when viewed from this angle, and even better with the top down. I wouldn’t call this exactly opulent, but it is cleanly designed and relatively attractive, if perhaps lacking a little in the pizzazz aspect it is a Thunderbird after all, and a little over-the-topness was part and parcel of that in the earlier days.īehind this badge sits the engine which started out as a Jaguar designed 3.9l DOHC V8 known as the AJ-30, but as of 2003 was replaced by another Jaguar unit, the AJ-35, a modified unit of the AJ-30 now producing 280hp and 286lb-ft of torque backed by a 5-speed automatic transmission. Along with the steering wheel and some smaller trim pieces, it is shared which obviously helps to bring down the production costs of a fairly low volume model. If you’ve ever spent time in the Lincoln LS, then this instrument panel is familiar. The platform itself, though no body parts obviously, was shared with the Lincoln LS and Jaguar S-Type, and it was built at Ford’s Wixom plant. Obviously there was some sort of frontal impact, perhaps an animal strike, perhaps a fender bender in traffic, but enough to damage most of the front end sheetmetal and likely some substructure parts. I still don’t understand how it’s the 50th since if 1955 was the first year, that would make 2005 the 51st year, not the 50th, but that’s marketing math for you I suppose. What we have here is not just a Thunderbird, but a 50th Anniversary one from the 2005 model year, which was also the last year of production. And yes, those are not one, but two ladders on top of it. ![]() And until this summer every one I’d seen had been in very good shape, generally a weekend car, and probably polished and pampered way more than the average car. Then when they realized they ran out of ideas and it had been a while without one and came up with the eleventh, the retro one for 2002, I was back on board. ![]() ![]() I’m okay but not in love with the first generation, not a fan of the second, absolutely adore the third and fourth, then they pretty much lost me until I warmed up a bit to the ninth and generally liked the tenth. But the parts situation does not sit well with me and was the reason I sold it.Count me as one who likes the styling of the newest Thunderbird. Certain parts are unavailable.ĭespite this, I sold it reluctantly and often get the urge to buy another one. In spite of an excellent after market company providing some parts, this car falls into the obsolete zone. They cleaned it, modified the fuel delivery hose and all was well again. It took them six weeks to find a replacement from a written off Lincoln LS as there were no longer fuel tanks available for the car. Ford tried several times to make the engine trouble light go off until they discovered cracked fuel tank where it is hidden by the bodywork. It needed an new A/C assembly at 20,000 miles but the real issues began with poor performance due to fuel issues. It was a comfortable touring coupe with adequate performance and a penchant for eating plug ignition assemblies. The silver beauty was mine until a year ago and I put a mere 25,000 miles on it in that time. I purchased a 2005 with bells and whistles just as Ford were step-selling for $30,000 dollars them to clear them. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |