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The Ford The Thunderbird Super Coupe has faded from the memories of many car enthusiasts. It didn’t quite hit the mark at the time but, in retrospect, maybe it really was very underrated. It packs a supercharged V6 engine, lots of (admittedly weird) technology and, in appearance, has aged a lot.
Ford introduced the original Thunderbird form in 1955, carving out a new car segment: the personal luxury car. So, when the company unveiled the T-Bird Super Coupe in 1989, and it looked more like a sports car or muscle car, many people may have missed its intended intentions. When you look at the Thunderbird SC as a luxury car, it all starts to make a little more sense.
The Ford Thunderbird Super Coupe is Surprisingly Advanced
Ford built the Thunderbird Super Coupe on their newly developed MN12 platform. In its sights is the latest batch of European luxury cars. That’s some pretty stiff competition! But, Ford is confident in the new Thunderbird SC. Unlike many similar cars of the time, particularly stateside, it had adjustable shock absorbers, fully independent rear suspension and anti-lock disc brakes at all four corners. Ford wasn’t afraid to spend a few dollars to make the Thunderbird Super Coupe look as good as it did.
The 10th generation T-Bird really dragged the model from the ’80s and into the ’90s. Its sleek and low-slung look still looks good. The front end is simple, sharp and missing the Blue Oval emblem (as is tradition with Thunderbirds). It’s not too different from a DA Honda Integra or a JDM DC2 Honda Integra Type R, both of which ooze classic ’90s style and are still easy on the eyes. The Thunderbird Super Coupe sits wide and low to the ground, and has a long wheelbase, resulting in a very attractive silhouette. Against Ford’s luxury car brief, it certainly looks every bit the sports coupe. While it doesn’t come with the 9,000 rpm screaming B18 from its Japanese doppelganger, the Thunderbird SC has its own exciting engine.
The Thunderbird Super Coupe Had a Beefy Supercharged V6
Ford upped the ante with a 3.8-liter supercharged V6 under the hood of the Thunderbird Super Coupe. The previous generation (Thunderbird Turbo Coupe) came with a 2.3-liter turbo four-cylinder that was certainly capable, but it didn’t fit a luxury car. It is more suited to a small sports car than the Thunderbird and its aspirations to be a grand tourer. Ford recognized this and developed the new engine from their Windsor small-block V8. V6s are famous for running very smoothly due to their configuration, and so it was a good move by Ford to signal the intentions of the T-bird SC.
With its Eaton supercharger running at 12 psi, the Thunderbird SC produced a healthy 210 hp and 315 lb-ft of torque. The higher torque number also points to the fact that this car is meant to blast down the highways, rather than tear up on a track. The nature of superchargers means that this 315 lb-ft is available from lower down in the rev range compared to its turbocharged predecessor.
In 1994, revisions to the supercharger, among other upgrades, increased power and torque figures to 230 hp and 330 lb-ft respectively. The Thunderbird SC comes with a Mazda-sourced five-speed manual transmission or Ford’s own four-speed automatic with overdrive, and is good for a top speed of 140 mph.
The Interior of the Ford Thunderbird Super Coupe is Full of Weird Tech
The Ford Thunderbird Super Coupe has a stunning interior, and comes with some surprising options. The wide, soft seats, available in leather or fabric, have distinctively large side bolsters that somewhat give the impression of an armchair. They are fully electric, with buttons to move them up, down, forward and backward, along with tilting the entire seat. There are also buttons to adjust the side bolsters and to increase and decrease how much lumbar support you receive.
Fortunately, automatic seatbelts are a thing of the past, but they were all the rage during the Thunderbird Super Coupe era. When the door is opened, the cross-body part of the seat belt will advance over the window line towards the A-pillar. As soon as you sit down and close the door, it will return to its starting position, and you will find yourself with the seatbelt across your chest. It looks like a cool piece of technology, but it’s full of flaws. The lap belt still needs to be manually clicked, and many drivers forget to do so regularly, resulting in less protection. In accidents, when your door opens, it will lead to your seatbelt being pulled away from you. Again, not exactly the safest design in the world!
Despite some build quality issues, power seats, power windows and climate control, along with a comfortable interior make the Thunderbird Super Coupe a great place to be.
The Ford Thunderbird Super Coupe Is Better Than You Think
The Ford Thunderbird Super Coupe is almost like a car that is unsure of its place. Ford built it as a luxury car, although it looks much sportier than that. They packed it full of technology and spared no expense when it came to design. However, its engine is the real centerpiece, leading many to feel that this is really a muscle car or a sports car, regardless of Ford’s ambitions. Whatever their intentions, 30 years on the Thunderbird Super Coupe is truly an underrated gem.
Sources: Ford, Hagerty
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