Oppoinons 1987 Thunderbird

"JR1" (type35bugatti)
11/01/2014 at 12:47 • Filed to: Ford Thunderbird

More specifically let's talk about the 1987 Ford Thuderbird Turbo Coupe. A direct injection 2.3 turbo 4 cylinder picked right out of the SVO and into the heart of Ford premier luxury car of the time. A torquey little son of a gun I always had a fascination with 80's turbo Fords. The best looking Ford of the era I would personally love to own with (manual of course). I heard they handled well for a 3500lb car as well. Perhaps more of a grand tourer than a sports car. What does Oppo think?

DISCUSSION (45)

ly2v8-Brian > JR1
11/01/2014 at 12:53

Meh.

Roundbadge > JR1
11/01/2014 at 12:58

Not a T-bird, but I had a buddy with an '84 Turbo-4 Mustang. It was a hoot to drive (having been the first turbo I ever drove). Unfortunately my buddy didn't take good care of it and eventually murdered it.

offroadkarter > JR1
11/01/2014 at 13:03

most people on this site are to young to even give a shit at what this is

I have a friend who has been trying to sell an 87 with a 5spd, I think he wants 1500 for it but nobody has bought it. Maybe being 10 minutes from the Canadian boarder where it snows all the time doesn't help.

Tohru > JR1
11/01/2014 at 13:06

Neat car, with independent rear suspension.

JR1 > offroadkarter
11/01/2014 at 13:07

See I would jump all over that if it was in good enough condition. Obviously a test drive would be in order but I imagine they are a very fun car.

sdwarf36 > JR1
11/01/2014 at 13:08

I used to get drive one when they came out. (former boss had one.) Went along pretty quick for a fairly heavy car. Was it the best car in its day? Probably not. But hey-you like it + want one so why not? It won't catch on fire or eat you out of house + home on upkeep. So go for it!

JR1 > Roundbadge
11/01/2014 at 13:08

I have never driven a turbo and 200hp seems almost laughable but I bet they are a lot of fun.

JR1 > Tohru
11/01/2014 at 13:09

I thought they had a live rear axle?

JR1 > ly2v8-Brian
11/01/2014 at 13:09

Have you driven one or just heard bad things?

Takuro Spirit > JR1
11/01/2014 at 13:10

Buddy of mine picked one up up cheap a few years ago. He let it sit and just recently got it on the road.

130k on it, leaks a bit of oil, muffler was rotted out, has a few dents and peeling paint on the bumper but otherwise its in good shape and everything works. It's even the same color red as the one in the pic.

He plans to fix the little things that need fixing, says he hasn't beat on it but it's not SLOW... he can feel/hear the turbo kick in, so that's neat. He also said it rides like a boat, but has adjustable suspension, and in firm its..... better.

More of a tourer than a sports car, and you don't see them everyday. That's enough to make me want one. I tried to buy his since he wasn't using it. He didn't go for it.

Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire > JR1
11/01/2014 at 13:11

They look best in dark grey or black. The 88's are the best year of the manual Fox Turbocoupes.

jovimon7 > Tohru
11/01/2014 at 13:11

IRS wasn't until 1989 Supercoupe.

JR1 > sdwarf36
11/01/2014 at 13:12

Seems like it would be a fun cheap little car. Plus I like the obscure. Obviously I'd have to drive one before making final decision. And now is not the time to shop around but they are cheap good ol fun.

JR1 > Takuro Spirit
11/01/2014 at 13:15

I have always been attractive to grand tourers so I think it would fit my taste. Granted I haven't ever driver a grand tourer but I love the idea of just going out and driving long distances on beautiful roads

JR1 > Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire
11/01/2014 at 13:16

I agree with both statements more turbo pressure and the black looks mean.

jovimon7 > JR1
11/01/2014 at 13:18

My 1988 TurboCoupe, loved this car and only sold it for a 1989 SuperCoupe.

Kinja'd!!!

E92M3 > JR1
11/01/2014 at 13:26

My mother had an 87 Elan with the 5.0 when i was a kid. I used to love the noise that thing made.

JR1 > jovimon7
11/01/2014 at 13:37

You owned one? Are they fun little handling cars on a back road?

JR1 > E92M3
11/01/2014 at 13:38

I bet it was a pretty sweet car to have.

JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder! > offroadkarter
11/01/2014 at 13:41

Hey! Just because I was born in 1998... no wait your right I didnt even know they had these available!

With a manual its probably awesome

Kanaric > JR1
11/01/2014 at 13:45

I had a friend with one in high school and it was a hoot. It's not exactly SVO status though. If you want the real deal find one of those.

Generally when it comes to fox bodies if you want turbo 4 find a SVO. If you want V8 and big buy a Mark VII if you want a typical mustang experience buy the 5.0.

To me the Mark VII is more interesting than this car and the SVO is as well.

If you want to be really counter-culture find a 5.0 Capri with the lift back.

Kanaric > JR1
11/01/2014 at 13:48

They do. The supercoupe is IR. That is the generation after this.

JR1 > Kanaric
11/01/2014 at 14:05

The SVO tends to usually cost more as well though. But I agree the true 2.3 to get is the SVO

ly2v8-Brian > JR1
11/01/2014 at 14:09

no, I'm just going off looks.

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > JR1
11/01/2014 at 14:12

It kinda looks like a Chevy Z34 mated with a fox-body Mustang. I quite like the result, and if the engine is that good I have just found myself wanting one. With a manual.

Kanaric > JR1
11/01/2014 at 14:14

The Merkur is interesting as well but you can import a Sierra now so it's kind of moot unless you want to find something under $4000 in which case it's attractive.

Alfalfa > JR1
11/01/2014 at 14:17

I owned the next generation Bird for a few years, and knew a few ninth gen owners as well. They do handle fairly well despite their weight and boat-like appearance. Certainly not a sports car, but a great grand tourer, with a pretty comfortable ride.

JR1 > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
11/01/2014 at 14:25

I think it is around 190hp and 240lb/ft of torque

JR1 > Alfalfa
11/01/2014 at 14:27

Seems like a more grand tourer than sports car but nothing wrong with being a fine grand tourer

jovimon7 > JR1
11/01/2014 at 14:40

Great handling car, mine was a 5sp with 190hp,(automatics had 150hp), not a drag racer but fast for it's time. 0-60 in 7.5sec, 1/4m mid 15 sec. It had Programmed Ride Control function, which allowed the driver to adjust the damping rates through a cockpit-mounted switch. At about 72mph the suspension firmed up with a green LED in the dash.

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > offroadkarter
11/01/2014 at 14:57

Hey, I'm 20 and I have known about these for a while. It's like an SVO, but cheaper and unloved. They didn't have DI though did they?

Alfalfa > JR1
11/01/2014 at 15:12

Certainly not. I loved my T-Bird. You also don't see a lot of them on the road, so that's a plus.

offroadkarter > Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies
11/01/2014 at 15:19

no they were SEFI I think, possibly batch fire though.

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > offroadkarter
11/01/2014 at 15:26

I didn't think they had DI. I know cars had it even back in the 50's, but I didn't think it really went into anything mainstream until the last few years.

pintowgn73 > JR1
11/01/2014 at 22:42

there is only a 10-15 hp difference between the 2.3 in the SVO and the one in the 87-88 Turbo Coupe. I don't think the cost difference between the two is worth a few more hp, esp when you can make it up with a few mods. The T-Bird is heavier though but it's actually kind of fun to drive. I actually an 87 that I pulled the engine out of to put into my 73 Pinto. I unfortunately had to sell it before I finished the project.

JR1 > pintowgn73
11/01/2014 at 22:45

Disappointing you had to steel it. But I agree the different prices and the lack of horsepower don't make the SVO worth it

fivepointnine > JR1
11/01/2014 at 23:01

my friends dad had a pristine 88 Turbo Coupe 5spd that was a really nice car to drive. You have to take these cars into perspective for the time, 190hp was a lot of power in those years, the Mustang only got 225hp in '87.

My Brother in Law had a 87 T-bird anniversary edition (blue and silver) with the 5.0, I used to think all the gadgets and digital speedo was the coolest thing ever (hey, I was like 12 then!)

My brother picked up a Supercoupe last year for next to nothing, with the ultra rare 5spd, that car actually felt relatively quick, even for today.

JR1 > fivepointnine
11/02/2014 at 08:39

For the time period they were awesome cars it sounds like everyone has something good to say about them.

XxxxXxxx > JR1
11/02/2014 at 15:39

Blah, you're talking 190HP tops maybe? In a pedestrian coupe with no personality? Trust me, move up into the 1990's get a Lincoln MkVIII, move up to 280HP. Much more luxurious yet stylish interior, a body design that continues to impress all onlookers especially the ladies, and pretty decent handling. No manual trans, and it doesn't matter for a grand tourer.

Goes like stink, as fast and as hard as you are willing to hold down your left foot.

Three or four times the driving value of this T-bird, and you can get one with less mileage.

XxxxXxxx > XxxxXxxx
11/02/2014 at 16:09

Oops, right foot works better.

Thunderface > JR1
11/02/2014 at 22:31

me gusta

Thunderface > XxxxXxxx
11/02/2014 at 22:32

I was about to say...

Shiftright > JR1
11/03/2014 at 03:33

Love it. Future classic I say. Never understood the off road ground clearance though. Needs a lowering kit stat.

JR1 > Shiftright
11/03/2014 at 08:14

Now that you say that the car does look a little high off the ground.

That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms > JR1
11/07/2014 at 18:36

Had one, a blue on blue '87. I liked it, very smooth, handles nice, but not particularly quick.

If I'm not mistaken, '88 is the year to have. On the '87s, boost was limited in first and second gear. It's also entirely possible that I have that backwards and '87 is the year they didn't do that.