2002 Ford Thunderbird

Description

There's a pretty short list of cars built in the 21st century that could be considered collectable, but the most recent 2-seat Thunderbirds have to qualify. Cars like this 2002 Ford T-Bird have all the right ingredients: looks, performance, limited production, and a nostalgia behind them that takes us back decades. Late-model Thunderbirds are surprisingly affordable, but unlike most of them, this one has ultra-low mileage and has been expertly maintained.

Most of the late-model 'Birds are soft pastels that were inspired by the '50s originals, but you just can't go wrong with classic Torch Red on your 2-seater convertible. Showing just 6950 original miles, this car has spent the last 14 years being a garage queen, used only on nice days and special occasions, which is how many of its siblings have spent their lives, too. As a result, there are no worries about foul weather issues like rust and there's absolutely no evidence it's ever been hit or even touched up after a parking lot ding. The factory paint shows a brilliant gloss that highlights the interesting shapes on the body, including the way the taillights smoothly blend into the trunk lid. As you'd expect, door gaps are excellent, the chrome bits are still bright, and there aren't even any windshield wiper marks on the windshield itself. You want a car that's led an easy life, this is definitely it.

The black leather interior is an awesome choice with the red body, offering a sharp contrast that will look good decades from now. As you'd expect from the miniscule mileage, it's almost new in every way, showing only some very, very faint comfort marks on the driver's chair leather that might have been there when the cow was wearing it. These cars are supremely comfortable, so it's easy to settle in behind the wheel for a long road trip, and the seats strike just the right blend of comfort and support for spirited driving. Matching black carpets and dashboard make it look tidy, and the inlaid turquoise thunderbird emblem and brushed metal trim hearkens back to the original 2-seat Thunderbird with its engine-turned dashboard. Cream-faced gauges have an elegant look without being too retro and the rest of the dash is filled with buttons and displays for the climate control system and AM/FM/CD stereo. The trunk is as new and like most of its siblings, this Thunderbird carries both a black convertible top and a color-matched porthole hardtop for all-weather motoring.

Ford's 3.9 liter DOHC V8 engine was a great choice for the Thunderbird. It's got decent power, but tire-shredding burn outs are not really the point. Instead, it's what Rolls-Royce would describe as "adequate" and delivers that power smoothly without a fuss. There's a nice V8 burble from the tailpipe that never gets annoying and when paired with the 5-speed automatic overdrive transmission, it always seems to be on its toes. Need to get into that spot in traffic? Easy! Cruising down your favorite country road? Plenty of punch coming out of corners. Long highway drive? Effortless and surprisingly efficient. The 4-wheel independent suspension soaks up bumps without being mushy and 4-wheel disc brakes are a welcome feature that early T-Bird owners would definitely have appreciated. Chrome-plated "Premium" wheels add some flash and carry 235/50/17 Uniroyal radials all around.

Documented with title paperwork and manuals, this is a fun future collectable that's eminently affordable today. Call now!