When this aired, the 1957 T bird was only 25 years old. Watching this in 2024 the 1982 is 42 years old... unreal how fast time flies by.
@MrMcKane5 ай бұрын
The 2002 (and final) Thunderbird was 22 years ago.
@sutherlandA1 Жыл бұрын
The parting gift of ford stylist Eugene Bordinat who loved upright grills and wire wheels design. His successor Jack Telnack would usher in Ford's aero revolution
@thetinysideoftiny7625 Жыл бұрын
I shouldn't love this car but I do. I know it's a crappy Fairmont under the skin but I love it's hard-angled stately appearance.
@devinbiz Жыл бұрын
Had a neighbor in the 90’s who had a Mercury Cougar XR7 of this generation. While not entirely elegant, I also an odd appreciation for this model.
@1983jblack Жыл бұрын
Everyone has their preferences. Personally, I never liked them
@deancummings586 Жыл бұрын
My thoughts exactly!
@unitedcity_mc442110 ай бұрын
You shouldn’t love this car? You can like what you like. Don’t listen to other’s opinions.
@Well_hello_there_ Жыл бұрын
Man the 83 was such an improvement in styling. That 4.2L v8 was a dog too. It was actually the only v8 option in the mustang for like 1 year only around this time.
@jimlubinski47319 ай бұрын
All depends on what you like. When they released the 83, I was so appalled with the styling that went to Pontiac.
@RobertBowman-gy9hw Жыл бұрын
I don't know why. I've always had a soft spot for the 80 - 82. I'd like to have a Silver Anniversary or Heritage edition. I had a base model '80, red with a white vinyl top. It was a pretty good car.
@jimlubinski47319 ай бұрын
I have a Silver Anniversary and love it.
@RobertBowman-gy9hw9 ай бұрын
Wow. What is the mileage? Leather or velour? @@jimlubinski4731
@Mario.M.714 ай бұрын
Im owner Silver anniversary too😊@@jimlubinski4731
@davidmckibbin4440 Жыл бұрын
what a dog, i had an 87 with the 302 with the 4 speed auto, it would burn the tires off.
@anibalbabilonia1867 Жыл бұрын
55-57 T-birds where some of the best looking iconic styling from the 50s!
@knowbodiesfull57686 ай бұрын
That 42-foot turning circle was wider than that year's big LTD - and the LTD's wheelbase was six inches _longer_ than the Thunderbird's (114.4 to 108.4)! How messed-up was that?!
@deanstevenson65276 ай бұрын
Ford had a TRW rack and a FoMoCo rack. The rack limiters varied, the turning circle was 39 feet with the later FoMoCo rack.
@RaymondHaley-bi8lx10 ай бұрын
The 80-82 TBiird and cougar cute lovable cars not as powerful or as nimble as they should've been, good cars never the less.
@Red84GTАй бұрын
I owned an '81 Thunderbird back in 2009. I paid $400 for it running and driving. It was a base model with an AM radio and the only option was air conditioning.
@joed12442 ай бұрын
I had a 1980 ( 1st year of this style) as my first car in 1988. It had the 302v8 . I did some mods to it like edelbrock intake and 4 bble with dual exhaust. Sportier rims and tires. It was dove gray with a maroon interior. I loves this car and it was sharp looking and different. Remember, this was the age when kids had Monte Carlos, cutlass, regals and grand prix ..not everyone had camaros,firebird and mustangs as the 80s projected image. I would get so many compliments on that's car. I would love to find another in that color. Wish there was a way to post a picture in these comments!.
@RaymondHaley-bi8lx Жыл бұрын
One of the cutest T birds Ford ever made still love em, the finest of the Fox fleet, based on the Fairmont and zephyr but with all the luxury I prefer, just didn't have balls back then.
@MisterMikeTexas11 ай бұрын
Put a Coyote in it!
@danmccarthy4700 Жыл бұрын
I can't even imagine that blind spot where the rear side windows should be.
@landyachtfan79 Жыл бұрын
Ah, the Fairbird/Thundermont!!!!
@unitedcity_mc442111 ай бұрын
😂😂😂
@braddietzmusic24293 ай бұрын
Styling summation: Ford took all the styling queues from the 1977-1979 mode which was about 25 percent bigger and 500-plus pounds heavier, and hung those details, unshrunken on the smaller car. The result is predictable-The old styling queues hung on this car like a suit that is at least two sizes too big.
@emeyer6963 Жыл бұрын
Ahhh!The old Squarebird!
@JJVernig Жыл бұрын
That 54 thunderbird was only 28 year old at that moment... Go back 28 year now and 1995 isn't that far back.
@manthony225 Жыл бұрын
I like the 90's T-birds but they're kind of sad compared to a '55
@1983jblack Жыл бұрын
@Tacoma98 Super Coupes were fun and for the '90s were respectable with a 7 second 0-60 and sub 15 sec 1/4 mile I think
@rootsmanuva82Ай бұрын
$2,955 in 1955 is still only $34,700 in crazy inflation 2024 dollars. If Ford made a car with that level of quality and sophistication today it would easily cost over $100K (if it were even possible which it isn't).
@arnesahlen27042 ай бұрын
@Robert and @Raymond - I applaud your positive replies! I had a base '80, black over silver with red interior. Terrifically comfy back-supporting seats! I loved that car, weird looking or no...
@rickjohnson2859 Жыл бұрын
2:00 2890 lbs "rather heavy for a sports car". 😆 C8 Corvette: 3530 lbs Porsche 911: 3318 lbs Ferrari F8 Tributo: 3184 lbs
@saxongreen78 Жыл бұрын
1982 Thunderbird: 3600 lbs!
@weegeemike5 ай бұрын
This thing was a bomb and I don't fully understand why...I mean it didn't live up to Thunderbird history but was very similar in style (boxy) to other Fords and most vehicles produced during this period. The only way to have it would be the 302 in my opinion, that 255 Windsor was the dog of all dogs when it came to V8s and customers knew it. 6 cylinders don't belong in T birds in my opinion and Ford's effort to make the I6 and later Essex V6 he volume engines was a mistake. A mistake they would make again when the '89 T bird came out and was only avaliable with a 6 (ewww). Thankfully Ford listened to its buyers for once and reinstated the 302 EFI into that car later in its run. Love these old Motorweeks, John was and still is the king of video-based automotive media.
@briteidea086 ай бұрын
So glad I clicked on this video. That first segment of them driving the car. It was a section of road near where I grew up. Totally different now. But brought back so many memories.
@chrismunro36246 ай бұрын
What area is it? I’m from Michigan and I was thinking metro Detroit but wasn’t Motorweek in Maryland?
@briteidea086 ай бұрын
@@chrismunro3624It was produced in Owings Mills Maryland. With filming locations around the Baltimore Metropolitan Area. Later they filmed at the 75-80 dragway out near Frederick Maryland.
@deanstevenson6527 Жыл бұрын
Both the 82 3.8 and 4.2 liter T bird was still quicker and faster than the 79 5.8 liter T Square. 20 second 1/4 miles were common on all the Luxo Barge's in 81-82. Next year, the 4 inch shorter wheelbase 3.8 T-Bird did a 19.5 second quarter mile due to a weight reduction from a 4 inch shorter wheelbase...slashed! 🥝✔️
@user-ny3ol7yk6q8 ай бұрын
That's my ting ting macho machine
@95blahblahhaha Жыл бұрын
Took another 20 years for that 2 seater Thunderbird to come out and it was a failure unfortunately
@akr01364 Жыл бұрын
It looks like the car from "The Car."
@erickort1987 Жыл бұрын
i always loved the motorweek tv show when i was younger,still love the show
@coletrickle-km7cl7 ай бұрын
Can you emagine this car with a coyote v-8 and 2003 cobra IRS rear axle with a 4.10 rear gear and a full maximum motorsports suspension under it? It'll be a corner carving lux-o missile.
@KartKing4ever Жыл бұрын
Wow, what a heap.
@1983jblack Жыл бұрын
Help was on the way with the 1983 Aero Birds. They literally started a design revolution and IMO was the beginning of the modern design of cars
@624radicalham Жыл бұрын
The Ford Sierra in Europe came first with that kind of styling. Everyone makes the same mistake thinking it was the Thunderbird that started the design trend worldwide.
@braddietzmusic24293 ай бұрын
The 1982 Audi 100/5000 was the beginning of the modern design of cars that EVERYONE, including Ford (US or Europe) ultimately copied.
@The_R-n-I_Guy6 ай бұрын
It's hip to be square. I'm not a big fan of Fords. But the square styling is pretty good
@realazduffman Жыл бұрын
The prop rod for the hood says all you need to hear about how cheap Detroit made its cars then. No wonder they lost so many markets.
@retrocompaq52126 ай бұрын
fords were better made back then than today, its the other that followed the trend, hidden screws and better looking dash is not quality, their drivetrains are botched and complete garbage
@mitch4527 Жыл бұрын
My friend had an ‘80 Thunderbird. What a piece of junk. My neighbor was a Ford dealer and he drove a ‘79 midnight blue Thunderbird with the Heritage package. Absolutely stunning car.
@MarvinHartmann45211 ай бұрын
I had the cougar xr7 version of that car. It has a 5.0l v8. And it was a 1980.
@glx682 күн бұрын
Okay it was not the fastest car of Ford's Thunderbirds. But good enough for a quiet comfy ride on high- and freeways!😊
@saxongreen78 Жыл бұрын
A T-Bird on a Fairmont platform with a base Falcon engine? What a turkey!
@MisterMikeTexas11 ай бұрын
Thank Carter and CAFE for that!
@dmer-zy3rb11 ай бұрын
@@MisterMikeTexashey better to have weaker engines than to breath in massive amounts of smog. with a bit of research there were always decent performing cars on the market. (this thunderbird sadly wasnt one of them, but otherwise it was a decent car)
@trudygreer24917 ай бұрын
@@MisterMikeTexasCAFE was enacted by Congress in 1975, a little before President Carter's time...
@herbienbrian22 ай бұрын
@@dmer-zy3rb Weak underpowered engines working hard creat much worse pollution then a well tuned larget engine with more power. You are spreading lies.
@ponchoman49 Жыл бұрын
We often referred to these as the tacky birds as in way too much exterior crap thrown on it to make it appear more luxurious. That rear vinyl roof was god awful and there was just too much exterior trim and ornaments that made it look really busy. If they removed most of this and put on a set of normal headlights it may have been better. 1982 also suffered from Ford dropping the 302 and instead substituting the crappy Essex 3.8 which not only lacked a balance shaft and had a throb just off idle but also ate head gaskets and had a weak bottom end because they copied the design of Buick's 3.8 with its external oil pump design. It was telling that the top engine that year, (the 4.2 255) made a mere 111 hp and the base 200 six only had 88 to move around over 3200 Lbs of weight which was 400 more than the Fairmont this was heavily based off. Talk about slow and unsafe
@unitedcity_mc442110 ай бұрын
Was it really that bad?
@TeeroyHammermill Жыл бұрын
Has a nice upscale look perfect for evening outings. Nice interior with fancy hi-tech gadgets. Too bad it moves like a Volkswagen, Turns like a coal barge, and had a janky carburetor. Its Cougar sibling didn't look that good IMO.
@jimlubinski4731 Жыл бұрын
It moved as well as any other cars in its segment if you opted for the 302 V-8. I know because I did exactly that.
@johnmcmullen456 Жыл бұрын
Always thought that generation of Thunderbird would have looked better if had chrome bumpers. I considered buying one in 1980 but couldn't justify the huge price difference over the similar sized 2 door Granada I settled on, and unlike the Granada, it had no manual transmission option. The 4.2 V8 was a dud but a 302 with aftermarket intake and 4 barrel might certainly wake that T Bird up. With its fox chassis, there are many parts available to improve handling. The following generation debuting in 1983 was a major improvement and convinced me to buy a delightful new 5 speed 1984 Turbocoupe.
@jimlubinski4731 Жыл бұрын
Just illustrates individual tastes. When the new "aero" generation debuted in 1983, I stopped buying Thunderbirds (until 1981) and started buying (automatic) Trans Ams.
@johnmcmullen456 Жыл бұрын
@@jimlubinski4731 Sucks that both have been taken away from us.
@jimlubinski4731 Жыл бұрын
@@johnmcmullen456 Completely agree!
@daviddaniel387 Жыл бұрын
Wait until 2002 for a retro
@kippaseo80276 ай бұрын
Oh my God I fell asleep in the first 5 minutes of this video
@ohioyodertoter6827 Жыл бұрын
I had one did it ever use oil 🙈
@DiRF Жыл бұрын
The equivalent Nascar Cup racecar was nicknamed "Big Ugly" by some of its drivers, Dale Earnhardt included.
@Dr_Reason Жыл бұрын
I think it is as fast as the 4.3 Cutlass Clara diesel.
@JazzzRockFuzion Жыл бұрын
Dark, dark days for the American auto industry right there - the infamous FairZephyrBird! ::shudder::
@jimlubinski4731 Жыл бұрын
All subjective. I loved mine so much, I bought another one a few years ago.
@zythr999911 ай бұрын
Different story for the Japanese auto industry.
@nickgee7291 Жыл бұрын
wow thats 30k in todays money for that 55 tbird
@Dr_Reason Жыл бұрын
I hear a rumor Ford is goin to bring back the Bird as a competitor to the Hummer EV.....
@mattt198654321 Жыл бұрын
Go home dad, you're drunk
@dave11686 Жыл бұрын
Boxbird!
@joeseeking3572 Жыл бұрын
The worst gen T-bird, period. Overblown Fairmont, and it drove like one too with the 200 cubic inch 6 - my god - and the base interior was a Futura analogue with different dash. An 80 with the 302, AOD and TRX (rare!) was probably slightly better than passable for the time, but you could get a Regal Turbo and have a better driving experience. (Heck the 79 Grand Prix SJ 301 4bbl with RTS was more entertaining - we had one) Many of these were optioned to baroque excess, sending stickers far north of the less bedazzled competition. Just blech. The base 83 was nothing to write home about but the Turbo Coupe was, and that (and the later 5.0) saved the 9th generation.
@manthony225 Жыл бұрын
The 83-88 was basically a Fairmont too but Ford did a better job of hiding it
@unitedcity_mc442111 ай бұрын
Nope. The worst generation of the T-Bird is the eleventh generation. It was basically a glorified two-door version of the Lincoln LS. This one, even though it doesn’t have the exact style of the previous generations, looks way better than that. Real period.
@brettcannon742 ай бұрын
Ford's dark years
@user-wz8qc6uy2uАй бұрын
20 second 1/4!!
@pdennis93 Жыл бұрын
🎶she'll have fun fun fun till her daddy takes the Fairmont bird away🎶
@Butchcub75 Жыл бұрын
no braking or 5.0 l v8
@joed12442 ай бұрын
My 80 had the 302..I guess the fuel wars were in full force and only offered up to the 4.2L
@Butchcub752 ай бұрын
@@joed1244 yeah CAFE regs..the 115 bhp V8
@Doobie1975 Жыл бұрын
The worst era of the T-Bird's IMO, sad they dropped the 302 for the 1982 model year.
@new2000car Жыл бұрын
At 15,000 it was too slow and too much money. The 302 would be some consolation though.
@mitch4527 Жыл бұрын
My friend had the 302 in his ‘80 Thunderbird. Meh.
@paulhudson231 Жыл бұрын
We had a 1980 with the 302 and AOD. Much better performance with the 302, plus it would get 26MPG at 65 when everything was tuned right. The 255 was a dog all around. The 302 only had 132 HP but 240 LbFt, so it was good for hole shots. Would easily beat most of its contemporaries up to about 30 MPH. Sold ours when it had right at 300K miles.
@1983jblack Жыл бұрын
I thought it was dropped in 1981 and made the 4.2 std across the board for the LTD as well
@nathanlopez5667 Жыл бұрын
No it got it back in 1982 and so did the Mustang
@braddietzmusic24293 ай бұрын
The 1957 Thunderbird had “major restyling” from the 1956 Thunderbird? With all due respect, I don’t think so.
@dmer-zy3rb11 ай бұрын
not as big of a styling success as the 77 bird (where is the damn basket handle roof?!) but still a mighty fine looking coupe for the time. exept the Dodge Mirada (which ironically looked alot more like a thunderbird) there wasnt really anything better looking left in the v8 luxury coupe market. shame about Fords "worst in the industry" engines during that time though. for the money i would have propably taken a mirada or the also quite handsome Plymouth Gran Fury sedan instead though.
@seanmcgivney7631 Жыл бұрын
" Fairmont "
@pl5624 Жыл бұрын
Save a fortune....get a fairmont futura with v8 and add in some mustang chassis parts...
@andrerossato5846 Жыл бұрын
Paul Kersey car
@dmer-zy3rb11 ай бұрын
true. saw that movie recently!
@BogattheMoon Жыл бұрын
Thunderbox
@joeyconservative11 ай бұрын
Rather have a Ford Futura with a stick
@sneakerfreak2002 Жыл бұрын
What a hot mess that exterior is. I like the interior though. Had an 81 years ago with the small v8 (4.2?) slow as molasses
@ljmorris6496 Жыл бұрын
The "real" T-Bird died after '71, after that it became a discount Mark IV ('72-76), then a luxury Torino ('77-79) before being a decked Fairmont ('80-87). '89-97 Were ok but wasn't a sports car like the original and the '02-06 just missed the mark by not having the Mustang's engine options at the time..
@sweetdaddy778 ай бұрын
I have a 76' and it truly is the poor man's Mark. 460 ci and all. In some ways I think the 72-76 T-Birds were better looking than the Mark. Rear end styling and the dash come to mind.
@brianhechinger67266 ай бұрын
Interesting looking body style from certain angles. Ugly up front when the headlight doors are open, looks unfinished. Overall crap car.
@mattt198654321 Жыл бұрын
When the usually patriotic John Davis is willing to criticize a domestic manufacturer, you KNOW it's a turd.
@milfordcivic67558 ай бұрын
Thunderbirds from 1967-1982 were some of the worst.
@teresapflaumer5717 Жыл бұрын
Ugh! NOT a good era for the Thunderbird, or any car!
@dave19567 ай бұрын
These were in my opinion the most forgettable Thunderbirds of all time.