The Thunderbird and Cougar from this era got a bad reputation, partially due to the fallout from the grossly boring previous generation, and partially due to the fact that nine-out-of-ten of them came in the bland, sports-luxury grandmother trim. Photo from ppgpacecars.com
April 23, 2023
Did they hook up well and go? Not really, certainly not in stock street trim, but they could do great burnouts. Were they light? You bet, lots of them were under 3000 pounds. They came factory-equipped with the more-than-capable 5.0 litre V8, and a lot of them had three pedals, an option that seemed incredibly rare in the Camaro and the Corvette at that time.
A newer model GT with the right parts could actually look really good, as well. Remember how cool Vanilla Ice was? Maybe, maybe not, but he did have a sweet white 5.0 litre ragtop. Nowadays, you never see these cars. They were affordable enough to get bagged into the ground by young people, and they were also rusty. Sure, there are a few left out there, but they are very few, it seems. I also never see many of the Cougars and the Thunderbirds that were built on the same platform, and even though most of them sucked, the 1983 PPG Pace Car is an example of just how cool they could be.
When the new Thunderbird came out in 1983, it was a drastic change from the previous generation. It was sleek, sporty, and right up to date with the rest of the world. Jack Roush worked on this car, converting it into something more powerful, while the Ford Design Staff directed by Gary Fisher and Gram Bell handled the conversion to the aerodynamic, stylish machine that you see before you. Updated front fascia with tinted headlight covers, side skirts, and a moulded spoiler with a HUGE taillight panel featuring integrated dual exhaust rounded out the exterior. Iridescent white paint and aluminum wheels finish off the package.
Under the hood, in my opinion, is a total bummer. It has over 400 horsepower, but that comes at the cost of a heavy, heat-puking 390 V8. I’ve never been a huge 390 fan, but at the time, that was probably the easiest way to achieve that power. Nowadays, the 302 can make big power thanks to major advancements in the aftermarket, not to mention I’ve always thought the 302 Ford is one of the best-sounding engines of all time. The 390 is backed by a five-speed manual and a Dana 44 differential packed with 4.10 gears. Would it hook? Being a pace car, it really didn’t have to, and being a Fox Body, it would actually be a whole lot more fun if it didn’t. Does it still exist? You bet; it’s on display in the Jack Roush Museum today, as far as I know.
For the record, the Vanilla Ice 5.0 still exists, too, and he still owns it.
