1983 Ford Thunderbird Base from North America - Comments

When I got the car...

Heater Core (haven't fixed yet)

Slight radiator leak

Brakes

Major Tuneup

Hardly any rust, except on the bottom of the doors, which are pretty much shot. Look at any 80's Ford, they are all the same.

Since I got the car...

Power Windows. Both. One with-in a week of the other.

Somehow managed to break the turn-signal arm off.

This car was my friend's grandpa's. When he passed away, my friend nor his family had any use for the car. They offered to give it to me. This is not my primary vehicle, so I'm actually hoping on fixing it up. It has been a fun extra car.

This probably the most inefficient car I have ever seen. It is a pretty big car, but has no back seat room what so ever. It has a big V-6, but because of emission requirements in the early 80's, it has no power. It is very slow. Thanks to the big engine, it also gets lousy city mileage. It actually gets decent highway mileage, thanks to the lockout in the transmission. 25MPG highway, 15 MPG city.

The car does drive very nice. The ride is firm without being not comfortable. The steering is way too light, but is very direct and tight. The turning radius is awful. The actual handling is mediocre.

The interior is very modern for an '83. It is more modern and has better fit and finish than my much newer Grand Marquis. I wish it had more gauges. The seats are supportive and comfortable. Plenty of front legroom, but the car could use a little bit more headroom. Great center console, however I wish it had a cupholder.

The car has a style that is unmistakable Thunderbird. Even with the rust, everybody says how classy a car it is. The interior is just as fashionable. Maybe if Ford still build desirable cars, they would not be nearly bankrupt.

My car has the optional vent windows. These are great for smokers, but since the world hates smokers now, I don't think they will ever come back.

OK trunk space.

Overall, pretty darn reliable. I couldn't believe that after the car sat for three years, it never hesitates to start. The electrical things are minor considering how old the car is.

I had an '82 Thunderbird, and my experiences were similar to the posters, with the exception of those relating to the weak V-6. Mine had the 255 V-8, which, while a very weak V-8, was at least adequate for the car. I considered the car fairly small.

Once we drag raced it (we were teenagers back then in the early 1980's) against my friend's '77 Pontiac Grand Prix with a 301. I think we all found the Grand Prix a much more appealing car, but the Ford decisively beat it, probably due to being so much lighter and having fuel injection.