2002 Ford Thunderbird

Description

SUMMARY

• 1-owner car that's logged only 17,361 miles
• 3.9 liter AJ35 V8
• 5-speed automatic transmission
• Equipped with the optional Full Interior Color Accent Package
• Sale includes the car's original Performance White hardtop
• Sale includes an original dealer invoice, an original window sticker and an original Odometer Disclosure Statement
• Power steering
• 4-wheel power disc brakes / ABS
• 8-inch rear axle / 3.58 gears
• 17-inch chrome wheels

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Two cars literally defined the newfound freedom of the 1950s: the Chevrolet Corvette and the Ford Thunderbird. Eventually Chevrolet took their Corvette to the racetrack, while Ford continued to turn their Thunderbird into the ultimate boulevard king. Now, over sixty years later, Corvettes are regarded as some of the best curve carvers in the world, and Thunderbirds, like this 17K-mile stunner, are still turning heads on Main Street. If you looked at a brand new Thunderbird in 1955 but couldn't swing it, and looked again in 2002 but the timing just wasn't right, 2015 is your year! That's right; we have a pristine 2002 Thunderbird that's so nice it could've rolled out of the factory yesterday! So, if you're still looking to hit the road in refined style, the third time's a charm!

BODYWORK/TRIM

Ford's sensational Thunderbird sprang to life as a 1955 halo car that fired imaginations and eventually became a legend. In 1999, Dearborn's favorite son decided it would honor that original by building a new model to turn just as many heads. And, within three years, the convertible you see here, affectionately dubbed the 'retrobird', was rolling through production. This pristine drop-top's long body has obviously been pampered and exceptionally cared for as its slick Thunderbird Blue 2-stage looks just as good now as the day it rolled off the truck. And, from its great fit to its blemish-free panels, this Ford is definitely one of the nicest factory cruisers on the planet!

As one of the most enduring 'retro' designs ever created, the car's J Mays-penned fuselage looks fantastic from virtually any angle. At the front of that fuselage, a bright chrome grille hangs small driving lights below clear, combination headlamps and a teal-inlayed Thunderbird emblem. Behind that emblem, a composite hood centers a traditional Thunderbird scoop in front of tinted factory glass that sports a stylish chrome frame. At the top of that frame, a Performance White hardtop latches down over a standard Haartz soft top to perfectly mimic Ford's original, 1955 dual-roof system. Below those roofs, chrome ventiports ride inside re-imagined fender lines that lead the eye through body-matched mirrors to rear mounted “Thunderbird” scripts. And, behind those scripts, a contoured Center High Mount Stop Lamp illuminates a second teal-inlayed Thunderbird emblem, clear, combination taillights, a chrome-trimmed tag recess and stylish stainless exhaust tips.

ENGINE

When Ford debuted the eleventh generation Thunderbird it introduced a car that was faithful to the original concept in virtually every way. Power for this classy cruiser comes from a 3.9 liter, 32-valve DOHC V8 that was developed by former captive subsidiary Jaguar. Code named AJ35, the Ford-specific mill utilizes variable valve timing, fracture-split and forged rods, 1-piece, cast camshafts and a reinforced, composite intake to twist 280 smooth horses into 286 lb./ft. of stout torque. More of a 'comfortable cruiser' than 'flat-out sports car', the 'retrobird' never pretended to be a Corvette or Porsche competitor. That said; 0-60 comes at a very respectable seven seconds, and the car's silky powerplant delivers enough grunt to provide fun and responsive driving characteristics. Aesthetically, the entire engine is hidden under an attractive plastic shroud which substitutes a classic “Thunderbird” script and silver “V8” branding for traditional views of its componentry. However, you can still plainly see how well everything has been maintained and, with a turn of the key, the cylinders settle into a restrained hum of power.

DRIVETRAIN/SUSPENSION

In the late 1990s and early 2000s Ford developed one global rear wheel drive platform, codenamed DEW, that was set to underpin everything from select Jaguars to the fifth generation Mustang. Those competent roots supply this awesome Thunderbird with a sophisticated independent suspension, which utilizes a host of weight saving technology to provide a smooth ride and composed road manners. Behind the aluminum engine, a 5-speed automatic transmission sends power to a fresh Ford rear end that's fitted with beefy 3.58 gears. At the corners of the chassis, 4-wheel disc brakes, which are aided by standard antilock and traction control systems, ride behind chrome, 17-inch wheels and sticky Michelin Pilots. All that world-class engineering results in a sturdy convertible that translates relaxed sportiness into an excellent combination of cushy comfort and tight handling. And when you throw your favorite road at this drop-top, it'll chew it up, spit it out and coddle you in the kind of luxury vintage T-bird owners merely dream of experiencing.

INTERIOR

Ford began the 21st century by producing some of the most impressive and detail-oriented interiors to ever hit the market. And the 2-tone cockpit in this roadster, equipped with an optional Full Interior Color Accent Package, has to be one of their best designs. The driver and passenger are treated to power leather seats, which are branded with small Thunderbird emblems. Below those seats, day-one-fresh carpet is protected by color-keyed floor mats and bordered by cool “Ford Thunderbird” sill plates. Above those sills, winged door panels hang slick metal trim behind controls for both power windows and power door locks. In front of those panels, a highly detailed dash anchors Turquoise-tipped needles between satin-faced gauges, a 6-disc CD changer and attractive metal trim. At the base of that dash, a great looking console centers dual-zone climate control on a Thunderbird Blue shift knob and sculpted waterfall back panel. In front of the driver, a 2-tone wheel spins a pristine, teal-inlayed emblem around a tilting and telescoping column. And behind the passengers, a fully finished trunk features enough luggage room for a quick weekend getaway.

HISTORICAL INFORMATION

According to the original window sticker that accompanies this T-bird's sale, it was fitted with the following standard and optional equipment:

STANDARD EQUIPMENT INCLUDED AT NO EXTRA CHARGE:

• 3.9 liter 32-valve DOHC V8
• Dual exhaust system that's complete with bright tips
• 5-speed automatic transmission that's equipped with overdrive
• 4-wheel independent suspension
• 18-gallon fuel tank
• Automatic headlamps
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• Power retractable top
• Chromed cast aluminum wheels
• P235/50VR17 all-season, black sidewall tires
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• Power Nudo Leather seats
• Center console that's complete with both storage and a leather armrest
• Dual electronic auto temperature control
• AM/FM stereo that's complete with an in-dash, 6-disc CD changer
• Power tilting and telescoping steering wheel
• Variable-assist power steering
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• Dual front and side airbags
• 4-wheel ventilated disc brake system that's equipped with ABS
• All speed traction control
• Perimeter anti-theft system

OPTIONAL EQUIPMENT:

• Performance White removable top ($00)
• Supplemental parking lamps ($00)
• Full Interior Color Accent Package ($800)

STANDARD MANUFACTURER'S SUGGESTED RETAIL PRICE: $38,640

TOTAL OPTIONS: $800

DESTINATION CHARGE: $555

TOTAL MANUFACTURER'S SUGGESTED RETAIL PRICE: $39,995

DELIVERED TO: Keeter Motors Inc. of Shelby, North Carolina

OUR SALE INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING DOCUMENTATION AND ACCESSORIES

• Original Ford dealer allocation paperwork
• An original dealer invoice
• The aforementioned window sticker
• An original Odometer Disclosure Statement
• An original Ford Motor Credit Agreement To Provide Insurance
• An original 30-day registration
• A maintenance receipt
• A stand for the car's hardtop
• An extra set of floor mats
• An extra key and fob

If there's one phrase that describes this awesome blue Thunderbird, it would be “luxury sport”. It may sound a little cliché, but it's true. Like their predecessors, these cars have built a legacy of cruising, seeing, being seen and looking fantastic. Just imagine sitting down in the car's comfy leather seats, firing up its throaty V8 and chasing the sun down your favorite two-lane black top. It doesn't get much better than that!