The control layout was similar to another Ford, the European imported Merkur XR3i. Small improvements to the already well designed dash and its center console improved ergonomics. The changes inside were nearly as dramatic. The back continued with the two vertical lenses that revealed rounded tail lights, a nod to T-Birds of the 60’s. The most noticeable change was a new aerodynamic front end with a pointed almost steam engine like wedge that made the Thunderbird look aggressive and futuristic. The low wide nose would be todays pedestrian crash standard official’s worst nightmare. The automatic had 150 hp, the same as the V8 in the LX. In continuing the trend from the 83-86, cars equipped with a 5 speed manual transmission were more powerful. The Turbo Coupe’s 2.4 l was now bolstered with a new intercooler from the Mustang SVO, bringing power to 190hp, up from 155 in the 1986 model. The new look and improved performance better enabled the Thunderbird to fill its role as a European inspired performance coupe. The ninth generation Thunderbird would slowly evolve until a major reskinning in 1987. It even offered a manual transmission for the dwindling numbers who used it or a four speed automatic.
It was a completely different and un-American like take on performance at that time. The top performing Thunderbird, called the Turbo Coupe featured a 4 cylinder engine, much like the SVO Mustang with a rear wheel drive layout. The Tempo started the trend in the States, but the 83 T-Bird made it sexy and marked Ford’s arrival with a personal performance coupe that could hold its own with nearly any thing in its class from across the pond. Ford’s new sleek aerodynamic “ jellybean styling” was already taking Europe by storm. One of the most notable examples of true European Inspired performance was seen in the redesigned Ford Thunderbird of 1983. After a while it was no more distinctive a label as any other except for a few exceptions during the 80s. All of this came with the promise of performance, the Big Three’s perception of the European way – whatever that meant. Detroit’s collective inferiority complex usually manifested itself in the form of blackout trim, stripes and badges. That was probably the case in a lot of buyer’s minds as market share continued to erode from the late 70’s through the 80’s.
There was a time not long ago when the Big Three would tout cars as “European Inspired ” as if anything truly American was undesirable.
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