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52-569: The National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 1966, establishing the NHTSA and federal motor vehicle safety standards; National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, which paved the way for the EPA and emissions controls; and the 1973 and 1979 oil crises all dealt significant blows to demand for American muscle cars , which became nearly extinct due to rising fuel and insurance costs and more strict safety and emissions controls imposed worldwide. As

104-621: A 3.8 L supercharged V6 engine — a radical departure from the old turbo four-cylinder. Two special editions were released in 1988: the Mach 1 Edition Turbo Coupe and the Bill Elliot Signature Edition . The Mach 1 Edition Turbo Coupe was produced in 500 examples and was available in bright red only with a rear spoiler, while a total of 50 Bill Elliot Signature Editions celebrated NASCAR driver Bill Elliot's racing efforts and featured red upper and silver lower paint,

156-677: A chassis with the Mercury Cougar (replacing the previous Cougar XR7, offered solely as a coupe), the Thunderbird was also a counterpart of the Continental/Lincoln Mark VII (1984-1992). The 4.9L V8 (5.0L, by Ford) made its return for 1983, coupled with the first (and only) four-cylinder Thunderbird. Powered by a variant of the Mustang SVO drivetrain, the 2.3-liter Thunderbird Turbo Coupe was developed as

208-597: A drought in Detroit. Not the irresponsible high performance of the muscle car era, but performance with fuel economy, brakes and handling." When tested by Road & Track, they noted: "The appeal of the car is in its balance, which transcends even the outstanding individual characteristics." and "This may be the best all-around car for the enthusiast driver ever produced by the U.S. industry." Autoweek concluded their assessment with: "All we can say after driving both [the BMW 320i and

260-601: A follow-up comparison report for PM , the magazine called it "a kind of modern-day Shelby Mustang GT-350 " but compared to the Mustang GT V8 that was included in the comparison, the SVO "delivers acceleration identical to the V8, 20 percent worse fuel economy and absolutely no low-speed torque" and concluded it was "unsuitable and dangerous on the street because the turbo power comes on so suddenly". The car that Ford had supplied for

312-442: A leather-wrapped tilt steering wheel, shift lever, and emergency brake handle, which were not normally found on small American coupes. Just six major options were available: air conditioning, a cassette tape player, power door locks and windows, a flip-up sun roof , and leather seat trim. However, an optional Competition Prep package (option code 41C) deleted many of those features to save approximately 100 lb (45 kg) from

364-497: A result, the "big three" automakers (Ford, General Motors , and Chrysler Corporation ), for whom muscle cars had been a steady and reliable source of income, began to suffer financially. Many of the vehicles of the muscle car era had been either completely discontinued or had been detuned to help keep them in compliance with new federal emissions regulations and the rising demand for better fuel economy. In 1970, Henry Ford II withdrew all manufacturer support for racing programs. During

416-510: A solid steel traction bar with a rubber cover), and the KONIs were used on the SVO before any other Mustang. Negstad tightened the shock valving in 1985 and again in 1986, noting "people assumed you were supposed to pay a little punishment for this love affair of driving this car. It can't be that comfortable!" Interior was only available in charcoal grey (leather or cloth) and standard features included adjustable sport seats with lumbar supports and

468-510: A traditional front grille, featuring functional hood scoops directed to the intercooler. In sharp contrast to the Thunderbirds of a decade before, chrome trim was used only sparingly; on Turbo Coupes, the only chrome trim on the entire car was the Thunderbird emblems and lettering. The model lineup was further changed; to bring the Thunderbird in line with other Ford models, the élan trim was dropped, replaced with LX and Sport versions. The LX

520-508: A way to boost sales, such as the 1986 Talladega T-Bird with the aforementioned features. Minor changes were made in 1986, including the addition of a center high mount stop lamp , and the deletion of the FILA edition. In 1986, Ford began work on the " MN12 " project which would serve as the basis for an all-new Thunderbird generation. Supposed to compete against the BMW 6-Series , Ford believed that

572-403: Is some ambiguity), dropping back to 200 horsepower (149 kW) for 1986. The vehicle's standard Borg-Warner T-5 five-speed manual transmission was updated in 1985, receiving revised gearing to match the new 3:73 rear end ratio. In addition to the advanced engine, the SVO featured several key modifications over the standard Mustang to help increase performance. The front suspension geometry

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624-671: The Ford Probe instead in 1988. Initial schedules had called for the SVO Special Mustang to be introduced as a 1982 1 ⁄ 2 model, but the confusion that resulted from the (temporary) cancellation of Fox platform Mustangs delayed the introduction of the Mustang SVO to a 1983 press event in northern California 's Napa and Sonoma counties . That event included track time at the Sears Point Raceway . With Ford continuing to make year-to-year decisions about

676-467: The MN12 platform . Sales of the 1980 Thunderbird decreased sharply in comparison to its 1977–1979 predecessor, despite being a more fuel-efficient vehicle. As the 1970s turned into the 1980s, personal luxury cars gradually became more sporting in image, with vehicles like the BMW 6-Series increasing in popularity. In 1980, Ford President Donald Petersen asked Ford Vice President of Design Jack Telnack of

728-453: The 1970s, although the Mustang continued in production , its performance and image had suffered greatly; diminished power output and Ford's inability to come up with an attractive body style in the post-fastback era were major issues. Ford began to make a major push forward with the newly introduced Fox platform Mustang in 1979; by 1982, Ford had nearly completely reinvented every aspect of

780-505: The 1980 Thunderbird: "is this what you would want in your driveway?" . Telnack's negative response prompted the company to request the Thunderbird to be restyled completely. The Continental Concept 90 Aero Luxury Car proposal was designed in the Lincoln-Mercury Studio which Mr. Petersen liked. Dave Royer was assigned the task of putting a design similar to that on the Thunderbird package. He and Master Modeler Sam Borg put

832-484: The 1983 to 1988 model years. In response to the sales downturn of the 1980–1982 Thunderbird , the model line underwent one of its most substantial redesigns for the 1983 model year. While the Thunderbird remained as a personal luxury coupe (to minimize overlap with the Ford Mustang ), Ford transitioned its role, emphasizing performance and handling over outright luxury and comfort content. As a design leader for Ford,

884-412: The 1984 model, but regulations would not allow them to be used until the mid-1985 update. The pinstriped taillights introduced on the SVO were later reused on the 1993 Cobra model , as well. Only four colors were available for 1984: black, silver (metallic), red ("Medium Canyon Red"), and dark grey ("Dark Charcoal Metallic"). With the standard 3.45:1 rear axle, acceleration of the 1984 1 ⁄ 2 SVO

936-559: The American scene to put together the finest we have in the way of a smaller-displacement, higher-revving turbocharged kind of touring car". At the same time, Ford had been working with Mazda to develop a proposed replacement for the Mustang, making plans to discontinue the Fox platform-based Mustangs, but enthusiasts protested and the joint Ford/Mazda sporty car was introduced eventually as

988-475: The EPA City driving cycle. The EPA highway estimate was 32 mpg ‑US (7.4 L/100 km; 38 mpg ‑imp ). According to Daniel Charles Ross of PM, "The total effect of the SVO reworking of the Mustang is a successful one, in looks and equipment. ... The vehicle's race car-like handling characteristics allow very little roll in hard cornering ... It's definitely a nice piece of work." In

1040-489: The Mustang GT/Capri RS was also rated at 175 at 4200, but had more torque at 245 lb⋅ft (332 N⋅m) at 2400 in 1984. Compared with the V8, the 2.3L SVO engine was 150 lb (68 kg) lighter. In 1985, 5.0 H.O. horsepower increased to 210 while horsepower for Mustang SVO remained at 175. Horsepower increased to 200 (some sources indicate 205) for the 1985.5 edition, which saw many vital improvements. It

1092-497: The Mustang SVO] is, 'No contest.' and 'Congratulations, SVO'." Motor Trend said "Bold in concept and intelligent in execution." Car and Driver said "When you strap it on, it feels right." and "This is an important vehicle, a harbinger of things to come." [REDACTED] Media related to Ford Mustang SVO at Wikimedia Commons National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act Too Many Requests If you report this error to

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1144-643: The Mustang), specially designed pedals were used to aid heel-and-toe shifting and a six-shock KONI suspension system featuring specially tuned adjustable front struts, rear shocks, and horizontal rear dampers replaced the setup used on the Mustang GT. The KONI shocks had settings for "cross country" (front and rear), "GT" (front only), and "competition" (front and rear); the lateral rear shocks served to eliminate axle hop . Five-lug, 16 × 7-inch aluminum wheels with P225-50R16 tires were standard, as well; originally

1196-553: The SVO was fitted with German Goodyear NCT tires, which were changed later to Goodyear Eagle "Gatorback" tires; Chevrolet had signed an agreement with Goodyear for the Gatorback to be fitted exclusively in 1984 to the Corvette (C4) , a competitor whose handling and performance was attributed to the tires. The ventilated rear disc brakes, the five-lug hubs, the 16-inch (406 mm) wheels, the quad-shock rear end (early 84 units used

1248-595: The Thunderbird emblem (which were both significantly updated), no styling cues were carried over. As a necessity to control development costs, the 1983 Thunderbird was forced to retain its Fox-platform chassis, including some of the interior being carried over slightly modified from the previous generation. In the style of the Ford Probe concept cars and the 1982 Ford Sierra , the Thunderbird was designed for aerodynamic efficiency alongside its looks, with many of its body panels having rounded edges and its doors wrapping into

1300-474: The Turbo Coupe. From 1985, Georgia-based dealership Bill Elliot Ford started producing special dealer packages for the Thunderbird which consisted of a ground effects body kit, rear spoiler, gold body stripes and gold-coloured honeycomb alloy wheels. Although not owned by famed race driver Bill Elliot , the dealership wore his name and produced the cars in honor of his contemporary achievements in racing as

1352-565: The Wikimedia System Administrators, please include the details below. Request from 172.68.168.226 via cp1108 cp1108, Varnish XID 229098935 Upstream caches: cp1108 int Error: 429, Too Many Requests at Thu, 28 Nov 2024 08:49:31 GMT Ford Thunderbird (ninth generation) The ninth generation of the Ford Thunderbird is a personal luxury coupe that was manufactured and marketed by Ford for

1404-581: The base and the Heritage came standard with a 3.8 L (232 cu in) Essex V6 that was rated at 110 horsepower (82 kW) mated to a three-speed automatic transmission . A 5.0 L (302 cu in) Windsor V8 with 140 horsepower (100 kW) was available with the former two models as well. The Turbo Coupe, the top-of-the-line model was special for several reasons. It used a turbocharged 2.3 L (140 cu in) four-cylinder engine with Ford's EEC-IV electronic engine control system. Unlike

1456-409: The clay model together in a very short period of time. Caldwell approved it and Royer then developed it further in the wind tunnel. Many members of design management thought it was a mistake; one high level design management person referred to it as a "Burnt Tennis Shoe." To give the car a more contemporary image, the body was completely redesigned from the ground up. Aside from the egg-crate grille and

1508-431: The comparison had shaved tire treads to enhance performance, so PM tested another example later, writing "the ride is really excellent for a sports car ... with 30 hp less than the Mustang GT V8, and much less weight in the nose, the SVO handles a lot better, too"; although there were several nuisances related to seating position and controls, PM concluded the Mustang SVO was "a commitment to high performance after so long

1560-437: The computer-controlled system limited boost pressure to 10 psi (69 kPa) below 2,500 RPM, rising to 14 psi (97 kPa) at faster engine speeds with premium fuel. A factory-installed Hurst shifter was made standard to improve feel and quickness. With fine tuning and the addition of a new water-cooling system, power output rose to 200 or 205 horsepower (153 kW) for the 439 1985 1 ⁄ 2 SVOs (there

1612-447: The curb weight; only 123 such examples were built (40 in 1985 and 83 in 1986). The speedometer carried labels for speeds up to 85 mph (137 km/h), but had unlabeled rulings out to 140 mph (230 km/h) to comply with federal regulations. The exterior had a unique front grille and hood that was only used on the SVO line; the front end was designed to accept both sealed beam headlamps and forthcoming aerodynamic lamps, and

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1664-415: The discontinuation of the Fox platform Mustang, the SVO was seen as both a potential celebratory edition and a bridge to future turbocharged performance vehicles. List price for the 1984 1 ⁄ 2 Mustang SVO was US$ 15,585 (equivalent to $ 46,000 in 2023) when it hit dealerships in mid-April 1984, more than double the price of a base Mustang. The Mustang GT was US$ 6,000 cheaper. By 1986, Ford again

1716-590: The doors, as well as "Snowflake" 16 inch alloy wheels. The Thunderbird Turbo Coupe was named the Motor Trend Car of the Year for 1987. 1988, the final year for the Turbo Coupe, saw only minor changes. The five-speed manual transmission now allowed the full 15 psi of boost in all forward gears (as opposed to excluding the first two gears). The Turbo Coupe was replaced in 1989 by the Super Coupe which had

1768-586: The highest-performance version of the model line for the entire generation. As with its predecessor, the ninth-generation Ford Thunderbird was produced in Atlanta Assembly and Lorain Assembly (in Hapeville, Georgia , and Lorain, Ohio , respectively). For the 1989 model year, this generation was replaced by the tenth-generation Ford Thunderbird , as the model line shifted from the Fox platform to

1820-484: The hood had a functional scoop for the intercooler . In addition, the Mustang SVO had thinner side moldings, smoother sail panels behind the rear quarter windows, small rear wheel spats, and a biplane spoiler that was also unique to the SVO. The coefficient of drag was 0.39, dropping slightly to 0.38 (0.37 per Ford) with the new aerodynamic lights fitted to the 1985 1 ⁄ 2 . The new "aero" headlights fitted to 1985 1 ⁄ 2 and 1986 models had been designed for

1872-421: The interest of transmission durability; turbocharger boost was reduced to 9.5 psi (65 kPa or 0.65 bar) instead of 10-15 psi (70 to 100 kPa or 0.7 to 1 bar). Turbo Coupes were equipped with anti-lock disc brakes on all wheels, Automatic Ride Control, and 16-inch 225/60VR performance tires. The Turbo Coupe also featured a performance-styled front valance with fog lights and special trim with "Turbo Coupe" badges on

1924-511: The new Thunderbird would be too big a change for the public and still wanted to capitalize on the success that the existing generation of Thunderbirds had brought. For the 1987 model year, the exterior of the Thunderbird was updated to further improve its aerodynamic performance. The headlights were changed from sealed-beam units to flush-mounted composite units and the rear quarter glass was also flush-mounted. Thunderbird Turbo Coupes were distinguished by their own front bodywork, which did away with

1976-551: The ninth-generation Thunderbird marked the introduction of highly aerodynamic body design for Ford vehicles in North America (reducing its drag coefficient from 0.50 to 0.35), followed by the 1984 Ford Mustang SVO and Ford Tempo and the 1986 Ford Aerostar and Ford Taurus . Sharing the Ford Fox platform with the previous generation, the 1983 Thunderbird adopted a shortened 104.2-inch (2,647 mm) wheelbase. Sharing

2028-586: The other models, the Turbo Coupe came with a standard five-speed manual transmission . Other improvements included a limited-slip differential (called "Traction-Lok"), larger tires and wheels, and a sportier interior complete with analog gauges. For the 1984 model year, few changes were made. The Turbo Coupe gained a three-speed automatic transmission as an option. A Fila model was introduced, which featured two-tone white and gray paint with red and blue pinstriping, white leather interior, and wheel choices, as well as Fila logo badges. The mid-range Heritage model

2080-546: The production 5.0 liter Windsor V-8 fitted in the Mustang GT in favor of a detuned version of the turbocharged 2.3 liter Lima inline four racing engine used in the IMSA Mustang GTP. The base engines were originally used in the Pinto and Ford Mustang II . The four-cylinder engine was chosen over the V8 because SVO wanted a high tech solution and, in order to get the handling dynamic right, they had to transform

2132-435: The public came to know them as simply SVO (S-V-O). SVO was led by Michael Kranefuss , who had previously headed the racing arm of Ford of Europe as director of motorsports, starting from 1972. SVO was expected to develop a limited-production passenger car, ostensibly to transfer the team's racing success to the streets, but ultimately also to help fund its operations with added revenue. Tasked with developing something that

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2184-463: The quarter-mile performance was 15.8 seconds at 90.1 mph (145.0 km/h). That performance improved to 15.0 seconds at 94 mph (151 km/h) in 1985 with the 3.73:1 axle. Observed fuel economy during a 10-way comparison test at Lime Rock Park was 11.2 mpg ‑US (21.0 L/100 km; 13.5 mpg ‑imp ), compared to an advertised 17 mpg ‑US (14 L/100 km; 20 mpg ‑imp ) under

2236-418: The roof. In extreme contrast to its predecessors of the late 1970s, the 1983 Thunderbird was designed to minimize the use of chrome trim; some trim levels limited it exclusively to the wheels. The car was launched on February 17, 1982. Following its redesign for the 1983 model year, the Thunderbird was available in base, Heritage , or Turbo Coupe , which was the most expensive performance-oriented model. Both

2288-485: The vehicle, which included putting a new emphasis on the model's sporty nature. Just prior to this, in late 1979, Ford decided to form a division that could oversee both the company's racing program and the production of limited-edition, high-performance, street-legal vehicles based on or taking technology from the race vehicles. Officially, the division was called the Special Vehicle Operations , but

2340-508: The weight distribution of the platform. The engine was installed perpendicular to, and behind the front axle. Fitted with a Garrett AiResearch T03 turbo, Ford's new state-of-the-art EEC-IV controlled fuel injection system, it also broke new ground with first air-to-air intercooler used domestically. At an unheard of (at the time) 14 psi boost, it developed 175 hp (130 kW) at 4400 rpm and torque of 210 lb⋅ft (280 N⋅m) at 3000 rpm. The larger High Output 5.0L V8 in

2392-420: Was 0–60 mph (0–97 km/h) in 7.5 seconds, covering the 1 ⁄ 4  mi (0.40 km) in 15.5 seconds with a trap speed of 90 mph (140 km/h). An example tested by Popular Science accelerated to 60 mph (97 km/h) in 11.2 seconds, carrying the driver, a passenger, and approximately 30 lb (14 kg) of test equipment. As tested by Popular Mechanics (PM),

2444-400: Was both plainly American and competent enough to compete with entry-level European sports cars of the day, the team began tuning the Mustang, deeming it the most obvious basis for a high-performance vehicle. The engineering team working on the new Mustang SVO was led by Glen Lyall; Bob Negstad handled chassis development. Ford President Donald Petersen called it "our most definitive effort on

2496-567: Was considering dropping the Fox platform Mustang in favor of the Probe, so SVO shifted their attention to Project GN34 and what would become the 1987 Ford Thunderbird Turbo Coupe (nicknamed the "Aerobird"). Total Mustang SVO production was 9,844, with most sold the first year: 4,508 (1984), 1,954 (1985), and 3,382 (1986). Despite what many think, the selection of a small displacement turbocharged and intercooled powerplant had nothing to do with fuel consumption and emissions. SVO engineers opted to forgo

2548-608: Was equipped with the V6 while the Sport was equipped with the V8. Turbo Coupes gained an intercooler, essentially giving the car the powertrain of the Mustang SVO . Models with the five-speed manual were given a power increase to 190 hp (142 kW), making them capable of attaining a top speed of 143 mph (230 km/h). Models with the four-speed automatic transmission (new for 1987) were detuned to 150 hp (112 kW) in

2600-405: Was essentially the car SVO wanted to build from the outset. 1986 was mostly carryover for the SVO, while the 1986 5.0 also made 200 horsepower after transitioning from Holley carburation to electronic fuel injection. In addition, a "fuel grade" switch was added to the dash, allowing the driver to adjust the vehicle's spark advance depending on whether premium or standard grade fuel was being used;

2652-518: Was modified, 15:1 ratio power-assisted rack-and-pinion steering system replaced the standard system, a limited-slip , 3.45:1, 7.5" Traction-Lok rear axle was added for the first year of production (later models used a 3.73:1 ratio, 7.5" axle), a new, ventilated four-wheel-disc braking system (sourced from Fox platform cousin Continental Mark VII ) replaced the GT's disc/drum setup (a first for

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2704-553: Was renamed élan . For 1985, the Thunderbird celebrated its 30th year in the Ford model lineup; a 30th Anniversary Edition model was offered, that featured unique blue paint and stripes, and came loaded with options. It was loosely based on the élan trim and most examples were equipped with the 5.0-liter V8. All Thunderbirds received an updated interior with a redesigned instrument panel. The grille and taillamps were also revised. Engine output rating increased to 155 hp (116 kW) for

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