What is the Ford Thunderbird?
The Thunderbird was Ford’s personal luxury car, a model that evolved over the years. The ninth and tenth generations were two-door coupes; the eleventh returned as a two-seat convertible, with styling that recalled earlier Thunderbirds. US figures span 1984 to 2005, with a gap between the tenth and eleventh generations.
Thunderbird generations
The ninth generation (1984–1988) used Ford’s Fox platform and brought a more aerodynamic shape. The tenth generation (1989–1997) moved to the MN12 platform and a rounded design. After a break, the eleventh generation (2002–2005) returned as a two-seat convertible, with design cues from the original Thunderbird.
Engines and power
US Thunderbirds had petrol engines from 2.3 L to 5.0 L. Canadian versions ranged from 3.8 L to 4.6 L.
How economical is the Ford Thunderbird?
The lowest listed US consumption is 11.2 L/100 km, and the best combined rating is 21 MPG under the EPA procedure. Canada’s lowest listed figure is 12.2 L/100 km under the NRCan 5-cycle test. These market results use different procedures: EPA testing in the US and the 5-cycle procedure in Canada. European figures use WLTP or NEDC.
Where was the Ford Thunderbird sold?
US figures cover 1984 to 2005, while Canadian figures cover 1995 to 2005. The listed range includes 47 US versions and 15 Canadian versions.
Questions and answers
Which Thunderbird generations are covered here?
The ninth generation ran from 1984 to 1988, the tenth from 1989 to 1997, and the eleventh from 2002 to 2005.
What was the Thunderbird’s body style?
The ninth and tenth generations were two-door coupes; the eleventh was a two-seat convertible.
What is the best listed combined EPA rating?
The best combined US EPA rating is 21 MPG.
How do US and Canadian consumption figures differ?
The lowest listed US figure is 11.2 L/100 km under EPA testing; Canada’s is 12.2 L/100 km under the NRCan 5-cycle procedure.
