FORD Thunderbird 1989-1997 Photos, engines & full specs

Designed to compete against the finest luxury German coupes on the market, the 1989 Ford Thunderbird was an underrated vehicle.

After the car was born, there were huge controversies in the Ford Motor Company, which led to the retirement of Anthony Kuchta, the man behind the project. The car exceeded its target price and its weight. All of a sudden, the T-Bird was the black sheep of the family who didn't get the much-needed lunch-money (advertising), and it didn't get the sales it deserved.

Just by looking at it, it was considered a good competitor for the BMW 6-series. It was a true, 4-seat coupe. On the hood, it featured the Thunderbird badge and a pair of slim, horizontal headlights. A grille on the lower side of the bumper plus two air-intakes right under the hood kept the engine cool. Unusual for those times, its rear wheels were placed behind the C-pillar and made the car look more advanced than its competitors.

Perhaps it was the interior that spoiled the car. The high, adjustable bolsters on the sport seats didn't look that good. At least, the center stack was right, with a logical layout for the stereo and the air-conditioning unit. In the back, there was room enough for two adult passengers. But the bland design was under the exterior's look.

Ford offered the Thunderbird with a choice of V6 and V8 engines. The V6 supercharged, also known as the SC, was one of the best from its series. It was available with a 5-speed manual from Mazda and could keep-up with the most important German sport luxury coupes. Unlike most of its American competitors, it featured an independent rear suspension, which added comfort for the big vehicle.