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Car Of The Day: October 21, 2009; Yat Ming '83 Ford Thunderbird Stock Car
Topic Started: Oct 21 2009, 03:23 AM (601 Views)
Swifty
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The Mustang II is a Mustang too!
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http://i836.photobucket.com/albums/zz281/COTD_swiftysgarage/2009/th_1021cotd1.jpg[/img][/url]

Today's car of the day is Yat Ming's 1983 Ford Thunderbird stock car.

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Wikipedia
 
The Thunderbird ("T-Bird"), is an automobile manufactured by the Ford Motor Company in the United States over thirteen model generations from 1955 through to 2005. When introduced, it created the market niche eventually known as the Personal Luxury Car.


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For more information and pictures of the real car please visit: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Thunderbird_(ninth_generation)

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The Thunderbird enjoyed record sales from 1977-1979 with the first of the downsized 'Birds. Unfortunately for Ford, they took a good thing and ruined it with the '80-'82 'Bird, which was downsized beyond recognition and now rolling on the same Fox platform as the Mustang...and Fairmont. While the '83-'88 T-Bird was still Fox based, at least it no longer looked like a Fairmont, and sales picked up dramatically.

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Wikipedia
 
1983 saw a much improved and aerodynamic car and the launch of the Turbo Coupe, and a much sportier image. Reputedly, in 1980 following a change in leadership, the new chief designer Jack Telnack was asked by executive Don Petersen "is this what you would want in your driveway?" Telnack's negative response prompted a redesign of the Thunderbird with the aero style that subsequently flowed on through the Taurus, Sierra and various Lincolns. In 1987, the Ford Thunderbird Turbo Coupe was redesigned and came with such notable features as automatic ride control, anti-lock brakes, and the intercooled turbocharged engine similar to that of the Ford Mustang SVO. All this resulted in a personal luxury car that produced 190 horsepower (140 kW) from a 2.3 L 4-cylinder engine and had a 143 mph (230 km/h) top speed.

The 1983 Ford Thunderbird was built on the same "Fox platform" as many other Ford products including the 1980-82 Thunderbird and the Ford Mustang. Unlike the previous generation T-Bird, the new-for-1983 model was redesigned with a more aerodynamic look. The drag coefficient of this body style was a mere 0.35. The 1983 T-Bird came in base, Heritage, and Turbo Coupe models. Both the base and the Heritage came standard with a 3.8 L (232 cu in) Essex V6 that produced 110 horsepower (82 kW) mated to a 3 speed automatic. A 4.9 L (302 cu in) Windsor 5.0 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 4-cylinder 2.3 L (~140 cu in) engine with Ford's EEC-IV electronic engine control system. Unlike the other models, the Turbo Coupe came with a standard 5-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 1984, the Thunderbird few changes were made. The Turbo Coupe gained a 3-speed automatic transmission as an option. A "FILA" model was available, which featured unique paint and wheel choices, as well as badging to provide the car a more European feel.

By 1985, the Turbo Coupe gained power to 155 horsepower (116 kW), and all models received a new interior. A 30th Anniversary Edition model was offered, that featured unique blue paint and stripes, and came very well loaded with options. It was loosely based on the Elan model and most models came with the V8. Minor changes were made in 1986, including 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 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. So for 1987, the body shell and interior were altered for improved aerodynamic performance. Replacing the Elan were new LX and Sport models. The latter came with the V8 while the LX came with the V6. The Turbo Coupe earned the honor of being the Motor Trend Car of the Year for 1987. The 2.3 L turbo-4 now included the air-to-air intercooler that was found in the Ford Mustang SVO and boosted power up to 190 horsepower (140 kW) for the 5-speed manual transmission. New for the Turbo Coupe was a 4-speed automatic, with which the engine was rated at 150 horsepower (110 kW). The automatic had detuned turbo boost of 9.5 psi (65 kPa or 0.65 bar) instead of 10 to 15 psi (70 to 100 kPa or 0.7 to 1 bar). Ford's rationale for that was "transmission durability". Otherwise, the Turbo Coupe also came with anti-lock 4-wheel disc brakes, Automatic Ride Control, and 16-inch 225/60VR performance tires. On the appearance side, the Turbo Coupe received a performance hood with operational dual hood scoops with air ducts to the intercooler. The Turbo Coupe also featured a performance-styled front valance with fog lights and special trim with "Turbo Coupe" badges on the doors, as well as "Snowflake" 16 inch alloy wheels.

1988, the final year for the Turbo Coupe, saw only a minor change. The 5-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 a 3.8 L supercharged V6 engine—a radical departure from the old turbo-4.


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Swifty
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The Mustang II is a Mustang too!
I'm trying something a little different today with thumbnails instead of the resized clickable pictures. Let me know if you prefer this format or the old way with images resized down to 500 pixels wide, linking to the full sized image.
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ErnestHughes
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Fullsize
I kinda prefer the old way. EH
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James
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Mr.Bowtie
ErnestHughes
Oct 21 2009, 04:15 AM
I kinda prefer the old way. EH
ditto
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craftymore
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Support your local demo derby.

I'd agree with Ernest and James, prefer the old way better.

This is one Yatming casting that I haven't seen. Not one of Ford's better tries through the years.
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Celica Baby
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Can you see what I'm saying?
The old way chews through storage space like crazy and before long we'll need another PB account *sigh*...but I am in agreement with all the others. The other way is MUCH better!

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james_autos
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Minivan
Old way, deffo.
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be77bt
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be77bt
*In Memory Of*
I am a oddball,I like the new way.
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ivantt
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New casting? Quick! Take it apart!
In the time I tried to download one small thumbnail, all the photos would be already there with the old way. It would be more difficult to flip back and forth between windows if you are commenting or comparing shots with the new way.
As a former programmer and analyst, I know the value of fast response and using as little storage space as possible, even temporary files. But I was a big believer in user ease and comfort before technical requirements.
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Celica Baby
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Can you see what I'm saying?
I have an old html code that might just work in this situation! It will allow a larger in post image like what we typically have, it will be clickable to make it bigger if a user wants, and it will take half the storage space! I'll dig it out and brush off the cobwebs....we'll see if it pleases the masses!

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JustDavid
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SUV
Gotta go with the majority here...old way= :D
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Swifty
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The Mustang II is a Mustang too!
ivantt
Oct 21 2009, 08:45 PM
But I was a big believer in user ease and comfort before technical requirements.
I feel the same way. But, at the same time, I'm never afraid to try something new in case people like it. And I'm never afraid to put it back the way it was when they don't! ;)

The Thunderbird's pics should be "normal" now. I apologize for the format change. I liked it better the old way too, so we're definitely going back to it effective immediately.
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ivantt
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New casting? Quick! Take it apart!
Sean, you didn't give Celica Baby a chance to show her compromise!! I'm surprised, considering how you've always allowed her to take good care of you!! :P
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Celica Baby
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Can you see what I'm saying?
ivantt
Oct 22 2009, 08:52 PM
Sean, you didn't give Celica Baby a chance to show her compromise!! I'm surprised, considering how you've always allowed her to take good care of you!! :P
He's waiting for me to go digging through the dusty parts of my hard drive in an attempt to locate the code. Between my unorganization and school work, it might be a little while.

I'm just not as *swift* as I used to be ;)
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ivantt
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New casting? Quick! Take it apart!
Oh, Lordy! Sorry for such a quick additional response, but I drove a black 1984 T-bird and it sure didn't look like thiis casting. Now that I can see the photos large like they used to be, I see this casting is as bad ad the others said. It looks like something Mattel created for their 35th Anniv. Race series on TV/DVD. :o
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ivantt
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New casting? Quick! Take it apart!
Celica Baby
Oct 22 2009, 08:57 PM
I'm just not as *swift* as I used to be ;)
Oooooh!! Rim shot and base thump! Was that a "shot??"
I love our people and the comments!!! :P
<<--------"I don't understand this. What are they talking about, Swifty??"
Edited by ivantt, Oct 22 2009, 09:02 PM.
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Swifty
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The Mustang II is a Mustang too!
ivantt
Oct 22 2009, 08:52 PM
Sean, you didn't give Celica Baby a chance to show her compromise!! I'm surprised, considering how you've always allowed her to take good care of you!! :P
Trust me- she takes very good care of me. :) And vice versa, for that matter! Someone has to watch out for her- she's always too busy watching out for others.
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Swifty
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The Mustang II is a Mustang too!
Since this post is on page two and the original post is on page one...the arrows are pointing to the cute blonde getting out of the Crossfire in Ivan's avatar and I'm responding to "her"...

ivantt
Oct 22 2009, 08:59 PM
<<--------"I don't understand this. What are they talking about, Swifty??"
Oh, if you come real close I'll whisper all the details...and maybe a few sweet nothings too. :D
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