conceptcarz.com

1982 Ford Thunderbird

The Ford Thunderbird was downsized for the first time in 1977, before switching to the even more compact Fox platform in 1980 and carried the model through until completely redesigning it for 1983. 1982 was the final model year of what is known as the 'Eighth Generation' of styling, with the Thunderbird culminating in the luxurious Town Landau version.

The '8th Gen' Thunderbird's move to the compact Fox platform reflected the entire industry's adoption of smaller vehicle designs as fuel efficiency and emissions compliance continued to grow in popularity and necessity. Compared to the previous Torino-based Thunderbird, the 8th Gen Thunderbird had a 5.6-inches shorter wheelbase and lost 17.3-inches in overall length. Much of the squarish styling from the previous generation was retained but opted for the smaller car platform. A chrome metal frame replaced the previous frameless door glass, giving the car the appearance of a two-door sedan.

Power was sourced from the 4.2-liter Windsor V8 and backed by a C5 three-speed transmission with 2.26 rear gears. An optional 302 cubic-inch Windsor V8 backed by the AOD automatic overdrive transmission and 3.45 rear end gear provided 131 horsepower, a modest improvement over the base 4.2 Windsor. A six-cylinder 200 cubic inchThriftpower Six' engine, the first in the Thunderbird's history, became available in 1981. It was replaced the following year by a more modern 'Essex' V6 with a 3.8-liter displacement.

1982 Ford Thunderbird
The 1982 Ford Thunderbird was a two-door hardtop coupe with seating for four. 45,142 examples were produced and sold at a base price of $8,490. The 5-liter V8 was no longer available; the base engine was a six-cylinder 3.3-liter unit offering 87 horsepower at 3800 RPM and 141 lb-ft of torque at 1,400 RPM. It had overhead valves, a cast-iron block and head, an 8.6:1 compression ratio, seven main bearings, hydraulic valve lifters, and a one-barrel Holley carburetor. A 3.8 liter V6 was optional, delivering 122 horsepower at 3,400 RPM and 209 lb-ft of torque. The SelectShift transmission with the inline-six was given a new lockup torque converter.

The appearance was similar to the 1981 models, with the same large taillamps. The concealed headlamps continued to have a clear lens-like trim panel on each cover. These areas were all clear except for an amber section toward the wheel.

Changes to the Thunderbird included an increase in the fuel tank size from 18 to 21 gallons. Body styles on the Thunderbird included the base, Town Landau, and the Heritage model. Ford offered a new Tripminder computer which showed time, speed, elapsed time, distance traveled, average or present MPG, fuel used, and average speed.

The Town Landau model had a new luxury vinyl roof as standard equipment. The Thunderbird had a base price of $8,490 and $9,700 for the Landau. The total production of the 1982 Thunderbird was 45,142 units, a dramatic decrease from the 86,693 units built a year earlier. The all-new styling introduced for 1983 revitalized sales, increasing to 121,999 units.


By Daniel Vaughan | Oct 2013

Related Reading : Ford Thunderbird History

The Ford Thunderbird is an American automotive icon first introduced in 1955. During the early 1950s, military men were returning from fighting in World War II. In Europe, the style of the vehicle was very different from the Detroit American car. The graceful but sporty MG, Triumphs, and Jaguars, to name a few, had found their way into the hearts of many of these American soldiers. In the U.S.,....
Continue Reading >>

Recent Vehicle Additions

Performance and Specification Comparison

Price Comparison

1982 Thunderbird
$12,740-$162,550
1982 Ford Thunderbird Price Range: $8,495 - $12,740

Compare: Lower | Higher | Similar

Other 1982 Ford Models
$6,344 - $9,300

Thunderbird - Eighth generation

Specification Comparison by Year

Year
Production
Wheelbase
Engine
Prices
45,142
108.40 in.
6 cyl., 200.00 CID., 87.00hp
6 cyl., 232.00 CID., 112.00hp
8 cyl., 255.00 CID., 122.00hp
$8,495 - $12,740

Related Automotive News