2003 Ford Thunderbird

The Eleventh Generation of the 'Thunderbird' was the latest in a line that possesses one of the richest histories of any automobile sold in America. Introduced in 1955, the car evolved into a luxury sports coupe, and over the years the emphasis shifted back and forth between luxury and sport. The previous generation 'T'Bird' debuted in the model year 1989 but was discontinued after the 1997 model year. When Ford decided to resurrect the 'Thunderbird' nameplate, designers studied the original 'T'Birds' of the 1950's. They took great care to incorporate classic styling cues, such as the hood scoop, round headlights, egg-create grille, and porthole windows, in a modern design. The current model is a version of the concept car from auto shows in 1999 and 2000.

The Thunderbird name returned to the Ford lineup in 2002 after a five-year hiatus. It was a two-passenger convertible/removable hardtop configuration that bore a strong resemblance to the first-generation Thunderbird.

The eleventh generation was built on the Ford DEW platform that it shared with the Jaguar S-Type and XF, and the Lincoln LS. The exterior styling was unique, however, the instrument panel, some trim pieces, and steering wheel were sourced from the Lincoln LS. The only engine offered was the Jaguar-designed AJ-30 3.9-liter dual overhead camshaft V8, with a shorter (85mm) stroke than the Jaguar AJ-26 4.-liter V8. The engine was backed by Ford's 5R55N 5-speed automatic transmission, and a manual shift feature became available in 2003 called SelectShift. Also in 2003, the AJ-30 V8 was replaced by the AJ-35 engine, bringing with it electronic throttle control (ETC) and variable valve timing. Horsepower rose from 252 hp to 280 hp.

By Daniel Vaughan | Jul 2014