For you V8 Bums, I mean guys

T1Bird

Registered User
For those of you with blower Envy, looks like all your whinning has finally pulled through,,

WKA2003010245213_pv.jpg
 
Jason,

Help me out here... WTF am I looking at???

Is that a new T-Bird with a supercharged 3.9L V8? Now, if Ford has decided to offer that coupled to a six speed manual transmission, then I better start liquidating all my toys and spare parts now, because I don't care if I have to get another mortgage, I MUST HAVE ONE!!!

Excuse me, but I need to go take a cold shower now!!! :D

Cheers,

Sean
 
Ford Motor Company today introduced a Supercharged Thunderbird concept car as a possible future addition to its Living Legends line of automobiles. The 2003 Los Angeles Auto Show debut signals the influence of the newly established Ford Performance Group (FPG).

The supercharged Ford Thunderbird concept is powered by a 3.9-liter 390 horsepower supercharged V-8 engine. It was designed to gauge consumer interest in a performance-tuned version of Ford's iconic two-seat sports roadster. The Supercharged Thunderbird concept was a joint development of Ford's Living Legends Design Studio and the FPG as a potential addition to FPG's future product portfolio.

"The Supercharged Ford Thunderbird concept combines America's ultimate dream car with an enthusiast's ultimate dream engine under the hood," says Mike Zevalkink, Ford Motor Company executive director, Ford Performance Group. "Thunderbird offered us an excellent basis to leverage product excitement even further with our performance expertise."

Ford's supercharged Thunderbird concept is joined on the company's 2003 LA Auto Show display by two other customized Thunderbird cars. The Thunderbird Chip Foose edition, first shown at the 2002 SEMA Show, features a "cut-down" speedster windscreen, custom interior and other major restyling modifications. The Thunderbird Roy Brizio edition, also shown at the 2002 SEMA Show, includes unique front, side and rear styling enhancements in a dark green metallic paint color.

Plentiful Power

With 390 horsepower on tap, the Ford Thunderbird 3.9-liter supercharged V-8 engine transforms the vehicle's character from a grand touring car into a performance-minded sports roadster. The supercharger setup offers peak horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 390 foot pounds of peak torque at 3,500 rpm, giving the Thunderbird concept car impressive power and acceleration capabilities.

Ford's powertrain engineers began the supercharged concept's transformation with a stock 3.9-liter DOHC modular V-8 engine from the standard Thunderbird. Then, all-new aluminum headers were fitted along with a Roots type supercharger to provide the necessary thrust.

"Achieving 390 horsepower from a relatively modest 3.9 liters is a testament to this engine's efficient use of technology," says Dave Szczupak, Ford Motor Company vice president, Powertrain Operations. "The raw power of this most powerful Thunderbird ever is intoxicating to sample, but our designers have made the Supercharged Ford Thunderbird just as exciting visually as it is to drive."

The design team, working in concert with the FPG, gave the supercharged Thunderbird concept an equally appealing underhood appearance to match its powerful exterior design. Details like a polished high-flow intake pipe and Gloss Red cam covers with carbon fiber coil covers accentuate the engine design. The 'Thunderbird' script is inscribed across the cam covers.

A carbon fiber radiator cover housing integral supercharger air filters completes the display.

Powerful Design

The production Thunderbird is bold, confident and free, with classic design cues translated into a contemporary design language. The Supercharged Thunderbird concept design is more aggressive, refined and powerful, entirely in concert with the powerplant under its hood.

Designers at the Ford Living Legends design studio massaged nearly every body panel on the concept vehicle to provide just the right visual presence for Ford's most powerful Thunderbird ever. The hood, front fenders and front and rear bumpers are unique, as are the seat and trim materials in the interior.

An all-new power dome hood provides visual differentiation and functional engine cooling for the supercharged engine. Chrome was liberally applied to the 16 forward-facing surfaces on the hood's twin air extractors, with the engine's Gloss Red cam covers visible through slots in the louvers.

A new, more prominent grille is finished in the same chrome as the hood's twin air extractor louvers. Air intakes have been placed in the grille openings used for driving lights on the production Thunderbird. Chromed air intakes also grace each front fender, but are larger in size than the production vehicle, with all-new, cut-down rear view mirrors in color-keyed housings.

Reworked front and rear bumpers complement the one-inch lower suspension, while 18-inch tires on custom, 16-spoke aluminum wheels anchor the vehicle to the road, both visually and functionally. A lockable, two-piece hard tonneau cover conceals the soft, black convertible top underneath.

At the rear, twin exhaust ports exit on either side of the license plate surround, seamlessly integrated into the rear bumper. Rear backup lamps have been moved from the taillights and now reside directly above the exhausts, inset into the license plate housing.

The exterior, painted cool Machine Silver, complements the Supercharged Thunderbird concept's all-leather, chamois-tinted interior. The Supercharged Thunderbird concept also features generous use of polished and brushed chrome on horizontal ribs surrounding the interior, while the center stack is adorned with Machine Silver inserts
 
OMFG!!!

I've gotta see this car!!! Any chance we could convince Ford to include it in the display at Carlisle PA this year?! ...Please, please, please?!

...If ever a T-Bird was to be worthy of the title "Super Coupe" again, it's this one!!! ...390 HP and 390 Torque?! Isn't that what the '03 SVT Cobra does with 4.6L of displacement???

OK, time for a reality check! What's this thing going to be worth if they ever really do market it?!

Regards,

Sean
 
70k us, just for you bud, more pics to drool over..
WKA2003010245157_pv.jpg

112-021127_bonspeedfront_l.jpg

salaeen version

for more pics go here and put in Thunderbird for interior pictures, doesnt look to be a stick but i know the salaeen has a 6 speed like the SVT cobra does.
Thunderbird SC 2003

WKA2003010245059_pv.jpg

WKA2003010244836_pv.jpg
 
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LMFAO Bill lol, but id still like to see the details on the engine, what blower it is/setup its going to be at the autoshow this year at the international center I for one will be going for sure, maybe a club outting the the international autoshow? yes no? i know my uncle takes his corvette club there..
 
Depending on availability from work, you guys can count me in this year!

I have regrets about not going this past year.

Best regards,

Sean
 
That is an awesome T-bird, makes my SC feel strangely inadequate, kinda like trailer trash. If it's going to be at the
car show I'm in too.

Edit: Don't get me wrong I still love my trailer trash.
 
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