Mach 1 Edition? 1988 Ford Thunderbird Turbo Coupe
Sitting in a garage lies this 1988 Ford Thunderbird Turbo Coupe with a 5 speed manual transmission and a reported 42,000 miles. The Turbo Coupe is said to be one of 500 special Mach 1 Editions of this run of Turbo Coupes. While there is no special badging or documentation, the seller says that a post on a Thunderbird forum told him that this was a Mach 1 Edition. Maybe you Thunderbird experts can sort this out but our understanding is that all Mach 1 Editions were red and came with a rear spoiler. This car is listed here on eBay with 1 day remaining in the auction. The car is currently bid to $11,300 and the reserve appears to have been met. The Thunderbird can be picked up upon completion of the sale in Franklin, Tennessee.
The interior looks stock and well taken care of for the most part. However, the center console shows quite a bit of wear which the seller optimistically suggests the buyer reupholster themselves. The seats are creased but not torn and the carpet and dash look like the car has been garaged all its life. The car is optioned with alloy wheels, Am/FM stereo with equalizer, programmable ride control, air conditioning, cruise control, power locks and power windows.
There were 147,243 Thunderbirds produced in 1988 but only a few of them were optioned as a Turbo Coupe. In 1987, the Turbo Coupe won Motor Trend’s car of the year and this model remained practically the same for 1988. If you ordered a 5 speed manual transmission, the 2.3 liter turbo engine was rated at 190 horsepower and was boosted up to 15 psi. If you ordered the automatic transmission, boost was turned down to 9 psi and the engine was rated at 150 horsepower. The car rode on 16 inch V rated performance tires and, in top form, could achieve 143 mph.
The paint looks excellent on this example and the seller states that there is no rust or corrosion except for surface rust on the undercarriage. My girlfriend in college had a Thunderbird and I remember how well they drove and handled. It was truly a well designed and executed personal luxury car.
Auctions Ending Soon
1981 Chevrolet Silverado K20 4X4Bid Now3 days$4,500
1963 Ford Country Squire WagonBid Now3 days$100
1989 Dodge Daytona ShelbyBid Now3 days$100
1991 Dodge Spirit R/TBid Now3 days$100
Comments
A buddy had an ’86 all black Turbo Coupe with a 5 spd. Absolutely beautiful car. Only problem with it was it tended to shut down when hot. Turned out to be a problem with a particular part being located under the hood where the contacts would no longer contact when heated up.
Best story was he had just moved to the San Francisco Bay Area, still having Kansas plates on the car. While driving over the Bay Bridge to S.F., in the middle lane, the car decides to shut down. Boy, you talk about verbal and visual abuse from the locals!
Yes, the TFI module was problematic when mounted on the distributor. In ’87 Ford remote mounted the modules on the fender with an aluminum heat sink to correct the issue.
I had a 1988 turbo coupe, bought as a kid, well, 21, never had a problem, and I put a lot of miles on it. I was an idiot for getting rid of it, it was amazing. The only thing I didn’t like back then, it didn’t have leather seats. A fully loaded, gold (no sunroof or leather seats, so I guess not fully loaded) beautiful t-bird. We’re so dumb when we’re young. The cars I’ve had as a kid for that cost nothing are a fortune today
Oh, on another note, the Turbo Coupe just couldn’t hang with my ’84 5 spd Supra. Close, but no cigar…
You should have been trying to make a living selling these sleds. Turbo fours just didn’t sell well for Ford. I went to a salesman demo program at Green Valley in Ft Worth and drove with Bob Bondurant. He kept saying punch it. I didn’t impress him much.
Looks like a very nice Turbo Coupe. I’ve always liked them, they were a well-executed model. I especially like the clean styling; I think they have aged well and still look today.
Mach 1 edition: That’s a new one on me. I’d be interested in learning details (e.g. was it a regional dealer promotion?).
I had a friend who worked for Ford in this era and he always had a different car to drive. We were going to dinner on night and he said let’s take this T-Bird you drive, naturally I was glad too, but he didn’t tell me anything about the car. He was waiting for my re-action, which didn’t take long. When he told me what it was , I wouldn’t believe him and pulled it over to look under the hood. Our wife’s thought we were crazy.
Very nice…have not heard of a Mach 1 edition. He states he has the Marti that proves it although no photo of it included in the listing…
Never heard of a Mach 1 edition either. Sounds fishy since it’s not a Mustang. This one looks great – always loved these cars too.
please read this https://www.volocars.com/auto-sales/vehicles/16150/1988-ford-thunderbird-turbo-coupe
I had a ’84 turbo coupe with a 5 speed back in ’88. It ran and handled great since it had theTRX handling package. It went through a couple of turbos and I finally upgraded to a turbo with a water cooled center section. I gave it to my son in high school. We swapped it a 5.0 with a 5 speed when he went to college. He drove for years finally giving it back to me for a winter car. It was getting tired and I sold it to some kid who wanted to turn it into a drag car. We drove it hard but it stood up to the abuse. Wish I could have kept it.
I worked at a Ford store back then and don’t remember a Mach I version. However, I do not remember the option name of this car. As not all Turbo Coupes came with the 16″ wheels, etc. In my book,these were ok, I preferred the SVOs (have one) BUT being in the service side of dealership. These were bullet proof. We never saw these for repairs. (The same can be said for the Mustangs, Capris, and Crown Vics.) Thank God, the Taurus, Tempo, Topaz and diesel trucks came in for repairs so that the parts and service people could make a living! lol)
I believe they also called it the Bill Elliott edition in red only
I personally prefer the LX front end. Nice looking TC though. The Mach 1 name on a T-Bird is new to me too.
They did make a Mach 1 Edition, the only thing that it seemed to add was a rear spolier and a sticker on the window. It was no faster or handing any different.
The paint code for Titanium Frost is 3Z.
Bright red is color code 21
499 bright red
510 titanium frost
1009 total Mach1s built
Those paint colors were only offered on the Mach 1, so it’s fairly easy to determine.
Researching this car it apparently has some ignition switch problems back in 1996 and 2002. In 2019 it was sold twice first time for $8900 second time for $15500, both at auction. According to a VIN search there are still two safety related problems open. As nice as this one is, and I’ve been looking for one myself, I’ll be passing on it.
once when looking for a new vehicle; I test drove a used one. Loved it but decided on a more conservative Cougar. As much as I loved the test drive, I think I would have gotten into a lot more trouble in the Tbird. That thing boogied
The turbo coupe was a gem. I had no problem beating SS monte Carlos. I did have the manual.
On the mach1 story?? What??? Lol
https://www.volocars.com/auto-sales/vehicles/16150/1988-ford-thunderbird-turbo-coupe
Is the car bid that high because of the low miles or because it is a 5 speed?
Any opinions?
The ultimate Pinto engine swap (2.3T) came out of this car + ranger roller cam.
Sounds like a local dealer special. That said, it is a cool car. I had an 88, it was a superb long hauler and handled quite well on the curvy back roads.
Honestly, if I won the lottery I would commission a build on one with a 3.5 Ecoboost.
Slow. Even back in the day. Drove a manual Turbo Coupe. Just unbelievably long turbo lag.
Get something with a V8 or a supercharged V6. Or, a new car.
Hmmmm, I used to beat SS Monte Carlos at a light, they were so frustrated. I had the manual, but also knew how to get it to launch well. Just so you do not assume….I never went through a clutch either.
I had the older 85 which I still think is better looking than the 87 on up.
Are they considered fast today? Heck no! Back then? A little. The key to the coolness of that car was the manual.
The chebby must have been a 6 cylinder version. I sold the birds and they wouldn’t get out of the way of an vega.
It was never meant to be a drag racer. These cars are grand touring cars that could eat long drives at speed. I know, because I took mine on some long trips and made good time lol. That said, it’s not terribly difficult to get 300 crank HP out of the 2.3, and there are guys out there putting down 400 to the wheels.
That “Pinto” engine was a durable engine once they had a good FI setup it became kind of cool. The problem was back then that the 5 liter was there and it was cheap. It you ever drove a SVO mustang then you would give that engine lots of credit. The Thunderbird with the manual was great! Something that Ford should have brought to the 02 on up Birds instead of delaying production like they are with the Bronco.
Did you know how to drive a manual? Most salesman didn’t.
A nice car that’s been well preserved. Hopefully it goes to a great home that continues to enjoy it and to take care of it. However, I’m a little confused on this whole Mach 1 business. It really sounds like a regional dealer promotion, which makes sense, but everyone knows how dealers love badges and there’s not a single Mach 1 badge or sticker anywhere?!
Never heard of a Mach 1 version. But there was a ground effects kit which I vaguely recall was offered by some dealers as an option. But they were obviously modified with a rear deck spoiler and and other stuff, didn’t look like a stock Turbo Coupe.
I currently own a 1988 Turbo Coupe with 47,000 on it. My wife gave it to me for my 60th birthday. I had one when we were dating and sold it for a Sable wagon that we could fill up with kids. The car was located in another state close to my brother. My wife asked him to inspect it. My brother took along a Ford mechanic friend who said after examination “if you don’t buy this car, I will.” The car is quick, comfortable, and nimble. At the last Cars and Coffee I attended it drew a fair amount of attention, especially with 20 somethings who never heard of it or saw one. There is no Ford badging on the exterior. There is no mention of a Mach 1 edition in the factory sales brochure, nor in any articles or literature that I either own or have read. That being said, I do not claim to be an expert. I can say that the TurboCoupe is a well balanced machine and consider myself lucky to have a wife like mine.
Classmate had 1 in high-school she got from her father. I always thought it looked cool and she drove it hard haha
So odd that nobody seems to have hard evidence that Mach 1 edition existed. Volo Museum says it’s on the sticker, then fails to produce the sticker. Someone provided production numbers, but no source. You guys almost have me believing in conspiracy theories.
There is a sticker I saw it online but couldn’t transfer the picture here if you do search this model you will find one for sale and in their pictures is the window sticker
I love this car and the comments but sadly this one sold already. It is near me too. I would have loved put an offer in but unfortunately I was too late. Good car and I hope the new owner enjoys it.
SOLD for $12,197.98.
The problem with the 2.3L turbo at the time, as mentioned, was when it was saddled with the auto trans, it was really a dog.
When I was looking for a Merkur XR4ti (Same engine), there were plenty of autos out there, so I test drove one – no thank you.
I wonder how many of these actually came with a manual?
I’ve got a 1987 5 speed in this exact color. 36000 miles. Mostly original. Never heard of the Mach 1 edition. I love it!!!! Really fun to drive!!! Quick, not fast and it handles great!!! These cars are really fast with a few mods!!! I can see this one has had the 3g alternator conversion. I’m in the process of doing mine.
I remember working on those cars when I worked at the dealer. No such thing as a Mach 1 edition from the factory. Must be B/S or some dealer add on.