27k Mile Time Capsule: 1987 Ford Thunderbird LX
800 miles a year isn’t a lot of time behind the wheel, especially when it’s spent in as comfortable of a road trip car as this 1987 Ford Thunderbird LX is. This red jewel has only racked up a bit more than 27,000 miles over the decades and it looks basically like new. The seller has it posted here on craigslist in Somerset, California and they’re asking $6,500.
This is a ninth-generation Thunderbird and the seller makes a point of saying that this car isn’t a Turbo Coupe. That’s the Thunderbird that gets all of the love from this era. Well, not all of the love, just 99% of it. This is an LX model which was the base model for 1987 and they all came with a V6 engine. The next in line was the Sports Coupe which came with a V8. The famous Turbo Coupe had basically the same drivetrain as a Mustang SVO and they’re what all the hubbub is about, Bub.
That doesn’t mean that there’s anything wrong with a Thunderbird LX at all, they’re all nice cars. It’s like doting on your WNBA star daughter or your Gold Glove-winning son over your other child who likes to read and gets a 4.0 GPA every semester in college. You just love them all as you should, it’s really that simple. Sure, you brag about your star athlete kids at parties but when it comes time to get the job done over the long haul and do it under the radar, you choose Einstein Jr. In case you got lost there, Einstein Jr. = Thunderbird LX.
The interior looks basically like new both front and rear and it’s almost as if Ford stylists wanted to make everything as sleek and unadorned as possible inside. There aren’t any clunky protruding switches or expanses of chrome or fake wood, just a smooth and simple but nice place to spend 27,000 miles over a 34-year period of time. Call me crazy, but I think that’s just good design.
The underside looks good, but look at that engine compartment! It has the usual mess of hoses and snaking tubes and wires, but it’s as clean as can be. It looks like the end product of a ChrisFix engine-detailing video. This is Ford’s 3.8L V6 which would have had 120 horsepower and 205 ft-lb of torque. The seller is the second owner of this beautiful car and they say that it works great, the AC is cold, and it has a new battery and new tires. Have any of you owned a ninth-generation Thunderbird?
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Comments
Like Scotty says, this is a very clean and attractive design, and while the Turbo Coupe gets the attention, nothing wrong with the basic LX. It looks to have had good care. An inexpensive way to get into the hobby with a low-stress cruiser. Maybe dress it up with a tire and wheel package, and just enjoy it.
These T-Birds and their Mercury cousins the Cougar were good looking cars and were very popular in the ’80s and ’90s; it seems you saw them everywhere back then. This very clean ‘Bird would make for a nice everyday driver at an affordable price. The red interior is a little overpowering but that was the style back then. Other than that, there’s a lot to like about this one. Up here in the Northeast they’re mostly all gone now, it’s rare to see one anymore.
The one you don’t see is the sport coupe
Had full council with floor shifter auto.
quad shocks GT suspension
I had an 1988 white with red interior and 5.0 with a few tricks it would beet the pants off a Turbo
Always have liked this style.A very good price for such a low mile daily driver. If I was in the market for an everyday car, I would be taking a road trip. Rather have the v6 instead of the turbocharged pinto motor. Nice car , comfortable ride.
I saw one like this on the local craigslist about a week ago.
It appeared to be in really nice shape,& they were asking $2100
for it.It was gone in about one day.
I love the 87-88 T-Birds! Great memories of riding to football practice in HS in a black one just like this. The digital speedometer was frequently maxed out. It’s the car I always wanted, but never got. Especially with the 5.0.
I just piced up a 94 with a 4.6 with 52thousand on it for 1500 clean car
The LX was the luxury model. There was a base Thunderbird below it in the lineup. Both were available with the V8. The Sport was equipped much like the base model but had the V8 and other performance items standard.
This… Looks freaking beautiful. No, it’s not a big money car, but give it some really nice wheels and tires, perhaps re rim the steering wheel to something less plastic-ey, drop in a Bluetooth stereo, and you’ve gone a really special tourer that going to be unique. I’m more of a GM fan, but this blue oval could capture my heart!
I bought a n `87 in `89 with the 5 liter real multipoint fuel injection….first thing I did was get rid of that ugly license plate holder on the front and slap some fancy ARE 5 spoke wheels with the 60 series tires to match the Turbo T-bird stance. Loved and drove it 280,000 miles . Handled like a bigger Mustang with those wheels and upgraded shocks. Loved that thing …still running good when i sold after driving it every day for 13 years
First I want to say I had the opportunity to visit Barn Finds office in Boise several years ago and the guys couldn’t have been nicer. After a tour they sent me off with some cool stuff. I am now going to be the proud owner of this low mileage T-Bird. I worked the deal tonight and will be flying out next week from TN to pick her up. I couldn’t be more excited. Scott, the owner, is a swell guy and I couldn’t be happier with this purchase. I plan to make a few changes to her but will keep her as close to original as possible. Thanks Barn Finds for helping me find one of my teenage years favorite cars.
Todd
I hope you have as much fun as I did with mine back in the 90s
Thanks Dale!