I was lucky enough to have owned two of these ‘89’s. Both 5 speeds. Loved them. The car had an incredible 3rd gear range and could jump from 40-90 in a few heartbeats. OG sleeper for sure.
Man, the quality of your videos is just insane. Definitely on my top 10 favorite car channels now. Please never stop doing them with this format and narrative!
@@atomicautomobile8537 +1 been waiting on more Toyota models and everything else, your videos are like definitive views on a car. I hate when people don't take a stance, it's cowardly
@@atomicautomobile8537you're what regular car reviews should have been and should be, if you continue making these quality videos there's no way you won't rise to the top, respected alongside channels like Car Care Nut & savagegeese
Love the review. Just so happen to have owned 4 SCs over the years. Couldn’t help but but modify 2. 1 of them to the tone of over 500 hp. With the sacrifice of about 8-10 mpg. From a 15 sec 1/4 mile car to a high 11 sec @ 115 mph. Still have this one. I always thing about how good it was stock compared to other cars of its day. I have to agree with your statements it was a precursor to the cars on the toad today with its technology
Hey, I'm Mike. I had an 89 5 Speed SC, a 90 35th Anniversary Auto SC, and a 93 5 speed that I built up for drag and autocross work, squeezing over 400rwhp out of the 3.8.
(former) '89 SC 5 speed midnight blue owner here: I bought it in '95 with 46K miles. It was the first "nice" car I ever owned after getting my 1st job out of college. I wanted a Mustang, but at 6'3" I just couldn't fit & be comfortable driving (headroom issues). Then I saw this one for sale & fell in love immediately. Bat outta hell in 1st, chirped in 2nd gear. Best part was because the SC badging was so subtle, no one realized the beast under the hood. I had to sell it in 2002 @ 126K miles because I was starting a family, but it remained my favorite car I ever owned up until my most recent purchase of a 2017 Lincoln MKZ 3.0 AWD in 2019.
I had a 1990 SuperCoupe that I bought new. It was in this car's color of 'Light Titanium', with "Light Titanium' leather interior. The full power bucket seats in these things were the best I have ever seen to this day. Great driving car, and real pretty.
Just took my '90 35th Anniversary out today. 15.5K miles and it still runs like the day I first took possesion of it. 100% original except for the windshield which a stone took out last year. I like my 'Bird far more than my 2017 Mustang GT with performance package. The S/C rules!
Loved the video and subscribed to the channel. However, as an owner of 3 of these, I have some background and some comments. I think first of all, it’s good to separate the parts of the review that are about that specific car vs. the car itself. I think a lot of the things you point are specific to that car (and so are very valid for how that car was treated in its 33 year life). I had a 90 and a 91 (in those years) and then in 2021 and 2022 I had 2 successive 1995’s. The one I have now has 92k miles and is my daily driver. It’s unmodified and other than it having an automatic (my first in my life), I love it. All the comments about the power band and the handling are right on. It’s also a little noisy at times tho Houston doesn’t seem to want to pave / repair its streets, so, I think every vintage car (or every car) is going to suffer. As for the things about the marketing / purpose, I have a different perspective. I was a Ford rep in 89-91 and had to wholesale these (get dealers to order them) in the middle of a very rough and very deep recession. It was already a stretch for a customer to walk into a Ford dealership thinking they were going to pay $24k in 1990 for anything on the lot. My dealers, save the big city performance oriented ones, didn’t have a Rolodex (lol) of this kind of customer and therefore struggled selling them / finding a market. Especially during the crisis-y “what orders are we going to get to keep the plants open this week?” kind of atmosphere. I do agree they were meant to create an affordable 6-series and I do agree the platform should have been used for other things. I respect how the team fought and won (unlike the team that lost IRS for the mustang 2005 refresh) - even though the car came in over price point and over weight. I agree that folks didn’t understand the supercharger … but this was also the era of “complicated things just break” leading folks to “understand” the V8 better. (My 2011 335i was in the shop literally every month once it hit 40k). You’re right about the V8 killing the SC, but, it was really the price point. In an effort to climb out of the recession and get plant production volume back up, Ford did a $13,999 TBird LX with a V8 and every option under the sun included (that were options then). This was a hot seller at a hot price point. if memory serves, there was also a way to get the cladding on the LX (or maybe some of my savvier dealers were doing that aftermarket … was a long time ago). The last (lol) thing I’d add is a reminder that there was a mid-cycle refresh in 1994 that kept the look / cowling / engine choices but greatly improved nagging issues (track seatbelts > airbags, odd ABS to more reliable, electronic automatic trans, supercharger improvements, etc). This is my favorite gen for these changes (tho sometimes I long for the 1st gen dash). I agree that the second refresh in 96 made it too rounded in the nose and too generic - but there was a step in the middle there worth mentioning.
This is far and away the best obscure automobile review I have ever listened to, complete with outstanding injections of humor and analogies that are spot on. The fact that I own one of these cars makes it even more fantastic and he is spot on 100% of the time
Thanks a ton for the video. I inherited a 1990 35th anniversary SC from my brother who recently passed. After watching this video I now have a greater understanding and appreciation for the "MN12". I also get why my brother put his heart and soul into this car.
I have to say I do enjoy how much detail you went into about the car! Even explaining things about how the design team failed to meet their weight targets and cost targets. Personally, I grew up in a '97, so it will always hold a special place for me. I drive a '96 model that I have been restoring over time and just driving these cars makes me really appreciate the fact that they exist.
Removing foam from the rockers prevented later rockers from rusting out as often. The foam would break down and hold water instead of just allowing it to drain.
I had this exact car, yr, color, 5spd. Only mine had the stock wheels and black interior. LOVED that care, wish I still had it or could find another one in decent condition.
I remember a print ad for the early SC’s in the car magazines of the day: a handsome young middle age couple in a silver model, hugging the shoulders of a curvy road, peering at the night sky through the sunroof, with the tag line “Ever bet the moon you could race it to a corner?” They were clearly going for the people shopping BMW 3 Series coupes and sporty 5 series sedans.
I had my first SC new and I was 22. It was the black and Titanium 35th anniversary edition with black wheels and a "Ford Blue" tape stripe. the car was also a 5-speed. It did not look like something only middle-aged people would be attracted to and I am the proof. It was, at least in the 35th paint and graphics, a pretty hot looking performance coupe, and the daily driver I owned the longest. Just bought one again last fall as...yes...my daily driver.
Notice my avatar. See I did the best of both worlds. I always knew the MN12 was the right canvas so I supercharged the 4.6L (and intetcooled) in my ‘95 LX. Eventually I broke a piston ring land so I swapped in a 2000 Mustang GT engine (PI heads and cams) and reinstalled the Allen Engine Development supercharger which used an Eaton M90S. Tuned by the best, Jerry Wroblewski. It made 325 RWHP and 380 RWTQ. With street tires it would run low 13’s in the 1/4 mile with a best of 12.79 @ 109 mph. I loved that car. It was sold in 2006 and last I heard from the new owner it was running as of 2010. It’s a shame what happened to the MN12 but you are 100% right it was a kamikaze mission from Ford right from the start.
I have owned them since '98. Never really looked on here for such videos yet here I am. I'm currently owning 2x91s to 91s to I said I'm currently owning one 1995 MTX SC. 2 91s 1, ATX,1 MTX. Rust free and one has 48k on the clock. Runs and drives.
Another great video, man...and I'm happy (and relieved) to see you're still at it. The content is great, but your delivery is equally important.; "Mr. Regular" from Regular Cars could take some serious lessons from you. Keep up the awesome work and, as always, I can wait to see what's next.
I love my 1990 SC. I agree with the commenter who said those noises aren't normal; they're not. Has my car had issues? Sure. That being said, I wouldn't trade it for anything. In fact, I'm doing a high performance restomod on my 90, and I'm looking to buy a second SC to keep stock as a cruiser.
I bought a '94 COUGAR XR7 from my Mom in '05. It was a comfortable car, but I agree with you as far as the interior quality goes. The seating position felt like a cockpit to my stout chassis (about 250lbs on my 5'9" frame) with all the controls within easy reach. Unfortunately, the automatic shifter broke, and the whole airbag assembly fell off the steering wheel. It doesn't help that I had a family to support, and didn't have the $$ to fix those things correctly.
Awesome work, Atomic Automobile. In 2019 I bought a third-generation 4Runner in large part due to your review of one. Each time a new video comes out, I set aside some time to watch because it's always a quality production. How many other people would go to the junkyard just to prove a point about Ford's cost-cutting? This channel is the best.
As much as i like these, id still take an 87-88 tbird turbocoupe, super easy to tune even without a proper dyno tune or chip, advance timing to 14 degrees BTDC on the distributor, get a manual boost controller and up it to 18-20psi depending on whether you have a front mount intercooler or stock topmount and an adjustable fuel pressure regulator plus 3 inch turboback exhaust and delete the EGR and PCV bs and route the pcv lines to pre turbo to make a cheap dry sump effect of having better vacuum in the head and crankcase to improve ring seal and not have any front or rear main seal oil leaks which is super common in boosted cars...wanna get crazier then just get the slightly bigger T3 from the merkur or stang SVO....then you fall down the rabbit hole of upgraded Cam, ported heads, ported intake, ported exhaust manifold etc then you gotta upgrade to a bigger T3 turbo like a t3/t4 hybrid or a gtx2867 or gtx3071 because the stock warner ishi or og garrett t3 would spool super quick before 2000rpm lol...dont go too big and street driveability with 300-400hp with 3.55 or even taller 3.27 gears if you swap those in will still feel great
Comments from a young pup. 😂 Obviously this car has seen a lot of ware and is not representative of what it was like when new. These in their original form were as quiet as an empty church and silky smooth, looking at the dash you can see the aging from the sun. Materials break down and loved old cars are normally cared for. In its day this was a very lovely car. I'd love to have a Super Coup and a garage to use to bring it back to new.
Goes to proof that when we are set on our own ways we occasionally miss an opportunity to experience something new much advanced and different, same thing happened with the First ever “EcoBoost “ the 4 cylinder OHC 2.3 used in 1983-1986 SVO Mustang, that engine and that car was a killer car that got missed out due to the 80’s V8 loyal customer that fail to see the modernistic possibilities a small more economical engine could’ve offer back then , great information this video offers about first factory supercharged car offer wow amazing the pioneer that paved the way for the F-15O lightning
What a great video. Your writing and execution are great! How you are getting me jazzed up about this T bird. I would guess since this is 2 years old you drove up market value for the 100 of them out there, right? I was going to ask if you had heard of the grand national, early version of the 2800 supercharged, which may have been something they were wanting to compete with. Started about 78 but it wasn't until 84 it had fuel injection and really was a thing. I always saw the thunderbird as a homologation like car because they were using it in Nascar for the body style. Was very much the same for GM, and most of the fans that know about them were racing fans in the 80s. Brand loyalty was a lot more die hard back then too. Bill Elliot was the man and was setting records in his thunderbirds. So not really too sure about how well they did or didn't do. I didn't like them much though, but yeah it is amazing how ahead of its time it was. All of the things I admire about cars as I learned more for sure. With all the available awesome vehicles out there and looks like a nice one up for 10k on FB market, hard to justify getting one even now. Rough one for 5k close. Hmmm....
I still own my 95SC. Auto trans ordered in early 1995. The review was good but based on the experience of a 30 year old car. My 95 suffered from none of the quality issues mentioned. The stock 95 engine also had a flat HP curve and made way more than the advertised 330 lb-ft tq. I dynoed mine and still have the print out some where
I absolutely love these cars and platforms. My favorite years are 89-93. No airbags, much more interesting dash, automatic motorized seat belts, and digital clusters on the LS and LX. We had a brand new 90 Cougar LS and it was such an impressive car at the time. Beautiful design, elegant, surprisingly agile for it's size...just loved it. My ideal Cougar or Thunderbird would be a last year 93 - 5.0 car with digital cluster.
I bought one new in 1990 and swear that the car was faster than the magazines said it was. My wife drove it and said that no matter how fast you were going, the car always seemed to have more. I have had many cars since then, but none have matched the sheer felling of power. Wish I had a new one now.
I owned one, a 1992. Maybe my most beloved car ever. Had an insane amount of toque down low, lots of room and a nice, smooth ride. It did, however, essentially fall apart, even though at the time it really wasn't that old or had that many miles. Service bills were killing me. Most people had no idea what the car was at the time or how fast they were.
Now looking into those 1989 Thunderbird I can clearly see the relationship and resemblances with 1988-1997 Australian Ford Falcon especially the 96-97 EF ( 1988-94 EA - ED , 1996-97 EF ) very very related like twin brothers that doesn’t look exactly the same but still related ! I love detailed information, great reviews man . South Australia 🇦🇺
I love the style of the 1996 and 1997s. 1996 was the last year for full gauges. In 1997 the gauges were reduced, and new cup holders were introduced. I just bought a 1997 Mercury Cougar 30th Anniversary edition, a car I have wanted since 1997!
Nice video however, all the noises you describe while driving this Supercoupe are NOT normal. My Supercoupe made noises over bumps while driving when I 1st got it to acouple years ago. It's expected for a 30+ year old car. Now that I have replaiced all the bushings and steering components, it makes no noises and super smooth. Ive had afew of these Supercoupes. If you haven't owned 1, its 1 of those things that you'll never know how fun they really are to drive.
I second this ! I purchased one of these a 91 SC at about 90,000 mi and drove it to 280,000 mi and the only replacement parts the engine ever needed was a water pump and belts. It was an absolute beast to drive and the mileage was not awful at all. I did a lot of highway trips and frequently got between 24 and 27 miles per gallon. I operated mine on a steady diet of E10 90 octane back then, which the forced nduction loved ! The quality issues pointed out in this car were definitely not prevalent on mine ! This reviewer isn't old enough to have drove one " back in the day " - this early build is not the same as how most of them were, back then. A lot of the negatives he points out on this unit we're not prevalent on these new units after the first model year... I owned one and worked as a tech at a Ford dealer - I am certain of this !
My sister bought a new one in 89, not a super coupe, but it was a good car. She handed it down to her oldest son and then it got head gaskets and the salt belt was taking its toll. He then went on to a 5.0 V-8 sport, a 5spd manual Super Coupe and now has a 5.0 he put a turbo on. A friend also has a automatic Super Coupe he has owned for many years, but the salt has taken a toll on that one now too! Im not sure what his plans are for it. But i knew they were something special even after i drove my sisters non SC model. I always liked the earlier models best too. And I also though the Super Coupes were impressive the way they drove and the continuous pull pretty much all the way to the top. I have never owned one but would like too! 👍
A few things. The Thunderbird SC wasn't where the supercharged revolution began, it was a Toyota MR2 with an intercooled Aisin charger. The biggest expense on the SC was the stupid brake booster which was an issue on all those with that chassis. It was something stupid like $5k. The MN12 chassis was better than the Fox chassis. When you jacked up an MN12 to work on the brakes the whole side of the car would eventually lift. A Fox chassis just flexed. Port the output on the charger. Get rid of the horrible exhaust with 90 degree bends and overdrive the charger. Replace the mass air sensor while you are at it. Noticeably more power and torque.
I grew up a Mopar guy and owned a 75 Cordoba early on but bought a new 90 Super Coupe. Mine was the Titanium Silver but with a gray cloth interior and 4sp Auto. Definitely advanced for its time, compared to most American cars. Good performance and handling for its day, roomy and comfortable, and loaded with features. However it had a few flaws. Significant understeer in the dry that became snap oversteer in the wet, and horrible NVH when revving out the SC 3.8 V6. Mine also had electrical gremlins that 3 different dealers failed to solved. I traded it in a year for a 1991 Mitsubishi 3000GT VR-4, another heavy tech marvel of the time. Bottom line, I did enjoy the car for the brief period I owned it. PS, before buying the 3000GT, I drove a 91 Acura Legend Coupe. Much more refined but lacking performance compared to the TBird SC and nearly 50% more cost when fully equipped.
the sound of thunderbird and burnt tire is ingrained in my brain from my father as a child. so much so i stole the damn thing when i was 14! My dad gave me the car when i was 17 and i got the same shenanigans he preformed for me as a little kid. THESE THINGS SWING!
I always thought these were FWD it wasn't until I worked as a porter for a honda dealership that I found out they were actually a v8 RWD setup, one of the service advisors owned a green one that was absolutely mint, this was around 2018 so I'm fairly confident he still owns it, he liked the car a whole lot, and the more he talked to me about it the more I liked it. I'd love one of my own but frankly they're getting hard to get, and they aren't as cheap as I'd expected.
Extremely well researched and produced video. I always loved the way these cars looked. I agree that the later models really ruined it, particularly the 96-97 front end. I was also never a fan of the later interior design, despite most liking it more. I think these were great driving cars too for what they were. The foxbody was just so crude in comparison. Personally I prefer the base LX suspension a bit more, since it has a smoother ride (and as such, less aggravation of the chassis flex), but still with good handling due to the stock fat sway bars front and rear. These love to eat ball joints and bushings though so you've always got to stay up on that stuff or they tend to start feeling kinda iffy. I've never been really into sporty cars myself but these were always one of the few "sporty" cars that appealed to me. I've always wanted to own one of these cars myself (particularly a 1989 model), but finding one that hasn't rusted away up in Michigan where I live is challenging, and only grows more challenging as the years go by. These cars were pretty bad rusters in their day, though still not nearly as bad as something like the Taurus.
I have the 94, and 95 40th anniversary edition. 94 Green/Green Velour 4 wheel disc brakes and 95 Blue/Grey and Grey Velour. 40th Anniversary Edition. Both 4.6L My preference is the later version.
This was one of my favorite cars growing up and I'd still like to own one today. Your comment about there being only one car on the market in 1989 with a longer wheelbase however is wrong. The Town Car, LTD Crown Vic/Grand Marquis, Brougham, GM full-size wagons, 4-door Fleetwood, Caprice and the 735/750iL all had more inches between their axles than the Thunderbird. The XJ tied it at 113. Also a variant of the MN-12 platform was used for the Lincoln Mark VIII, the MN-10. I whole-heartedly agree with you though that Ford should have developed a nice rear drive 4-door or two off this platform. Perhaps something sportier than a Taurus-based Continental. The engineers really poured their heart and soul into this car, too bad management didn't share their passion. Thanks for the trip down memory lane. I miss seeing the boost needle oscillate from boost to vac.
This was a granular dive into what was possibly one of the best cars America ever made and then Ford hated it. The 89 won car of the year and well deserved. I'm sure they lost money on it. Lots of goodies
I love mine. Had it for maybe a month, but it's such a joy to drive. Has torque right when you want it. 89000mi, original, 30yrs after it rolled out of the factory
What a fine video, coming from such a smaller channel. Thank you for this video. I’m super excited to get my grandfathers 1990 sc running. He has an 89 sc too, but the interior is ruined.
I owned a 93 SC from 2000-2005. One day at a car show I got to talking to someone about it and I mentioned it had IRS. The guy says "do you even know what IRS is?" I say independant Rear Suspension. He says my car doesn't have it. I say it does. He argues with me. I finally said "if you're so sure, crawl under there abd look." He goes "wow, it does have IRS". I felt like saying "no shit sherlock!"
I own a 97 thunderbird with a 4.6 .it has 140 thousand miles. Who ever owned it before me really took good care of it the oil is like new great dependable car's
I owned a 1996 t-bird with pearl white with the sun gloss affect factory from Ford. Leather seats and the v6 motor naturally aspirated I knew of the SC coupe model but never could get my hands on it here in Atlanta…..
The fox T-bird has a lot of differences between it and the mustang. The Thunderbird was a bit better all around, other than curb weight. Have owned both and this is a great video on the MN-12 chassis.
This car is very fun to drive - drives like a go-kart. Had two of them. I liked them so much. It has a weak automatic transmission though which doesn't like high speed driving and the brakes are ridiculously undersized.
Wow, you're in ATL? I'm about 20 miles south! First car was a '93 LX with the shitty 3.8L, second was a '97 4.6L. Really smooth and great driving cars. Minimal issues with either. Looking for an SC now.
Great work! I'd be interested in one on the prior generation T-Birds. My uncle had one of the SCs. The pass code locks had me hyped, when I was like 8, or so!
Yeah, the previous gen would be interesting too. Those cars can look very similar on their face, especially from the front, but after spending a lot of time staring at the MN12 either in person or on screen making this video, the previous model doesn't look right to me. Too much overhang especially, and too narrow. They used a lot of the same styling cues, but you can so tell that this one was built from the ground up to by styled the way it is--much more cohesive look and better proportions than the old car.
@@atomicautomobile8537 I can't argue with you, at all, about the superior version. I just haven't seen one in many moons, and this review made me think of that car, naturally, I suppose. Thanks, for the ride down Nostalgia St!
I have an 89 SC and took a 97 4 cam cobra 4.6 motor and a t5 trans and made a real SC with aluminum lower control arms in the rear from the MkVIII, a Vortec SC , a good tune, Cobra 5 lugs , lots of fun and a good driver. Handles high speed well , windshield is laid down , good suspension. Had to build my own hood for it so the manifold would clear, but it looks better. Ford SVT built two of these cars, V8 Supercharged. But too late to save the Car.Plus Corp. didn't want it to chew into the Mustang market , so kill the Car. They crushed one and the other one is out there somewhere, it got sold.
Saying the Foxbody was a bad platform is subjective.. it was cheap and modular, and that translates to the customer for bang for the buck and tons of aftermarket support. For modding and cost of entry, they are amazing. The MN12/FN10 is undoubtedly better all around though.
More advanced? The 1987,1988,1989 Pontiac Bonneville SSIs were awesome. I had an 88 with the z code motor. 215Hp. Digital dash and on board compressor in the trunk. All power and cruised easily at 80 mph.
The 3.8 Essex (Canada) V6 was a blatant reverse-engineered Buick 3800. Ford needed something bigger than the Vulcan to put in the Taurus, and needed it quick smart. Even the oil pump was external like on many GM engines, and mechanically, they were essentially the same, save for the alloy heads, vs iron on the Buick. Not Ford's finest hour.
The 302 V8 is by far the better enthusiasts engine. For most drivers the 4,6 moved the power and torque band further up the rpm band. Both are rock solid engines but the 302 V8 despite its age is absolutely more responsive to an enthusiasts right foot.
I had two of these cars and I love them and I'm still trying to find one of today only issue I had with them was those power seat belts and other than that these cars are very dependable and they don't have many problems other than those automatic seat belts and a few sensors here and there. In the sway bar links go out fairly fast but they were cheap and easy to replace motor mounts also but cheap easy to replace
I disagree with you on one thing. I am older than you. To me, this thunderbird s what all thunderbirds wanted to be if they were given a cape. But unfortunately ford didn't have the guts, and still doesn't by what they are doing to the mustang right now, to create a concept and stick with it until it worked and became an icon. Chevy at least appreciates the icon that is Corvette and is not trying to transition it to a suv. Ford doesn't have the will, understanding, reverence, to do that. Right now they seem to be that guy that would sell their mom if it made them more $$$. Other than a few bright spots, the top brass seems to be at odds with the enjoyment of driving.
I had an 88 and 96 and I’d rather have one than more than half the crap we have today which breaks if you breath on them to hard because of all the electronics and computers. I never had a single issue with either of mine with over 100 thousand miles put on each. It was said that ford actually underrated the horsepower numbers and you could get a few mods and new supercharger pulley and it would perform a lot better than stock. It was always fun to piss off the guys with mustangs and Camaros and never had any problems with jdm cars of the day.
Excellent video. I own 3 of these. A daily driver. Which I'm modding and trying to reduce weight...A shower which I'm keeping the mileage low for future use...and a parts/project car. All silver too, lol. So glad I watched the whole thing. Never heard about the back seat bracing idea. Thankyou 🙂 About time someone mentioned these models as fords answer to the grand national. Personally I think these have aged much better. Maybe not price wise...But hey try and buy 3 GN's for $9500 cdn. 😁
Yeah I was going to say 'looks' as one of the advantages of this car over the GN but decided not to since looks could be considered subjective. But I do think this car looks way better. I think the 80s GM A-body cars are completely goofy looking and I've always felt that way. Same for the cockpit of the Thunderbird--much more driver oriented and just overall more advanced than the GN. Glad you're keeping them alive. Silver is a good color for them.
i had a super coupe 1990 silver champagne with red interior. The plugs had to be changed from under. Nothing else than motorcraft worked. Have some pictures somewhere.
I've always been a tbird and cougar fan kind wish they would bring it back as a car the size of the charger with the 3.5 ecoboost and the 6.2L super duty engine
This was a great review!!!!! I had a 89 thunderbird lx - with all the goodies and I loved it. I always wanted the same year SC or even the SHO, but alas you can’t get what you want all the time. My dad had a bmw 6 series and that was my dream car, but obviously if I couldn’t afford an SC I certainly couldn’t a six. I followed it up with a 95 thunderbird and - you’re right - it was trash compared to my 89. The v8 was big and lumbering and the options list was severely reduced to the point of boredom. The 95 was for the birds the overall car was just trash compared to the older version.
i agree 100% i had a 90 sc my favorive car I ve ever owend by far, way by far. I cry every time i see one now because I wish so badly I was still behind the wheel, leaving foxbody mustangs in my rearview mirror. I MEAN everyone who rode with me had a smile ear to ear. the only thing was the transmissions automatic were prone to fail because of the overdrive. in fact I had two and bolth the over drive went out. I love the car all its flaws combined.
I was lucky enough to have owned two of these ‘89’s. Both 5 speeds. Loved them. The car had an incredible 3rd gear range and could jump from 40-90 in a few heartbeats. OG sleeper for sure.
yup. loved mine, incredible car!
My mom had the Merc XR7.
Same, I got my first one 35th anniversary in '98 and have been collecting ever since.
Man I feel like crap . I just got a 94 V8 t bird and this video is making me feel left out .
@@TonyscasaI had a 94 v6 :(
Man, the quality of your videos is just insane. Definitely on my top 10 favorite car channels now. Please never stop doing them with this format and narrative!
To be honest I was happy with the way this one turned out. Glad you liked it. Definitely will make more.
@@atomicautomobile8537 +1 been waiting on more Toyota models and everything else, your videos are like definitive views on a car. I hate when people don't take a stance, it's cowardly
@@atomicautomobile8537you're what regular car reviews should have been and should be, if you continue making these quality videos there's no way you won't rise to the top, respected alongside channels like Car Care Nut & savagegeese
Love the review. Just so happen to have owned 4 SCs over the years. Couldn’t help but but modify 2. 1 of them to the tone of over 500 hp. With the sacrifice of about 8-10 mpg. From a 15 sec 1/4 mile car to a high 11 sec @ 115 mph. Still have this one. I always thing about how good it was stock compared to other cars of its day. I have to agree with your statements it was a precursor to the cars on the toad today with its technology
Im 3:10sec into the first video I've ever seen from this channel and i already agree 💯
Hey, I'm Mike. I had an 89 5 Speed SC, a 90 35th Anniversary Auto SC, and a 93 5 speed that I built up for drag and autocross work, squeezing over 400rwhp out of the 3.8.
Awesome man I always loved these T-Birds and the Cougars of the same era absolutely beautiful cars
(former) '89 SC 5 speed midnight blue owner here: I bought it in '95 with 46K miles. It was the first "nice" car I ever owned after getting my 1st job out of college. I wanted a Mustang, but at 6'3" I just couldn't fit & be comfortable driving (headroom issues). Then I saw this one for sale & fell in love immediately. Bat outta hell in 1st, chirped in 2nd gear. Best part was because the SC badging was so subtle, no one realized the beast under the hood.
I had to sell it in 2002 @ 126K miles because I was starting a family, but it remained my favorite car I ever owned up until my most recent purchase of a 2017 Lincoln MKZ 3.0 AWD in 2019.
I had a 1990 SuperCoupe that I bought new. It was in this car's color of 'Light Titanium', with "Light Titanium' leather interior. The full power bucket seats in these things were the best I have ever seen to this day. Great driving car, and real pretty.
Me too. Very good performing car. Seemed much faster than the numbers show.
Just took my '90 35th Anniversary out today. 15.5K miles and it still runs like the day I first took possesion of it. 100% original except for the windshield which a stone took out last year. I like my 'Bird far more than my 2017 Mustang GT with performance package. The S/C rules!
Loved the video and subscribed to the channel. However, as an owner of 3 of these, I have some background and some comments.
I think first of all, it’s good to separate the parts of the review that are about that specific car vs. the car itself. I think a lot of the things you point are specific to that car (and so are very valid for how that car was treated in its 33 year life).
I had a 90 and a 91 (in those years) and then in 2021 and 2022 I had 2 successive 1995’s. The one I have now has 92k miles and is my daily driver. It’s unmodified and other than it having an automatic (my first in my life), I love it. All the comments about the power band and the handling are right on. It’s also a little noisy at times tho Houston doesn’t seem to want to pave / repair its streets, so, I think every vintage car (or every car) is going to suffer.
As for the things about the marketing / purpose, I have a different perspective. I was a Ford rep in 89-91 and had to wholesale these (get dealers to order them) in the middle of a very rough and very deep recession. It was already a stretch for a customer to walk into a Ford dealership thinking they were going to pay $24k in 1990 for anything on the lot. My dealers, save the big city performance oriented ones, didn’t have a Rolodex (lol) of this kind of customer and therefore struggled selling them / finding a market. Especially during the crisis-y “what orders are we going to get to keep the plants open this week?” kind of atmosphere.
I do agree they were meant to create an affordable 6-series and I do agree the platform should have been used for other things. I respect how the team fought and won (unlike the team that lost IRS for the mustang 2005 refresh) - even though the car came in over price point and over weight. I agree that folks didn’t understand the supercharger … but this was also the era of “complicated things just break” leading folks to “understand” the V8 better. (My 2011 335i was in the shop literally every month once it hit 40k).
You’re right about the V8 killing the SC, but, it was really the price point. In an effort to climb out of the recession and get plant production volume back up, Ford did a $13,999 TBird LX with a V8 and every option under the sun included (that were options then). This was a hot seller at a hot price point. if memory serves, there was also a way to get the cladding on the LX (or maybe some of my savvier dealers were doing that aftermarket … was a long time ago).
The last (lol) thing I’d add is a reminder that there was a mid-cycle refresh in 1994 that kept the look / cowling / engine choices but greatly improved nagging issues (track seatbelts > airbags, odd ABS to more reliable, electronic automatic trans, supercharger improvements, etc). This is my favorite gen for these changes (tho sometimes I long for the 1st gen dash). I agree that the second refresh in 96 made it too rounded in the nose and too generic - but there was a step in the middle there worth mentioning.
This is far and away the best obscure automobile review I have ever listened to, complete with outstanding injections of humor and analogies that are spot on. The fact that I own one of these cars makes it even more fantastic and he is spot on 100% of the time
Thanks a ton for the video. I inherited a 1990 35th anniversary SC from my brother who recently passed. After watching this video I now have a greater understanding and appreciation for the "MN12". I also get why my brother put his heart and soul into this car.
I have to say I do enjoy how much detail you went into about the car! Even explaining things about how the design team failed to meet their weight targets and cost targets. Personally, I grew up in a '97, so it will always hold a special place for me. I drive a '96 model that I have been restoring over time and just driving these cars makes me really appreciate the fact that they exist.
Owned a 90 SC. Loved the hell out of it! Fast. Comfortable. Hope to buy another one soon.
Keyless entry , power seatbelts , power Seats , sunroof , JBL sound system , supercharged
Removing foam from the rockers prevented later rockers from rusting out as often. The foam would break down and hold water instead of just allowing it to drain.
I like the history aspect of your car reviews. Keep it up!
Great video! Your description definitely defines my 10 years of ownership with my 89’ 5 speed
I had this exact car, yr, color, 5spd. Only mine had the stock wheels and black interior. LOVED that care, wish I still had it or could find another one in decent condition.
There's no way, you are the first person I've ever heard say the adjustable suspension still works on the SC.
I remember a print ad for the early SC’s in the car magazines of the day: a handsome young middle age couple in a silver model, hugging the shoulders of a curvy road, peering at the night sky through the sunroof, with the tag line “Ever bet the moon you could race it to a corner?” They were clearly going for the people shopping BMW 3 Series coupes and sporty 5 series sedans.
Bingo. Thanks
I had my first SC new and I was 22. It was the black and Titanium 35th anniversary edition with black wheels and a "Ford Blue" tape stripe. the car was also a 5-speed. It did not look like something only middle-aged people would be attracted to and I am the proof. It was, at least in the 35th paint and graphics, a pretty hot looking performance coupe, and the daily driver I owned the longest. Just bought one again last fall as...yes...my daily driver.
Notice my avatar. See I did the best of both worlds. I always knew the MN12 was the right canvas so I supercharged the 4.6L (and intetcooled) in my ‘95 LX. Eventually I broke a piston ring land so I swapped in a 2000 Mustang GT engine (PI heads and cams) and reinstalled the Allen Engine Development supercharger which used an Eaton M90S. Tuned by the best, Jerry Wroblewski. It made 325 RWHP and 380 RWTQ. With street tires it would run low 13’s in the 1/4 mile with a best of 12.79 @ 109 mph. I loved that car. It was sold in 2006 and last I heard from the new owner it was running as of 2010.
It’s a shame what happened to the MN12 but you are 100% right it was a kamikaze mission from Ford right from the start.
I have owned them since '98. Never really looked on here for such videos yet here I am. I'm currently owning 2x91s to 91s to I said I'm currently owning one 1995 MTX SC. 2 91s 1, ATX,1 MTX. Rust free and one has 48k on the clock. Runs and drives.
Thanks for the back story. A lot more in depth than I have never heard.
Another great video, man...and I'm happy (and relieved) to see you're still at it. The content is great, but your delivery is equally important.; "Mr. Regular" from Regular Cars could take some serious lessons from you. Keep up the awesome work and, as always, I can wait to see what's next.
Thanks man I like rcr but glad my videos have fans in their own right!
Agreed. RCR could do wonders for his channel if he focused more on the car, and much, much less on his jackass impressions and nonsense.
I love my 1990 SC. I agree with the commenter who said those noises aren't normal; they're not.
Has my car had issues? Sure. That being said, I wouldn't trade it for anything. In fact, I'm doing a high performance restomod on my 90, and I'm looking to buy a second SC to keep stock as a cruiser.
I bought a '94 COUGAR XR7 from my Mom in '05. It was a comfortable car, but I agree with you as far as the interior quality goes. The seating position felt like a cockpit to my stout chassis (about 250lbs on my 5'9" frame) with all the controls within easy reach. Unfortunately, the automatic shifter broke, and the whole airbag assembly fell off the steering wheel. It doesn't help that I had a family to support, and didn't have the $$ to fix those things correctly.
Awesome work, Atomic Automobile. In 2019 I bought a third-generation 4Runner in large part due to your review of one. Each time a new video comes out, I set aside some time to watch because it's always a quality production. How many other people would go to the junkyard just to prove a point about Ford's cost-cutting? This channel is the best.
Thanks man always makes my day to know people are enjoying these! Enjoy the third gen. After 20 years I don't know if my dad will ever give his up.
I'll be in ATL at some point this year if you're interested in reviewing a 2019 Mazda 3 Hatchback AWD!
A little new for me, but possibly! jaustinbell@gmail.com
As much as i like these, id still take an 87-88 tbird turbocoupe, super easy to tune even without a proper dyno tune or chip, advance timing to 14 degrees BTDC on the distributor, get a manual boost controller and up it to 18-20psi depending on whether you have a front mount intercooler or stock topmount and an adjustable fuel pressure regulator plus 3 inch turboback exhaust and delete the EGR and PCV bs and route the pcv lines to pre turbo to make a cheap dry sump effect of having better vacuum in the head and crankcase to improve ring seal and not have any front or rear main seal oil leaks which is super common in boosted cars...wanna get crazier then just get the slightly bigger T3 from the merkur or stang SVO....then you fall down the rabbit hole of upgraded Cam, ported heads, ported intake, ported exhaust manifold etc then you gotta upgrade to a bigger T3 turbo like a t3/t4 hybrid or a gtx2867 or gtx3071 because the stock warner ishi or og garrett t3 would spool super quick before 2000rpm lol...dont go too big and street driveability with 300-400hp with 3.55 or even taller 3.27 gears if you swap those in will still feel great
Comments from a young pup. 😂 Obviously this car has seen a lot of ware and is not representative of what it was like when new. These in their original form were as quiet as an empty church and silky smooth, looking at the dash you can see the aging from the sun. Materials break down and loved old cars are normally cared for. In its day this was a very lovely car. I'd love to have a Super Coup and a garage to use to bring it back to new.
Goes to proof that when we are set on our own ways we occasionally miss an opportunity to experience something new much advanced and different, same thing happened with the First ever “EcoBoost “ the 4 cylinder OHC 2.3 used in 1983-1986 SVO Mustang, that engine and that car was a killer car that got missed out due to the 80’s V8 loyal customer that fail to see the modernistic possibilities a small more economical engine could’ve offer back then , great information this video offers about first factory supercharged car offer wow amazing the pioneer that paved the way for the F-15O lightning
My first car was an 88 turbo coupe. I've always had a love of the random red headed stepchild cars that were built
What a great video. Your writing and execution are great! How you are getting me jazzed up about this T bird. I would guess since this is 2 years old you drove up market value for the 100 of them out there, right?
I was going to ask if you had heard of the grand national, early version of the 2800 supercharged, which may have been something they were wanting to compete with. Started about 78 but it wasn't until 84 it had fuel injection and really was a thing.
I always saw the thunderbird as a homologation like car because they were using it in Nascar for the body style. Was very much the same for GM, and most of the fans that know about them were racing fans in the 80s. Brand loyalty was a lot more die hard back then too. Bill Elliot was the man and was setting records in his thunderbirds.
So not really too sure about how well they did or didn't do. I didn't like them much though, but yeah it is amazing how ahead of its time it was. All of the things I admire about cars as I learned more for sure.
With all the available awesome vehicles out there and looks like a nice one up for 10k on FB market, hard to justify getting one even now. Rough one for 5k close. Hmmm....
I still own my 95SC. Auto trans ordered in early 1995. The review was good but based on the experience of a 30 year old car. My 95 suffered from none of the quality issues mentioned.
The stock 95 engine also had a flat HP curve and made way more than the advertised 330 lb-ft tq. I dynoed mine and still have the print out some where
Styling cues from the T-bird filtered down to the big Australian Fords, such as my '95 Futura
This channel is still kicking! Yes!
Oh yeah. Was sidelined for about a year because of a lot of life changes at once (all good things) but I definitely intend to keep this up.
I absolutely love these cars and platforms. My favorite years are 89-93. No airbags, much more interesting dash, automatic motorized seat belts, and digital clusters on the LS and LX. We had a brand new 90 Cougar LS and it was such an impressive car at the time. Beautiful design, elegant, surprisingly agile for it's size...just loved it. My ideal Cougar or Thunderbird would be a last year 93 - 5.0 car with digital cluster.
Loved my 89. Watching this makes me miss it. Great video
I had one of the last a 1995 Super Coupe Black with red leather and a 5 speed.
I bought one new in 1990 and swear that the car was faster than the magazines said it was. My wife drove it and said that no matter how fast you were going, the car always seemed to have more. I have had many cars since then, but none have matched the sheer felling of power. Wish I had a new one now.
I owned one, a 1992. Maybe my most beloved car ever. Had an insane amount of toque down low, lots of room and a nice, smooth ride.
It did, however, essentially fall apart, even though at the time it really wasn't that old or had that many miles. Service bills were killing me. Most people had no idea what the car was at the time or how fast they were.
Same man, mine ended up having total brake failure and my transmission went out…
Best car from 89 to 92
I'm glad I found this channel. Only 5 min into the video and I'm hooked. Keep up the great work! Looking forward to more!
Now looking into those 1989 Thunderbird I can clearly see the relationship and resemblances with 1988-1997 Australian Ford Falcon especially the 96-97 EF ( 1988-94 EA - ED , 1996-97 EF ) very very related like twin brothers that doesn’t look exactly the same but still related ! I love detailed information, great reviews man .
South Australia 🇦🇺
I love the style of the 1996 and 1997s. 1996 was the last year for full gauges. In 1997 the gauges were reduced, and new cup holders were introduced. I just bought a 1997 Mercury Cougar 30th Anniversary edition, a car I have wanted since 1997!
Nice video however, all the noises you describe while driving this Supercoupe are NOT normal. My Supercoupe made noises over bumps while driving when I 1st got it to acouple years ago. It's expected for a 30+ year old car. Now that I have replaiced all the bushings and steering components, it makes no noises and super smooth. Ive had afew of these Supercoupes. If you haven't owned 1, its 1 of those things that you'll never know how fun they really are to drive.
I second this ! I purchased one of these a 91 SC at about 90,000 mi and drove it to 280,000 mi and the only replacement parts the engine ever needed was a water pump and belts. It was an absolute beast to drive and the mileage was not awful at all. I did a lot of highway trips and frequently got between 24 and 27 miles per gallon. I operated mine on a steady diet of E10 90 octane back then, which the forced nduction loved ! The quality issues pointed out in this car were definitely not prevalent on mine ! This reviewer isn't old enough to have drove one " back in the day " - this early build is not the same as how most of them were, back then. A lot of the negatives he points out on this unit we're not prevalent on these new units after the first model year... I owned one and worked as a tech at a Ford dealer - I am certain of this !
My sister bought a new one in 89, not a super coupe, but it was a good car. She handed it down to her oldest son and then it got head gaskets and the salt belt was taking its toll. He then went on to a 5.0 V-8 sport, a 5spd manual Super Coupe and now has a 5.0 he put a turbo on. A friend also has a automatic Super Coupe he has owned for many years, but the salt has taken a toll on that one now too! Im not sure what his plans are for it. But i knew they were something special even after i drove my sisters non SC model. I always liked the earlier models best too. And I also though the Super Coupes were impressive the way they drove and the continuous pull pretty much all the way to the top. I have never owned one but would like too! 👍
A few things. The Thunderbird SC wasn't where the supercharged revolution began, it was a Toyota MR2 with an intercooled Aisin charger. The biggest expense on the SC was the stupid brake booster which was an issue on all those with that chassis. It was something stupid like $5k. The MN12 chassis was better than the Fox chassis. When you jacked up an MN12 to work on the brakes the whole side of the car would eventually lift. A Fox chassis just flexed.
Port the output on the charger. Get rid of the horrible exhaust with 90 degree bends and overdrive the charger. Replace the mass air sensor while you are at it. Noticeably more power and torque.
I grew up a Mopar guy and owned a 75 Cordoba early on but bought a new 90 Super Coupe. Mine was the Titanium Silver but with a gray cloth interior and 4sp Auto. Definitely advanced for its time, compared to most American cars. Good performance and handling for its day, roomy and comfortable, and loaded with features. However it had a few flaws. Significant understeer in the dry that became snap oversteer in the wet, and horrible NVH when revving out the SC 3.8 V6. Mine also had electrical gremlins that 3 different dealers failed to solved. I traded it in a year for a 1991 Mitsubishi 3000GT VR-4, another heavy tech marvel of the time. Bottom line, I did enjoy the car for the brief period I owned it. PS, before buying the 3000GT, I drove a 91 Acura Legend Coupe. Much more refined but lacking performance compared to the TBird SC and nearly 50% more cost when fully equipped.
That SC whine is intoxicating. Sometimes i take off in a purposely higher gear...
the sound of thunderbird and burnt tire is ingrained in my brain from my father as a child. so much so i stole the damn thing when i was 14! My dad gave me the car when i was 17 and i got the same shenanigans he preformed for me as a little kid. THESE THINGS SWING!
I always thought these were FWD it wasn't until I worked as a porter for a honda dealership that I found out they were actually a v8 RWD setup, one of the service advisors owned a green one that was absolutely mint, this was around 2018 so I'm fairly confident he still owns it, he liked the car a whole lot, and the more he talked to me about it the more I liked it. I'd love one of my own but frankly they're getting hard to get, and they aren't as cheap as I'd expected.
BigWheel they are not a V8 car; it's powered by a supercharged 3.8L v6.
Extremely well researched and produced video. I always loved the way these cars looked. I agree that the later models really ruined it, particularly the 96-97 front end. I was also never a fan of the later interior design, despite most liking it more. I think these were great driving cars too for what they were. The foxbody was just so crude in comparison. Personally I prefer the base LX suspension a bit more, since it has a smoother ride (and as such, less aggravation of the chassis flex), but still with good handling due to the stock fat sway bars front and rear. These love to eat ball joints and bushings though so you've always got to stay up on that stuff or they tend to start feeling kinda iffy. I've never been really into sporty cars myself but these were always one of the few "sporty" cars that appealed to me.
I've always wanted to own one of these cars myself (particularly a 1989 model), but finding one that hasn't rusted away up in Michigan where I live is challenging, and only grows more challenging as the years go by. These cars were pretty bad rusters in their day, though still not nearly as bad as something like the Taurus.
I have the 94, and 95 40th anniversary edition.
94 Green/Green Velour 4 wheel disc brakes and 95 Blue/Grey and Grey Velour. 40th Anniversary Edition. Both 4.6L
My preference is the later version.
I had one of these years ago. Loved the speed, disliked the squeaks, squawks and ratlles. Thanks for sharing 👍
Somebody forgot the the XR7 Cougar. T bird twin they also offered tbirds with superchargers in 57
I own a 92 supercoupe and everything you said about it is true as I’m the driving experience pretty much good review
This was one of my favorite cars growing up and I'd still like to own one today. Your comment about there being only one car on the market in 1989 with a longer wheelbase however is wrong. The Town Car, LTD Crown Vic/Grand Marquis, Brougham, GM full-size wagons, 4-door Fleetwood, Caprice and the 735/750iL all had more inches between their axles than the Thunderbird. The XJ tied it at 113.
Also a variant of the MN-12 platform was used for the Lincoln Mark VIII, the MN-10. I whole-heartedly agree with you though that Ford should have developed a nice rear drive 4-door or two off this platform. Perhaps something sportier than a Taurus-based Continental.
The engineers really poured their heart and soul into this car, too bad management didn't share their passion. Thanks for the trip down memory lane. I miss seeing the boost needle oscillate from boost to vac.
This was a granular dive into what was possibly one of the best cars America ever made and then Ford hated it. The 89 won car of the year and well deserved. I'm sure they lost money on it. Lots of goodies
My mother bought one of these, took it to senior prom in 1998. Miss that car!!
I love mine. Had it for maybe a month, but it's such a joy to drive. Has torque right when you want it. 89000mi, original, 30yrs after it rolled out of the factory
I might check one out with 44k original milee. 1989. What do you think its worth?
6k@@frankiemarchese2978
The power issue is the ignition switch on top of the column.
The MN 12 was a terrific car super coupe fantastic nothing like it on the road. Thank you for your video.
What a fine video, coming from such a smaller channel. Thank you for this video. I’m super excited to get my grandfathers 1990 sc running. He has an 89 sc too, but the interior is ruined.
I owned a 93 SC from 2000-2005. One day at a car show I got to talking to someone about it and I mentioned it had IRS. The guy says "do you even know what IRS is?" I say independant Rear Suspension. He says my car doesn't have it. I say it does. He argues with me. I finally said "if you're so sure, crawl under there abd look." He goes "wow, it does have IRS". I felt like saying "no shit sherlock!"
My boyfriend had one the dealership told him to get it off the lot they wouldn't work on it lol all he wanted was oil for the super charger
This was my first car. . . in 2000. Paid $2400. Great car until all the wiring went to crap.
I own a 97 thunderbird with a 4.6 .it has 140 thousand miles. Who ever owned it before me really took good care of it the oil is like new great dependable car's
I owned a 92. Not a Super Coupe. I would love to have one.
I like the early year supercoupe front ends but I do like the tail lights on the 95,6,7 years better...
Great, i'll forever look at my supercoupe differently, now that's all i see :D
Great history lesson. I have a ‘96 thunderbird v8. I love the way it looks but it’s a cruiser not a racer.
I owned a 1996 t-bird with pearl white with the sun gloss affect factory from Ford. Leather seats and the v6 motor naturally aspirated I knew of the SC coupe model but never could get my hands on it here in Atlanta…..
The fox T-bird has a lot of differences between it and the mustang. The Thunderbird was a bit better all around, other than curb weight. Have owned both and this is a great video on the MN-12 chassis.
This car is very fun to drive - drives like a go-kart. Had two of them. I liked them so much. It has a weak automatic transmission though which doesn't like high speed driving and the brakes are ridiculously undersized.
I had a 93 LX with a 5.0
Loved the car except it was deceiving in how fast you really going
I had 1 it was a lot of fun and comfortable. Same color with the tan leather seats 5 speed. Slow off the line but on the freeway awesome passing power
I just recently bought one and I love this car it’s great it handles great and it’s fun to drive
Wow, you're in ATL? I'm about 20 miles south!
First car was a '93 LX with the shitty 3.8L, second was a '97 4.6L. Really smooth and great driving cars. Minimal issues with either. Looking for an SC now.
These had what seemed like 9' of length ahead of the front wheels.
Great work!
I'd be interested in one on the prior generation T-Birds.
My uncle had one of the SCs. The pass code locks had me hyped, when I was like 8, or so!
Yeah, the previous gen would be interesting too. Those cars can look very similar on their face, especially from the front, but after spending a lot of time staring at the MN12 either in person or on screen making this video, the previous model doesn't look right to me. Too much overhang especially, and too narrow. They used a lot of the same styling cues, but you can so tell that this one was built from the ground up to by styled the way it is--much more cohesive look and better proportions than the old car.
@@atomicautomobile8537 I can't argue with you, at all, about the superior version.
I just haven't seen one in many moons, and this review made me think of that car, naturally, I suppose.
Thanks, for the ride down Nostalgia St!
The Buick v6 about 10 years before this also had similar problems
I have an 89 SC and took a 97 4 cam cobra 4.6 motor and a t5 trans and made a real SC with aluminum lower control arms in the rear from the MkVIII, a Vortec SC , a good tune, Cobra 5 lugs , lots of fun and a good driver. Handles high speed well , windshield is laid down , good suspension. Had to build my own hood for it so the manifold would clear, but it looks better. Ford SVT built two of these cars, V8 Supercharged. But too late to save the Car.Plus Corp. didn't want it to chew into the Mustang market , so kill the Car. They crushed one and the other one is out there somewhere, it got sold.
My first car back then was a base 1989 Thunderbird and I wanted an SC so bad.
Saying the Foxbody was a bad platform is subjective.. it was cheap and modular, and that translates to the customer for bang for the buck and tons of aftermarket support. For modding and cost of entry, they are amazing. The MN12/FN10 is undoubtedly better all around though.
More advanced? The 1987,1988,1989 Pontiac Bonneville SSIs were awesome. I had an 88 with the z code motor. 215Hp. Digital dash and on board compressor in the trunk. All power and cruised easily at 80 mph.
The 3.8 Essex (Canada) V6 was a blatant reverse-engineered Buick 3800. Ford needed something bigger than the Vulcan to put in the Taurus, and needed it quick smart. Even the oil pump was external like on many GM engines, and mechanically, they were essentially the same, save for the alloy heads, vs iron on the Buick. Not Ford's finest hour.
So what is the best motor on these cars and why? The 3.8, 4.6, or 5.0???
The 302 V8 is by far the better enthusiasts engine. For most drivers the 4,6 moved the power and torque band further up the rpm band. Both are rock solid engines but the 302 V8 despite its age is absolutely more responsive to an enthusiasts right foot.
I had two of these cars and I love them and I'm still trying to find one of today only issue I had with them was those power seat belts and other than that these cars are very dependable and they don't have many problems other than those automatic seat belts and a few sensors here and there. In the sway bar links go out fairly fast but they were cheap and easy to replace motor mounts also but cheap easy to replace
I disagree with you on one thing. I am older than you. To me, this thunderbird s what all thunderbirds wanted to be if they were given a cape. But unfortunately ford didn't have the guts, and still doesn't by what they are doing to the mustang right now, to create a concept and stick with it until it worked and became an icon. Chevy at least appreciates the icon that is Corvette and is not trying to transition it to a suv. Ford doesn't have the will, understanding, reverence, to do that. Right now they seem to be that guy that would sell their mom if it made them more $$$. Other than a few bright spots, the top brass seems to be at odds with the enjoyment of driving.
I had an 88 and 96 and I’d rather have one than more than half the crap we have today which breaks if you breath on them to hard because of all the electronics and computers. I never had a single issue with either of mine with over 100 thousand miles put on each. It was said that ford actually underrated the horsepower numbers and you could get a few mods and new supercharger pulley and it would perform a lot better than stock. It was always fun to piss off the guys with mustangs and Camaros and never had any problems with jdm cars of the day.
Excellent video. I own 3 of these. A daily driver. Which I'm modding and trying to reduce weight...A shower which I'm keeping the mileage low for future use...and a parts/project car. All silver too, lol.
So glad I watched the whole thing. Never heard about the back seat bracing idea. Thankyou 🙂
About time someone mentioned these models as fords answer to the grand national. Personally I think these have aged much better. Maybe not price wise...But hey try and buy 3 GN's for $9500 cdn. 😁
Yeah I was going to say 'looks' as one of the advantages of this car over the GN but decided not to since looks could be considered subjective. But I do think this car looks way better. I think the 80s GM A-body cars are completely goofy looking and I've always felt that way. Same for the cockpit of the Thunderbird--much more driver oriented and just overall more advanced than the GN. Glad you're keeping them alive. Silver is a good color for them.
Picked up another one...89 manual.,black. $2000 certified...They're still out there and reasonable priced for what they are. @@atomicautomobile8537
i had a super coupe 1990 silver champagne with red interior. The plugs had to be changed from under. Nothing else than motorcraft worked. Have some pictures somewhere.
I've always been a tbird and cougar fan kind wish they would bring it back as a car the size of the charger with the 3.5 ecoboost and the 6.2L super duty engine
This was a great review!!!!! I had a 89 thunderbird lx - with all the goodies and I loved it. I always wanted the same year SC or even the SHO, but alas you can’t get what you want all the time. My dad had a bmw 6 series and that was my dream car, but obviously if I couldn’t afford an SC I certainly couldn’t a six. I followed it up with a 95 thunderbird and - you’re right - it was trash compared to my 89. The v8 was big and lumbering and the options list was severely reduced to the point of boredom. The 95 was for the birds the overall car was just trash compared to the older version.
This vid needs more views
i agree 100% i had a 90 sc my favorive car I ve ever owend by far, way by far. I cry every time i see one now because I wish so badly I was still behind the wheel, leaving foxbody mustangs in my rearview mirror. I MEAN everyone who rode with me had a smile ear to ear. the only thing was the transmissions automatic were prone to fail because of the overdrive. in fact I had two and bolth the over drive went out. I love the car all its flaws combined.
My first car was a 89 SC, same color as the one in the video.
This car is awesome. I own a 1990 Mercury cougar xr7 with supercharger. The bar car
A four door version would have been awesome.
I have an 89 black on porno red. 5 speed. With 51k . Was in storage 15 years before I bought it.
It actually looks quite a lot like a Honda Accord Coupe. Definitely a Honda look to it for me.