Ford Thunderbird (eighth generation)

Ford Thunderbird (eighth generation)
1982 Ford Thunderbird Town Landau
Overview
Manufacturer	Ford Motor Company
Production	1979–1982
Model years	1980–1982
Assembly	United States: Chicago, Illinois (Chicago Assembly) Hapeville, Georgia (Atlanta Assembly) Lorain, Ohio (Lorain Assembly)
Body and chassis
Class	Personal luxury car
Body style	2-door coupe
Layout	Front-engine, rear-wheel-drive
Platform	Ford Fox
Related	Mercury Cougar XR7 Continental Mark VII Lincoln Continental
Powertrain
Engine	200 cu in (3.3 L) Thriftpower Six I6 232 cu in (3.8 L) Essex V6 255 cu in (4.2 L) Windsor V8 302 cu in (4.9 L) Windsor V8
Transmission	4-speed Ford AOD overdrive automatic 3-speed automatic
Dimensions
Wheelbase	108.4 in (2,750 mm)[1]
Length	200.4 in (5,090 mm)[1]
Width	74.1 in (1,880 mm)[1]
Height	53.0 in (1,350 mm)[1]
Curb weight	3,166–3,477 lb (1,436.1–1,577.1 kg)[1]
Chronology
Predecessor	Ford Thunderbird (seventh generation)
Successor	Ford Thunderbird (ninth generation)

The eighth generation of the Ford Thunderbird is a personal luxury coupe that was manufactured and marketed by Ford from the 1980 to 1982 model years. Introduced to commemorate the 25th year of the Thunderbird, the eighth generation was substantially downsized, transitioning further into the mid-size segment. For a second generation, the Thunderbird remained the Ford counterpart of the Mercury Cougar XR7; while the Cougar again served as a complete line of mid-sized cars in various body styles starting with 1981 models, the Thunderbird was offered solely as a two-door personal luxury coupe.

While better-handling and more fuel-efficient than its Torino-based predecessor, the eighth-generation Thunderbird was poorly received by critics and buyers,^[2][3][4] leading to a collapse in sales (combined 1980–1982 production outsold 1979 production by only 4,000 cars). In response, the 1983 ninth-generation Thunderbird received an extensive redesign of the exterior (though sharing nearly identical chassis underpinnings), as Ford sought to remarket the model line.

The eighth-generation Thunderbird was assembled by Ford at Atlanta Assembly, Lorain Assembly, and Chicago Assembly; the former two facilities are now closed.