I was in the salvage yard this weekend looking for some seats and console and I saw a white t-bird with the FILA logo/emblm (you know, the shoe company) on the side down by the trim on the door. I thought, that's weird. I look inside and the "F" logo is depressed into the leather seats. Either they made a special car for some Fila executive or someone had a major obsession with their shoes. Has anyone ever seen anything like that before??
Yes, the Fila edition is an '84. It usually, but not always, got the 5.0. Had special apperance package, as you might've guessed, and was the first car to rock the 8-hole aluminum 14" wheels. They're not common, but they're not as rare as the '85 30th anniversary birds. It is, indeed a production car. Pretty desirable, if you can stand the white-out design.
Filas came in a few different colors: red, white, grey maybe black too. They are pretty cool. They replaced the Heritage as the top of the line luxury Thunderbird. Really wanted this grey 1985 Fila I saw many years back.
Wow, I've only seen white. And I thought they were made in '84, didn't realize they were 85's.
I seen one that was in sad shape.
Kinda do a dubble take and go what the #$%^ when u see one.
You know what I've never seen in person?
One of the "Night Cat" Cougars.
They were made in 84, 85...and maybe 86. I need to check my brochure again. Basically they are a notch above the Elan models...kinda like how an Explorer Limited is better than a Eddie Bauer.
You're not missing anything. :grinno:
Just the badges! If there cool looking I would like a set. :)
I've seen only one Fila Edition here in Calgary so far (junkyard), which is the same I can say about the XR-7
Jason it is not so much to do with shoes as it was a designer label thing......kinda like a Bill Blass lincoln. Back thern fila was a kinda big designer. I think the car came with a Fila tote bag and a few other similar goodies
Fila still makes a lot of sporting equipment, they are more internationally known though. But yeah, that was the deal. You got a sport bag, a towel and probably some other when you bought a Fila Tbird.
Is it kind of the same thing as an Eddie Bauer explorer? I know the LSCs had Versaci and Bill Blass but the Versaci model was cut early on.
Its exactly like an EB Explorer. Or the BB or Versace Mark VIIs.
Cool, I never heard of Fila except for the shoes. This one is white, with gray leather interior. I thought about c00ching the rear seats.
I don't know, having a car that has some sporting goods badges seems kinda lame. Thank god Ford didn't take it further and released a Jenny Craig Thunderbird, a Nerf Football Thunderbird, or a Captain Crunch Thunderbird.
I can only imagine the early SVO techs laughing their asses off when sporting goods manufacturers and clothing manufacturers came up in creative meetings in the 80's.
"I contacted someone at Bill Blass about throwing in a free purse with every new car." "Oh, how's the plans coming for the Ford McThunderbird?"
Chris
I saw an 85 white FILA in the wrecking yard about 7 months ago. It totally took me by surprise. I had no idea it was made. I needed a new grill for my 85 Elan and I wanted one that wasn't chrome so I could paint it body color. So, I took the white one from the FILA. :grinno:
I always see Fila's in white and in the junkyard.... Never on the road..
'84 Fila...
Hey if it makes money, anyone will cross-promote.
Worked for Eddie Bauer. Now we have Bulgari themed gauges on Caddies. Sometimes its done well, other times it just kinda lame...the Fila only lasted for 2-3 years for a reason, I guess.
I'm diggin' that white interior.
I like the white exterior too. Lower it, put some nice wheels, tint the windows, dual exhaust and you would be styling!!!!! :ies:
You gotta remember it was the 80's when this came out and people wanted anything they could get with a label and a name on it even if it was stupid .......remember members only jackets?
I'd love a mint condition Fila. It's like a slice-of-life of 80's styling. Remember all those white on white on gray Pontiacs? White body, white rims, gray interior. It worked for them.
we have an old lady with a philadelphia flyers edition cougar come into work all the time.. the car's white but with black/orange highlights and a few other random things.. definitely looks like a production deal... anyone have any info on this? I was curious.. It was between an 88 and early 90s, not sure on the exact year
i think the promotional editions had to do somewhat with fashion cause at the time, FILA sneakers and gear was getting popular... and a few year later the two-tone jeans and jackets were also in style so they had two-tone color versions as well in those years....now there was also another promo-T-bird in 2002 the Neiman Marcus edition...
and mercury had the nautica villiger...
also those Fila wheels, are actually from the european hi-po ford sierra!!!! so id say the fila edition is definately an 80s collectible....
heres the ad....
I'd like to have a set of those seats.
Pretty stossy for a thunderbird. If it didn't say Fila on it I would really like it.
Where did you find that ad???
i had it for many years well kept since the 80's