Ok what if Ford had made an 87-88 SVT Tbird? What would they have done? I have a idea what I would like, mine is mostly styling than performance, simply because my engine and tranny package is more radical than anyone would ever produce. If you have a favorite picture of ground effects or interiors post them up.
Just to give you an idea of what I am thinking.
One of my favorite front ground effects. Use the SVT emblem instead of the thunderbird in the header. Loose the side vents. For my needs a 2" cowl induction hood that follows the existing hoodlines. Change the mirrors. I think Vinnie has done this, but I can't find a pic.
(http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t97/biggrgivens/tcsideangle.jpg)
The rear bumper doesn't excite me needs to be more parallel to the rest of body bottom and loose those vents too, sorry it's just me. Use "Thunderbird SVT" on the rear deck lid. Use the FMS deck lid spoiler.
(http://i109.photobucket.com/albums/n63/HillBilly_Heaven/CpGs_878TCrq.jpg)
Got to have good stopping power. So 13" PBR brakes with SVT on the calipers. 12" cobra rear brake package.
Loose the Turbo Coupe insert to smooth the line. Use the Tbird emblem with SVT on side pillar.
(http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t97/biggrgivens/CpGs_878TCs.jpg)
Wheels for me Cobra 2003 17X9 with the SVT center emblems all the way around.
(http://i109.photobucket.com/albums/n63/HillBilly_Heaven/mustangtuning_1995_1088284594.jpg)
I know I am emblem happy with the styling and haven't cover the performance side, but we all have our personal preferences. I am thnking more in styling and appearance. Sorry if someone is upset I used their pics, but I like what he has done with a few minor changes. What Would You Do post up your ideas!
Personally I have never seen a body kit on a tbird I really liked
for an SVT unit, I would do the following:
Black on black, black trim with silver stripe.
lowered
ducktail spoiler
and 95 cobra wheels
thats it for body
everything else would be brakes, suspension, motor, and drivetrain.
I agree. body kit on 'bird? no thanks
As far as SVT, I'd say, compare all the SVT cars side by side with the factory ford model. Make some observations. I think everything in the pics of above is way over the top for SVT though...
There isn't a body kit that "improves" the looks of a Tbird/Cougar IMO. They just spoil the lines.
An SVT would be much more subtle. Really the 87-88TC is pretty "SVT", but a few subtle changes could make the difference.
Those are the wheels I was going to use on the '84TC had I kept it.
Chuck beat me to it. Ford did build an SVT, but it was SVO back then, and the letters TC took care of the acronym.
The car was modestly (which is SVT's way) tweaked visually, with a crazy amount of technical upgrades.
(http://www.crystalbeckvold.com/turbocoupe/tc2.jpg)
Yeah, no body kit or spoiler for me either. Maybe lowered about .5-.75 of an inch.
The white 87 is owned by someone in CA, he posts on TF as "biggrgivens", not sure if he posts here (nice guy). He's since changed the hood, the car now has an offset SVO style duct.
I have urethane side spats on the one getting rebuilt. They probably won't stay when the car goes in for bodywork and paint. Ford got the lines right the first time, there's very very little that needs to be changes on these cars, :2c:.
I'd be interested in finding that (http://"http://www.foxtbirdcougarforums.com/showthread.php?t=18009&highlight=front+spoiler") airdam for aerodynamics but not sure if it looks better.
Also, it would be nice if there were some way to elegantly remove the rub strips. The sides are easy, it's the bumper covers that pose a challenge.
You could fill the trunk with kickers, raise the car enough to clear some some 33" polycarbonate-centers with Scorpion tires, add a Continental kit to the front and back, and stencil Louis Vuitton logos everywhere, end up with similar to this...
http://www.cardomain.com/event/2008/03/29/DUB?c=0&p=2&i=43
or this...
http://www.cardomain.com/event/2008/03/29/DUB?c=0&p=4&i=121
YuMMo!
I thonk I just threw up in my mouth.
Bad skidoo! BAD! BAD! No scooby snack for you.
I'll likely cry the first time I see a Donk T-bird.
That withe T-Bird needs one thing vinyl wrap or paint the trim between the windows on the side.
Also those rims in 4 lug are on sale at the site this month for i think $109 each
1987-1988 Turbocoupe stock look only way to do a SVT Themed car right.
As stated above the TC's where svo-svt just not badged as such, so where the supercoupe's.
Just wait til mine is done.You'll think SVT.
This:
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I don't care for the back end at all,but I really dig the front.Awesome hood and lights.
On closer inspection, this might be a fibreglassed running board. I'm not a fan of running boards on cars.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v613/oldraven/junk/runningboard.jpg)
Just about everything mentioned was produced after '87-'88...lol. Think about what they had back then...
My perfect SVO 'Bird...
a good ol' heapin' helpin' of H.O. power for motivation
a T-5
standard T/C rear with no changes
full black interior with halo head-rests
mustang GT brakes with Mark VII calipers
manual seat tracks/windows/mirrors
rear tire air diverters (like the ones used on the '86 SVO stang)
open up the chrome-like LX grill on the header panel and have simply a bird in the middle with a black plastic mesh behind it....
those are things they could have easily done back then...without really spending money on redesigning anything (except the header panel obviously)
That combination would have been simply impossible though, because it would have been faster than the flagship mustang GT of those years.
(http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b325/Aesthetikz/tbirdstuffs02.jpg)
It's obvious at this stage of the thread it needs to be locked.LOL.
I do wish they had an option box for a V8 T-5 for the Turbo Coupes (transmission, not engine). Throw on a FMIC and the old T3 for a boost in torque, upgraded (less off-road) springs, a perf. leather SVO colour matched threaded shift-, and the same stitching on the seats, SVO steering wheel/centercaps/floormats, Halos, and the ducktail to go with it, to make a full SVO package. Heck, with the FMIC, a ram-air setup from the scoops would have made it a pretty serious package. Considering how many people optioned out their TC's, I bet it would have been a popular sell.
I tried and tried and tried to get a TC w/ a SBF instead of the 2.3T. I literally called all over the country trying to find a factory option. The HO 302 was my goal of course, but even the lame std motor w/ an auto would have been okay so long as it was a TC everywhere else.
Now I'm okay with the Lima, but only because technology has caught up with my performance aspirations. I'm still mulling a small displacement TT V6, maybe like the 2.5 V-dub.
I'm building mine the way I wish Ford had done it.It'll look almost all factory when it's done.
Vinnie that was the idea. We are all individuals with different likes and dislikes. I just threw this out to see what everyone likes. Something to stir up the creative side of the brain.