Looking for any interesting info on the 83 TBird Turbo Coupes.
Here is an item that came up in another thread regarding a center mounted tach.
http://www.foxtbirdcougarforums.com/showpost.php?p=289242&postcount=18
It's possible the center mounted tach was in early production cars so if you have an 83 TC, please post the build date and where the tach is located.
Feel free to share a picture of your car and any details about here in this thread.
Thanks!
Thats gotta be ultra rare or a preproduction thing.
Yeah, I've been curious about that for a while myself.
First i've heard or seen of that :dunno:
if the guy still has the one in the fyi thread i posted this weekend ill let you know what it has, didnt have time to check it out over the holiday.
I hope one does turn up! However, the more I think about it the more I believe it was changed at the last minute before the cars showed up at dealers around the end of February or early March 1983.
this is what your talking about, right?
this is from a magazine article scan(from over at fep) the testing of a preproduction turbocoupe
Look carefully at that photo! They still have an automatic column shifter shroud on the steering column making it look as if they just deleted the shift lever. They are also using the steering wheel directly from a Mustang GT without leather padding on the spokes.
Interesting, I don't recall seeing this article or photos.
It's been very common for many years to have pre-production photos and articles showing things that don't end up on production cars. I've seen many examples with Mustangs/Fairlanes/etc. There is even a cover shot of a red TC with white fog light covers which I've never seen on a production car.
I'm getting the feeling the center mount tach is one of these 'pre-production' things too....unless someone finds a car w/ documentation that has one.
buttstuffog clock... I dont think you could get that in a TC, could you?
I recall all the car magazine articles. I used to subscribe to them all and it was a really big deal in the day when these Aerobirds came out. The Thunderbird and Cougar was a game changer and set the standard for what was to come after them.
I've been looking for that elusive center mounted tach but haven't seen one yet!
Keep looking folks..
Just curious...
Anyone know if a black 83 TC got the black accent tape around the door?
You know I was wondering what that extra clock spot was for when I had the dash apart. I had seen this thread and forgot all about it!
I dont know if the black ones got the tape accent but my white one has it.
EDIT: look here http://www.foxtbirdcougarforums.com/showthread.php?t=26855
I don't see a white one??:hick:
sorry I dont have any close up pics this is the best I can do.
http://www.tbirdregistry.com/viewdatasheet.asp?RegistryNumber=18479
Got it, thanks.
So you have a black AND a white 83 TC?
Just came across an old picture I took back in 1984 of a slightly modified 1983 TC. It was in a box of old slides!
Looks like someone wasn't satisfied with the factory look. :D
that body kit was out when the tbird first came out then?
the oldest ad i remember seeing for it was in an late '84 or so issue of MotorTrend.
I mounted a tach behind the clock face in my 1980 t-bird, idled around 1 o'clock or so :D
Scott
The picture was taken in August of 1984 so I imagine someone might have had a body kit out by then. I don't have them handy but there were articles in the Hot Rod magazines pretty early and I think they might have had a body kit? I'll look when I get a chance.
I suppose there is a chance the owner of this car might have had some inside connections to suppliers seeing how it was in CA where mods seem to happen early.
yepx2
I also see the same knock out off to the right of the clock when a dash is gutted. Are you the one who replaced a dash that split in the middle? thats when i noticed it also.
I must say, that is a sharp looking car there!