I was wondering if you could even get the full digital cluster on a base model...
http://www.carsforsale.com/used-cars-for-sale/1985-ford-thunderbird-raleigh-nc-248139175
http://www.carsforsale.com/used-cars-for-sale/1986-ford-thunderbird-roy-wa-247446919
These cars could be ordered in crazy combinations. You could ala carte every option that a élan had and it would technically be a base bird still.
Both appear to be base birds although very well equipped ones. The black side mirrors are the dead giveaway as badges can fall off. Elan's were made through 86 model year and always had chrome side mirrors.
But I thought my tbird was an elan. It says so on the black trim that goes around the whole vehicle...but I have black side mirrors. So im not sure thats a "set-in-stone" kinda thing
I could be mistaken on that. 83/84 are 100% with chrome mirrors on Heritage/Elan. 85/86 not, my error. The 85/86 had the lower trim on the lower valance that had "élan" on them. Also the on the trunk lid. The 84 had élan on the right dash and trunk lid. I can't say with total certainty that 85/86 could be had black or chrome mirrors.
My first 86 cougar was a base model with full digital dash, 5.0 and rear window defrost. No other options.
No passenger mirror, manual seats/mirrors/windows. Noninterrmitent wipers and no tilt wheel.
Door panels and seats are usually the sub-model giveaway, not just these, but a lot of cars.
Yep both base cars. The Elan (in 87-88 it was the LX) cars had different seat upholstery and Turbo Coupe door panels.
5.7mpg,, battery was prob dead and they jumped it and started it up
Or they hit the reset button before blasting down the 1/4 mile 10 times in a row. I did that once and my tripminder said 3.9mpg.