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Topic: Roush Turbo Coupe...? (Read 5098 times) previous topic - next topic

Roush Turbo Coupe...?

I was driving through Brooksville today along sume rural road and I spotted a body shop with 2 Maroon TC's. One had a body kit that really didn't look like the MCK plastics one, so I stopped. I talked the gentleman who owned the body shop and he said that the TC with the body kit was a "Roush Turbo Coupe" and that it wasn't for sale, but the other TC was. At first I didn't want to believe him, but upon closer inspection it sure seemed real. It had Roush Emblems on the dash and in some other areas. The body kit sure didn't look like the MCK one. Everything else was stock, and to top it off...it was an automatic, which made me even more suspicious.

So I contacted the guy who owned the other TC and while we were talking I told him that I'd never seen a Roush TC before, and he says " I've got the article from Mustang Monthly about it. Jack Roush has two of them sitting in his museum."

I've never heard ANY mention of a Roush TC in my entire life until today. I asked the guy if he could scan and email me the article, so when he does, I'll post it for all of you to see.
-'88 Tbird 3.8
-2012 Altima 2.5 BASE. 
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]

Future: Budget 5.0 300 HP.

Roush Turbo Coupe...?

Reply #1
Wow.  Never knew  that either.  Interesting.
Mike

Roush Turbo Coupe...?

Reply #2
Not that I'm callin' YOU a fibber...but I wanna see it before I believe lol.

ANYONE can take some ripped-off emblems and throw on a car....lots of TC's were auto..and there were several effects made for these cars....just sayin'

I'll be the first to retract my words if it's legit though. :)
'98 Explorer 5.0
'20 Malibu (I know, Chevy, but, 35MPG. Let's go brandon, eh)

Roush Turbo Coupe...?

Reply #3
IIRC there were actually a few Roush TC's. They were built by Roush himself (or his garage, anyway) and were used for his driving school back in '87. They featured a 5.0 HO, Mark VII front brakes, TC rear brakes (yes, five lugs up front, four out back), 3.08 gears (suppposedly better for the type of driving they were doing) and I think some were five speed, some were AOD. They were featured in the 1987 Motor Trend COTY issue. I dunno if any ever made it onto the street.
2015 Mustang GT Premium - 5.0, 6-speed, Guard Green - too much awesome for one car

1988 5.0 Thunderbird :birdsmily: SOLD SEPT 11 2010: TC front clip/hood ♣ Body & paint completed Oct 2007 ♣ 3.55 TC rear end and front brakes ♣ TC interior ♣ CHE rear control arms (adjustable lowers) ♣ 2001 Bullitt springs ♣ Energy suspension poly busings ♣ Kenne Brown subframe connectors ♣ CWE engine mounts ♣ Thundercat sequential turn signals ♣ Explorer overhead console (temp/compass display) ♣ 2.25" off-road dual exhaust ♣ T-5 transmission swap completed Jan 2009 ♣

Roush Turbo Coupe...?

Reply #4
Quote from: Thunder Chicken;358317
IIRC there were actually a few Roush TC's. They were built by Roush himself (or his garage, anyway) and were used for his driving school back in '87. They featured a 5.0 HO, Mark VII front brakes, TC rear brakes (yes, five lugs up front, four out back), 3.08 gears (suppposedly better for the type of driving they were doing) and I think some were five speed, some were AOD. They were featured in the 1987 Motor Trend COTY issue. I dunno if any ever made it onto the street.


So what happened possibly is that the emblems for those were found and thrown on this TC. This thing looked exactly like a regular TC except for the emblems and body kit. Like I said, as soon as I get the email, I'll post up the article.

Thunderbirdsport302: These Roush emblems said Turbo Coupe on them.
-'88 Tbird 3.8
-2012 Altima 2.5 BASE. 
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]

Future: Budget 5.0 300 HP.

Roush Turbo Coupe...?

Reply #5
Here it is: page 2 of the online article

"For the Mustang's 25th anniversary, Ford asked us for a powertrain proposal for a 25th anniversary edition. We started with a marine 351 engine and added the marine camshaft and put fuel injection on it. We gave it back to Ford and they said the performance was improved over the 5.0-liter but it wasn't enough. At the same time, we were working on the Thunderbird Turbo Coupe with the small Borg-Warner turbocharger. So I hung two turbochargers on the 351, one on each exhaust manifold. Ford said it was irresponsible. It was so fast you couldn't keep it in your lane if you stepped on the gas. The result was that they did something that did not have a powertrain feature for the 25th anniversary. The only car that I think was done correctly is here in our museum. It's a one of a kind."

And this was why this TC I saw was bone stock...

And here's the link to the article in its entirety: http://www.mustangmonthly.com/featuredvehicles/mump_1010_jack_roush_ford_mustang_auto_collection/index.html
-'88 Tbird 3.8
-2012 Altima 2.5 BASE. 
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]

Future: Budget 5.0 300 HP.

Roush Turbo Coupe...?

Reply #6
Well there are two remaining Shelby Cougar's (not foxes) and 1 is here in FL so its possible that he got ahold of one of those Roush TC's. Its also entirely possible that he ebay'd the emblems from somebody and stuck em on a stock TC. Won't know unless he lets you check out what's under the hood... but what they're talking about above is the Mustang. He just mentioned the fact that he was working with TC's, that's what gave him the idea to use the turbos for the 351 he was working on in the stang.
--SteveN 👍
[thread=28690]1988 Cougar V6[/thread]
2012 F-150 3.7L

Roush Turbo Coupe...?

Reply #7
why didn't you take pictures of the car when you saw it? :(

Roush Turbo Coupe...?

Reply #8
Steve, you're right about that section being about a mustang...But Roush himself said they were working with the Bird, so I'm still convinced it could be real.

I didn't take pictures of it because I don't have a picture phone, nor do I carry a camera with me everywhere I go. I should be in that area sometime next week again, so I'll take pictures then.
-'88 Tbird 3.8
-2012 Altima 2.5 BASE. 
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]

Future: Budget 5.0 300 HP.

Roush Turbo Coupe...?

Reply #9
this sounds interesting,  my parents live just north in Inverness,  maybe I'll send pops by for a few spy photos.

 

Roush Turbo Coupe...?

Reply #10
I have some pics of one that somebody posted. They are on my other computer, I'll find them and post them.
95 Ranger Splash 2.3
88 Tbird Sport :ies::ies:
5.0 SO, stainless shorty headers, w/ Magnaflow lers. KYB struts, KYB shocks. 5lug conversion from sn95 Mustang, subframe connectors, drilled and slotted rotors, 03 Mach 1 wheels. sequential taillights.140 speedo

Roush Turbo Coupe...?

Reply #11
Quote from: bkaser90;358388
this sounds interesting,  my parents live just north in Inverness,  maybe I'll send pops by for a few spy photos.

 
That's where my parents live also, and where I lived when I was in high school, and where my daughter was born...awesome. :)
-'88 Tbird 3.8
-2012 Altima 2.5 BASE. 
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]

Future: Budget 5.0 300 HP.

Roush Turbo Coupe...?

Reply #12
Pics...
95 Ranger Splash 2.3
88 Tbird Sport :ies::ies:
5.0 SO, stainless shorty headers, w/ Magnaflow lers. KYB struts, KYB shocks. 5lug conversion from sn95 Mustang, subframe connectors, drilled and slotted rotors, 03 Mach 1 wheels. sequential taillights.140 speedo

Roush Turbo Coupe...?

Reply #13
More....
95 Ranger Splash 2.3
88 Tbird Sport :ies::ies:
5.0 SO, stainless shorty headers, w/ Magnaflow lers. KYB struts, KYB shocks. 5lug conversion from sn95 Mustang, subframe connectors, drilled and slotted rotors, 03 Mach 1 wheels. sequential taillights.140 speedo

Roush Turbo Coupe...?

Reply #14
Thanks cougarman for sharing...

Interesting that Roush Racing would order FULLY OPTIONED turbo coupes for their racing school.  And Automatics to boot!  The shifter is for the A4LD (PRND321), not for an AOD (PRNOD1).  So I would assume this one has the 2.3T and A4LD.

I guess Roush did sell them as street cars with their body kit, name and emblems?