Thunderbird
New Ford EcoBoost Racing Engine Breaks Daytona Speed Record
Michael Shank Racing driver Colin Braun broke Bill Elliott’s 1987 Daytona single-lap speed record piloting a Riley Technologies Daytona Prototype, powered by Ford’s new biturbocharged 3.5-liter V-6 racing engine that will be used in the 2014 United SportsCar Championship series. That speed was 222.971 miles per hour, smashing the old record by more than 12 mph.
Keepers: Thunderbird Turbo Coupe—Community
As one might expect with a lesser-known performance car, the Turbo Coupe community is a lesser-known group of individuals who not only love the Turbo Coupe, but all iterations of the Fox-Body based, “aero birds” that graced the FoMoCo lineup from 1983-1988. They also love and embrace the same-era Mercury Cougar, which mirrored the Turbo Coupe’s development through 1986 by offering the 2.3 turbo with a five-speed on the rare XR-7 model.
Keepers: Thunderbird Turbo Coupe—Shopping
Folks who’ve been considering a Turbo Coupe purchase—especially those with some mechanical know-how—will find prices are surprisingly affordable, with fixer-uppers generally available for under $1000. Be warned though; while these cars have longevity and reliability on their side (more than a few TC owners attest to topping 200,000 miles with just basic maintenance), bringing one back from the dead can become a pricey endeavor.
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