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1988 Ford Thunderbird Turbo Coupe With 15K Miles Up For Auction

While many tend to think of V8 engines when they envision the legendary Ford Thunderbird, there were obviously many other types of powerplants available in that sporty model over its multiple generations of production, too. Aside from more pedestrian performers, the Ford Thunderbird Turbo Coupe is of particular interest to enthusiasts, as it offered up strong performance in time when not many vehicles did – not to mention unique looks as well. This 1988 Ford Thunderbird Turbo Coupe is a fine example of that particular model, and it has barely been driven since new, to boot.

A photo showing the exterior of a 1988 Ford Thunderbird Turbo Coupe from a rear three quarters angle.

This 1988 Ford Thunderbird Turbo Coupe has a mere 15k miles on the clock, and is now seeking a new owner via Bring a Trailer, where it’s currently being auctioned off. It’s unclear why the previous owners opted not to drive the T-Bird much over the years, but the result is a car that looks nearly as good as new, with no flaws marring its Oxford White paint. The same is true of its Turbo Coupe-specific bodywork and original 16-inch aluminum wheels, too.

Peek inside, and one will see an interior that’s akin to a time capsule as well, with perfect Scarlet Red cloth power-adjustable front seats and a rear bench seat, paired with amenities such as automatic climate control, cruise control, a digital clock, the factory AM/FM/cassette stereo, and power windows, door locks, and mirrors. Power comes from the turbocharged 2.3L I-4 engine that was originally rated to produce 150 horsepower (compared to 190 for manual transmission cars), mated to a four-speed automatic gearbox and a Traction-Lok limited-slip differential.

Interestingly, this isn’t the only low-mile Ford Thunderbird Turbo Coupe we’ve spotted at auction recently – that list also includes a 1987 manual model with just 6k miles, as well as another 1987 with 37k miles and the manual. For those that prefer the V8-powered T-Bird, we also came across a 1987 model with the 5.0L engine and a mere 4k miles this past March, too.

Brett's lost track of all the Fords he's owned over the years and how much he's spent modifying them, but his current money pits include an S550 Mustang and 13th gen F-150.

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