Upper & lower control arms, coil springs, anti-roll bar upper and lower control arms, coil springs, anti-roll barġ1.8-in vented disc 11. V-8, DOHC, 4 valves/cyl, aluminum block & heads

Prior to our delivery, Ford serviced the car and replaced the tires, effectively resetting the odometer to the extent possible. Availability of Ford's new 'Bird was thin, and not wanting to wait months to take delivery of a factory-fresh car, we agreed to accept one that had been around the block a few times. Somewhat unusual for a car entering our long-term fleet, this T-Bird came to us with over 9000 miles already on the odometer. Winning the Golden Calipers results in automatic inclusion into our One-Year Test program, which gave us a genuine opportunity to log numerous road miles in this Torch Red two-seater.

It was this iconic American design, along with a smooth ride, V-8 power, high-quality convertible top, and value-packed sticker price, that got it named the Motor Trend 2002 Car of the Year. Equipped with efficient aerodynamics and the new CID 430 V8 engine, the Thunderbird led drivers Curtis Turner, Johnny Beauchamp, 'Tiger' Tom Pistone, and Cotton Owens to several wins.

With so many bland copycat machines crowding driveways and freeways alike, it's refreshing to see an automotive giant like Ford prioritize design and heritage as much as it did with the 2002 Thunderbird. The Ford Thunderbird made its first entry into NASCAR racing in the 1959 season.

New thunderbird ford