would it be worth restoring 1985 t-bird 30th anniversity edition
body is straight,need interior work has been converted to 4bl carb 2nd.owner
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1985 Ford Thunderbird Reviews, Pricing & Specs
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The 1985 Ford Thunderbird was offered in a special 30th Anniversary Edition, with distinctive blue paint, jazzy racing stripes, and the 5.0 liter Windsor V-8 engine. This special 'Aero Bird' was a much more fitting inheritor of the T-Bird mystique than some of its disappointing 'Box Bird' predecessors of the early 1980s!
Regular trim offerings for the '85 Thunderbird included the Heritage, FILA, Elan, and Turbo Coupe. The interior of the 1985 Thunderbird saw a pretty significant redesign, while the exterior got a few tweaks here and there, including yet another new look for the front grille and rear taillights.
Under the hood, the '85 Ford Thunderbird shipped off the line with the 3.8 liter Essex V-6, clocking at 110 horsepower; an upgrade to the 5.0 liter Windsor V8 brought 140 horsepower. As for the Turbo Coupe's turbocharged 4-cylinder, a reengineering brought that all the way up to a 155-horsepower output.
The mid-eighties 'Aero Birds' had finally found that sweet spot in the automotive market of the day. With the look and feel of a European-style sport performance car, the comfort and options range of a luxury vehicle, and the fuel efficiency of a family sedan, the 1985 Ford Thunderbird was an easy sell. You'll still find some of these beauties on the streets today: their low-to-the-ground styling and solid construction make them favorites with the tuner and low-rider crowd.
Published Aug 9, 2022 by CarGurus Editorial Team
User reviews for 1985 Ford Thunderbird
Write a reviewUser rating:
by dan y
Apr 04, 2024
I had the 30th Anniversary Edition, it was the first new car I ever bought. I loved it! Truly a drivers car; it hugged the road and had great feel to it. The 302 engine was bulletproof. I racked up around 390,000 miles on it, until finally, it was going to cost too much to get it to pass California smog. I drove it another six years without tags until it was impounded. Hated to see it go, I still miss it, but had to move on. Apr 04, 2024
by Anonymous
Mar 23, 2012
Bought this car new. It is the Elan with the 5.0 engine. Lot's of power. Original motor at 167,000 miles and 2 years ago I replaced the transmission after 25 years.. Not bad. I always use it as a back up these days. It's always ready to go. I wish it had the abs brakes and the air went. But when you start it the motor and the steering wheel is steady and smooth.. I love, Love this car. I will never get rid of it. All though my 12 year old thinks it is so "old". Getting ready to clear coat. Afraid I won't find parts for it in the future. But Besty is doing well.. Mar 23, 2012
by Matt G
Oct 21, 2011
Honestly, I knew what I was buying when I bought it. A well engineered, top of the line, fully loaded, Ford Thunderbird Elan. I got what I expected when I bought it andI knew I would have it for at least twenty years . . . barring any accidents, right?
This car will make a great car for an enthusiast or serious collector.
Oct 21, 2011
User rating:
by dan y
Apr 04, 2024
I had the 30th Anniversary Edition, it was the first new car I ever bought. I loved it! Truly a drivers car; it hugged the road and had great feel to it. The 302 engine was bulletproof. I racked up around 390,000 miles on it, until finally, it was going to cost too much to get it to pass California smog. I drove it another six years without tags until it was impounded. Hated to see it go, I still miss it, but had to move on. Apr 04, 2024
by Anonymous
Mar 23, 2012
Bought this car new. It is the Elan with the 5.0 engine. Lot's of power. Original motor at 167,000 miles and 2 years ago I replaced the transmission after 25 years.. Not bad. I always use it as a back up these days. It's always ready to go. I wish it had the abs brakes and the air went. But when you start it the motor and the steering wheel is steady and smooth.. I love, Love this car. I will never get rid of it. All though my 12 year old thinks it is so "old". Getting ready to clear coat. Afraid I won't find parts for it in the future. But Besty is doing well.. Mar 23, 2012
by Matt G
Oct 21, 2011
Honestly, I knew what I was buying when I bought it. A well engineered, top of the line, fully loaded, Ford Thunderbird Elan. I got what I expected when I bought it andI knew I would have it for at least twenty years . . . barring any accidents, right?
This car will make a great car for an enthusiast or serious collector.
Oct 21, 2011
by Anonymous
Mar 22, 2011
302 w/rv cam dual exhaust out of the side in front of rear wheels custom rims tinted windows performance is great has awesome acceleration great car to drive did many long distant trips in this car get 21 mpgMar 22, 2011
by Anonymous
Jun 20, 2010
I like the acceleration of this car but the gas pedal doesn't
always catch. It handles great. I like that the interior and
exterior colors match, but to tell you the truth i think it looks
like a grandma car. It only gets around 12 mpg so it is very
expensive to drive. All in all it is pretty fun to drive though.Jun 20, 2010
by Anonymous
Dec 03, 2009
This is a great car. My first was an 84 and I loved it. This one is an anniversary edition with a 5.0L HO 5-speed. Fun to drive and turns heads. Only thing I did not like about these cars was the rust which always forms at the bottom of the doors.Dec 03, 2009
by Bryan D
May 18, 2008
It was a fun car while I had it and I miss it, but I know its in good hands. It was a beauty for an older car and I got allot of comments for it even though it was not in mint condition.May 18, 2008
by Cole L
Apr 25, 2008
You know at the time I sort of complained about it... it smoked when you started it.. and made noises (it had 120K on it when we bought it) but in retrospect it was a fun car and I wish we'd fixed it and restored it. *note* the picture is actually an -86 model.. mine didn't have the hood vents and was smoke blue. HOT! Oh.. and a manual transmissionApr 25, 2008
by Michael R
Feb 26, 2008
302 automatic. lotsof power. blue fuel injectedFeb 26, 2008
by Michael M
Jan 13, 2008
A sweet car. 8 way power bucket seats with lumbar support. You didn't sit in these seats, you were warmly welcomed, enveloped, and gently held in place. You felt as if the seat was happy holding you, lol. I made some changes on this car, FMS springs, intake, rotors, new 5 lug axles, short throw shifter, and a chip. Fun car. A 4 cyl that ran a 15.063 at the drag strip and beat an 8 cyl Corvette in the process.Jan 13, 2008
by Michael M
Jan 13, 2008
When I got this car it was a regular 6 cyl Thunderbird, blue outside and blue inside. Not very imaginative, eh? I'd dreamed of having a racecar for a long time, as a kid I went to the local track with my dad, and I guess that's where it began. I was running in SCCA SOLO events, and this car was my chance. I stripped the car inside, put in a racing seat and a 5 point seat belt, I had set of gauges installed, an MSD box, and a new distributer. I had the engine rebuilt, had it bored 40 over and fitted with a 4bbl carb. The car was an automatic when I bought and that had to go, the trouble was, Ford never mated a 5 spd to the V-6 in a Thunderbird. But they did in the Mustang (whew). So I had the clutch and tranny installed with the newly refreshed V-6. I got new 5 lug rotors for the front and got new 5 lug axles for the rear. The factory car had 4 lug wheels. I had the frame tied, new shorter springs, for that low down stable feel, headers and duel exhaust. I never did that great running the car, but that wasn't the car's fault and it was a hell of a lot of fun!Jan 13, 2008
by Johnny M
Jan 10, 2008
It loved this T-bird Jan 10, 2008
by Anonymous
Sep 24, 2007
Takes corners like a dream, quick off the line and high max speed. The '85 T-Bird is a great ride and if you can get your hands on one, DO IT!!. Overall its a great car and has tons of front leg room and enough rear leg room for most people.Sep 24, 2007
by Anonymous
Sep 07, 2007
i have a ford thunderbird elan 5.0 and this is the best ford i have ever driven ive put well over 30000 miles in the 2 years ive had it Sep 07, 2007
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Top Comparisons
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1985 Ford Thunderbird Pricing
Original MSRP
$11,113 to $15,838Price range
N/AAverage price on CG
N/AYoY price change
N/ATrims & specs
Audio System
AM/FM radio
Convenience Features
Steering wheel: tilt-only
Seats
Front seat type: bucket · Upholstery: cloth
Audio System
AM/FM radio
Convenience Features
Steering wheel: tilt-only
Lights
Exterior entry lights: security approach lamps
Mirrors
Exterior mirrors: power
Seats
Front seat type: bucket · Upholstery: cloth
Windows
Front wipers: intermittent
Audio System
AM/FM radio
Convenience Features
Steering wheel: tilt-only
Seats
Front seat type: bucket · Upholstery: cloth
Audio System
AM/FM radio
Comfort Features
Steering wheel trim: leather
Convenience Features
Steering wheel: tilt-only
Lights
Exterior entry lights: security approach lamps
Mirrors
Exterior mirrors: power
Seats
Front seat type: bucket · Upholstery: cloth
Tires and Rims
Wheel type: aluminum alloy
Windows
Front wipers: intermittent