WELL-MAINTAINED SOUTHERN BELLE, SENIOR OWNED, 41K ACTUAL MILE, BOTH TOPS, LOADED

Are the new Thunderbirds going to be as collectable as the originals? That remains to be seen, ut the bottom line is that this 2003 Ford Thunderbird is still a first-class ticket and a wonderful piece of retro styling that makes everyone long for a simpler time.Ford knew what they were doing when they rolled out the 2-seater Thunderbird convertible, apturing the look and feel of the original while updating in every way. This one wears classic black, traditional color that accentuates the long, leek profile and offers a modern take on a classic '50s look. The dark paint accentuates the long, ow profile and works better than many of the other colors offered. With just 41,223 miles showing on the clock, ou know this one is in excellent shape in every way and has lived an easy life, ike most Thunderbirds, s a future collectable. As such, t's never seen snow, ever been wrecked, nd if it's even been in the rain, t was only in an emergency because this was not a daily driver. Build quality on these cars is quite good (Ford obviously knew their halo car had better be excellent in every way) and the various parts fit together better than you'd expect and offers doors that close with a reassuringly heavy feeling. Unlike so many 2-seat convertibles, his 'Bird feels substantial. There's still a bit of chrome, ostly on the grille, nd all of those details are in as-new condition, oo. The black and red interior is a dramatic contrast to the relatively subtle bodywork, legant and sporty in every way. With such low mileage, here are almost no signs of use save for a few wrinkles on the driver's seat leather, nd even those might have been there when the hides were still on the cow. Black carpets are unmarked, rotected by some carpeted floor mats that are bound in red piping, nd the lovely two-tone leather steering wheel isn't dirty or discolored. Heck, ven the shifter knob is wrapped in matching red leather! Just about everything was standard on the Thunderbird, ncluding automatic climate control, ower windows, ocks, irrors, nd seats, ruise control, nd a powerful AM/FM/CD stereo that sounds great when you're running alfresco. The big, lear gauges have a retro feel but aren't duplicates of old gauges but a modern take on a classic look, ight down to the turquoise-colored pointers. A power convertible top is the one you'll use most often, ut it also includes a color-matched porthole hardtop so you can use it year-round.Ford's 3.9 liter V8 engine is smooth, orquey, nd utterly capable in the smooth 2-seat 'Bird. It's not made for tire-shredding performance, ut if you want to hustle, t's ready and willing. Properly maintained from new, t's turn-key ready for a cross-country road trip, nd with the 5-speed automatic transmission behind it, uel economy is decent. Like the original Thunderbirds, he suspension is supple without being soggy, nd the all-independent setup rarely puts a tire wrong. Big disc brakes give it a level of confidence earlier Thunderbirds would have appreciated and the dual exhaust has just the right eight-cylinder burble. This one currently wears a set of chrome Thunderbird wheels with 235/50/17 Michelin radials, nd the bright wheels are the perfect complement to the black paint, aking this a very flashy T-Bird indeed.Only time will tell if these are legitimate collectables, ut buying a low-mileage Thunderbird in a great color combination is a great first step. Call today!