2003 T-Bird

[DavidA]

Here's a list of tThunderbird

Engine horsepower increased to 280 and torque to 286 foot-pounds
Electronic throttle control and variable cam timing improve engine performance, power and fuel economy
All-speed traction control now standard
Available heated driver and passenger seat
Newly styled analog instrument cluster
Two-speed, variable-interval wipers with heated wiper park
New exterior colors: Mountain Shadow Gray, Desert Sky Blue
New Saddle interior package includes full leather saddle seats, saddle leather steering wheel insert and saddle leather shift knob
New additional interior colors: Black Ink and Whisper Whitehe new features for 2003.

For the complete story, go to http://media.ford.com/products/presskit_display.cfm?vehicle_id=700&pres s_subsection_id=421&make_id=92

[5bird7]

In reading their article, noted that the hardtop colors can be mixed and matched - wonder if that means you could get a grey top with a black car?? or red top with a grey car?

[DavidA]

They've also made select shift an option. I hope we can retrofit ours to use that shifter mechanism.:puzzled:

[rlstonejr]

first time I have heard that saddle color interior will be available!

[AZTB]

Here's a site from Ford that further explains the 2003 Bond Bird...

http://media.ford.com/article_display.cfm?article_id=12545

[AZTB]

If I'm reading this right, then Ford is add another X-brace underneath the car, in addition to the 3 braces already in place for the 2002...

"A cross-car beam ties the structure together just behind the seats and three steel X-braces are bolted to the underbody in the front, midcar and in the rear. The result is a body structure and chassis with good strength and stiffness that helps provide excellent ride quality and handling."

If this is what I think it is, the cross-car beam is the vertical brace behind the passenger compartment, and a third horizontal X-brace has been added in the rear to further prevent cowl shake.

Does anyone else see them saying that for the 2003?

[5bird7]

Question came up in the "rumors" I think, but will answer it here since it's not in the rumor category. Someone wanted to know if the fan had been changed from hydrolic to electric for the 03s. My source says, "yes!" That's a definite change that will be in place on the 03s.

[DavidA]

I think the ccross beam is something that all the birds have including ours. The 3 "X" members are also something ours all have ... nothing new here.

[Gobird]

Skip asked me to post this for him, for some reasion he is having trouble signing on over here. Those fortunate enough to attend the ITC (International Thunderbird Club) annual convenrtion in Watkinds Glen, NY, July 23-28 got several nice treats, and a big surprise.
1) Gary Boost, the new Chief Engineer (this means he's in charge) of the Tbird program attended with his wife. HE DROVE A PRE-PRODUCTION 2003 BIRD !!!! We got to examine it very closely. He he was the guest speaker at our awards banquet, during which he brought us up to date on the '03 changes, as well as future plans. Now before I go further, and before someone asks, I have photos, but not digital photos. When my photos reurn from processing, I will scan and post them.

Visual changes include:
a) V8 emblem on the front fenders
b) Revised visor material. I think it looks tacky compared to the '02.
c) The new guage cluster. Instead of the guages flowing across like the '02, each is in it's own seperate chrome trimmed housing set on a black background. It looks more performance oriented. I tend to like the nostalgic look of the '02 better.
d) The car was equipped with the new, optional, select shift transmission. It is laid out similiar to the '02, but the channel to the right on the console is centered as compared to the quadrant on the left with + & - symbols to guide the manual shifting.
e) The controls for the heated seats are located on the curved blank section in the area where the dash meets the console, one for each seat.

Generally, the car looks the same. The new engine upgrades have resulted in a change in the engine compartment because of the shortened breather tube. There is also a new engine cover design as well.

The new colors will be the gray and blue as we all pretty much know about now. The car is scheduled to be launced in the 4th quarter of '02. No firm info on pricing, or production start date. The red exterior color is the same as the '02. There will be a saddle interior available. No change in the boot, carpets, etc, except that the black seat trim will be more of a darker gray than black. I could not really see any difference looking at the '03, which was supposed to have the change, but it was not close enough to an '02 to make a comparison.

As for the future, Gary, as typical for folks in his position, was rather non-committal. He implicated a long future for TBird, unlike the 4-5 year window that has been implicated. I assume thois will be predicated on sales. Things being looked at include a better boot arrangement, GPS, a w2ider interior color selection, performance and handling revisions, and possible SVT involvement. Some of the performance and handling upgrades will appear in '03, much as has been indicated in previous Ford releases.

2) Also in attendance was Miles Johnson, of Ford Marketing/SVT. He arranged for the Living Legends Tour to be availaqble for the show. This included the TBird Sports Roadster, a '02 Bird, the Mustang Pony, The Mustang Mach I, and, by special arrangement, the concept GT 40. This exhibit is certainly worth any effort to see it if ti comes to your area.

He also made a presentation to our group, which included:

a) A preview of several new advertising spots featuring Bill Ford, including one for TBird. It is well done, including a "cameo" with Frank Sinatra with a '57from the movie Pal Joey. They will start airing tomorrow.

b) The trailer for the new Bond movie. No TBird appears in it, only the Aston Martin Pirece Brosnan will drive. Miles did advise that there will be 700 produced for sale through normal channels (Ford dealers), not NiemannMarcus as was previously thought. No release date at this time.

I'll try to post photos as soon as possible. If someone else who attended has digital photos, please post them. More to come as I remember it.

Oh, by the way, all 4 2002 Birds entered in judging won first place (awards are made by points, not ranking). Yours truly had a full 200 point judging result ( which would seem logical for a new car, even one that is driven reguarly). We have a lot of room for 2002 owners in our ranks, with chapters in most areas of the country. Interested?
Skip
Red/Red/Red Premium #1678

e.

[rlstonejr]

Skip - Very nice report. thank you. can't wait to see the pictures.:thumbsup::smokin:

[Red]

Brite metal trim piece for the top to sit on??? Duane

[dac_beth]

Saw the car, nothing for the top to rest on and I spoke to Gary Boost myself about the top scuffing and he only mentioned the tape kit.

Also, Gary indicated that the car had a new rack and pinion under the front end end and special rear supension change to keep the rear end down (keep the rear end from lifitng, flying).

I asked about the cooling fan, he indicated "no change.

Also, forgot, part of the increase in horses came from an intake modification, the engine has a t-bird emblem on the front where our has thunderbird written. :thumbsup:

[joelja]

Gary Boes, the TBird chief engineer, will also be speaking to us in Destin between the drive-in movie double feature.

[dac_beth]

Sorry for the typo, Gary Boes

[Tbird Lover]

This may be a stupid question, but I don't understand how the "select shift" transmission differs from what I have now. I have 1, 2, 3, D4, D5...so I can "manually" shift the gears if I want to. What makes the "select shift" different?

[Skip]

The select shift provides a separate channel to, theoretically, shift through the gears, kind of like the old Hurst dual gate system in the Pontiac GTO's of the late 60's. The gears aren't marked as such, however, just a + & - shows on the panel. But you are right Tbird Lover, you can basically do the same with what we have now. The basic difference in set up is that the select shift has the channel centered to the right, whereas ours are from the center of the main quadrant extending to the rear of the car. Confuseed? I should have my interior photos up by tomorrow.

Skip

[5bird7]

Thanks to Lucille Harvey and Skip, we now have some 2003 interior and engine compartment photos to look at.
Here's the small version of the photos. You'll have to visit my website to view the large versions.
http://www.geocities.com/thenewtbird/2003/2003changes.jpg

Click HERE (http://www.geocities.com/thenewtbird/2003/preprod.html) for the new page.:fordsrule:

[2K2BIRD]

I think if I owned one of those 2003 birds, the first modification I would make is to get rid of those lame V8 emblems. They should have gone with something more retro, like the one off of the Explorer. Of course that is just my opinion, I could be wrong.

Paul
4 Red FORDs

[bluebird]

The dealers now have the 2003 order guide and prices. The only full color interior available is red, the only partial colors are red, white and saddle. The saddle is the whole seat, not just the inserts, black accent is still available. The visors are cloth covered.

Both red interiors are limited to red, white or black exteriors, white is not available with the grey exterior, and the saddle is for the black or grey exterior only.

All models now have traction control, the premiums have the chrome wheels and heated seats. The select shift is a $130 option.

[bluebird]

Ford shows off high-tech innovations
Detroit Free Press 08/26/02
by Jim Mateja / Chicago Tribune

While GM is developing a displacement-on-demand V-8 engine that will shut off 4 cylinders when not needed to conserve fuel, Ford is developing an electronic throttle control system.

Thanks to computers and sensors, the Ford system will adjust the air-fuel mix into the engine and/or spark timing to run leaner for higher mileage or richer for higher power based on need. The system is activated by pedal sensors that measure pressure applied to the accelerator pedal -- light when cruising, heavier when passing or climbing.

"With today's throttle cable system, you press the pedal and the throttle opens to give the engine more fuel for power. With this new system, the pedal position sensor means you always are getting the best fuel economy," said Graham Hoare, director of powertrain research at the lab.

It will bow in the Lincoln LS and T-bird this year and the Ford Explorer SUV for '04.

[5bird7]

Sounds like Ford is getting conservative again with only the full red accent available. I like the "lighter color" of the full accent plus it helps reduce the heat buildup when the tops down and the sun is heating up the interior.

They're missing the boat on the red interior by limiting it to the black, red or white cars. It should be available for the grey exteriors - that's an extremely popular color combo with the 57 thunderbirds - red looks really sharp with dark grey.

With those colors interiors, the only exteriors I could see excluding the red interior would be blue or coral.

[03bird]

I was finally able to have Ford take my order for a 03 bird today. The msrp is up about $900. all together:pbj:

[Gobird]

03bird, did you get the heated seats and select shift.

[03bird]

No heated seats.. Will spend winters in garage. yes Select shift

[Gobird]

03bird, should have ask also, what color ext. and int. and anything else we should know. Thanks.

[03bird]

Red with the new black ink interior. White top.
The same as my 57 bird with the exception that the 57 has a red interior. I ordered the deluxe because it just seems to me that all the new cars I see have 5, 6, or 7 spoke wheels. My BMW has 21 spoke wheels sort of like the birds and I like them quite well. I ordered the black accent pkg. I like that better than the others

[tr cruiser]

Ford posted a press release for the 2003 LS on their media site (http://media.ford.com/products/press_article_display.cfm?article_id=12831&vehicle_id=718&make_id=93). The article claims that more than 500 components have been redesigned. One new option is a THX sound system. Wonder if the 2003 Thunderbird will offer the same?

[bluebird]

You can read about the 2003 T-bird on the site too, go to the home page and then pick the Ford oval at the top. The bird is not getting the new sound system or any of the other new LS items except for the new engine and the Select Shift.

[bluebird]

Here's a couple of reviews of the 2003...

http://www.newcartestdrive.com/review-intro.cfm?ReviewID=1295
and
http://www.thecarconnection.com/index.asp?article=5520&sid=184&n=157