I had already been through one car – an ill-fated project known as the Subaru XT6 – and it, too, had an advanced suspension that relied on air bags for support. Here’s what kept from moving forward: the adjustable suspension, which was basically obsolete and impossible to find parts for. OK, the Turbo Coupe in question was borderline abandoned, but it was a 5-speed and I thought I’d absolutely want one. I had a couple of restless nights grappling whether I should buy one of these in very deep project car territory.

Find it here on eBay with a Buy-It-Now of $16,000 and the option to submit a best offer. This Turbo Coupe is equipped with a power moonroof, 3.55 Traction-Lok rear axle, adjustable suspension, four wheel disc brakes, and more. Aside from the performance benefits, the Turbo Coupe looks sharp courtesy of its unique alloy wheels and special black and red trim. As a later Turbo Coupe, it has full boost in all gears, as opposed to the early cars that excluded the first two gears from max boost pressure. This 1988 Ford Thunderbird Turbo Coupe is a gorgeous survivor, with just over 41,000 miles and equipped with the preferred 5-speed manual.

88 thunderbird coupe