Someone spent $45,000 building Ford’s 2003 Thunderbird

Modifying concept cars is usually a bad idea, but the owner thinks functionality is more important than originality for the Thunderbird

If the Ford Thunderbird Italien show car is a little too old for you, maybe the Thunderbird Supercharged concept is right up your alley. It debuted at the 2003 Los Angeles Auto Show and will be auctioned at the Broad Arrow Chattanooga Auction next month.

Originally created to preview a potential new member of the Thunderbird family, the concept is powered by a supercharged 3.9-liter V8 engine with 390 hp (291 kW / 395 PS) and 390 lb-ft (528 Nm) of torque. At the time, Ford said this transformed the T-Bird from a “large station wagon into a performance-focused sports car.”

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In addition to being significantly more powerful than the standard model, the concept features a unique front fascia and ventilated power dome hood. They are joined together by new front fenders and a special rear bumper with exhaust tips mounted on either side of the license plate recess.

Designers and engineers also lowered the suspension and fitted the concept with a set of custom 18-inch wheels. The taillights are also unique to this model and feature an eye-catching Machine Silver paint finish.

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Ford’s initial press release provided limited details about the suede-toned leather interior, but it noted that the car features polished and brushed chrome accents and machine silver paint. We can also see the Supercharged logo on the odometer along with 385 miles (620 kilometers).

While concepts are rare and shouldn’t be messed with, the listing reveals that the current owners “invested heavily in enhancing the concept’s practicality and streetability.” They reportedly spent around $45,000 to convert it from “The pure show concept car is transformed into a more capable vehicle suitable for road use”. This is tragic and it will be interesting to see if this move leads to a collapse in value.

Speaking of value, the roadster is being sold without reserve and is expected to sell for between $40,000 and $60,000. While this price range seems consistent with 2014’s $57,750, let’s not forget that accounting for inflation, today’s number is closer to $78,000.

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