Ford Thunderbird Engines by Year

Ford built the Thunderbird from 1955 to 1997 and again from 2002 to 2005, starting as a two-seater and growing into a four-seat personal luxury car. Its engines ran from the Y-block V8s to the 460, and later included the Turbo Coupe's 2.3 turbo four and the Super Coupe's supercharged 3.8.

Pick a year to see every engine offered that model year, with its code, rated horsepower and the trims it came in. Each engine links to its full specs.

Jump to a year

1955–1957: 1955 · 1956 · 1957

1958–1966: 1958 · 1959 · 1960 · 1961 · 1962 · 1963 · 1964½ · 1965 · 1966

1967–1976: 1967 · 1968 · 1969 · 1970 · 1971 · 1972 · 1973 · 1974 · 1975 · 1976

1977–1979: 1977 · 1978 · 1979

1980–1997: 1980 · 1981 · 1982 · 1983 · 1984 · 1985 · 1986 · 1987 · 1988 · 1989 · 1990 · 1991 · 1992 · 1993 · 1994 · 1995 · 1996 · 1997

2002–2005: 2002 · 2003 · 2004 · 2005

1955–1957

The two-seat Thunderbird used the 292 and 312 Y-block V8s; the 1957 F-code 312 was supercharged.

1955 Thunderbird engines

Engine	Rated	Offered in
292 V8 (P-code)	198 hp gross	All

1956 Thunderbird engines

Engine	Rated	Offered in
292 V8 (M-code)	202 hp gross	With conventional 3-speed
312 V8 (P-code)	225 hp gross	With Fordomatic (215 hp with Overdrive)

1957 Thunderbird engines

Engine	Rated	Offered in
292 V8 (C-code)	212 hp gross	With conventional 3-speed
312 V8 (D-code)	245 hp gross	With Overdrive or Fordomatic
312 V8 (E-code)	270 hp gross	All
312 V8 (E-code)	285 hp gross	All
312 V8 supercharged (F-code) Supercharged F-code.	300 hp gross	All

Race-only (not street legal): F-code NASCAR, 340 hp gross

1958–1966

The four-seat Thunderbird used the 352, the 430 shared with Lincoln in 1959–1960, then the 390, including the 1962–1963 M-code with three two-barrel carburetors, and the 428 for 1966.

1958 Thunderbird engines

Engine	Rated	Offered in
352 V8 (H-code)	300 hp gross	All

1959 Thunderbird engines

Engine	Rated	Offered in
352 V8 (H-code)	300 hp gross	All
430 V8 (J-code)	350 hp gross	Cruise-O-Matic only

1960 Thunderbird engines

Engine	Rated	Offered in
352 V8 (Y-code)	300 hp gross	All
430 V8 (J-code)	350 hp gross	Cruise-O-Matic only

1961 Thunderbird engines

Engine	Rated	Offered in
390 V8 (Z-code)	300 hp gross	All

1962 Thunderbird engines

Engine	Rated	Offered in
390 V8 (Z-code)	300 hp gross	All
390 V8 (M-code) M-code, three two-barrel carburetors.	340 hp gross	All

1963 Thunderbird engines

Engine	Rated	Offered in
390 V8 (Z-code)	300 hp gross	All
390 V8 (M-code) M-code, three two-barrel carburetors.	340 hp gross	All

1964½ Thunderbird engines

Engine	Rated	Offered in
390 V8 (Z-code)	300 hp gross	All (incl. Landau)

1965 Thunderbird engines

Engine	Rated	Offered in
390 V8 (Z-code)	300 hp gross	All (incl. Landau)

1966 Thunderbird engines

Engine	Rated	Offered in
390 V8 (Z-code)	315 hp gross	All
428 V8 (Q-code)	345 hp gross	All

1967–1976

The Thunderbird used the 390, 428 and 429 and, from 1972, the 460. Ratings are SAE net from 1972.

1967 Thunderbird engines

Engine	Rated	Offered in
390 V8 (Z-code)	315 hp gross	All
428 V8 (Q-code)	345 hp gross	All

1968 Thunderbird engines

Engine	Rated	Offered in
390 V8 (Z-code) Standard until January 1, 1968, when the 429 replaced it.	315 hp gross	All
429 V8 (N-code)	360 hp gross	All

1969 Thunderbird engines

Engine	Rated	Offered in
429 V8 (N-code)	360 hp gross	All

1970 Thunderbird engines

Engine	Rated	Offered in
429 V8 (N-code)	360 hp gross	All

1971 Thunderbird engines

Engine	Rated	Offered in
429 V8 (N-code)	360 hp gross	All

1972 Thunderbird engines

Engine	Rated	Offered in
400 V8 (S-code)	172 hp net	Early 1972 production
429 V8 (N-code)	212 hp net	All
460 V8 (A-code)	224 hp net	All

1973 Thunderbird engines

Engine	Rated	Offered in
429 V8 (N-code)	201 hp net	All
460 V8 (A-code)	219 hp net	All

1974 Thunderbird engines

Engine	Rated	Offered in
460 V8 (A-code)	220 hp net	All

1975 Thunderbird engines

Engine	Rated	Offered in
460 V8 (A-code) Published ratings for this engine vary.	218–224 hp net	All

1976 Thunderbird engines

Engine	Rated	Offered in
7.5L / 460 V8 (A-code)	202 hp net	All

1977–1979

The downsized Thunderbird shared Ford's intermediate engines: the 302, 351 and 400.

1977 Thunderbird engines

Engine	Rated	Offered in
5.0L / 302 V8 (F-code)	130 hp net	49-state
5.8L / 351 V8 (H-code)	149 hp net	All
5.8L / 351 V8 (Q-code)	161 hp net	All
6.6L / 400 V8 (S-code)	173 hp net	All

1978 Thunderbird engines

Engine	Rated	Offered in
5.0L / 302 V8 (F-code)	134 hp net	49-state
5.8L / 351 V8 (H-code)	144 hp net	All
5.8L / 351 V8 (Q-code)	152 hp net	All
6.6L / 400 V8 (S-code) Published ratings for this engine vary.	160–166 hp net	Trailer-towing package or California

1979 Thunderbird engines

Engine	Rated	Offered in
5.0L / 302 V8 (F-code)	133 hp net	All
5.8L / 351 V8 (H-code)	142 hp net	All
5.8L / 351 V8 (H-code)	151 hp net	All

1980–1997

The Fox and MN12 Thunderbirds offered sixes, the 3.8 V6, the 5.0 and 4.6 V8s, the 1983–1988 Turbo Coupe's 2.3 turbo four, and the 1989–1995 Super Coupe's supercharged 3.8.

1980 Thunderbird engines

Engine	Rated	Offered in
4.2L / 255 V8	115 hp net	Base standard
5.0L / 302 V8	131 hp net	All (optional)

1981 Thunderbird engines

Engine	Rated	Offered in
3.3L / 200 inline-six Published ratings for this engine vary.	88–94 hp net	Standard
4.2L / 255 V8	115 hp net	Optional
5.0L / 302 V8	130 hp net	Optional

1982 Thunderbird engines

Engine	Rated	Offered in
3.3L / 200 inline-six	87 hp net	Standard
3.8L / 232 V6	112 hp net	Optional
4.2L / 255 V8 Published ratings for this engine vary.	111–122 hp net	Heritage standard, Others optional

1983 Thunderbird engines

Engine	Rated	Offered in
2.3L / 140 inline-four turbo	145 hp net	Turbo Coupe
3.8L / 232 V6	110 hp net	Base, Heritage
5.0L / 302 V8	130 hp net	Base/Heritage optional

1984 Thunderbird engines

Engine	Rated	Offered in
2.3L / 140 inline-four turbo	145 hp net	Turbo Coupe
3.8L / 232 V6	120 hp net	Base, Elan, FILA
5.0L / 302 V8	140 hp net	Optional

1985 Thunderbird engines

Engine	Rated	Offered in
2.3L / 140 inline-four turbo	155 hp net	Turbo Coupe
3.8L / 232 V6	120 hp net	Base, Elan
5.0L / 302 V8	140 hp net	Optional (standard on 30th Anniversary)

1986 Thunderbird engines

Engine	Rated	Offered in
2.3L / 140 inline-four turbo	155 hp net	Turbo Coupe
3.8L / 232 V6	120 hp net	Base, Elan
5.0L / 302 V8	150 hp net	Optional

1987 Thunderbird engines

Engine	Rated	Offered in
2.3L / 140 inline-four turbo	190 hp net	Turbo Coupe
3.8L / 232 V6	120 hp net	Base, LX
5.0L / 302 V8	150 hp net	Sport standard, Base/LX optional

1988 Thunderbird engines

Engine	Rated	Offered in
2.3L / 140 inline-four turbo	190 hp net	Turbo Coupe
3.8L / 232 V6	140 hp net	Base, LX
5.0L / 302 V8	155 hp net	Sport standard, Base/LX optional

1989 Thunderbird engines

Engine	Rated	Offered in
3.8L / 232 V6	140 hp net	Base, LX
3.8L / 232 V6 supercharged	210 hp net	Super Coupe

1990 Thunderbird engines

Engine	Rated	Offered in
3.8L / 232 V6	140 hp net	Base, LX
3.8L / 232 V6 supercharged	210 hp net	Super Coupe

1991 Thunderbird engines

Engine	Rated	Offered in
3.8L / 232 V6	140 hp net	Base, LX
3.8L / 232 V6 supercharged	210 hp net	Super Coupe
5.0L / 302 V8	200 hp net	Sport standard (1992-93), Base/LX optional

1992 Thunderbird engines

Engine	Rated	Offered in
3.8L / 232 V6	140 hp net	Base, LX
3.8L / 232 V6 supercharged	210 hp net	Super Coupe
5.0L / 302 V8	200 hp net	Sport standard (1992-93), Base/LX optional

1993 Thunderbird engines

Engine	Rated	Offered in
3.8L / 232 V6	140 hp net	Base, LX
3.8L / 232 V6 supercharged	210 hp net	Super Coupe
5.0L / 302 V8	200 hp net	Sport standard (1992-93), Base/LX optional

1994 Thunderbird engines

Engine	Rated	Offered in
3.8L / 232 V6	140 hp net	Base, LX
3.8L / 232 V6 supercharged	230 hp net	Super Coupe
4.6L / 281 V8	205 hp net	LX/base optional

1995 Thunderbird engines

Engine	Rated	Offered in
3.8L / 232 V6	140 hp net	Base, LX
3.8L / 232 V6 supercharged	230 hp net	Super Coupe
4.6L / 281 V8	205 hp net	LX/base optional

1996 Thunderbird engines

Engine	Rated	Offered in
3.8L / 232 V6	145 hp net	Base, LX
4.6L / 281 V8	205 hp net	LX/base optional

1997 Thunderbird engines

Engine	Rated	Offered in
3.8L / 232 V6	145 hp net	Base, LX
4.6L / 281 V8	205 hp net	LX/base optional

2002–2005

The retro Thunderbird used a 3.9 four-cam V8 shared with the Lincoln LS.

2002 Thunderbird engines

Engine	Rated	Offered in
3.9L / 240 V8	252 hp net	All

2003 Thunderbird engines

Engine	Rated	Offered in
3.9L / 240 V8	280 hp net	All

2004 Thunderbird engines

Engine	Rated	Offered in
3.9L / 240 V8	280 hp net	All

2005 Thunderbird engines

Engine	Rated	Offered in
3.9L / 240 V8	280 hp net	All

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