Performance Review: Ford Thunderbird 428 Hard Top 5th Gen. - [1967]

Figures & Specs Summary:

Ford Thunderbird Performance Review.

Introduction:

This edition of the Ford Thunderbird 428 Hard Top 5th Gen. is the 3 speed / Auto version and was first brought out in 1967. This was at around the same time as the introduction of the 1968 Dodge Dart Hemi 7.0 V8 and the 1968 Plymouth Road Runner 426 Hemi V8 1st Gen.This particular Ford Thunderbird has a 6997cc Naturally Aspirated Petrol powerplant with 8 cylinders in a V formation.

Alternative Petrol V8's includes the 2023 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon 170

The Thunderbird shares its Petrol V8 engine configuration with the likes of the 2023 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon 170 and the 2023 Ferrari SF 90 XX Spider 4.0 V8 Turbo. If you're looking for other fast cars which share the Thunderbird's Rear Wheel Drive, Coupe combination then how about the 1982 Fiat X1/9 1.5 8V or the 1965 Aston-Martin DB6 1965.

Power and Weight:

Weighing in at 2035 kgs (4486 lbs) this makes the Ford Thunderbird 428 Hard Top 5th Gen. in the same weight category as the 2022 Ferrari Purosangue 6.5 V12 or the give or take 50kg.

The Ford Thunderbird shares the same bhp with the 2024 Mazda CX-90 S 3.3 Turbo (340 bhp)

In terms of power the 6997cc 16V V8 engine produces 350 bhp (260 kW) @ 4600 rpm similar to the 2024 Mazda CX-90 S 3.3 Turbo (340 bhp) or the 2024 Chevrolet Corvette E-Ray 6.2 V8 Petrol Hybrid C8 (369 bhp).

The Naturally Aspirated V8 throws out 462 lb-ft (626.3 Nm) @ 2800 rpm placing it with cars of similar torque performance figures such as the 2024 Chevrolet Corvette E-Ray 6.2 V8 Petrol Hybrid C8 (470 lb-ft) or the 2023 Porsche Cayenne S 4.0 V8 Turbo (443 lb-ft).

Power to Weight:

If one combines the weight with power or torque performance for the Ford Thunderbird you can get a better idea of it's real world performance.

The 2014 Renault Megane RenaultSport 275 Trophy (196.9 bhp per ton) has similar Bhp Per Ton stats as the Ford Thunderbird.

The Ford Thunderbird has a Power to weight ratio of 171.9 bhp per ton and 227.0 lb-ft per ton. Bhp Per Ton figures of the 1967 Thunderbird competing with the 2014 Renault Megane RenaultSport 275 Trophy (196.9 bhp per ton) or the 1999 Porsche Boxster 3.2 S 260 (196.9 bhp per ton).

Power to Weight(cont.):

If you agree with the late great Carroll Shelby then arguably an even better indicator of potential performance, Torque. Use weight as well and you end up with - Torque per ton, with the Ford Thunderbird generating around 227.0 lb-ft per ton. If you're curious as to what other cars have as much torque to weight then look no further than the 1990 Lotus Carlton 3.6 Turbo (251.9 lb-ft per ton) or the 1970 Ford Torino 2nd Gen GT 429 4V Cobra Jet V-8 4-speed (251.8 lb-ft per ton).

Acceleration:

With a 0-60mph time of 8.10 secs or a 0-100km/h (0-62mph) of 8.4 secs, this made the Ford Thunderbird 428 Hard Top 5th Gen. as fast as the 2014 Peugeot 308 GT 2.0 Blue HDI 180 (8.10 secs) the 2008 Fiat Grande Punto 1.4 T-Jet 155 Abarth (8.10 secs) the 2006 Volkswagen-VW Golf GT TDi 170 (8.10 secs) the or the 2005 Vauxhall-Opel Astra 2.0 Turbo SRI (8.10 secs). This Ford Thunderbird 428 Hard Top 5th Gen. is also faster than the 2006 Seat Leon 2.0 16v TDI FR (8.20 secs) the 2005 Land-Rover Range Rover 4.4 V8 (8.20 secs) the 2003 BMW X5 3.0d (8.20 secs) the and the 2000 Honda Civic 2.0i VTEC Type S (8.20 secs).

Quarter Mile time is a close race between the Thunderbird and the 1986 Ford Sierra RS Cosworth

When talking about the performance of the Ford Thunderbird on the drag strip it can reach a quarter mile in an estimated 14.81 secs @ 92.4 mph. Similar performance down the quarter mile can be found with the the 1986 Ford Sierra RS Cosworth (14.74 secs), the 2006 Porsche Cayman 2.7 (14.74 secs), and the 1990 Ford Sierra Sapphire RS Cosworth 4x4 (14.74 secs).

Top Speed:

Modern performance cars are often artificially restricted to 155mph. The 1967 version of the Ford Thunderbird 428 Hard Top 5th Gen. has a maximum speed of 133mph.

Top Speed of the 1967 Thunderbird equals the 2018 Ford Fiesta ST 1.5 Turbo 5 door (144 mph)

If maxing out your car on the AutoBahn is your thing and you're wondering what's faster than the 1967 Ford Thunderbird 428 Hard Top 5th Gen. then how about the 2018 Ford Fiesta ST 1.5 Turbo 5 door (144 mph), the 2018 Ford Fiesta ST 1.5 Turbo (144 mph), or the 2016 Abarth 124 Spider 1.4 Turbo (144 mph).

Related Links:

1967 Thunderbird Rivals List.

A Brief History of Ford

Car Comparison