Weekly Treasure: Jeff Gordon's 1991 Ford Thunderbird Super Coupe

Mar. 20, 2022 5:03 PM ET by Jay Traugott Auctions / 16 Comments

A present for the NASCAR legend from Ford.

The Ford Thunderbird is an American automotive legend. Retired NASCAR driver Jeff Gordon is someone everyone has heard of. That combination is what makes this 1991 Thunderbird Super Coupe so special. Currently up for auction on Cars and Bids, this Thunderbird was gifted to Gordon from the Blue Oval after he won the Busch Series Rookie of the Year award way back in 1991.

Over the years, the Thunderbird became more of a personal luxury coupe instead of the Corvette fighter it originally was back in the 1950s. Ford introduced a retro Thunderbird in 2002 but it was a grand tourer rather than a true performance car like the Mustang. The tenth-generation Thunderbird was first launched in 1988 and stuck around through 1997, the year Ford first retired the nameplate before its brief revival a few years later.

The tenth-gen's front-engine, rear-wheel-drive layout is nearly unheard of for today's latest vehicles. Several engine choices were offered, including a supercharged V6 and a couple of V8s. Gordon's car has the Essex 3.8-liter supercharged V6 rated at 210 horsepower and 315 lb-ft of torque. Hey, it was the early 90s. Power goes to the rear wheels via a five-speed manual, which is a rare combination for this car.

Because of its special status, Ford fully equipped this Thunderbird with leather seats, automatic climate control, a power sunroof, a JBL Premium audio system, an aero kit, and a traction-lock limited-slip differential. The seller - who is NOT Jeff Gordon - added a few features like a Kenwood head unit and fog lights. The glovebox, however, is signed by Gordon.

Unfortunately, the car was involved in an accident years ago but details are not available. The odometer reads just 58,000 miles but this likely isn't accurate because it's reportedly defective and was fixed a couple of years ago. In other words, its true mileage is a mystery. A few other normal wear and tear issues include some dings and the like on the bumpers and doors, sagging pockets behind the front seats, and some underbody rust. All of this can be addressed.

The good news is that a previous owner had Gordon's old Thunderbird fully serviced back in 2020. It's hard to say whether or not the car will increase in value over the years thanks to its original owner, but right now the highest bid has reached a very reasonable $9,500. The auction will conclude on March 24.