Where Can I Find Accessories for my 2002-2005 Thunderbird? – Congratulations on owning what many believe will become a future classic! Whether you plan to keep your Thunderbird completely stock, or want to customize and accessorize it to reflect your own personal tastes, you’ll need to find the parts and accessories you need.
Where should I start?
Thunderbird parts and accessories fall into four general categories:
Appearance items – this includes custom body kits, hard tonneau covers, fender skirts, continental kits, custom grilles, chrome and stainless steel trim, interior dash trim kits and custom wheels.
Performance Upgrades – this includes exhaust systems and mufflers, cold air intakes, suspension kits and performance tuners and chips.
Thunderbird Maintenance & Care Products – this includes car covers, hardtop hoists, hardtop storage carts, interior covers, front end bras/covers, trunk liners, etc.
OEM Replacement Parts – These are the hardest to find of allThis includes Ford original OEM parts and aftermarket replacement parts made to original factory specifications. Many of these parts have been discontinued by Ford and are out of production. The hardest OEM parts to find include electronic modules, interior trim panels, exterior trim including Thunderbird emblems, floor mats, trunk mats, seat covers, and coil springs, shocks and struts. The oldest of the ‘new’, 11th generation Thunderbirds are now 13 years old. The 2005 Thunderbirds ended production in July of 2005 and are now ten years old. Most of the original Ford-factory OEM replacement parts are now classified as ‘obsolete,’ out of production and no longer available.
Probably the first items you’ll want for your 2002-2005 Thunderbird are some of the factory accessories that were included with the car when it was sold new. These include the factory hardtop, hardtop storage cart, original owners manuals, and original tools and spare tire, along with official Ford accessories like front end covers/bras, trunk liners, floor and trunk mats.
In addition to the above four general categories there are also a wide array of Thunderbird collectibles. Thunderbird collectibles include apparel items such as caps, T-Shirts and jackets, and dozens of other products ranging from watches, neon clocks, clock radios, neon signs, coffee mugs, die-cast models, blankets, art prints, posters, and more.
What are the most popular Thunderbird accessories? –
Of all the aftermarket accessories for the 2002-2005 Thunderbird, one of the first and perhaps the most popular is the ‘Roadster Style’ Tonneau Cover. Created by noted Ford designer James R. Powers, and offered by Powersport as part of its ‘California Custom’ body kit line, it features the raised headrest ‘nacelles’ behind the seats, and signature ‘waterfall’ drop between the seats. There are several different hard tonneau covers to choose from including both one-piece and two piece styles, with or without raised headrests. Powersport/Thunderbird Specialties offers all styles, custom made to suit your personal preferences, depending on the overall look you’re trying to achieve.
Another very popular aftermarket appearance accessory is the chrome-plated tail light bezel. These were first introduced in 2003 and was among the first aftermarket exterior trim items created for the 2002-2005 Thunderbird. There is a wide variety of exterior trim accessories for the new Thunderbird including side accent trim, wheel well trim, grille surround trim, hardtop protection trim, marker light surround trim, rocker panel trim, lower body trim and hood scoop trim. These trim accessories attach without tools using 3M automotive adhesive tape and add a distinctive, personal touch to your Thunderbird.
Interior dash trim kits are another very popular accessory. In what some observers feel was a cost-cutting measure by Ford, the Thunderbird’s ‘center stack’ was plain black plastic. One of the first interior dash trim kits for the new Thunderbird was the hugely popular ‘Brushed Aluminum’ dash trim kit, which was a near-perfect match for the factory lower dash and door side trim panels. Dash trim kits are also available in a variety of other finishes including wood grain, carbon fiber and solid colors.
Shortly after the introduction of the 2002 Thunderbird, aftermarket companies began creating custom grilles including the very popular ‘billet’ style and wire mesh grille. Both the billet and wire mesh grilles have been discontinued and are no longer available, however, in early 2014, Powersport/Thunderbird Specialties introduced a new, custom-fabricated, all-aluminum grille inspired by the 2003 Thunderbird Supercharged show car. This distinctive grille replaces the chrome-plated plastic ‘eggcrate’ grille with a much more refined, elegant polished aluminum grille.
Custom wheels have also become a very popular aftermarket upgrade for the 2002-2005 Thunderbird. The Powersport ‘California Custom’ show car featured stunning 20″ Giovanna ‘Capri’ wheels. While the Giovanna Capri wheel is no longer available, there is a wide selection of custom chrome and alloy wheels that fit the new Thunderbird. One of the most popular aftermarket wheel choices is a wire spoke wheel. Dayton wheel was the first to offer a production wire wheel for the 2002-2005 Thunderbird. Dayton’s 80-spoke design was both elegant and practical. Due to low demand however, Dayton discontinued their wire spoke wheel. Roadster Wheel company introduced a twisted-spoke wire wheel design reminiscent of the classic Kelsey-Hayes wire wheel as seen on Thunderbirds of the 1950’s and ’60’s. The Roadster wheel was also discontinued, leaving owners of the new Thunderbird without a wire wheel option. In early 2015, Powersport/Thunderbird Specialties introduced a new 100-spoke wire wheel. This stunning wheel is the only wire wheel currently available for the 2002-2005 Thunderbird. Wide white wall tires are also very popular with owners of the new Thunderbird and are an attractive complement to the classic wire wheels.
Performance upgrades have become extremely popular with Thunderbird owners, many of whom felt that the 2002 Thunderbird was underpowered at just 252 horsepower. The desire for increased power and performance led to development of both the Borla performance exhaust system and the K&N Cold Air Intake system. Both of those aftermarket upgrades are ‘bolt-on’ and require no permanent modification to the car itself. But perhaps the most dramatic aftermarket performance upgrade for the 2002-2005 Thunderbird is the hand-held flash tuner, first marketed for the new T-Bird by Powersport as the ‘Horsepower in a Box.’ This unique hand-held device plugs into the diagnostic port in the lower dash and allows a choice of pre-loaded custom tunes to be downloaded to the Thunderbird in minutes using an easy-to-use LED readout. The most popular hand held ‘flash’ tuner is made by SCT and has been updated and improved over the years, providing more flexibility, more custom tunes and greater torque and improved shifting at an affordable price.
Who has the largest selection of aftermarket accessories for the 2002-2005 Thunderbird?
There are a number of shopping options for Thunderbird accessories including several large online retailers. But while these online companies may offer a few dozen accessory choices, Powersport/Thunderbird Specialties offers the widest selection of products exclusively for the 2002-2005 Ford Thunderbird, with over 180 items to choose from including body kits, tonneau covers, chrome and stainless steel trim, performance upgrades, Thunderbird apparel and collectibles, and the largest selection of genuine OEM Ford replacement parts available anywhere. Founded in 2002, Powersport/Thunderbird Specialties was the first, and is the largest company of its kind, dedicated exclusively to accessories and replacement parts for the 2002-2005 Thunderbird. While other online retailers sell products for hundreds of different makes and models, Powersport/Thunderbird Specialties is devoted to 2002-2005 Thunderbird owners and enthusiasts exclusively. We offer unrivaled product knowledge and sources unique, exclusive and one-of-a-kind accessories and genuine Ford replacement parts from dozens of specialty manufacturers and suppliers. Powersport was the first to introduce a custom body bolt-on body kit, tonneau cover, custom front end fascia and sport hood scoop, known as the ‘California Custom,’ and its patented design has been featured in auto shows and automotive publications nationwide.
