This setup was significant as it made the Thunderbird, the Lincoln Mark VIII, and the Cougar the only rear-wheel drive North American domestic cars other than the Chevrolet Corvette to offer a four-wheel independent suspension at the time. Rumor has it that the wheels rolling on this very car are a survivor of that program.The car featured four-wheel independent suspension, with short-and-long arms (SLA) and a spring strut assembly in the front and multiple links in the rear, that offered excellent handling and ride quality. JDM Engineering took care of the wiring and computer issues, ONeill fabricated the intake for the Eaton to sit upon, and voila! It remains a clean, attention-grabbing daily driver. And just as frankly, thats exactly what Alex was thinking when he built it: How would Ford have done it? Ford built four prototypes and later crushed them. With an OE-style Eaton blower underhood, it reminds us of what was proposed for the oft-rumored, never-produced SVT-Bird that was whispered about in the early-to-mid-90s to follow up on Thunderbirds outstanding NASCAR success. (The latter is German for supercharger, cribbed from a Mercedes SLK roadster.) This is entirely by design. Theres not a lot to set this particular Bird apart from something you might see at the factoryjust an ASCD cowl hood and badging that reads SVT and Kompressor. Nearly 30 years later, Alex still sticks with Fords. Alex Baynard owns the red example, and as it turns out, hes an old friend of Hot Rod those with long memories may remember him building and installing an exhaust system on a Pinto project shepherded by a young Ro McGonegal.

1994 ford t bird