From The Same Year As Synchronicity: 1983 Nissan Sentra vs 1983 Ford Thunderbird

Sbsd 6 17 2024
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Good morning! This week, we’re going to look at pairs of cars from the same year, and each year will also be the same as the release year of an album I love. Hey, they didn’t tell me I couldn’t write a little about music as well as cars, so let’s push the envelope a bit. Today’s choices both hail from 1983, the same year as The Police’s fifth and final studio album, Synchronicity.

On Friday, we looked at a pair of Corvettes for a hypothetical cross-country purchase and flip. I originally meant to find a C3 and a C4, but I couldn’t find a C3 that I liked, so we wound up with two C4s. Worse, two white C4s. Given the similarity of the cars, it came down to condition and transmission type, and the automatic convertible’s $1500 price discount wasn’t enough to recommend it over the stickshift coupe, which really is in lovely condition for the price.

For what it’s worth, I agree with the majority here. The Doug Nash 4+3 gearbox is a little weird to operate, but at its heart it is a good old H-pattern four-speed, the manual transmission of choice for Corvettes dating all the way back to 1957. The later ZF six-speed is undoubtedly better, but only if you get rid of that dumb skip-shift thingy.

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Now then: The old adage “you have to suffer to write” isn’t necessarily always true, but it seems to be the case that the really good stuff in any artistic field comes from a place of friction. Conflict creates passion, which fuels creativity, and in a collaborative medium like a record album, the members of a band hating each other a little bit often leads to some brilliant music. When everybody is having fun and getting along, you get Hanson. When all the parts are recorded separately because nobody can stand to be in the same room as one another, you get Let It Be. Or Rumours. Or Synchronicity.

If all you remember are “Every Breath You Take,” “Wrapped Around Your Finger,” and “King Of Pain,” do yourself a favor and listen to the whole thing again, straight through, in order. It’s 40 minutes of musical genius, and the big hits actually make more sense in the context of the rest of the album. From the bouncy 6/4 time signature of “Synchronicity I” to the jazzy and sinister “Murder By Numbers,” allegedly recorded in one take with no prior rehearsal, it’s excellent. (Yes, even that weird Stewart Copeland song on side 1.)

And while you’re listening, here are a couple of cars to check out.

1983 Datsun/Nissan Sentra – $2,500

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Engine/drivetrain: 1.6-liter overhead cam inline 4, three-speed automatic, FWD

Location: Folsom, PA

Odometer reading: 52,000 miles

Operational status: Runs and drives well, has been in storage

In the early 1980s, while small Japanese cars were slowly taking over the suburbs, one automaker was busy trying to get buyers to call it by a different name: Nissan. Along with the new name came a massive ad campaign, and a bunch of new models, including the all-new front-wheel-drive Sentra, which replaced the popular RWD Datsun 210. “The Name Was Nissan,” but for a couple of years, the cars wore both badges until the market got used to it.

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This 1983 Sentra is practically a time capsule. It has only 52,000 miles to its name, and apart from some sun-bleaching, it could have been bought yesterday, and driven home in time to watch Cheers. it’s not the most desirable spec – a four-door sedan with an automatic transmission – but it’s probably representative of what rolled out of most Datsun, er, Nissan, dealerships back then.

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Nissan’s tagline may have been “Major Motion” back then, but don’t expect miracles from this little car. It has a carbureted 1.6 liter four that sends a meager 69 horsepower to the front wheels through the aforementioned automatic. I’ve driven a Pulsar from this era with the same engine and transmission, and it was leisurely, to say the least. The seller says it runs and drives well, but they also mention that it has been stored for sixteen years. Best be ready to replace some rubber parts.

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It appears to have escaped the rust that consumed so many cars of this era, but the paint is really dull and faded. It’s hard to say whether it would shine back up or not. But even as it sits, this car is neat to see. It has beaten (or rather, hidden from) the forces of time and attrition, and it serves as a clean example of the way economical cars used to be.

1983 Ford Thunderbird – $3,500

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Engine/drivetrain: 5.0-liter overhead valve V8, three-speed automatic, RWD

Location: Columbia, MD

Odometer reading: 138,000 miles

Operational status: Not running; needs fuel pump “or something”

Meanwhile, over in Dearborn, Michigan, one of the oldest automotive names around – Ford – was trying like hell to claw its way out of the doldrums of the malaise era. Its versatile Fox platform made up the lion’s share of its midsize offerings, but while the platform was well-thought-out, the cars themselves were, with the exception of the Mustang, pretty uninspiring. The Thunderbird personal luxury coupe, in particular, seemed lost and awkward when it moved from the full-size LTD platform to the smaller Fox in 1980. It wasn’t until this aerodynamic new body style was introduced in 1983 that the Thunderbird started to get its mojo back.

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The coolest version of this generation Thunderbird was the Turbo Coupe, which featured a turbocharged version of Ford’s 2.3 liter four, often paired with a five-speed manual. It had blackout trim and really sharp-looking alloy wheels. This isn’t one of those. This is your grandma’s Thunderbird, with lots of chrome, fake woodgrain, a column-shifted automatic, and fake wire wheel covers. But at least this one has a 302 V8, not the lame 3.8 liter Essex V6.

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That V8, however, is the source of this car’s problems. It’s the first year for throttle-body fuel injection, which requires higher fuel line pressure than a carburetor, meaning the old engine-operated diaphragm fuel pumps won’t cut it. Fuel-injected cars have electric fuel pumps, and if I understand correctly, this car has two of them, one inside the fuel tank and one in-line under the car. One or the other – or maybe both – has failed, and the car won’t start. The seller can get it to run for a few seconds by dribbling fuel straight down the throttle body, but that’s it.

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In-tank fuel pumps are a colossal pain in the ass; just ask our buddy Stephen Walter Gossin, who has seen people resort to drastic measures to access them in the past. But if that’s really all this car needs, it could be worth the effort. It’s mighty clean otherwise, and these are comfy cars, among the last of the traditional personal luxury coupes.

And that takes care of 1983. the year when “Every Breath You Take” was on MTV constantly – along with some short film about dancing zombies. Tune in tomorrow for another musical journey, and two more crappy old cars. And no, they won’t all be from the ’80s, I promise.

(Image credits: Craigslist sellers)

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83 thoughts on “From The Same Year As Synchronicity: 1983 Nissan Sentra vs 1983 Ford Thunderbird

  1. The V-8 T-bird is perfect for comfortably eating up the miles on long-distance road trips, and it’s classy-looking as well. Nice basis for restoring or going further with a restomod; plenty of Fox-body parts out there.

    Oh, and it’s always worth checking the inertial fuel shutoff that’s located behind some of the carpeting in the trunk. They’re known to false-trigger or fail — that could be a potential source of the fuel delivery problem. We had a similar ’83 T-Bird in the family, and that device is called out in the owner’s manual as something to check for a no-start condition.

  2. The V-8 T-bird is perfect for comfortably eating up the miles on long-distance road trips, and it’s classy-looking as well. Nice basis for restoring or going further with a restomod; plenty of Fox-body parts out there.

    Oh, and it’s always worth checking the inertial fuel shutoff that’s located behind some of the carpeting in the trunk. They’re known to false-trigger or fail — that could be a potential source of the fuel delivery problem. We had a similar ’83 T-Bird in the family, and that device is called out in the owner’s manual as something to check for a no-start condition.

  3. The Sentra is priced okay for its condition and gets my vote. Had the prices been swapped, I would’ve considered the Thunderbird. It looks decent, but not the car I’d want to put more money into.

  4. The Sentra is priced okay for its condition and gets my vote. Had the prices been swapped, I would’ve considered the Thunderbird. It looks decent, but not the car I’d want to put more money into.

  5. I’ll take the Sentra as a curiosity. I don’t like looking at this era of Thunderbird, and I certainly don’t want to put any effort into that particular car. But I do admire the cosmetic shape it’s in.

  6. I’ll take the Sentra as a curiosity. I don’t like looking at this era of Thunderbird, and I certainly don’t want to put any effort into that particular car. But I do admire the cosmetic shape it’s in.

  7. Tough way to start the week. I would have a hard time saying something positive about either of these vehicles. I never liked that generation of Thunderbird so I’m obviously not interested in a broken one for $3500.

    The Nissan is sort of interesting, so it gets my vote by default. I’m less enthused about the condition, though. I don’t think this car is as nice as it looks at first glance. I see a lot of minor flaws – faded paint, some rust on the driver’s side quarter panel, discoloration/rust of the grill, rust by the right rear wheel, and a dashboard crack. The trim panel below the doors on the driver’s side also looks like it has some rust or other issues. Between these issues and the fact that it has sat for 16 years, I don’t see this being $2500 car. I might be interested in it for $1000, though.

    1. I’m with you on this. Not my favorite T-bird, and the Nissan isn’t in the kind of shape I’d have any actual interest in it for that price. So the Nissan wins, only because I care less about the Thunderbird.

  8. Tough way to start the week. I would have a hard time saying something positive about either of these vehicles. I never liked that generation of Thunderbird so I’m obviously not interested in a broken one for $3500.

    The Nissan is sort of interesting, so it gets my vote by default. I’m less enthused about the condition, though. I don’t think this car is as nice as it looks at first glance. I see a lot of minor flaws – faded paint, some rust on the driver’s side quarter panel, discoloration/rust of the grill, rust by the right rear wheel, and a dashboard crack. The trim panel below the doors on the driver’s side also looks like it has some rust or other issues. Between these issues and the fact that it has sat for 16 years, I don’t see this being $2500 car. I might be interested in it for $1000, though.

    1. I’m with you on this. Not my favorite T-bird, and the Nissan isn’t in the kind of shape I’d have any actual interest in it for that price. So the Nissan wins, only because I care less about the Thunderbird.

  9. As I am on a low budget I look at these showdown cars as which one would I buy if I needed to get a car for going back and forth to work? Well after reading both descriptions I would go for the Nissan. I look for cars at a run and be doesn’t look like they’ve been trashed.

  10. As I am on a low budget I look at these showdown cars as which one would I buy if I needed to get a car for going back and forth to work? Well after reading both descriptions I would go for the Nissan. I look for cars at a run and be doesn’t look like they’ve been trashed.

  11. Tough call. I went for the Sentra by default because the ‘Bird is NOT a comfortable car, it’s equipped with those back-killing ’80s Ford seats that forced you to slouch.

    Both of these are “if only” cars though. If only the Sentra was a manual. (This is the sort of car the term “autotragic” was coined for. 0-60 in 5 to 7 business days with an engine note that troubles your mechanical sympathy like it was Sally Struthers, all at a hit of at least 5 mpg.) If only it was a wagon or a hatchback coupe.

    If only the T-Bird was a more interesting color and the original buyer (who probably would’ve had to order black-on-black since most black ones seem to have had red guts) had checked the box for factory Recaros, if only it was a runner…

  12. Tough call. I went for the Sentra by default because the ‘Bird is NOT a comfortable car, it’s equipped with those back-killing ’80s Ford seats that forced you to slouch.

    Both of these are “if only” cars though. If only the Sentra was a manual. (This is the sort of car the term “autotragic” was coined for. 0-60 in 5 to 7 business days with an engine note that troubles your mechanical sympathy like it was Sally Struthers, all at a hit of at least 5 mpg.) If only it was a wagon or a hatchback coupe.

    If only the T-Bird was a more interesting color and the original buyer (who probably would’ve had to order black-on-black since most black ones seem to have had red guts) had checked the box for factory Recaros, if only it was a runner…

  13. Dammit, Mark! I wanted at least one of these two to be an absolute, genuine, grade A, top shelf shitbox so I could crack a joke about how it looks like something that crawled to the surface of a dark Scottish loch. But neither one deserves such a criticism.

    So instead, I’ll say that I’m taking the T-Bird home after another working day has ended, with only the rush hour hell to face, packed like lemmings into shiny metal boxes, contestants in a suicidal race.

      1. “I’m not sure any amount of polish will make this Sentra into an acceptably shiny metal lemming box, but given the safety standards in place in 1983, I’m sure you could still be a contestant in a suicidal race.”

        You can make the references you like without direct quotes. We’ll still get it. 😉

      2. Not the same, but you could have ended with:

        “So which of these can you find Synchronicity with and which would be a humiliating kick in the crotch?”

  14. Dammit, Mark! I wanted at least one of these two to be an absolute, genuine, grade A, top shelf shitbox so I could crack a joke about how it looks like something that crawled to the surface of a dark Scottish loch. But neither one deserves such a criticism.

    So instead, I’ll say that I’m taking the T-Bird home after another working day has ended, with only the rush hour hell to face, packed like lemmings into shiny metal boxes, contestants in a suicidal race.

      1. “I’m not sure any amount of polish will make this Sentra into an acceptably shiny metal lemming box, but given the safety standards in place in 1983, I’m sure you could still be a contestant in a suicidal race.”

        You can make the references you like without direct quotes. We’ll still get it. 😉

      2. Not the same, but you could have ended with:

        “So which of these can you find Synchronicity with and which would be a humiliating kick in the crotch?”

  15. In 1983, I’d likely have been sitting in a Filipino boom-boom bar pounding nickel San Miguels while bar girls in bikinis and heels stumbled through an off-tempo bump and grind to a bootleg MTV video of “King of Pain,” all while shouting, “I love you, no shit, buy me drink.” The Sentra is the closest thing to the typical new cars that would have been pothole surfing in the streets back then. So, this is a nostalgia vote.

  16. In 1983, I’d likely have been sitting in a Filipino boom-boom bar pounding nickel San Miguels while bar girls in bikinis and heels stumbled through an off-tempo bump and grind to a bootleg MTV video of “King of Pain,” all while shouting, “I love you, no shit, buy me drink.” The Sentra is the closest thing to the typical new cars that would have been pothole surfing in the streets back then. So, this is a nostalgia vote.

  17. Just because of mileage, I might have gone for the Fugly Datsun, but the auto trans was the nail in the coffin. I imagine that will end up in Mexico though, they love their Tsuro’s

  18. Just because of mileage, I might have gone for the Fugly Datsun, but the auto trans was the nail in the coffin. I imagine that will end up in Mexico though, they love their Tsuro’s

  19. My all time favorite gen of T-birds. These Sentra’s were true tin cans, but wow the MPG. Had a friend with one and she got 50 MPG all the time. Still has to be the T-bird for me. They were so futuristic when they came out, and still look good to these eyes.

  20. My all time favorite gen of T-birds. These Sentra’s were true tin cans, but wow the MPG. Had a friend with one and she got 50 MPG all the time. Still has to be the T-bird for me. They were so futuristic when they came out, and still look good to these eyes.

  21. That foxy t-bird would be much cooler to fix and build it up but leave looking like a grandpa’s car that could smoke the doors off a modern mustang. Also being a fox body with a 5.0 parts would be really easy to obtain.

  22. That foxy t-bird would be much cooler to fix and build it up but leave looking like a grandpa’s car that could smoke the doors off a modern mustang. Also being a fox body with a 5.0 parts would be really easy to obtain.

  23. One of my Aunts bought an 83 Sentra brand new, lowest possible spec, manual everything including the transmission, didn’t even have a radio.

    By 1990 things were starting to fail on the car, and for some reason (She was broke is the reason) I was her now trusted mechanic. Mind you, I was 13, but I spent many weekends under that car, or next to it, or under the hood. I did oil changes, I did her brakes, I replaced her oil pan gasket, gave it a tune up. The fact that I was left to do this, entirely unsupervised kinda boggles my mind now, I have a 14 year old, and there’s no way I’d just toss him a whole ass car, a minimal tool set, the keys and just tell him to have at it!

    Anyways I voted Thunderbird.

    1. My first car was an 89 Sentra stripper like that. No radio, no passenger side mirror, not even a vanity mirror for the passenger. Wrecked and fixed four times (one my fault) before we got rid of it.
      I read something recently about all the crazy stuff we did at very early ages that for whatever reason we don’t let our kids do now, or wait until they are much older. Interesting study on how it affects those kids and their sense of independence and confidence when they get older.

      Also picked T-bird.

      1. Yeah, they are living very different lives than we did, they sure aren’t as independent as I was at that age, but I’m okay with that; I got into a lot of situations I had no business being in.

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