I was looking on line and came across something sweet looking and they are Chrome Door Handles the website has the for all year Thunderbirds up to the fox body. Here is the website.
http://www.classiquecars.com/thunderbirdshowcart.htm
Here is a pic. I believe this is the one for our cars.
I don;'t think that would fit ours.
I know I don't think so either but its just a pic if u click on the link and scroll down you will see they have them in Chrome and factory black.
If you really want chrome door handles head to the parts store. They make them in the HELP/ motormite brand.
I went to there website they don't make them in Chrome, nor did I see them in the black. If u find them let me know.
The outer door handles were also used on earlier Fox Mustangs. If you see listings for 'chrome' and 'black'...that's what you'll be getting: reproduction Mustang handles, usually not made in the U.S. Not sure of the quality. Probably good enough for daily drivers, maybe not so much for show quality cars.
CJ Pony Parts (http://"http://www.emustang.com") is good for the repros (here (http://"http://www.parts123.com/parts123/yb.dll?parta~dyndetail~Z5Z5Z50000016c~Z5Z5Z5ACMII~P19.95~~~~S2GE0VVY3W99138219835b~Z5Z5Z5~Z5Z5Z50000016c"))...and sometimes they have OEM handles (here (http://"http://www.parts123.com/parts123/yb.dll?parta~dyndetail~Z5Z5Z50000016c~Z5Z5Z5ACEWS~P90.95~~~~S2GE0VVY3W99138219835b~Z5Z5Z5~Z5Z5Z50000016c") and here (http://"http://www.parts123.com/parts123/yb.dll?parta~dyndetail~Z5Z5Z50000016c~Z5Z5Z5ACEWQ~P59.95~~~~S2GE0VVY3W99138219835b~Z5Z5Z5~Z5Z5Z50000016c")).
Or you could do as ipsd suggested and try the Help! handles if all you would need is chrome. Again, not sure of the quality.
Here you go! I guess cause I work for a parts store I'm the only one that can find them http://www.oreillyauto.com/EW3/ProductDetail.do?id=2037347140&line=MTM&itemNumber=77062&categoryIndex=0&didSearchFor=Door+Handle&vehicle=1988MERCURYCOUGARLSV6-232%20%203.8L&bid=1220398035096&cycleCount=708¤tPage=0
The part number is 77062 driver side and 77063 passenger side now next time get up and look!
Don't the vast majority of these cars already have chrome door handles? I know my 88 does, and I thought all except the Turbo Coupe, Sport and XR7 had 'em. I briefly considered swapping the black handles out of my spare TC doors onto my car to complete the de-chroming but decided against it. Not for any noble reason, mind you - I was just too lazy to drill the rivets out of the TC handles (the chrome ones were already off for the paint job)
Thanks I found them sorry. I going to get them.
most of my Cougars and thunderbird had them... except the aero years....
Well mine has black, so I want to change them.
THe chrome on mine are cooked.
I'm keeping the black TC handles for the time being
Aw come on, Carm...with that year-round snow that y'all have in Canada, all you need is a hammer and a punch, and them frozen rivets will pop right out. ;)
Little tip: if you don't want to use pop rivets upon reinstallation, you can use 1-1/4" carriage bolts with some Loc-Tite. They're a little more secure as they're harder to drill out, won't let the handle flop around over time, and can be completely removable (with some elbow grease) when you want them to be. Plus they look cooler.
black handles FTMFW!
Try the junkyards also, You might find a nice set.
I didn't know the were so uncommon, I see more chrome than black up here.
Get chrome door handles off 50resto.com and then donate your old ones if they work fine to someone with a mustang missing a door handle or at least thats what i did.
I used stainless steel 1/4" cap screws with nylock nuts when I reinstalled mine. I had considered using rivets again but remembered how much it sucked drilling the old ones out (rivets are not easy to drill when you can't pop the center out - it's the hardest part of the rivet so the drill bit wants to "walk" off of it).
The only problem with the py ones from the parts stores is they are made with plastic parts and they only last a few months till they break. I will be ordering these because they are made with all metal construction, the price is right and I have seen these up close and they look pretty good, better then the ones at NAPA http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWAX%3AIT&viewitem=&item=140226674824
I couldn't get the chrome handles off of mine fast enough...course, I'm going for the stealth bomber look, too :D
One of these fine days (ha, with the hurricane-influenced weather..? riiiighhhht) i'll have to get some pics of my bird...;)
I used aircraft hardware to reistall my handles. Nothing says I love you than titanium.
Ford still sells the handles, I picked up a repop first and what a piece of junk, So I called the dealer and they had them, cost about $55.00 but well worth the price, a nice tight handle with no slop or rubbing the body when you pull up. I believe rangers have the same handles.
I just bought the foxbodyrestore handles and they are tight also and they have a bigger spring and look pretty good, and for under $30 bucks how can you go wrong will post pictures later