New VW Bug...New TBird?

[jerrym3]

Re: New VW Bug...New TBird?

No disagreement here, MerlotBlue. I'm just satisfied with the way it (and my LS) run.

I also wonder how stiffer handling would affect body rattles with the hardtop on?

It's true that the old car performance versions get the most attention as years go by. Just look at the big block Corvettes, 57 BelAir fuelies, and MoPar Hemi's.

But, they weren't the big sellers when new. The majority of buyers want a good running, fairly responsive, dependable car. That's why I don't believe better performance would have done that much for sales.

Yes, more retros would have been sold, but how many more?

Unfortunately, we'll never know.

[lasuvidaboy]

Re: New VW Bug...New TBird?

The designers of the retro bird had the '61 to '63 bird in mind when doing the rear end of the retro.

Yep. '61-'63 had one of the best looking taillight/rear-end designs ever. I was behind a 1963 TBird hardtop the other day in Pasadena, CA and I just could'nt keep my eyes off that car.:)

[Chuckster]

Re: New VW Bug...New TBird?

I'd love to see a modern version of the 1961-63 or the 1964-66 Tbird in a 4-seat convertible of course. There are few cars as beautiful as a '63 TBird convertible in that silver/blue paint:).

I have to agree with you, Bruce. My all time favorite T-bird when I was growing up was the '63 Sports Roadster. But nothing has ever compared with the beauty and elegance of the '64 to '66 models....and it had to be a convertible! I'm not sure that we'll ever see that again.

[jerrym3]

Re: New VW Bug...New TBird?

Lsst weeks "Bones" on Fox had a black 64 TBird vert with continental kit.

Nice.

[Rondor]

Re: New VW Bug...New TBird?

A few options may have sold a few more retro's but it really is pretty parallel with the first ones. A unique style that appealed to a small number and not rated very high by any car geniouses at the time, resulting in almost identical sales numbers. While nobody is likely to retire off retro investments many will enjoy a car they love at little or no cost in the end, as there will always be a market for a car with theese low numbers. Corvett is the only 2 seater with any significant sales so power options has to be somewhat of a factor.

[jerrym3]

Re: New VW Bug...New TBird?

Rondor, I agree with most of what you wrote, but I also believe that TBird and Corvette buyers are a different breed most of the time.

Except for TCoupes and SCoupes, (and a few 2 seater supercharged versions), TBird really never pushed performance, although the square birds dodn't do badly on the oval track.

And, while those Coupes were quick (I did own one), they weren't really "the" car to own for performance.

Again, had a performance model been available, more Birds would have been sold, but I don't think that that would have changed things in the long run, but that's just my opinion.

I still would have bought the standard, acceptable performance model. Had I wanted a performance two seater, I would have bought a Vette.