come back Ford Thunderbird

[BITWTB]

Re: come back Ford Thunderbird

There IS a market for luxury 2-seat autos, Cadillac CTS or Jaguar XE, for instance. Too small, and they become skateboards (Miata M5, for example). Effectively, Camero and Mustang are 2-seaters--I mean, does anyone use the back seats regularly (excluding in-laws)? It can happen, but I'd really hate to see the days of the '67-80 era when T-Birds were essentially relabeled versions of other models (no offense, anyone--just observations of divergence from the original idea).

[jerrym3]

Re: come back Ford Thunderbird

While I am sorry to see the TBird name pass away, and I believe it has, I was much sadder to see Mercury die.

I've owned more Birds than Mercs, but that car was a part of my growing up.

One afternoon drive in the early 50's in a 49 or 50 Merc black convertible and I was hooked on cars for life.

[AZTB]

Re: come back Ford Thunderbird

While I agree with your statements in general, Wallaby, I rather like the Miata. It's held its niche just fine and has a very loyal following. I drove the Honda S 2000 back in 2001 prior to purchasing the MB 2-seater and loved the car, but rumors of its demise scared me off. Porsche's current Cayman series is a 2-seater and is the darling of the racing set (and also gets rave reviews from MT, C/D, etc.), but Porsche's bread & butter is the 911 and Cayenne.

[AZTB]

Re: come back Ford Thunderbird

While I am sorry to see the TBird name pass away, and I believe it has, I was much sadder to see Mercury die.
I've owned more Birds than Mercs, but that car was a part of my growing up.
One afternoon drive in the early 50's in a 49 or 50 Merc black convertible and I was hooked on cars for life.

I felt the same about Olds and Pontiac. Pontiac was the only manufacturer who never produced big-block/small-block V8's. The O.D. of all their engines, from the 287 to the 455, was the same, which allowed not only parts exchange but also sneaky racing!

[V8 Cat]

Re: come back Ford Thunderbird

There IS a market for luxury 2-seat autos, Cadillac CTS or Jaguar XE, for instance. Too small, and they become skateboards (Miata M5, for example). Effectively, Camero and Mustang are 2-seaters--I mean, does anyone use the back seats regularly (excluding in-laws)? It can happen, but I'd really hate to see the days of the '67-80 era when T-Birds were essentially relabeled versions of other models (no offense, anyone--just observations of divergence from the original idea).

I love two seat sports cars, but the two other cars I have besides the Tbird have back seats that are really not fit for anybody to go any distance in them - BUT THEY ARE THERE JUST IN CASE. I think that's the way potential purchasers look at sports/GT cars when buying. They ask themselves can I just live with two seats? Some of them want the two seaters, but decide they just need a rear seat whether they use it much or not. Cadillac made the XLR which was a very nice luxury two seater, and they could not sell enough to continue production. Then you have the Tbird that failed to meet sales goals Most two seat cars become "toys" and in this economy there is not a big market for "toys". I don't see an American car company jumping into the two seat sports car market in a long time. If you want an American car of that type, you are stuck with Corvette.

[jerrym3]

Re: come back Ford Thunderbird

Back seats can also be used for carrying things other than people.

[00mustng]

Re: come back Ford Thunderbird

.....This ship has already sailed......a long time ago......

[Bill Brown]

Re: come back Ford Thunderbird

I don't see another Bird in my future no matter what they do if anything. I'll keep what I have.

Amen brother Spence. This is my plan as well.

[BITWTB]

Re: come back Ford Thunderbird

Rear seats/cargo space. I ran a couple of Volvo 1800ESs many moons ago. They had rear seats (as did the coupes), but I kept the backs folded down 99% of the time and made it a 2 seater all the time. Incidentally, I had more head and leg room in the Volvo than the Thunderbird, but then, the roof didn't come off.

[Ray]

Re: come back Ford Thunderbird

I plan to keep mine too, but I still think it would be a shame to retire the Thunderbird name. In this age of cars named numbers or letters, like the Mazda 3,6,7,9 and Cadillac CTS, DTS, SRX, etc, a name as awesome as Thunderbird is a breath of fresh air in the world of boring car names. It's a car name that envokes a feeling, it's a name that's become part of Americana. Just think of all the songs that have Thunderbird in it. I just hate to see "Unique in all the world" disappear. If it does, so be it. I'm living the experience now and will until I die.

[kbrighton]

Re: come back Ford Thunderbird

I like most of the retros that have been made by various manufacturers, except for the Camaro. A few years ago, Ford did a 49 concept car that never got produced.



I would love to see a retro of the 61-63 bird, or to own one of the originals.

[lasuvidaboy]

Re: come back Ford Thunderbird

Lincoln also did a retro version of their classic 1961-69 Lincoln Continental several years ago that was beautiful. The current lincoln sedan (whatever it is called) has a nice interior w/a plane jane exterior. What a waste.

[AZTB]

Re: come back Ford Thunderbird

I agree, Bruce...it's just a refashioned Taurus!

[Guest]

Re: come back Ford Thunderbird

I plan to keep mine too, but I still think it would be a shame to retire the Thunderbird name. In this age of cars named numbers or letters, like the Mazda 3,6,7,9 and Cadillac CTS, DTS, SRX, etc, a name as awesome as Thunderbird is a breath of fresh air in the world of boring car names. It's a car name that envokes a feeling, it's a name that's become part of Americana. Just think of all the songs that have Thunderbird in it. I just hate to see "Unique in all the world" disappear. If it does, so be it. I'm living the experience now and will until I die.

I agree, Ray - in a short couple of years, I will be in the market for a new vehicle, and would love to see the names "Continental" or "Eldorado" reappear - they would definitely get my attention, and more importantly my business.

[BITWTB]

Re: come back Ford Thunderbird

One idea that needs to be addressed here is not where the Thunderbird's future lies, but those who have taken it upon themselves to keep the memory of the Thunderbird alive.
Regardless of what generation we've chosen to preserve and hold dear to our hearts, we are indebted to those who have taken the time and spent the money to make that generation of Thunderbird last in the minds of all of us who remember the car as an idea, brought to fruition, and expanded through the years. Congratulations to you all.