Random useless facts about 2002-2005 Thunderbirds

[AZTB]

Re: Random useless facts about 2002-2005 Thunderbirds

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I've mentioned it before, but it bears repeating, TBN's Bruce is probably responsible for there being any Incas at all. While I worked at Ford he told me he had an Inca ordered, then one day he called me and said the run of Incas were being canceled! He asked for the contact info for the people running the Tbird program. Between Bruce, and his very influential dealer, Tasca Ford, Ford reversed their decision and made 82 Incas. There may have been other factors that made Ford continue the Inca run, but I don't think it would have happened without Bruce's and Mr Tasca's weighing in...

Tasca Ford has a legendary reputation with Ford Motor. In about 2000, Ford Motor had Mr. Tasca visit many of the manufacturing plants and explain his philosophy. I had the pleasure of shaking hand with him at Chicago Stamping Plant where he held court with our plants top management. He stated that he built his business on the philosophy that the customer was ALWAYS right. He didn't vie for business with low prices, he did it with quality of service. He gave many examples how it worked for him even if he had to take a short term loss on some services. He said he knows some people had taken advantage of him but he said those people frequently wound up being the biggest cheerleaders for his dealership.

I thought of Mr Tasca when I read the experience Jim Dube (AZTB) had with his dealer. That dealer would have made far more money from Jim Dube if he had just fixed the transmission. Jim would not have "disowned Ford Motor" and would likely have purchased other cars from that dealer. Jim would have told his friends of his positive experience and that likely would have resulted in even more sales.

100% correct, Harry, as usual. We will be in the market for a new car soon, which means the dealer could have continued to have our business if they only would have treated us fairly.
Thank you for your kind comments,
Jim

[Alamobird]

Re: Random useless facts about 2002-2005 Thunderbirds

My Grandfather had another way of phrasing it. He always said, "Be nice to everyone because you'll never know who might be on your jury."

[CVCashmere]

Re: Random useless facts about 2002-2005 Thunderbirds

Mostly Florida and California locations! Must be the bright color combined with the sun!

[Quickdraw]

Re: Random useless facts about 2002-2005 Thunderbirds

It's been a while since I posted any useless facts about the Thunderbirds but here you go:

Out of the 68,098 2002-2005 Thunderbirds built, 49,256 had the front license plate bracket included for those states that require a front plate.

[snowbird]

Re: Random useless facts about 2002-2005 Thunderbirds

It's been a while since I posted any useless facts about the Thunderbirds but here you go:

Out of the 68,098 2002-2005 Thunderbirds built, 49,256 had the front license plate bracket included for those states that require a front plate.

Does that include those exported to Canada Harry ?

[Quickdraw]

Re: Random useless facts about 2002-2005 Thunderbirds

Does that include those exported to Canada Harry ?

Yes it does... does all of Canada require front plates? I only have 27 of 2,961 Canadian cars that didn't get the front plate holder.

[Guest]

Re: Random useless facts about 2002-2005 Thunderbirds

Yes it does... does all of Canada require front plates? I only have 27 of 2,961 Canadian cars that didn't get the front plate holder.

Most Canadian provinces and territories do not require front plates except Ontario (ughhh), New Brunswick, Manitoba, and British Columbia.

[Skip]

Re: Random useless facts about 2002-2005 Thunderbirds

It's been a while since I posted any useless facts about the Thunderbirds but here you go:

Out of the 68,098 2002-2005 Thunderbirds built, 49,256 had the front license plate bracket included for those states that require a front plate.

Here is some related useless information on top of the original one. I inquired to Nancy Gioia at the launch event in 2001 regarding what was being done to provide for front license plates. All of the photos I had seen to date showed no front plate bracket. She told me that consideration was given for an indentation in the front valence to accommodate a license plate. But it was ultimately decided to go with a standard bracket because it was felt that where most of the cars were likely going did not require front plates. And I assume that this was certainly much cheaper. Ironically, I think a lot of the cars went to Florida and California, both of which require front plates. Upon my return home, I immediately went to my dealer and asked them to put a big note on my order file indicating the the front license plate bracket was NOT to be installed. They did, and it wasn't. And I got away without one for 6 years. But that is a story for another thread.

[Redwingedblackbird]

Re: Random useless facts about 2002-2005 Thunderbirds

That discussion made me want to know how many states require front plates - google search results - 31

[snowbird]

Re: Random useless facts about 2002-2005 Thunderbirds

Harry, how many Birds came with block heaters ?

[Quickdraw]

Re: Random useless facts about 2002-2005 Thunderbirds

Harry, how many Birds came with block heaters ?

4,110 had engine block heaters, including all 2,961 Canadian spec units.

[DaiUyTed]

Re: Random useless facts about 2002-2005 Thunderbirds

...I think a lot of the cars went to Florida and California, both of which require front plates...

Florida doesn't, fortunately.

[4LOWBIRDS+7]

Re: Random useless facts about 2002-2005 Thunderbirds

Harry,
Can your machine tell how many Merlots came with black interior and then those with the tan interior? Then one more item for Merlots, how many were built with the merlot soft top?

[Dennis45]

Re: Random useless facts about 2002-2005 Thunderbirds

My Grandfather had another way of phrasing it. He always said, "Be nice to everyone because you'll never know who might be on your jury."

A Wise Man,,

[Quickdraw]

Re: Random useless facts about 2002-2005 Thunderbirds

Harry,
Can your machine tell how many Merlots came with black interior and then those with the tan interior? Then one more item for Merlots, how many were built with the merlot soft top?

3,991 Merlots built

3,059 of those had the sand appearance package
628 of those had black accent interiors
304 of those had the standard black interior

87 had merlot soft top
846 had black soft top
3058 had sand soft top
(1 merlot with sand appearance package had a black soft top)

There were exactly 100 merlot soft tops, 87 with merlot body and 13 with black body


P.S. Ron, I can torture this machine to cough up almost anything related to 2002-2005 Thunderbird production.

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