Tell me how you really feel...

[Dave123]

Re: Tell me how you really feel...

I love all Thunderbirds. I'm Dave Rice, and I approve this message.

[428QBird]

Re: Tell me how you really feel...

Well, I finally did the poll thing on this question. I voted that this question is a stupid question. The reasons for this answer is that people that feel that any year Thunderbird that is not a true Thunderbird must be whacked in the Head!... This is one question Ford has settled every year since Oct 22, 1954 (save a few missed years from 1998 to 2001)

OH Yeah. I approve this message too!...

Rick

[redbirdsal]

Re: Tell me how you really feel...

I belong to a Ford's of the 50's Car Club, but when I first bought my 2002, I drove it to several of our tours and meetings. One Sunday we toured to a small East Texas town. At a gas station we met some folks on the way to a Ford flat head meeting and they extended an invitation for us to join them. We were each asked to introduce ourselves, and tell them what we had on the parking lot. Each of our cars received a warm ovation , but CARTOY (my red '02) was the only one to get a standing ovation!

[TBNwidow]

Re: Tell me how you really feel...

To me, any Thunderbird, well cared for, no matter what year is beautiful and I would proudly drive it anywhere, for everyone to see !!!

[Joe Varey]

Re: Tell me how you really feel...

:tbn: Like JerryP Im not going to vote on this question. Having been to a few car shows in our area I find a keen interest in the "Retro" Bird but that's were it stops. Seems that unless its a 55 56 or a 57 they seem to regard our Bird's as a copy rather looking at it as what it is. As the next evolution to a great car. I guess you could ask the same question to the 55 thru 57 Chevy guys & girls and I'm sure you'd get the same reply to anything that is outside that time frame. Also the same would apply to the Vette people to Im sure anything from the 50's & 60's is regarded as being differant from the 70's & 80's Vette owners. Now my brain hurts !!!! :worried:

[Vintage Merlot]

Re: Tell me how you really feel...

All the members who said that all Thunderbirds are classics certainally cheapen the definition of what a classic is. IMO a small percentage of the birds are destined to become classics, some are destined to be dogs just like 95% of all cars produced. Why be so blind and polite? Classics are classics and the rest are just cars.

[K.P.]

Re: Tell me how you really feel...

Just so long as we all recognise that MY PCR is a classic!!

[Bruce]

Re: Tell me how you really feel...

Karyl,
You should petition Ford to change the name of yours officially to ACR and then you would be assured classic status.

[K.P.]

Re: Tell me how you really feel...

that could work, Bruce! good thinking!

[ajsam]

Re: Tell me how you really feel...

This topic will never die!! Old school vs. new school vs. new old school. I also own a 2002 Indian Chief motorcycle. It's a beautiful neo-classic machine with the same graceful lines that made everybody love the originals. Those of us who purchased the new incarnation of Indians (1999-2003) go through the same thing with the so called "true" Indian owners (1901-1953) Is it a "real" Indian? Alot of good arguments could be made for both sides of the issue. I have to ask though; Does it really matter? The originals were built in Springfield, Mass. the new ones were built in Gilroy, CA and have no direct lineage to the originals. Maybe they're not "truly authentic" but that doesn't make mine any less appealing to me. It's titled by DMV as an Indian Chief...therefore it is in-fact an Indian Chief!
My 2003 T-Bird is also a beautiful neo-classic machine with the same graceful lines that made everybody love the originals. Thunderbirds; however, are still built by the SAME company at the SAME plant, and absolutely can show lineage to the originals. It's titled by DMV as a Ford Thunderbird so...IT'S A THUNDERBIRD!! Bottom line, it's the real deal...No dispute! The fact that this irritates some folks baffles me. It's really quite simple. If you love it, buy it and drive it...nuff said!!

[Ladybird02]

Re: Tell me how you really feel...

I purchased my (Ladybird) car in April of 2002, and within days set out to drive it from Georgia to Massachusettes. Everywhere and in every state someone either honked or waved at me and gave me the . On the return trip, I drove through Myrtle Beach, So. Carolina. There was an antique car parade going on and I was forced to sit stopped at a stop light, until the car parade passed thru the intersection. Several of the older Thunderbird participants waved at me as they passed by. I actually had two different 50's thunderbird owners yell at me to "join in, you will fit right in with the rest of us!". Since then I have talked to many classic thunderbird owners and most of them have all said they love their cars, but do not use them as a daily driver and either plan to buy or wish they could afford to buy one of our new birds for a daily driver. You see, I think they love our cars too as much as we love theirs! None of them has made me feel like their car was better than mine. My experience has been that we all truly love this car and it's history and now share something in common with complete strangers.
Personally, I think if I owned a classic, I would feel like I had the real thing and the rest were just copycats. In no way tho, would I treat the newer owners any differently, nor would I feel like one car was better than the other. Given a choice if I could have a classic or my 02, I would choose the 02. Just my opinion....They might own a "classic", but we own the "classy" one! classy classic


Julie

[428QBird]

Re: Tell me how you really feel...

Julie... I think you have got the right idea. It does not matter what year you own, if you are happy with it...that is what matters. Certain years are valued higher than other years. That happens with all cars, not just Thunderbirds. You have those that think the 55-7 are the only years to own, while others think the last Tbird was built in 1966 and of course others that think there was some huge void from 57 to 2002 when there were no Tbirds built. NONE are right. You see only the guys at Ford Motor Company can decide what years each model is made. No matter what some folks (Rodger B) think.

Each year had something special to offer from the very first year. To disinclude any year from the line up of Thunderbirds or collectible Thunderbirds would be a mistake and show extremely poor judgement. No one knows what cars are to be collectible later, because noone has a crystal ball. If they did I don't think you would see too many trade ins of cars like the Mach 1, Torino GT, Cyclone Talledega, Lightweight Galaxies with 409 or the Fairlane Thunderbolts - just to name a few.

You see each and every one of bought the car we wanted to have and drive. We took a risk on the car loosing or gaining value. That is what happens in this market. So while we all agree that we have Thunderbirds, we may not agree that all are collectible. One that I thougth would surely not be a collectible Thunderbird was the 4 door from 67-71, but Hemmings ran an article last year that indicated it would be shortly. I did not see a rush to go out and find 4 door Tbirds - tell me if I missed it. But it will certainly be collectible to someone.

Rodger is entitled to his opinion just like we all are. There is no reason to cause someone to feel less about their pride and joy just to make yourself feel like you have something better. There is enough room in the Thunderbird communities for all owners and enthusiasts whether you own a 2002 or a 55 or a 78 year Thunderbird. It's what makes the owner happy, not what makes someone else happy. Just an FYI, My 66 has every option you have on your 2002 except for the stereo options.

Rick

[MintTbird]

Re: Tell me how you really feel...

my color is the rarest!
just kiddin round

[Ladybird02]

Re: Tell me how you really feel...

Drew....but our 02's blues are the prettiest!

Ladybird Drew

[428QBird]

Re: Tell me how you really feel...

Hey guys... If you want to talk about colors. In the 50s and 60s Ford used interior designers to come up with the interior colors and exterior colors of the Thunderbirds. My 66s exterior is Ivy Green Metallic used only on the Thunderbird and the interior is labeled Ivy Gold; made up of Lt Ivy Gold, Med Ivy Gold and Dark Green. Ivy Gold was used only on the Thunderbird and the Lincoln Continental.

One thing that might interest you From 1958 to 1960 the Thunderbird had no FORD logo on the body. In 1961 this was corrected by placing a FORD logo in only two places on the body - the left and right door sill.

Rick