Tell me how you really feel...

[My Raven]

Re: Tell me how you really feel...

I was out with my buddy at a classic car rodeo last weekend at the Raleigh Fair Grounds. I parked next to a beautiful raven black 55 and was excited to talk to the owner and ask him about his car. Body language made it very clear this was a big mistake and the comment that he saw I spent a lot of money for a "wanna be" made it very clear where he was coming from. I had hoped to get a pic of Solitaire beside a beautiful original but quickly nixed that idea. I guess there are jerks on both sides of the spectrum.

[AZTB]

Re: Tell me how you really feel...

What an elitist...too bad, Joe, he missed spending some time with you. He might have learned something! I love going to shows where the old cars are in display. Most folks are very gracious and eager to hear about the new Bird (and most think it's already discontinued).

[Elijahbird7]

Re: Tell me how you really feel...

As a current owner of a '56, '66 and '04 (previous owner of '60, '61 and '96), I have to say that when the '02 first came out, I was decidedly "neutral" about it. At shows, people would constantly ask me, "What do you think of the new Tbird"? I really didn't have much of an opinion at the time. Obviously, the style eventually caught me and I purchased the '04 Merlot. I belong to VTCI and CTCI, and this past summer our local Chicagoland Thunderbird Club added a class for the 2002 + at our "dealership shows". We have had several turn up at our shows, and I feel the new owners have been given a warm welcome. The last show of the summer had a PCR, 007 and a VMG all show up during the day. Everyone went running to have a look..!
CTCI still seems to have some members who don't have a very good opinion of the new bird, but several members now own both old and new, and I think the attitude is slowly changing.
I always feel that whatever people like is O.K. with me. I get very upset with people at shows who think they have to slam someone else's car to make themself feel good about theirs. At one cruise night this past summer,
some of my friends asked me to bring the '04 because they hadn't seen it yet. One guy walked through and had to comment to me that it was too bad Ford had to screw up the Tbird image by producing "that thing". He commented that he couldn't understand why they would put in that 3rd seat sideways in back. After telling him it wasn't a 3rd seat, etc. and hearing more negative comments, I finally said, "Well, it's obvious that you know a great deal more about Thunderbirds than I do," and walked away from him.
The next week, I brought my '56, and the same guy came over, and actually apologized for his negative comments about the '04.....go figure.

[00mustng]

Re: Tell me how you really feel...

.....Well, ....if ever there was a Thunderbird that was'nt.....we have one....an original, unrestored '81 BoxBird/FairmontBird....bought 4 years ago with 176miles on it.....It now has 22000miles and has been the reason we enjoy great adventures and meet wonderful folks, as we have embraced this most enjoyable hobby.....This was the car that started our Thunderbird journey.....It is unique by virtue of it's condition...but will never be a collector....and, except for one show, is the only one of it's kind....which is too bad because we'd love to meet other BoxBird owners....We have a great club, that includes a whole cross section of T'Birds from all years....including ours and three other '02's.....We have never experienced any animosity...even at vintage shows we are always welcome.....the '81 elicits curiosity and "I remember my Dad or Grampa owned one" stories.....and we all know what kind of reaction our NewBirds draw! .....we enjoy showing them both....kind of a point/counterpoint.....and keepers!....the both of them!

[00mustng]

Re: Tell me how you really feel...

.....little story from early last season.....about 10 'Birds from our club....all parked together, various years....guy walks past with his girl and says "look dear....all Thunderbirds"....points to our '81....and says....except for that thing!.........

[Bruce]

Re: Tell me how you really feel...

..........and at that point you decked him, right?

[00mustng]

Re: Tell me how you really feel...

......nah!......just chuckled and shook my head!........

[Bruce]

Re: Tell me how you really feel...

You can tell we are not in our prime any longer and definitely mellow with age or is that smarter with age.

[00mustng]

Re: Tell me how you really feel...

......both, Bruce!......

[5bird7]

Re: Tell me how you really feel...

I've used the subtle approach with our local CTCI club. We drive the 02 to the weekly breakfasts as it's an 80 mile round trip and the traffic is nauseating to get there so don't subject our 57 to it very often. Since our 02 started showing up to breakfast, it's given the members a chance to see one up close. Everytime a member shows up with a new one, we have our own little "club" meeting prowling over the new acquisition. So far, 10 members (counting us) have new t-birds and we have 2 potential members planning to join that each have a 57 and a new T-bird (Sally is one of them). I know of one other member that's been looking at ours closely and asking more questions and another that's been watching ebay hoping to find that perfect buy for his wife. The club may not actively support the new t-birds but just our cars presence there has got them to looking at them. Though the focus of the club will never be on the new t-birds and I don't expect it to be, there are enough members now that we could have a satelite club. I already get teased about our "club meetings" in the parking lot as I go over each new one that shows up and do comparisons and photos.

[K.P.]

Re: Tell me how you really feel...

I was out with my buddy at a classic car rodeo last weekend at the Raleigh Fair Grounds. I parked next to a beautiful raven black 55 and was excited to talk to the owner and ask him about his car. Body language made it very clear this was a big mistake and the comment that he saw I spent a lot of money for a "wanna be" made it very clear where he was coming from. I had hoped to get a pic of Solitaire beside a beautiful original but quickly nixed that idea. I guess there are jerks on both sides of the spectrum.

Joe, come join the Tarheel Classic Thunderbird Club...you will find a nice mix of BOTH early and late model Birds. And a nice mix of owners. There are some beautiful cars of both ends of the spectrum and both are respected. Certainly those of us with later TBirds would love an Early Bird, but they also envy us our seat comfort and cool engines! (early ones can overheat) there is room for both in this club.
You should come to the meeting in January. Several TBN members belong (maybe10?), probably most notably NC2K2TBird. Also Blunbird and Captain Ken.
It gives you somewhere to meet other TBirds between TBN events!

[tbird sam]

Re: Tell me how you really feel...

i'm proud to own a 2004 blk t-bird. you would be surprised how many people ask me if this is an older restored model.

[Ladybird02]

Re: Tell me how you really feel...

No Sam, not surprised at all. We've all had that question asked of us many times.. .

Julie

[TBird02]

Re: Tell me how you really feel...

Enjoy the attention, Sam. This car is not meant to be driven by the bashful. I enjoy talking to admirers almost every time I drive it to a new location. In my small town, it has become a common site, and is not a reason to gawk anymore. But if I get more than 10 miles from home the fun begins!

[Radleigh]

Re: Tell me how you really feel...

I had a guy just yesterday staring at mine. He asked me if it was new or a classic. I think I talked him out of a new Corvette.