2002 Motor Trend car of the year?

[SixPac]

Re: 2002 Motor Trend car of the year?

Whether its right or wrong, I have a piece of paper produced by FoMoCo that reports that the transmission in our '03 was made in France. I know that this has been discussed here on TBN in the past.

[eboose7]

Re: 2002 Motor Trend car of the year?

There seems to be an effort to write a revisionist history of the Retro-Thunderbird in such a way to provide justification for Ford's decision to discontinue it. In fact, the 2002-2005 Thunderbird was true to the original concept of the Early Birds from 1955-1957. It was a beautifully detailed car that was comfortable, a great performer and drop-dead gorgeous. The "death" of the new T-Bird was due to market forces rather than poor design or execution by Ford. It became increasingly difficult for some to try to rationalize paying more than $40,000 for a car that only seats two and has no real practical value. It's a car you lust after but don't really need. Moreover, the trend is away from two door cars and convertibles, because the market seems to prefer four doors and SUV's. Other similar cars have suffered the same fate as the new Thunderbird, the Cadillac Allante, Buick Reatta, Plymouth Prowler and Chrysler Crossfire to name a few cars from the not too distant past. More recently, it was announced that the Lexus SC 430, Saturn Sky, Honda SJ2000 and Dodge Viper will soon be discontinued as well.

Those who criticize the car don't get it. You have to drive the car with the top down and a Beach Boys CD on the stereo to know what a magical spell it casts. To paraphrase Mr. T, "I pity the fool who doesn't understand the joy of owning a 2002-2005Thunderbird."

[5bird7]

Re: 2002 Motor Trend car of the year?

Dot, did you know our friend John Nijhuis was involved in producing the exhaust for our Birds? He told me he first got the specs for the system 4 years before the first production was made public.

That I did not know, Frits. So that's why his interest in the 'bird.