First Drive article from 2001

[5bird7]

Back in 2001, Ford courted the journalists with special drives in preproduction Thunderbirds. Whenever I come across one of their "First Drive" articles, I try to save for my files. This following one is now 10 years old and I just found it on the web. It is by a Canadian journalist. Surprising that the Canadian articles are showing up now after all these years.

http://www.autos.ca/first-drives/fir...rd-thunderbird

[Will]

Re: First Drive article from 2001

Did he say "16-inch wheels"?

[BUCK ROGERS]

Re: First Drive article from 2001

Did he say "16-inch wheels"?

"on standard 16 inch wheels and tires (optional 17 inch) provide excellent stopping ability."

[EllisonCal]

Re: First Drive article from 2001

Back in 2001, Ford courted the journalists with special drives in preproduction Thunderbirds. Whenever I come across one of their "First Drive" articles, I try to save for my files. This following one is now 10 years old and I just found it on the web. It is by a Canadian journalist. Surprising that the Canadian articles are showing up now after all these years.

http://www.autos.ca/first-drives/fir...rd-thunderbird

Thanks for posting this link, Dot. I always enjoy reading about our cars and the author was, unlike many others, very fair in describing both the appearance and performance of the 2002 Tbird. By the way, I kinda like the buffeting at 100kph, it is a convertible after all.

[Lindy]

Re: First Drive article from 2001

Wunderbar! That article describes the ride pretty well. Forget all the nay-sayers out there. These cars are cool, sporty and fast!

[snowbird]

Re: First Drive article from 2001

Did he say "16-inch wheels"?

Yes, he made a boo,boo. I had this exact same car for a weekend back in March of 2002. Ford Canada let me have it to take to one of our SOTC (Southern Ontario Thunderbird Club) tech days to promote and show the car. I can assure you it had the proper 17" (Canadian) wheels on it. (painted aluminum alloy 17" wheels) What a treat that was to show up in a new Retro Bird .

[5bird7]

Re: First Drive article from 2001

That was a real treat, Martin. quickdraw's stats show that they started preproduction in mid-March of 2001. You must have driven one of the first one's off the line.

[snowbird]

Re: First Drive article from 2001

That was a real treat, Martin. quickdraw's stats show that they started preproduction in mid-March of 2001. You must have driven one of the first one's off the line.

Sorry for that (boo-boo) as well Dot. It was 2002 and I know it was probably the same car that Ford had been using all along. They also had a black one which was very early producion (like in the 30's) and they had that one in Dearborn for the introduction of the Bird. Got to drive that one around town a bit in Dearborn.
The reason I got the yellow one for a weekend was that I had provided our '66 for a charity event for Sally Ann in Oakville, so had the black '02 from Ford and our '66 in a parkette setting. Looked real nice. They (Ford) said there would be no re-embursment or expense due to it being a charity but perhaps a Bird for testing some future weekend. (We got the yellow one)

ps. Probably have some other news clippings from back then for the Toronto /Ontario / Canada area if you need more. Can have a look. Also have a small booklet that Ford put together with some adds of various papers around the country.

[5bird7]

Re: First Drive article from 2001

Martin, more than likely the black one was in the 300 series (typical series that Ford held onto for test purposes, vin# in the 30s meant it was a Neiman Marcus.

That booklet of ads sounds interesting. I didn't receive or hear of too many "found" ads back then from around the country.

and thanks for setting me straight on your test vehicle year. :).

[snowbird]

Re: First Drive article from 2001

Dot: One more thing I should mention, it looked like the yelllow accents on the interior had been dyed as if it was not like that originally. You could still see some of the over spray or spray dust in some areas where it was not cleaned properly. I don't beleive this yellow bird was the same one that Mark Conforzi took to Breakfast Television in Toronto but could be wrong. Never got to drive it that day as I had the '66 again for that event. think you have a copy of that.

[5bird7]

Re: First Drive article from 2001

They could have had to touch up the interior over time due to all the different drivers that car may have had. The yellow seats were prone to absorbing blue jean dye from new jeans.

Not sure if I have a copy or not, Martin. Going to check now

[snowbird]

Re: First Drive article from 2001

Yes Dot: I should have written those VIN's down . Usually that is the first thing I do. Younger then and got a bit too excited I suppose. I do have the VIN of a '03 MSG (saddle interior) that they gave me for a weekend to take to another SOTC car show. Filled the trunk with brochures to hand out.
Nice ride and Carol really liked it.

[5bird7]

Re: First Drive article from 2001

Martin, all I found was a picture of your 66 with the red concept. Didn't find any with a yellow 'bird in it.

[snowbird]

Re: First Drive article from 2001

Martin, all I found was a picture of your 66 with the red concept. Didn't find any with a yellow 'bird in it.

Found the black one at the Sally Ann bennefit/anniversary.

http://www.thunderbirdnest.com/forum...ad.php?t=26640 post # 7 or; another view below.

The yellow 2002 with Mark conforzi may be on my 'photo bucket'. Haven't been there for a long time. Hope it is still active.
Will check.

Think I found it.
http://s415.photobucket.com/albums/pp232/Snowbird_07/

[5bird7]

Re: First Drive article from 2001

I think I recall getting that video from you. Will have to watch it again.