Neiman Marcus rumor disputed

[DavidA]

It has ling been held that the Neiman Marcus cars were among the first production cars Ford made, having serial numbers ranging from 100026 to 100225. I can positively show that was not the case.

Recently while were at the Borla event, we were comparing Ron's Neiman to my black 2002. We discovered that they were actually made on the same day, July 25, 2001, but my car's rotation number was 6 earlier than his.

My serial number, by the way, is 1001429. We know it is early, but certainly not the first production car as production actually started several days before. Ron's serial number is, if I remember correctly 100190.

We have always known that serial numbers are given out randomly, but the rotation number is the actual production number, (rotation number) ... mine is 1149, making my car the actual 1199th car built. Ron's was 6 cars later.

There were both built when the paint booth was painting a string of black cars. It was later in production that Ford opened up a second paint booth. In the meantime, they would run a number of cars that were to be the same color, then clean the booth and ready another color.

[4LOWBIRDS+7]

Re: Neiman Marcus rumor disputed

DAVID'S INFORMATION IS CORRECT, HOWEVER, I NEVER KNEW OF ANY FORD ASSEMBLY PLANT TO BATCH BUILD COLORS. THERE ARE MANY REASONS NOT TO DO THAT.

[texasbird]

Re: Neiman Marcus rumor disputed

While it may not be smart to do so, early orders and popularity of the black model may have dictated the ratio of black to other colors. Just speculating here.

[5bird7]

Re: Neiman Marcus rumor disputed

When I took the tour in 2005, I don't recall batches of the same color coming down the line but by then, the Thunderbird was mixed in with the Lincolns.

The early tbirds had their own dedicated line from 2001 thru January, 2004 but I don't think they had a dedicated paint booth as that appeared to be a common area for the whole plant. I don't recall being able to go into the paint area during the tour?

I recall "Wixom Pooh" saying that they painted in batches of about 5 to 10 cars but they also had 4 and maybe even 5 paint booths running.

They also had a touch up paint area sectioned off in the same area that the dedicated Thunderbird line ended.
The dedicated Thunderbird line closed down at the end of January, 2004 and was not used again as the plant was downsizing.

[Gobird]

Re: Neiman Marcus rumor disputed

Dot, I think your correct. I remember back at that time that Wixom Poo said they started up a 5th paint line and that's when they started painting the Thunderbird Blue. I think that's how mine got moved up in my dealers allotment and I got it about 2 or 3 month earlier then before the new paint booth.

[5bird7]

Re: Neiman Marcus rumor disputed

Spence, they started painting the Thunderbird blue right from the start. During their early preorder days, there was enough interest in the color, they decided they needed the Thunderbird blue ready from day one and that's why the color was introduced along with the other 4 colors during the inaugural day at Detroit on January 8, 2001.

The data that jodrod collected from owners shows a number of tbird blues built in June & July 2001.

[My Raven]

Re: Neiman Marcus rumor disputed

When I took the tour in 2005, I don't recall batches of the same color coming down the line but by then, the Thunderbird was mixed in with the Lincolns.

Your memory is correct Dot - There were plenty of Town Cars mixed in with the Retros that day though all 05 colors were represented there seemed to be an unusual number of Incas & Cashmeres on the line that particular day.

I am assuming 'Wixom Pooh' was a plant mole like my friend David?

[Gobird]

Re: Neiman Marcus rumor disputed

Spence, they started painting the Thunderbird blue right from the start. During their early preorder days, there was enough interest in the color, they decided they needed the Thunderbird blue ready from day one and that's why the color was introduced along with the other 4 colors during the inaugural day at Detroit on January 8, 2001.

The data that jodrod collected from owners shows a number of tbird blues built in June & July 2001.

May be true but I know mine got moved up in the dealers allotment because of the 5th booth opening. Out of the dealers allotment I was scheduled for 10th out of 16 and I got moved up to 7th.

[5bird7]

Re: Neiman Marcus rumor disputed

The only reason my dealer ever gave for changes in the lineup were people canceling their orders due to financial situation at the time.

[DavidA]

Re: Neiman Marcus rumor disputed

I was scheduled 3rd of 5 but mine came in first. That alotment order was mostly smoke and mirrors.

[jerrym3]

Re: Neiman Marcus rumor disputed

Just saw on TV that Camaro's are coming out with an NM model.

Sold out right away.

[RustyFrye]

Re: Neiman Marcus rumor disputed

Does anyone know when the first trunk mat was introduced?

[5bird7]

Re: Neiman Marcus rumor disputed

When the first catalog "hit" the Ford dealer.

[5bird7]

Re: Neiman Marcus rumor disputed

You knew I would do it, Tom. I sent you to my group site months ago but don't know if you ever found the data posted there, so I have attached the first data. This data was posted by rtbrd aka jodrod, aka Joe.... . It was collected from the owners during the time period of July 2001 thru November 2001 but not on this forum as TBN didn't exist then. It was collected on the BON and those threads were deleted years ago. Quickdraw can probably verify all the data or come close to it.

Not all owners knew their car's build date but did know when they received their cars; the vast majority were stuck in the recall during mid August thru late Sept so delivery dates really didn't start up until late September 2001.

There were blues built in June and July slated to be delivered in July and August that didn't get to their owners until mid October due to the recall. One of those was hobobob's, a close friend of ours, who ordered the same color combo we did. His was built in July & scheduled to be delivered in August but not delivered until mid October. His was the first Thunderbird that was delivered to his dealership. You'll find his on the list.

I also took photos (non-digital) on November 22, 2001 of one being delivered here in North Texas that was a twin to the blue with white top that we had ordered. I've used that photo on my website ever since I took it.

I also have a page with photos of a blue one in the parking lot at Wixom in June 2001 though it would be considered a preproduction model since it has manufacturer plates
http://www.portholeauthority.com/the...02/02blue.html

A side note. No dealer received more than one Thunderbird during the first round of shipments - a Ford directive designed to get the Thunderbird out to all the nation's dealerships equally. The first round lasted thru about the first 4500 or 5000 Thunderbirds, including Canadian shipments.

[5bird7]

Re: Neiman Marcus rumor disputed

Have another page on my site with some photos that Steve Legel took of the cars in the holding pattern in September 2001, waiting for transport after the recall issue had been fixed. In one behind the fence, you will see a tbird blue. His photo quality wasn't the best but in that one the blue is recognizable as blue. Also, there is a blue one on the podium at the front entrance. Podium cars were dealer ordered production cars put on display but don't know for how long. May have been just for the day or the week.
http://www.portholeauthority.com/the...rd/wixom2.html
Someone that was close to the location may know more about that.