Neiman Marcus rumor disputed

[5bird7]

Re: Neiman Marcus rumor disputed

Those are probably on disk somewhere in my files. dont' ask. We were under orders back then to not post anything from inside the factory on the web or lose touring priviledges.

[DavidA]

Re: Neiman Marcus rumor disputed

I have picture we took of the assembly plant. LEt me know if you want them and I'll post them to the gallery.

[snowbird]

Re: Neiman Marcus rumor disputed

Those are probably on disk somewhere in my files. dont' ask. We were under orders back then to not post anything from inside the factory on the web or lose touring priviledges.

We were told the same thing prior to going on the tour Dot, as it had more to do with the workers (UAW) than the assembly of the cars. Once inside they would actually pose for us or step out of the way for pictures. They were proud of their product and being picked to work on the Thunderbird dedicated line. Don't recall them saying anything about posting.

[5bird7]

Re: Neiman Marcus rumor disputed

Was browsing the new photo galleries tonight and checked out ThunderLinc's gallery. It seems he had posted there an early picture he took of one of the production show color cars in February 2001 taken at the Portland Auto Show.



and that reminds that someone else had sent me a tbird blue from the Tulsa Auto Show from sometime in 2001. Was that you Bill Green?

[2K2BIRD]

Re: Neiman Marcus rumor disputed

It may have been me, Dot. I saw the car in Tulsa in March of 2001. I think Bill saw it in Oklahoma City the week before.

I doubt the painting of preproduction cars had much to do with when they were painted on the actual assembly line for the masses. This speculation 10 years later of when colors were introduced into the production line is kind of an exercise in futility. Not to mention, it doesn't matter at all at this point.

I think David's point was that the NM cars may have been made early on but the 200 obviously weren't made one after another since his was built on the same day and before Ron's NM based on the rotation number.

[5bird7]

Re: Neiman Marcus rumor disputed

Not really futility, Paul. Those of us early here knew that the NMs were mixed in with the other colors from the beginning but DavidA runs into people that think that the NMs were the "first". I've also seen those types of comments elsewhere on the net and in articles.


It was pointed out many years ago that the NM was Ford's "darling" and they didn't want the NM to come out very first in line in the production without some testing of their production line to get the workers familiar with how the cars went together. The NM also received some special treatment at the end of the production line to make sure they were in tip top shape before shipping out according to inside info we received. .... then they got caught up in the recall along with the rest.

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

Yes, she was.

[jerrym3]

Re: Neiman Marcus rumor disputed

In that picture, under those lights, the TBird looks like it's painted in GM Nassau blue.

My favorite color.

[My T]

My T Birthday Bash

I apologize.
Since this is the tenth birthday of the retro Birds, I originally posted the order that the first five colors came off the assembly line in 2001 [B]for general distribution to]the public - (not the pre-production models which were built much earlier). See post # 14 above.

Little did I think that it would cause all this bickering and nit-picking about wnat color was built when, and who saw what color at what show during the waiting period. Dot provided accurate information for all of us. That should have sufficed.

Now the topic seems to have switched to who can provide what evidence (pictures) from their archives of early 2001 Thunderbird Blue Birds. Those were vehicles built as pre-production models to tour the country at various shows and nitroduce them to the public - - long before they were available at dealers for purchase.

I did not intend to stir up this debate and I am sorry.

If the members need a topic to argue aboout, perhaps someone can announce what color were the last few Birds to come off the line in June 2005. Your choices are: Platinum Silver, Inca Gold, Medium Steel Blue, Torch Red, Evening Black, Bronze, and Cashmere.
This ought to be interesting. Let the contest begin . . . . . .