come back Ford Thunderbird

[Skip]

Re: come back Ford Thunderbird

I think many of the thoughts and observations stated above are likely right on target. I had a chance to chat with Jim Youngs recently. Jim was the project manager for the retro TBird program that many of us have had the pleasure of meeting and hearing the retro TBird story from an "insider". His take on the future of the TBird is that it likely will not return, at least not in the foreseeable future. And if it does, it likely will (or should) follow the trends of the TBirds of the late 50s, 60s and 70s. It will be a more upscale, luxury car, and likely a four door, or at least a 4 place model. And it will likely be the size of a Fusion. I hope not. My opinion is that unless it returns to the same concept as our retros, or the 55-57s, let the name remain in history. Only time will tell.

[Lindy]

Re: come back Ford Thunderbird

Wow! I have read the posts on this thread thus far, and cannot believe that no one has noticed that Ford already revived the 1958 "square bird'!

As you will see below:

Lindy

[tbird6t4]

Re: come back Ford Thunderbird

In a perfect world there would be a V8, 2 door, 4 seat convertible hardtop Thunderbird with AWD and tons of goodies like the top of the line Lincoln MKS.

Ahhhhhh.........some day!

It's nice to dream, just a little.

(Oh and it should get 100 miles to the gallon on average too.)

I gotta stop smokin that funny green stuff perhaps!

[BITWTB]

Re: come back Ford Thunderbird

Corvette sales are in the range of 12,000-13,000 per year. No clue if Chevy's line is profitable or not, but it does seem like a small number of vehicles to stand by itself. I'm sure Thunderbirds would have to sell better than that to make economic sense for Ford.

[jerrym3]

Re: come back Ford Thunderbird

Exactly my point, Phil.

When I was 22 in 1965, from years of savings, I bought my new Corvette ($4,300) for cash. (Shocked the salesman a bit.)

Up to that point, the most I had ever paid for a car was $1,100 for a used 57 Olds 98 convert.

I don't know if you see that now.

[phil]

Re: come back Ford Thunderbird

if you look at the corvette driving next to you it is generally a driver over 50. Young drivers want BMWs, Mustangs, Camaros. The same folks who generally buy Corvette are the T Bird boomers. We finally got to the financial maturity that we could purchase our dream I had to wait until I was 60 and the kids on their own that I could finally buy a toy for myself. People will buy fuel efficient daily drivers, that are fun.

[jerrym3]

Re: come back Ford Thunderbird

Not sure if Thunderbird is a prime Ford name anymore.

Today's, and tomorrow's, buyers don't connect with the Thunderbird nameplate. They connect more with foreign brands/nameplates.

Fortunately, there are some nameplates that do hang on (Mustang, Camaro, Corvette), but I'm even starting to wonder if, as the Corvette price climbs into an area that the younger under/unemployed buyer cannot afford, that namplate may also lose it's glitter as the population ages.

[Rondor]

Re: come back Ford Thunderbird

Unfortunately it's a numbers game, and the fewer they make the more they will cost. A 4 seater would have at leat double the potential market and make a viable possability but it will take a very special style to pull it off. Ford could do it, but will they?
I think getting out of the wind tunnel is priority one

[V8 Cat]

Re: come back Ford Thunderbird

Some people have already said this, but trust me, the next Tbird will not be a retro two seater. There is virtually no chance of that. I doubt there will be a V8 engine. There will be another Tbird. That name-plate is just too valuable for Ford not to use it. It might be a convertible with rear wheel drive and independent rear suspension. I have seen where some sources said it could be marketed under the Lincoln brand. That seems like a real possibility to me as they don't have much to compete with Cadillac's CTS coupe, sedan and possibly a convertible (especially the V series of those cars). The market is just too limited for two seaters. There is not going to be anymore retro styling, but there could be a few retro features incorporated into the design kind of like Jaguar and Mercedes. It is time to move on like Jaguar did with its new XF, XK, and XJ models - they could not keep churning out the older designs with just some updates. The demographics of the buyers show older people, of which I am one, dying out. The new Tbird might make it by 2015 - the 60th anniversary. This is just my opinion, and it is really a condensed version of what many other people have predicted.

[phil]

Re: come back Ford Thunderbird

i think the days of a retro T Bird are over if it ever came back it would be the name plate on an entirely different car. The only folks who care about the T Birds are the people who wanted the original 55-57 and were too young then and then the originals became too expensive. The retro birds gave us a chance to own our dream. Most of my sons friends who are in the 20s don't appreciate this car at all. It is a great name and may someday be on a sporty model from Ford. I think enjoy the retros and I will leave for my kids because 20 or 30 yeas it will be a classic

[BITWTB]

Re: come back Ford Thunderbird

If for no other reason but the name itself, I'd sure hate to see Ford retire the Thunderbird. I think Thunderbird is one of the best names for a car ever conceived.

Absolutely, a great name, but they need to jack up the name plate and drive a new car under it. One that folks actually want to own. As Ford did in '53, maybe they need to redefine what an enjoyable car should be. That is a most difficult assignment for designers and engineers, for sure.

[Ray]

Re: come back Ford Thunderbird

If for no other reason but the name itself, I'd sure hate to see Ford retire the Thunderbird. I think Thunderbird is one of the best names for a car ever conceived.

[ibjeff]

Re: come back Ford Thunderbird

OK, let's rethink the market....maybe there isn't one for the Thunderbird any more.
There was a thirst for something completely different after the end of WWII. Not much different out there except for the plastic Corvette and a soon to be released Thunderbird.
Completely different demographics, however. These days, there are many options for the consumer. Maybe the Thunderbird market just isn't there these days.

Sad, but certainly could be true.

[BITWTB]

Re: come back Ford Thunderbird

OK, let's rethink the market....maybe there isn't one for the Thunderbird any more.
There was a thirst for something completely different after the end of WWII. Not much different out there except for the plastic Corvette and a soon to be released Thunderbird.
Completely different demographics, however. These days, there are many options for the consumer. Maybe the Thunderbird market just isn't there these days.

[Gobird]

Re: come back Ford Thunderbird

JMO but that looks like crap.