ThunderBirds Return ???????????

[eboose7]

Re: ThunderBirds Return ???????????

It is good, at least once in a while, to speculate on the return of the Thunderbird to the Ford line-up. Realistically, the 2015 fleet requirement of 35.5 miles per gallon makes it highly unlikely that a performance oriented image car is in the works at Ford. I just don't see them going to a car that has failed to sell in sufficient numbers twice in its history. Two seaters are impractical, especially when they are not fuel efficient. Today's buyer is sophisticated and wants good mileage coupled with convenience. Fuel efficiencey seems to be the way of the future.

[00mustng]

Re: ThunderBirds Return ???????????

....and Ford is too busy making all their cars look like a European Focus.....

[ZoggyBottom]

Re: ThunderBirds Return ???????????

A new 2-door, electric T-bird would be an interesting concept inline with all of the eco-focus.

[Gobird]

Re: ThunderBirds Return ???????????

Yea, I think a new Bird,if they build one, will be a 4/5 seater and with good MPG's and or an Eco Boost type engine. This is the future of all cars and people will need to get use to it.

The OLD customers, like us, are dieing off and no market there.

[My Raven]

The OLD customers, like us, are dieing off and no market there.

I hate to admit it but Spence does have a point about our invincibility ...

[Gobird]

Re: ThunderBirds Return ???????????

Joe, Living in a 55 and over community you see this all the time. It's just a fact of life...........or what's left of it. You learn to live for today and don't worry too much about tomorrow.

[lizstbird]

Re: ThunderBirds Return ???????????

I can't believe all the responces and no mention of the island where Norma Jean, Elvis and Princess Di live and drive around in the next TBird concept Car!!!!

Dave the Red Bird Mechanic

[AZTB]

Re: ThunderBirds Return ???????????

I can't believe all the responces and no mention of the island where Norma Jean, Elvis and Princess Di live and drive around in the next TBird concept Car!!!! Dave the Red Bird Mechanic

[jerrym3]

Re: ThunderBirds Return ???????????

Local car mag had an article about cars that should be brought back.

While the TBird was not one of them, a reader sent in a letter the following month that got me thinking.

He stated, and I tend to agree, that the auto industry should bring back a larger 2dr semi sporty/luxury car like the 90's Monte Carlo and Thunderbird.

Might not be a bad idea. More potential sales than another 2 seater TBird (memories of 1958) while still retaining an iconic name.

I can attest that my 94 TBird, for all it's faults, is starting to get a lot of attention on the street.

Would be nice if history repeated itself, when the announcement of a four seater TBird made the prior year's 2 seater gain in popularity.

[HeelBird]

Re: ThunderBirds Return ???????????

Still have my '95 SuperCoupe in the fleet rotation. Odometer shows 195,183 miles, and it quit working about 7 years ago. Still going strong. Nice to have the 5 speed and the s/c'd V-6.

[ShadowDragon]

Re: ThunderBirds Return ???????????

My '97 gets a lot of comments as well. Had it at the Ford Dealer for some paint and several of the service techs wanted to buy it from me.

[DonnRic]

Re: ThunderBirds Return ???????????

A hardtop retractable thunderbird? No way. It won't be a thunderbird, and I sure hope it never looks like a Camaro or Corvette. How humiliating....Let's just enjoy what we have.

[LATARONE]

Re: ThunderBirds Return ???????????

After the T-Bird was discontinued during the '05 model year, Ford did say the name plate was still on its radar screen and would be brought back at some point. So, who knows. But I would actually want it to remain a 2-seater niche car -- something different, unusual, special. However, an earlier poster had an excellent point -- the longer the name sits unused, the less valuable it is. And the Ford 500 was a prime example. You had to be an "old Ford guy" to know the significance -- and I had two Galaxie 500s, so I knew immediately. But younger people with whom I worked at the time had no idea. The same can happen to Thunderbird. It's a dead nameplate for seven years. If it stays dead for 10, 15 years, will younger buyers have any idea what it meant, how important it was? Maybe not. But, maybe. When Chrysler revived the 300, it had been a dead nameplate for just about 30 years, and it clicked. Like, T-Bird, it had been legendary in its time (I have a '68 300, non-letter series), but it was judged that time had passed. Turned out, that wasn't true. The Chrysler 300 has been a hit. The same COULD happen with a re-born Thunderbird. Whether it will, well, I guess we'll find out. Or maybe not.

[LATARONE]

Re: ThunderBirds Return ???????????

Oh, I forget. Ford did bring back the Galaxie nameplate. It was a minivan made in Europe. Not sure whether they're still made.