Limited Edition models

[lasuvidaboy]

Re: Limited Edition models

Just bought myself a birthday gift, a 2002 Whisper White in showroom condition with only 14,000 miles.
I consider this to be a limited edition, which my family all want me to will it to them. lol.

Great choice! Classic color and like Red, Black and TBird Blue, these colors may appeal to the largest group of potential buyers in the future.

[HKS]

Re: Limited Edition models

Dot, just how diferent is the Desert Sky Blue and the Light Ice Blue.
I dont remember ever seing an LIB.

HKS

ok - here's my observations:

When Ford first announced the colors for 2002 in late 2000, IY(inspiration yellow) was going to be made for the first half of production and TB (thunderbird blue) was going be made in the 2nd half. Demand at the beginning of orders for the TB in early 2001, had them nix that plan so both colors were made all year long and there was no "Spring color" for 2002.

2003: DSB was to be ended when the 007s started and a spring color was possible but due to the very late start on the 03s (November instead of July), 007 Production started in mid Dec. and ended in March and DSB came back again for the remainder of the model year.

04: Vintage Mint Green (VMG) was the early fashion color, production stopped on that color when the PCR special edition started in mid-Dec. Production on the PCR ended in March and the Spring color of LIB (light ice blue)started in mid April.

05:Medium Steel Blue was to be the early color, with the Cashmere taking it's place from mid-Dec to the end of March, then the spring color of Inca Gold was offered. As it turned out, Ford decided to bring the MSB back for the spring along with the Inca gold but with some restrictions on what could be ordered with the MSB and they fulfilled all the orders for the cashmere thru to the end of production of the Tbird. The Inca Gold started production in mid April.

Did you follow that?

The most limited time period for any of the colors was for the Light Ice Blue and the Inca Gold. Both colors only had 2 1/2 months of production time, 1/2 of April, May, and June. The 007 and the PCR had 3 months. I don't count the NM as it started in June and ended in August.

The ordering period for the LIB and the IG started in early March and ended at the end of April, however, thru the diligence of a TBN member trying to order an IG, the IG order time was extended another week, into May.

[4LOWBIRDS+7]

Re: Limited Edition models

No they just sent some cars to Earl Schieb to be painted IY and IG is what they got back!

Is Earl still around? He did one for me in 1968 and it turned out pretty good.

[AZTB]

Re: Limited Edition models

Dot, just how diferent is the Desert Sky Blue and the Light Ice Blue. I dont remember ever seing an LIB.
HKS

DSB:
http://www.portholeauthority.com/the...2003/2003.html
LIB:
http://www.portholeauthority.com/the...2004tbird.html

[5bird7]

Re: Limited Edition models

Dot, just how diferent is the Desert Sky Blue and the Light Ice Blue.
I dont remember ever seing an LIB.

HKS

Very different, Herman. DSB is a pale blue with a pearlescence to the paint so it "glows" pale blue. It always looks pale blue, no matter what light you're in.

The Light Ice Blue is a metallic silver blue color and can take on several different looks depending on the light you see it in, always light but sometimes more silver grey than blue.

[4LOWBIRDS+7]

Re: Limited Edition models

I have been wondering why you call the '05 Inca Gold a spring color. When I bought my "04 in October 2004 (T-Bird registry number 13,000, there was a new "05 on the showroom floor. It was Inca Gold and looked to be the same color as the Fort Knox Gold 2000 Focus we previously owned.

You might be wrong about that being an Inca Gold in 2004. None are shown in the sales brochure for 2005, so I doubt there would have been one in a showroom in 2004. Might have been a left over 2002 IY. Two were built in Feb, 2005 and the rest in May and June and at least two were built the last day of production, July 1st, 2005.

[5bird7]

Re: Limited Edition models

Here's the 4 blues together:

02 Thunderbird Blue, 05 Medium Steel Blue, 03 Desert Sky Blue, 04 Light Ice Blue.

[5bird7]

Re: Limited Edition models

You might be wrong about that being an Inca Gold in 2004. None are shown in the sales brochure for 2005, so I doubt there would have been one in a showroom in 2004. Might have been a left over 2002 IY. Two were built in Feb, 2005 and the rest in May and June and at least two were built the last day of production, July 1st, 2005.

Ron, It had to have been a bronze as Paul noted and Steve stated that it was an 05 that he saw. I continually find sales people mis identifying the color bronze and call it gold so not hard to find other people that would also call the color bronze, a gold.

[00mustng]

Re: Limited Edition models

....and, had things gone differently....from the Marketing Strategy Key Points....2006MY Thunderbird....Most Thunderbird customers also have a keen sense of the collectability of the car. This is reinforced by three things...The relatively short production run, the exclusive colours(called Limited Colours) introduced each model year and each model year's limited edition feature car. To enhance the collectability of the 2006 Thunderbird, the 50th Anniversary Limited Edition Thunderbirdwill be available mid-model year and new short run "Limited Colours" are available: Bronze and Medium Steel Blue (available at Job#1 with other surprise colours available later in the model year) These colours replace the exclusive to 2004MY Limited Colours Melot, Vintage Mint Green and Light Ice Blue Metallic. Interior appearance packages have been updated to coincide with new exterior colours. Performance White returns, joining Medium Steel Blue and Torch Red as a Partial Colour Accent Package. Light Sand Appearance Package continues for 2006. .....also....Standard Colours Added...Pewter (HJ)...Standard Colours deleted..Platinum Silver....Limited Colours Added...Lime Sorbet (HK)...Dark Blue Pearl (DX)....Limited Colours Retired....Medium Steel Blue...Bronze...Inca Gold.... Just a little trivia for you....

[Rondor]

Re: Limited Edition models

Great info and much appreciated. I have always thought Ford could have done more with the classic colors. One great combo would have been black with turquoise and white interior. As many times as I have read over Dot's great works I never realized there were 4 different blues. I actually like blue but none of theese really appeal to me. The BP name for the IG color works for me, as that is one ugly color for a car unless it's a Yugo. Can't wait to see what a future street rodder does with one of theese.

[Rondor]

Re: Limited Edition models

Looking back if I had a choice VMG would be up there along with Navy Blue as possible choice for me.. A big color in the mid 50's art deco era was hot pink. One of theese in Hot pink with gold wheels would really stand out. Not real sure I would buy it, but would sure love to see it.

[AZTB]

Re: Limited Edition models

just wish Ford had made one in blue...

[JAB02LHS]

Re: Limited Edition models

Looking back if I had a choice VMG would be up there along with Navy Blue as possible choice for me.. A big color in the mid 50's art deco era was hot pink. One of theese in Hot pink with gold wheels would really stand out. Not real sure I would buy it, but would sure love to see it.

[AZTB]

Re: Limited Edition models

Everytime I see that, I have a craving for pepto bismol & Mary Kay cosmetics...

[2K2BIRD]

Re: Limited Edition models

just wish Ford had made one in blue...

With another blue planned for 2006, it seems rather apparent that someone on the Thunderbird design team really liked blue.

While we own a blue car (Focus) and have owned some others in the past, it never have has been a favorite car color for me. Blue does not convey sporty or fast in any way to me. It's a long unpleasant story how we ended up with the blue Focus. Let's just say, we should never have ended up with it, but we did.

If all I could get was a blue Thunderbird, of the four colors available I'd have to go with the medium steel blue with the blue seat inserts and blue soft top. Everything goes together well on those cars.