Who knew about this?

[HKS]

Re: Who knew about this?

Hermann, Ron (or others from Ford) may correct me on this I don't think crash units had regular normal VIN numbers. I recall someone mentioning a very early build prototype (pre 3/14/2001) with a Lincoln VIN.
Newman, The first two (later destroyed) NM units were built on 3/14/2001, the first day of Thunderbird production. These (2Y100245 and 2Y100246) were out of VIN sequence with the rest of the 200 NMs (VINs 2Y100026 thru 2Y100225). Regular production of the 200 NMs began on 6/11/2001 and the very first NM saleable VIN was 2Y100162.
Jim,
Could that ride have been in May 2001? The very first saleable yellow with full yellow interior was built on 5/10/2001. Prior to this, maybe even a year or more earlier, Ford had prototypes or various colors circulating to build up interest. Nothing built before 3/14/2001 had a regular Thunderbird VIN number or could have been sold to the public.

How many cars are destroyed in crash tests? Are there separate cars required for front, left side, right side and rear end collisions?
Do you need to destroy even more cars if testing at different speeds required?

HKS

[Quickdraw]

Re: Who knew about this?

How many cars are destroyed in crash tests? Are there separate cars required for front, left side, right side and rear end collisions?
Do you need to destroy even more cars if testing at different speeds required?
HKS

Don't know how many were required for crash testing - maybe Ron or one of his contacts would know. I would bet they used a different car for each test to maximize the chance of passing.

[Peterfurlan]

Re: Who knew about this?

I would be thinking the cars are tested in as driven condition car in tact for each test.
Cave in the nose at 30mph use the same car to do it again at 40mph don't think so.

[snowbird]

Bringing this back to the front as I found some pictures while going through some old files . VIN # 2 .

[Quickdraw]

Bringing this back to the front as I found some pictures while going through some old files . VIN # 2 .

VIN # 2Y100002 was built June 18, 2001, however there were at least 392 built before this one, including the 200 Neiman Marcus units.... I say that not to minimize it's importance because we don't really have much public knowledge of what sequence the cars are actually built.

[TommyT]

Outstanding information here..Thanks for sharing !!

[snowbird]

2Y100002 built June 18, 2001, however there were at least 392 built before this one, including the 200 Neiman Marcus units.... I say that not to minimize it's importance because we don't really have much public knowledge of what sequence the cars are actually built.

Thanks for that built date Harry, will add that to my file . Did that unit go through a Ford dealer ?

[Quickdraw]

Thanks for that built date Harry, will add that to my file . Did that unit go through a Ford dealer ?

That is a great question and one that I can't answer... It is a unit assigned to dealer code "8905M" in Michigan - that is one of about half dozen dealer codes for which I do not have dealer information - just the state of Michigan. I would guess it was for some company use... maybe one of the Ford family or another VIP is keeping it to one day pass off as the "second Retro Thunderbird built" also VIN# 100001 has the same designation for dealer, and VIN 100003 has "Unassigned Production - Memo" instead of dealer info.

Now that Martin has made me think someone has VIN #2 in storage I edited my post to remove the 1FAHP60A3 - the first nine digits of that VIN in case, maybe years from now, someone Googles the entire VIN # to research that car and it pulls up our posts.

I'm conflicted - should we seek to thwart someone from eventually passing this off as the second built retro or should we set the record straight? I have to believe that GM and Chrysler and all volume manufacturers have a similar VIN system where the cars are not actually built in VIN sequence (an impossibility for various reasons) but I see car auctions routinely refer to a low VIN number as the "x unit built" or the "x unit off the line". What does everyone think?

[snowbird]

Harry: As shown on the stand above , the car was donated to the Auburn-Cord museum, Ft. Wayne, In. by Peter and Rita Haydon from Ann Arbor, Mi. If you google their name, they are quite avid car collectors themselves . He has donated other collector cars to the same museum . Can not remember where or how I got this info . Maybe it will come back to me .
Thanks again for additional info .

[RustyFrye]

What does everyone think?

Those of us who just like to drive them probably don't care. Those who want a mystical (or mythical) prestige will interpret in a way that makes them happy.

[Quickdraw]

Harry: As shown on the stand above , the car was donated to the Auburn-Cord museum, Ft. Wayne, In. by Peter and Rita Haydon from Ann Arbor, Mi. If you google their name, they are quite avid car collectors themselves . He has donated other collector cars to the same museum . Can not remember where or how I got this info . Maybe it will come back to me .
Thanks again for additional info .

Sorry, I hadn't read that until just now.... see - they refer to it as the second chasss built....

[TEE4TOO]

Great history at TBN Thanks to all

[BLACK BEAUTY]

Those of us who just like to drive them probably don't care. Those who want a mystical (or mythical) prestige will interpret in a way that makes them happy.

Glad you chimed in Rusty.....as they used to say in the military service...'there's things you need to know and things that are nice to know..'

[5bird7]

That is a great question and one that I can't answer... It is a unit assigned to dealer code "8905M" in Michigan - that is one of about half dozen dealer codes for which I do not have dealer information - just the state of Michigan. I would guess it was for some company use... maybe one of the Ford family or another VIP is keeping it to one day pass off as the "second Retro Thunderbird built" also VIN# 100001 has the same designation for dealer, and VIN 100003 has "Unassigned Production - Memo" instead of dealer info.

Now that Martin has made me think someone has VIN #2 in storage I edited my post to remove the 1FAHP60A3 - the first nine digits of that VIN in case, maybe years from now, someone Googles the entire VIN # to research that car and it pulls up our posts.

I'm conflicted - should we seek to thwart someone from eventually passing this off as the second built retro or should we set the record straight? I have to believe that GM and Chrysler and all volume manufacturers have a similar VIN system where the cars are not actually built in VIN sequence (an impossibility for various reasons) but I see car auctions routinely refer to a low VIN number as the "x unit built" or the "x unit off the line". What does everyone think?

Probably an impossibility to control how or what people think or say when they view a vin#. Knowing what we think we know from following the retro, the vin # only represents the order that the order was received at Ford from the dealer but that doesn't explain how Ford assigns numbers to the cars that they have set aside for tests, shows, etc... Orders were being taken officially in January 2001 but the cars weren't on the line actually being built until March.2001. It looks like they set aside the "early vins" to be used when they were satisfied that the cars were coming off the line ready for sale to the public.

[Brad]

Somewhat on topic, does anyone remember what the cut up cars that "World Class Wheels" bought were used for? Harry, did you track those Vin's? On a side-note I bought a front nose from Tafflocks (that he had bought from Rick) that I believe I installed on the 2003 I sold to a little old lady from Tennessee. I still have the 2003 seats I bought from Rick in my garage.