Random useless facts about 2002-2005 Thunderbirds

[Quickdraw]

Re: Random useless facts about 2002-2005 Thunderbirds

Harry can correct me but I believe they were still building 02's in November of 2002. the 03 production was a very short period before the 04's came out.

As you can see there is considerable overlap on the first units of each year with the previous years model.
First 2002 = 3/14/2001 - last 2002 = 11/14/2002 - units built first day = 23*
First 2003 = 3/21/2002 - last 2003 = 6/27/2003 - units built first day = 4
First 2004 = 4/16/2003 - last 2004 = 7/19/2004* - units built first day = 5**
First 2005 = 4/16/2004 - last 2005 = 7/25/2005* - units built first day = 2**

*Typically the fist units for each year were made in very small batches and the units closely evaluated for assembly issues, fit & finish, etc. I suspect some of these 23 very first 2002s were essentially complete before the stated date but were not finished and recorded as built until 3/14/2001.

** These are the first days back after summer vacation shutdown. They were probably 99% complete before the shutdown began but were "finished" on the dates shown. Maybe the unit was set aside to replace a flawed part and therefore unable to be counted as "built" until it was ready to be released to shipping.
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P.S. to answer Martin's question about the short build period for 2003s: Except for 65 units built from 3/21/2002 to 8/23/2002 the rest of 2003 production ran from 10/8/2002 to 6/27/2003 or less than nine months.

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[Leroy]

Re: Random useless facts about 2002-2005 Thunderbirds

My sticker says $130.00 for SST and $125.00 for the boot, $595.00 for partial int. color acc. pkg. No charge for 17" 16 spoke machined wheels. No hard top. One of one.

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[snowbird]

Re: Random useless facts about 2002-2005 Thunderbirds

I still don't get it but personally don't care if I ever do, neat stuff ind totally interesting reading. I do have a question though. If they built these 3 2003s in June / July 2002, were 2002s still rolling off the line?

Harry can correct me but I believe they were still building 02's in November of 2002. the 03 production was a very short period before the 04's came out.

[Chuck]

Re: Random useless facts about 2002-2005 Thunderbirds

I still don't get it but personally don't care if I ever do, neat stuff ind totally interesting reading. I do have a question though. If they built these 3 2003s in June / July 2002, were 2002s still rolling off the line?

[Quickdraw]

Re: Random useless facts about 2002-2005 Thunderbirds

Harry, the first picture in post 41 and the picture in post 43 are the same car and taken on the 27th of July, 2002. But, as you say, it does not matter a whit , just random useless facts (or not ).

OK, after fumbling twice it kinda matters that I set the record straight. We are back to 6/12/2002 when the only pre-7/27/02 cars matching a 2003 red, full red interior, SST, 7 spoke chrome wheel were built. The three built 6/12/02 like your photo were either VIN 3y100027, 3y100028, or 3y100029.

[snowbird]

Re: Random useless facts about 2002-2005 Thunderbirds

Harry, the first picture in post 41 and the picture in post 43 are the same car and taken on the 27th of July, 2002. But, as you say, it does not matter a whit , just random useless facts (or not ).

[Quickdraw]

Re: Random useless facts about 2002-2005 Thunderbirds

Thanks Harry. The two pictures above are not the same car. The Sport Roadster was the original red showcar / Lincoln LS . So the 2003 that he brought to the Watkins car show must be one of the VIN's from 6/12/2002. Here is one more picture of same.

No, it wasn't one from the 12th, none of those red ones had parking lamps... it must have been 1FAHP60A13Y100050 built 6/18/02.. a red with standard black interior. Do you have any photos of the interior of that one? If it was black accent instead of standard black interior it had to have been 1FAHP60A43Y100026 built on 5/9/02 - not that it matters a whit either way.

[snowbird]

Re: Random useless facts about 2002-2005 Thunderbirds

Thanks Harry. The two pictures above are not the same car. The Sport Roadster was the original red showcar / Lincoln LS . So the 2003 that he brought to the Watkins car show must be one of the VIN's from 6/12/2002. Here is one more picture of same.

[Quickdraw]

Re: Random useless facts about 2002-2005 Thunderbirds

I can remember seeing two side by side and noticing a difference back in the day.

As a side note , for Harry, when did production for the 2003's begin ? I have a picture of an 03 taken at Watkins Glenn on the 27th of July, 2002 and the Ford rep made mention that it had just come of the line and straight down to the show. One of the first he said. Sort of useless info and should have taken the VIN from it.

The Sport Roadster was also there in their display so that could be dated.

There were 45 of the 2003 units built before July 27... the most recent ones before the 27th were five made on 6/18/2002. However the most recent torch red, full red interior before 7/27/2002 was built on 6/12/2002. There were three units built on 6/12/02 that were just like the picture you took; red, full red interior, SST & no parking lamps. Of course none of those were officially built with 21 spoke chrome wheels or the chrome hoop scoop. The build sheet calls for 7 spoke chrome wheels but as the car went down the line they could have switched the 7 spoke for 21 spoke wheels. Or it could have been built per the build sheet and the wheels & hood scoop added later for the show and that's what he meant when he said it "had just come off the line".

"Sort of useless info and should have taken the VIN from it."
This whole thread is useless info. The three built 6/12/02 like your photo were either VIN 3y100027, 3y100028, or 3y100029.

[snowbird]

Re: Random useless facts about 2002-2005 Thunderbirds

I can remember seeing two side by side and noticing a difference back in the day.

As a side note , for Harry, when did production for the 2003's begin ? I have a picture of an 03 taken at Watkins Glenn on the 27th of July, 2002 and the Ford rep made mention that it had just come of the line and straight down to the show. One of the first he said. Sort of useless info and should have taken the VIN from it.

The Sport Roadster was also there in their display so that could be dated.

[Chuck]

Re: Random useless facts about 2002-2005 Thunderbirds

Harry, Don't know all the facts on this but in 2002 Ford change paint suppliers. Don't remember which way it went but they used DuPont for a while and then switched to PPG or the other way around. Back then you could see a little difference when the different blues and yellows were set side by side.

We also saw some in 02 that had clear coat on the car in the engine bay and some didn't have it.

Spence, I know another member replaced their front facia on a TB Blue. I remember him mentioning that the person that did the job had a heck of a time matching the paint. Not sure how they eventually found out that there was a difference in the TB Blue colors but for sure there is.

Re: Random useless facts about 2002-2005 Thunderbirds

That's true Ron.

Seems however, that even though parts and paints are required to match, even the auto companies allow for a slight variance. I found this on the autobodysupply.net website:

"So why do the car manufacturers have so many variances? Most car manufacturers have three major paint suppliers. The manufacturer decides on a standard color for production and submits a painted sample to their suppliers. The paint manufacturer then produces a formula for the “standard sample” and is allowed a tolerance of plus or minus 5% when they deliver the paint.

This is the first problem because the plant in the east coast may be getting a 5% shade greener on a blue metallic standard and the plant in the west coast may be getting a 5% shade violet on the same blue metallic standard. When compared side by side, they look like a completely different color. This is the reason the paint manufacturers usually have the standard formula followed by two alternates. If the alternates are not available, the painter in the body shop usually mixes the standard formula and tints it accordingly."

So while complete cars and car parts 'match' when they leave the factory, a body shop that orders paint using an OEM paint code might get a slightly different color based on the 5% allowable variation. Most paint and body shops these days use computerized color matching to avoid this problem.

[4LOWBIRDS+8]

Re: Random useless facts about 2002-2005 Thunderbirds

There were also some slight variations in the actual paint lots, regardless of the supplier, so different 'batches' could vary a little even if they had the same paint code.

Painted parts coming to the assembly plants have to match the painted bodies. Batches better not vary or someone is getting their parts, paint, etc. rejected and paying big money to solve the problem fast.

Re: Random useless facts about 2002-2005 Thunderbirds

There were also some slight variations in the actual paint lots, regardless of the supplier, so different 'batches' could vary a little even if they had the same paint code.

[Gobird]

Re: Random useless facts about 2002-2005 Thunderbirds

Harry, Don't know all the facts on this but in 2002 Ford change paint suppliers. Don't remember which way it went but they used DuPont for a while and then switched to PPG or the other way around. Back then you could see a little difference when the different blues and yellows were set side by side.

We also saw some in 02 that had clear coat on the car in the engine bay and some didn't have it.