Ford to stop production of ThunderBird
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Ford to stop production of ThunderBird Found this on CNN.com today
Ford to halt Thunderbird production
With sales falling, the roadster that returned with '02 model will again go on hiatus after July.
NEW YORK (CNN/Money) - Ford plans to again stop production of its Thunderbird sports car after the current model year ends production in July.
The company has sold more than 55,000 of the roadsters since it brought the storied car back into production with the 2002 model following a three-year gap in production. But sales have been slipping since its reintroduction resulted in sales of 19,085 in 2002.
Sales for the last six months, roughly in line with the roll out of the 2005 models, were 4,522, according to sales tracker Autodata, a drop of 33.7 percent from the same six-month period a year earlier.
The two-seater model brought back in 2002 was always seen as somewhat of a niche vehicle. But despite some good reviews for the reintroduction, even the best sales of the new model were seen as somewhat of a disappointment for Ford.
Ford said this is not the end of the line for its famous nameplate. Instead, its release referred to the decision as putting the name back in its "future-product vault."
"We promised all along that this Thunderbird would have a limited production run, and we're being true to our word," said Steve Lyons, Ford Division president. "Thunderbird was a terrific image builder for the Ford brand showroom at a time when we needed it."
Ford will now concentrate on its new Mustang sports car, which had its convertible version unveiled at the Los Angeles Auto Show in January.
The first Thunderbird went on sale Oct. 22, 1954, and during the last five decades it has gone through several design changes with coupes, sedans, convertibles, hardtops and even large-size configurations. The first four-seat version of the Thunderbird came out in 1958.
http://money.cnn.com/2005/03/11/pf/a...ex.htm?cnn=yes
Ford to halt Thunderbird production
With sales falling, the roadster that returned with '02 model will again go on hiatus after July.
NEW YORK (CNN/Money) - Ford plans to again stop production of its Thunderbird sports car after the current model year ends production in July.
The company has sold more than 55,000 of the roadsters since it brought the storied car back into production with the 2002 model following a three-year gap in production. But sales have been slipping since its reintroduction resulted in sales of 19,085 in 2002.
Sales for the last six months, roughly in line with the roll out of the 2005 models, were 4,522, according to sales tracker Autodata, a drop of 33.7 percent from the same six-month period a year earlier.
The two-seater model brought back in 2002 was always seen as somewhat of a niche vehicle. But despite some good reviews for the reintroduction, even the best sales of the new model were seen as somewhat of a disappointment for Ford.
Ford said this is not the end of the line for its famous nameplate. Instead, its release referred to the decision as putting the name back in its "future-product vault."
"We promised all along that this Thunderbird would have a limited production run, and we're being true to our word," said Steve Lyons, Ford Division president. "Thunderbird was a terrific image builder for the Ford brand showroom at a time when we needed it."
Ford will now concentrate on its new Mustang sports car, which had its convertible version unveiled at the Los Angeles Auto Show in January.
The first Thunderbird went on sale Oct. 22, 1954, and during the last five decades it has gone through several design changes with coupes, sedans, convertibles, hardtops and even large-size configurations. The first four-seat version of the Thunderbird came out in 1958.
http://money.cnn.com/2005/03/11/pf/a...ex.htm?cnn=yes
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Rep Power: 0 I can't believe ppl actually bought the damn thing....I'm sure someone got fired at ford in the marketing deparments. Who ever took the survey that said ppl would buy the car is probably on the run.
I never thought it was ugly, just overpriced for what you get. It was a decent performer. To answer your question Ford was thinking retro and it paid off. They sold for way over MSRP when they were introduced and won MT's Car of the Year for their first year of production. I think the newness just wore off, much like with PT Cruisers.
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Rep Power: 0 I think they announced that a little while ago after sales flopped big time almost immediately after the introduction. If Ford doesn't watch out their entire line up is going to become flash in the pan cars, the odd SVT special, the new GT, the TBird. They'll wind up like GM, hopefully the new Mustang turns that around.
No major loss the to the automotive market. 
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Rep Power: 328 I think some of you guys are missing the point. The Thunderbird has always been somewhat of an American Tradition. Kinda like the Mustang and Corvette. Granted the nineties TBirds were ***, but the 50's and 60's saw some pretty cool looking cars. Matter of fact, the 50's TBirds were the most similar car to Vette's in those days.
The latest model was an interesting design. Retro, but a little more aimed at the older driver. Not a sports car, but more of a touring car. I've always liked the 58 T Bird with the red and white paint scheme with some white wall tires. Red leather with oak steering wheel...yep that car's a classic.
Alot of you are happy about the car going away, and would probably feel the same if the mustang went away too, but the fact remains that these cars are a part of american history, and it's a shame that the T-Bird is being discontinued.
The latest model was an interesting design. Retro, but a little more aimed at the older driver. Not a sports car, but more of a touring car. I've always liked the 58 T Bird with the red and white paint scheme with some white wall tires. Red leather with oak steering wheel...yep that car's a classic.
Alot of you are happy about the car going away, and would probably feel the same if the mustang went away too, but the fact remains that these cars are a part of american history, and it's a shame that the T-Bird is being discontinued.
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Originally Posted by nookiemonster
I think some of you guys are missing the point. The Thunderbird has always been somewhat of an American Tradition. Kinda like the Mustang and Corvette. Granted the nineties TBirds were ***, but the 50's and 60's saw some pretty cool looking cars. Matter of fact, the 50's TBirds were the most similar car to Vette's in those days.
The latest model was an interesting design. Retro, but a little more aimed at the older driver. Not a sports car, but more of a touring car. I've always liked the 58 T Bird with the red and white paint scheme with some white wall tires. Red leather with oak steering wheel...yep that car's a classic.
Alot of you are happy about the car going away, and would probably feel the same if the mustang went away too, but the fact remains that these cars are a part of american history, and it's a shame that the T-Bird is being discontinued.
The latest model was an interesting design. Retro, but a little more aimed at the older driver. Not a sports car, but more of a touring car. I've always liked the 58 T Bird with the red and white paint scheme with some white wall tires. Red leather with oak steering wheel...yep that car's a classic.
Alot of you are happy about the car going away, and would probably feel the same if the mustang went away too, but the fact remains that these cars are a part of american history, and it's a shame that the T-Bird is being discontinued.
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I was dissappointed in the T-Bird from the begining. I mean, I was hoping it would either be shorter, for a sportier ride/look or would have four seats becasue the thing is so long that it can acommadate four people.
I like the look, but I just wish that it were a great car overall, not just something with a retro look.
I like the look, but I just wish that it were a great car overall, not just something with a retro look.
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