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CONFIRMED! Nameplate was resurected, now is officially dead again.

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Old Mar 11, 2005 | 07:26 AM
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CONFIRMED! Nameplate was resurected, now is officially dead again.

Nope... not the GTO (yet, anyway)....

Originally Posted by The Car Connection
Fun, Fun, Fun is Gone, Gone, Gone: T-Bird Ends in '05

The Ford Thunderbird, which returned from hiatus in 2001 and returned to its two-seat convertible roots, is taking another extended vacation from Ford's lineup beginning this summer. The 2005 Thunderbird will be the last of the cars for a while as Ford shuts down production of the existing car and decides what to do with the storied nameplate next. The company says production of the roadster would end in July with the 2005 model year. The 2002 Thunderbird had won Motor Trend's Car of the Year when it was introduced, but sales died off quickly; less than 12,000 Thunderbirds were sold in 2004. Some 4.2 million cars named Thunderbird have been sold since the first two-seater went on sale in 1954.
Old Mar 11, 2005 | 07:49 AM
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Re: CONFIRMED! Nameplate was resurected, now is officially dead again.

Lincoln should get the drop top they had at the show..just reskin it..sint that what ford does anyways???
Old Mar 11, 2005 | 07:51 AM
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Re: CONFIRMED! Nameplate was resurected, now is officially dead again.

Actually, this is interesting as far as "retro" goes.

Not so much that it was cancelled.... but the fact that it was never "freshsened"...

Also makes you wonder how the next T-Bird will look if they bring it back down the road...
Old Mar 11, 2005 | 09:51 AM
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Re: CONFIRMED! Nameplate was resurected, now is officially dead again.

Terrible car anyway. If you are more than about 6'2 you can't sit in one with the top on comfortable, or at all. Not much horsepower and the MSRP on them was about 44k. The dealership here in town is trying to sell a brand new one for 30k and it has been sitting for about 6 months.
Old Mar 11, 2005 | 10:09 AM
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Re: CONFIRMED! Nameplate was resurected, now is officially dead again.

Thanks Darth...

I know I'm not the only one who walked in hear expecting Camaro news, I almost had a heart attack.

My best friend has a special edition T-Bird, well his mom does anyways. Nice car from what I've seen... he won't let me touch it... but I'd never buy one.
Old Mar 11, 2005 | 10:12 AM
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Re: CONFIRMED! Nameplate was resurected, now is officially dead again.

Originally Posted by Abidar
Thanks Darth...

I know I'm not the only one who walked in hear expecting Camaro news, I almost had a heart attack.

Old Mar 11, 2005 | 10:20 AM
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Re: CONFIRMED! Nameplate was resurected, now is officially dead again.

Everybody saw this was coming. Impractical car that was expensive AND slow. Deadly combo. It'd be nice if they could do something say...RWD 2 doors 5.4 liter V8(think Aussie Falcon)and call THAT the T-bird.
Old Mar 11, 2005 | 10:24 AM
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Re: CONFIRMED! Nameplate was resurected, now is officially dead again.

Originally Posted by Darth Xed
Actually, this is interesting as far as "retro" goes.

Not so much that it was cancelled.... but the fact that it was never "freshened"...

Also makes you wonder how the next T-Bird will look if they bring it back down the road...
I think after sales started slipping after the first couple years Ford knew the car was a lame duck so why invest in freshening? I think the plan was just to produce it 'as is' until demand completely dropped off - which it has. While the styling wasn't changed I do think it got a power boost and a few tweaks either last year or the year before.

I think the T-Bird is kind of a neat car, but there's no place in today's market for a big boulavardier. It was priced in Vette territory, but with pretty tepid performanc so that's a big loss there. Then, it had to sit in showrooms with a Mustang GT convertible with better performance, a back seat (not much of one, but big enough for the kids, dog, or your groceries), and a $20,000 cheaper sticker. How many mid-life folks might have been interested in a T Bird and then thought "Man, I get get a Mustang GT convertible and a Focus for Bobby Teenager for that price"?
Old Mar 11, 2005 | 11:06 AM
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Re: CONFIRMED! Nameplate was resurected, now is officially dead again.

The gap between T-birds is going to be shorter this time around.
Old Mar 11, 2005 | 11:09 AM
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Re: CONFIRMED! Nameplate was resurected, now is officially dead again.

A previous victim of the Corvette mystique goes down again.

"WHICH ONE OF YOU PUNKS IS NEXT? VIPER, YOU WANT SOME?"
Old Mar 11, 2005 | 11:11 AM
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Re: CONFIRMED! Nameplate was resurected, now is officially dead again.

Originally Posted by Darth Xed
Actually, this is interesting as far as "retro" goes.

Not so much that it was cancelled.... but the fact that it was never "freshsened"...

Also makes you wonder how the next T-Bird will look if they bring it back down the road...
There were NEVER plans to freshen it from the begining. Ford stated it was going to have a limited production run and they stayed true to their word.

Its a cool car for what it is. Price sucks but I have the exact same feeling towards the SSR.
Old Mar 11, 2005 | 12:23 PM
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Re: CONFIRMED! Nameplate was resurected, now is officially dead again.

Originally Posted by guionM
The gap between T-birds is going to be shorter this time around.
Yes but will it's follow up also be an ill-conceived overpriced bucket that will bastardize the name plate further?
Old Mar 11, 2005 | 12:32 PM
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Re: CONFIRMED! Nameplate was resurected, now is officially dead again.

Originally Posted by Omegalock
Yes but will it's follow up also be an ill-conceived overpriced bucket that will bastardize the name plate further?
No, but I'm thinking Velite-Riviera competitor.
Old Mar 11, 2005 | 12:56 PM
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Re: CONFIRMED! Nameplate was resurected, now is officially dead again.

Originally Posted by guionM
The gap between T-birds is going to be shorter this time around.
Hmmm...

I've been wondering if the T-bird might return as a stretched Mustang? Restore 7-8 inches to the wheelbase, add a different front clip and turn the fast-back roofline into a notch-back....and you've got all the right styling cues and proportions for mid-1960s inspired T-bird.


Nah, it all make too much sense.
Old Mar 11, 2005 | 02:04 PM
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Re: CONFIRMED! Nameplate was resurected, now is officially dead again.

Originally Posted by guionM
No, but I'm thinking Velite-Riviera competitor.
FWD??? or SN197 platform?



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