The demise of the T-Bird has really made news out of the auto industries "retro" theme and this buzzword won't go away any time soon with the SSR, 05 Mustang, and Ford GT on the way. The media is now more critical of these styled cars because of their highly sought after intro's but quickly cooling sales.

http://www.usatoday.com/money/autos/...30-retro_x.htm

 

Like I've been saying all along... "Just Say NO! To Retro!"

Some of my favorite line from that article:

 

Though it's about the PT, it can just as well reflect the Thunderbird. Retro in and of itself is just like any other design in and of itself. A hot look will always gain alot of attention and sales when it hit's the lots. But once the heat wears off, you gotta have something that makes the car practical. In Thunderbird's case, a good portion of the current apathy can be cured with Mach1's 4.6 or even the supercharged Birds they showed here in LA in January.

But there is one glaring point that noone has caught yet, and I almost forgot. Ford planned to restyle Thunderbird and was known to be working on a Supercharged version that was to come out in 2004 if I'm not mistaken. Just like that Cobra powered Thunderbird car SVT was working on in 1995/96, this is another good idea that would inject excitement & sales that won't see the light of day.

 

Here's another quote:

Like much of USA Today, this article sure was superficial. The new Hemi is a Hemi in name only. Besides, the original 426 Hemi was not "popular" by any stretch of the imagination. Chrysler gave this motor fairly wide availability, but very few people ever bought it.

That said, I like USA Today when I'm on the road, and I actually liked the New Beetle. Despite the slightly flawed design concept, I also like the PT in a slightly offhanded way. The Turbo model even verges on being desirable.

Retro wasn't a mistake, at least for these two cars. In addition, much of the automotive industry places too much reliance on "facelifting" old models. If the New Beetle has remained relatively unchanged visually, the current Golf and Jetta haven't changed much either.

We should also take note that Ford always said that the Thunderbird wouldn't stay around too long - although I bet they were hoping for massive sales that would convince them otherwise. In any case, as with most retro vehicles to date, facelifting was never an issue.

 

Without all the retro styling cues, the "new" T-bird is a snoozer. Low performance comfy car with no functionality....that's all.

If you're gonna do a retro car, at the very least, make the car good and then build the retro around it.

Good cars sell...styling gimmicks are just that, gimmicks.

 

That article was a crock. It wasn't the styling that did the Thunderbird in, it was a simple combination of high price, low power, and low performance. Ford basicaly had a great idea, but mismanaged the hell outta it.

 

I'm guessing they were thinking it's be around more than a few years... and I'm also guessing they thought it'd sell a heck of a lot more, since they managed to produce a massive 180+ day supply on their dealer lots where they just sit... and sit... and sit....

 

I dont see the T-Bird dying as anything more than another nail in the muscle car worlds coffin. It may have had low performance and not much practicality, but it was still very unique car and it had V8 power, something very rare in todays auto world. If the damn dealerships had just sold it for MSRP than it would've done fine. I was fairly close to getting one, but then I found out they were selling it for $10g over sticker. As for the idea of retro, I think its great. If an old name is brought out then, the first few years, should be a retro theme. This reaffirms the name and its kind of picking up where it left off. Another thing retro does is let the youth of today, who look back and see these great cars they werent around for, get to see them in a more modern practical way.

 

How did the new T-Bird "pick up where it T-Bird left off"?

T-Bird 'left off' in 1998 or whatever the year was.


And if you only do this for "the first few years" , what happens when you change to something different? Total confusion, in my mind.

 

The only connection that the T-bird had with musclecars was that it had a V8 and was RWD. I wouldn't see that the end of this T-bird will have any negative impact on a potential pony car market. V8 is desirable for it's power and it doesn't have the milage restrictions of yesteryear. RWD cars are just more fun to drive...albeit not in snow. The two are natural together and the death of the T-bird can't change this.

It's comperable low performance, low utility, comfy ride, and hefty price tag led to it's demise. The only arguable redeeming factor was the exterior design (i.e. looks).

Heck, my Camaro is infinitely more useful for day to day tasks than that car. That hatch can swallow an awful lot, I can carry 4 people if I have to, and I don't feel I'm sacrificing anything in performance or style!

 

The t-birds demise will affect the muscle car "revolution" because it will serve as an example of what will happen if they try to bring back that sort of thing. Which is a shame because if it had been done right, it really couldve been a good ride.

 

USHOTROD,

I understand what you're saying, but I would argue that there is no relation between T-Bird and musclecar. The only T-bird that may qualify was the last of the old generation. Were they turbo or V8? I can't remember.

 

Not trying to be a smartass, but enlighten me. How is it not a muscle car? Id be damn happy to have one in my driveway.

 

It's not a muscle car because its SLOW. Not compared to old muscle cars, but compared to modern performance cars.

In order to be a muscle car, it needs muscle. Doesn't make it not a nice car, however.

 

Hey, Im slow. But that doesnt mean I dont have muscle. To me, a muscle car is a rwd V8 that turns heads. And theyre aint to many cars turnin heads like the T-Bird.