Likely after the '05 or '06 model year.

Though not because of poor sales (yeah, right), but that such a "limited" run car intended to be a collectible doesn't need to be in production every year. It may "reappear from time to time".

Clearly over-priced, retro, glamour cars are not big movers in a slow economy. Speaks well for prospective SSR sales, doesn't it?

Story

 

Another retro 'success' story...


Ya, sales wasn't the issuee...

What will T-Bird come back as next time? lol.

 

Let's hope Ford learned from this retro mistake. Too many of their cars ahave retro themes:

2005 Mustang
Thunderbird
GT
Forty-Nine concept

Let's hope this is a start of a move away from retro...

 

retro isn't always a mistake,look at the '94 mustang or the '74 mustang II,the mazda miata or the dodge viper,the '69 grand prix,the current jaguar XK8,etc...for every sales flop,there is a success,retro isn't new,but the term "retro" is.style is style,retro is just a different way to skin a cat,if there was an internet 30 years ago and the if the '70 camaro or firebird was a diaster,i'm sure we'd have people whining about how italian style-inspired pony cars was a mistake.i don't think retro is the death of the t-bird,a botched introduction,greedy dealer mark-ups or maybe the 40K price tag for a car that can't do anything a sebring can't do.i also hope people don't get the idea that discontinued means it was a bad car,the f-body is the argument there,the t-bird is a great car,i'd love to have one.

 

it's not that the t-bird is a bad car or anything
it's just that it's damn expensive and nowadays people who have that much money to spend on transportation buy SUVs

 

No, the T-Bird isn't a bad car--just clearly overpriced for a Ford Sebring. At $25k it would have at least seen a few years of strong sales.

True, it's the idea of something being classified as "retro" that's more new than the actual practice of "retro styling." Though there are different circumstances for each case, it should not be overlooked that the cars with this tag today are not selling well.

 

I'm not sure how any of those cars is "retro" per se, but whatever.

Ford loves using the excuse of "limited niche vehicle solely intended to create a buzz." My friend works for Ford and he said they used the exact same line when he asked about the fate of the Marauder.

 

Ya, I was thining the same thing...

I guess the term 'retro' is a bit fuzzy, but I don't see any in those lists qualifying as 'retro'...

 

The Viper I guess could be in the sense that it emulates the original Shelby Cobra; the Miata in its likeness to the original British roadsters. In that sense, both may be considered "retro" in their styling and execution.

The rest I just see as possible examples of borrowing from other styles that were poplular at the time (i.e. Italian).

I guess most people have a problem with retro/heritage/whatever styling when it is that car's only point of emphasis. To me, the PT Cruiser is no more than a tall station wagon or diversion from saying you own a minivan. The New Beetle is a car compromised to fit into a cute shell. If the new T-Bird was just any other comfy convertible with a different name and traditional styling, could Ford charge $35-40k for it? I don't have a problem with a car like the Ford GT which offers more substance with its styling. It's just too often a gimmick to draw attention to an otherwise ordinary or less-than-inspiring car. As sales imply, after everyone's seen it once, who cares?

 

Though I truly and very very very strongly feel that pulling the MN12 Thunderbird instead of simply giving it a rebody in favor of going back to the "original Thunderbird premise was a very very very bad idea, I don't believe the current Bird's failure is because of "retro". It simply doesn't do anything extremely well, or at least well enough to justify the price.

Can anyone think of anything truly remarkable about the new Bird?? It looks good, but it's also sedate. It moves out of it's own way quick enough, but is it $40K quick? It handles well, but is it tops, or even up there considering the price?

I like the current T-Bird's styling, and every time one passes, it still gets attention. But are there alot of people out there willing to spend $43,000+ willing to get a car that has spent most of it's life running at less or marginally more than a fully equpted Full Size Ford?

Thunderbird was a halfway effort by Ford. A simple supercharger or even the Cobra's engine would have made a huge difference ALONE! Ford made the same half-assed effort with the Maurader.....get this: Maurader could be outrun by a Nissan Altima with the 3.5 V6!!!

Ford is now making another HUGE mistake with the Lincoln LS. I drove last year's LS V8, and it was a great car... if it was sold for about $32,000 or so. That same car with modest power and handling increases is selling for $45,000! I think BMWs are overpriced at that level, so you can imagine what I feel about LSs.

The really sad thing is that the LS IS such a good car. It's extremely well built & solid, it handles shockingly well, and though it's no road burner, unless your pass time is running down drag strips, it's plenty quick. But to me anything over 35 grand represents a whole new catagory of cars. LS in essence is a entry level Lincoln. It would make a great Mercury Marquis, or a Crown Vic replacement. But these cars at a BMW price? Pleeeze!

Ford's marketing and pricing guys are obviously out of touch with reality on these cars. Maurader should have been a success in light of Impala SS's still high demand (and prices), Thunderbird should & could have done better, and are there any takers as to what the CTSv will do to the LS V8's sales if the CTSv is priced within earshot (let alone lower than) an LS?

Sorry for the rambling, but I just hate to see good cars killed off when a little investment (or a major reality check) could quickly change it's fortunes.

 

The M12 platform had alot of potential. It's a great pity that Ford wasn't farsighted enough to pursue the originally intended 4-door versions. Judging by the "cab forward" design of the MN-12 coupes, by which I mean forward engine placement, sedan version would have been easily acheived.

Sadly, a $32,000 Lincoln LS V8 might have been a reality if Ford hadn't insisted on the shared platform/powertrain strategy with Jaguar. The 3.9/4.0 liter V8 and 5-speed auto were expensive to engineer and produce, and both were subpar components in the luxury arena. Since DEW-98 ended up being nearly exactly the same size as MN-12, rebodied T-Birds and Lincolns would hardly have been boats. Retained 4.6 liter DOHC V8s would also have offered superior driveability, and nearly the same refinement. We have Jaguar to thank for the $45,000 "bargain-priced" LS.

It's another pity that the Thunderbird is dying again, as many of us predicted it would. Ford could easily reinvent history again by stretching the T-bird back into a 4-seat coupe. How about a retro Thunderbird circa 1958?

 

dodge viper,retro shelby cobra
mazda miata,retro lotus elan,only it runs
'74,'94,'99,'05 mustang,all retro '65 mustangs
'69 grand prix,retro duesenburg,they even use J and SJ trim level names like the old duesenburgs
jaguar XK8,retro E-type
aston martin DB7 or any current astons,retro DB4 and DB5
'71-'73 buick riveria,styled to evoke '30s auburn speedsters
retro isn't new,nor does it always fail.look at the new beetle,sales were huge and then leveled off,like it was expected,they still move about 50-60K a year,which ain't bad for a basically silly car.but anyways,i really hope GM is paying attention to this.they've already announced the ridiclous price for the destined for the automotive graveyard SSR,they can still do right with the price and introduction of the GTO.i don't like it,but if it takes off,it could open the doors to better things.

 

I bet the T-Bird will still be back before the Camaro

 

The new Ford GT still looks really modern.

If you ask someone who has never seen an original GT40 what they think of the Ford GT they won't tell "retro"

Viper isn't retro at all. it was inspired by an old car.

94 mustang just uses past styleing queues, just like the C5 with its pop up head lights and 4 circle tail lights, neither car is retro, just an evolution of past models

now the PT crusier, T-bird, prowler, bettle, and SSR are full blown retro.

 

Judging by the success of the PT Cruiser and New Beetle, retro works very well with what are essentially entry level models.
However, the 1957-retro T-bird and '94-Impala "retro" Marauder were stinkers. Sure people will eagerly buy funny looking and underpowered retro cars, but not if they're expensive.

I'd also like to point out that VW and Chrysler kept the retro sales train going by producing higher powered turbo models. Initial buyers can be wooed by the image, but continuing success results from backing up looks with genuine performance.

I wonder what would have happened if the gutless 2002 T-bird had been followed by a Cobra powered model in 2003? Considering that the 1957 T-bird had a factory supercharger option, it would have even been in keeping with the retro theme.