Bringing back a blast from the past can be problematic.
The retro look has held up well, still attractive and distinctive. Once I got used to it, I found it to be enjoyable and even fun, as long as I didn’t push too hard. In some ways, this car drives as retro as it looks, feeling like a vintage American convertible. Though the mushy suspension blunts its sportiness, Thunderbird is well-balanced and corners with minimal body sway. Acceleration is strong but not in the same territory as a V-8 performance car, such as Corvette or Mustang GT.Ī five-speed automatic is the only transmission available, underscoring T-Bird’s mission as a cruiser. Despite substantial heft, the T-Bird moves out nicely from a stop and cruises quietly at freeway speeds. The smooth 3.9-liter V-8, the same engine used in Lincoln LS and Jaguar S-Type (which also share the same chassis), has been upped to 280 horsepower from 252, and the difference is immediately noticeable. Thunderbird is the perfect craft for a top-down sunset drive with a favorite passenger, though it falls short on sporty performance. Though probably in the distant future.įord’s effort to relive past glory spawned this attractive image car, an enjoyable cruiser for two. And because the current Thunderbirds will endure such a limited run, they also may become hot collectors’ items. In the late ’90s, the company discontinued the then-bloated four-seater with the promise that Thunderbird would rise again to resemble the memorable 1955-57 T-Birds, which remain favorites among collectors. This is the second time Ford has killed off the Thunderbird name. Last year, Thunderbird fell nearly 6,000 short of expected 25,000 in sales, with some languishing on dealers’ lots. But in this world of comparably priced Chevrolet Corvettes, Audi TTs, Honda S2000s, BMW Z3s and other two-seater sports cars, Thunderbird became an anomaly. Of course, it was never meant to be a sporting machine. But it was soon labeled a boulevard cruiser, with a soft ride and modest performance, rather than a sports car. Thunderbird made a huge splash when it was unveiled in 2001, complete with waiting lists and markups. The end is coming because Thunderbird has a critical problem: Despite the apparent adoration, not enough people are buying them. Still, during my time with the Thunderbird last month, Ford announced it would cease production of its stylish roadster after the 2005 or ’06 model year. The bright-red, 2003 T-Bird test car also garnered many unsolicited compliments. People stop and stare, ogling its retro form with unabashed appreciation, looking it over stem to stern as it glides past in traffic. Ford Thunderbird still gets plenty of attention.
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