[mamboo]

Known for its classic design cues and the character of a true American sports car, the Ford Thunderbird is celebrating its 55th anniversary this year, and owners from across the country are coming together to celebrate the classic car
more on http://www.auto-powe...nniversary.html

[Ford Jellymoulds]

Happy 55th Birthday Thunderbird

Its absolute sin that T-Bird is not Fords global MX-5 purpose built global convertible car.

Instantly recognizable universally loved worldwide an absolute classic sorely missed no doubt Stateside.

This post has been edited by Ford Jellymoulds: 27 June 2010 - 07:20 AM

[joihan777]

Ford Jellymoulds, on 27 June 2010 - 08:20 AM, said:

Happy 55th Birthday Thunderbird

Its absolute sin that T-Bird is not Fords global MX-5 purpose built global convertible car.

Instantly recognizable universally loved worldwide an absolute classic sorely missed no doubt Stateside.

Still hoping to buy a 2-seater roadster ThunderBird on-par with the MB SLK.

(And an SVT model on-par with Corvette)

[T'Cal]

Ford should've built a new T-bird off of the Mustang platform, especially the latest model that's getting all the good ink. I would love to see another two-seater powered by the new 3.7 and EB3.5 V6s.

[OAC_Sparky]

My Dad died about 8 years ago. He was 62. He isn't turning 70. He died at 62. I would even go out on a limb and say "This year, he would have turned 70".

When you don't carry the nameplate for over 5 years with no replacement even announced, the nameplate is dead. The original run was 1955-1997 (43 model years) and then the aborted 2002-2005 (4 model years) so at best the T-Bird run was 47 years. Maybe someone's particular T-Bird is turning 55, but until we get a new vehicle bearing the Thunderbird name, the T-Bird doesn't turn 55 any more than DeSoto turns 81.

[MRZJ]

Hopefully,

As the years go by...people will now respect the 80-82 Birds

[jpd80]

T'Cal, on 29 June 2010 - 03:12 PM, said:

Ford should've built a new T-bird off of the Mustang platform, especially the latest model that's getting all the good ink. I would love to see another two-seater powered by the new 3.7 and EB3.5 V6s.

Believe it or not there was a plan to do that but the Mustang was given a 3-link rear end for cost saving and dashed all hopes of a high series variant. A two door Falcon coupe proposal was considered but ruled out as too expensive.

This post has been edited by jpd80: 03 July 2010 - 05:12 PM

[twintornados]

MRZJ, on 03 July 2010 - 09:39 AM, said:

Hopefully,

As the years go by...people will now respect the 80-82 Birds

:hysterical:

[T'Cal]

jpd80, on 03 July 2010 - 06:11 PM, said:

Believe it or not there was a plan to do that but the Mustang was given a 3-link rear end for cost saving and dashed all hopes of a high series variant. A two door Falcon coupe proposal was considered but ruled out as too expensive.

Would it be that expensive to manufacture an IRS for this T-Bird? This car could demand a premium price, which would include developing the unique rear suspension. In addition, Ford could use the IRS on special Mustangs such as an SVT/SVO model that sports the Ecoboost V6, which would spread out the costs even more.

[joihan777]

T'Cal, on 12 July 2010 - 07:18 PM, said:

Would it be that expensive to manufacture an IRS for this T-Bird? This car could demand a premium price, which would include developing the unique rear suspension. In addition, Ford could use the IRS on special Mustangs such as an SVT/SVO model that sports the Ecoboost V6, which would spread out the costs even more.

I read somewhere (Jalopnik?) that the next gen Mustang will have IRS, so maybe a shared platform with ThunderBird, and a Lincoln MK10, is actually possible.

[twintornados]

joihan777, on 13 July 2010 - 02:13 PM, said:

I read somewhere (Jalopnik?) that the next gen Mustang will have IRS, so maybe a shared platform with ThunderBird, and a Lincoln MK10, is actually possible.

It would be a MK 9, since the last one was a MK 8....

[T'Cal]

twintornados, on 13 July 2010 - 03:43 PM, said:

It would be a MK 9, since the last one was a MK 8....

Maybe Lincoln will get rid of the goofy MK* designation by then and call it the Mark 9.

[Ford Jellymoulds]

joihan777, on 27 June 2010 - 06:11 PM, said:

Still hoping to buy a 2-seater roadster ThunderBird on-par with the MB SLK.

(And an SVT model on-par with Corvette)

Lucky bugger wish l could, the T-Birds a million times better than a MB full of Crossfire bits.

[J-150]

in related news, the Granada turns 35