Ovaltine

Nice information page here on the "Grabber" line..... https://www.hemmings.com/blog/article/1971-75-ford-maverick-grabber-2/

And here's that '72 Nova "image" I was referring to....

Being a child of the 1970's, and like a '72 Nova SS is to the name 'Nova', this picture is what I forever will see in my mind when I read the words "Ford Maverick"! -Ovaltine

FYI - NAAO Chief Bob Rewey's obit from 2014. Very Interesting sounding guy. https://www.autonews.com/article/20141201/OEM02/141209980/robert-rewey-ford-marketing-exec-who-moved-the-iron-dies-at-76

I worked at the NAAO building on that site for a couple of years in the late '80s as a contract programmer on the LUCID PC application project. I have some good memories of talking to older guys high up in various vehicle programs, and hearing some of their old war stories from the TRULY "Old Days" of the late '50s, '60s, and '70s. The little "New Model Year" car show out in the south parking lot during the late summer was a fun event to go to. Seeing disguised vehicle mules in the parking lot there, and esp. in the EEE lot during my install visits there was very cool - in the pre-Internet "spyshot" world of 1988/89. One thing I still chuckle about is how after various big meetings would get out, a stream of staff would parade through the offices of the stats people I worked for asking for this data and that data and the request was ALWAYS for "Bob" - aka Bob Rewey who was in charge of the complex back then. The guys I reported to would mutter about how "busy" Bob's surely going to be if everyone gets the data they're asking for! LOL! The other anecdotal story I remember is someone coming in and telling us how he had just left a meeting where they had spent almost an entire hour arguing about whether to greenlight (or not) a .20 cent backseat ashtray in a Lincoln! He was massaging his temple and looking for some aspirin at that point! -Ovaltine

I don't know anything about the new guy - but this Crains article points out that his primary experience is with the finances of Amazon and SnapChat - both of which obviously are not even remotely automotive-related. https://www.crainsdetroit.com/people/former-amazon-snap-exec-succeed-retiring-ford-cfo EXCERPT: ""We're so excited to have Tim join Ford at this incredible time for our company as we strive to become the world's most trusted company, designing smart vehicles for a smart world," Hackett said in the release. "He was a key player in the incredible success at Amazon and he understands the principles of fitness and growth as complementary virtues for Ford's future." What does everyone think of this move???

Hey - if they won't build me a new Thunderbird, then NO retro-anything-elses! LOL!

Here 'ya go - just sitting on the lot and ready to TAKE HOME! LOL ? https://www.carfax.com/Used-Chevrolet-HHR-Panel_w148 -Ovaltine

It looks like FCA needs do some sub-contracting, and pick up some Ford 9-inchers for use in those Demons! LOL ? https://www.hotrod.com/articles/9-inch-ford-rearend-strongest-rearend-due-hypoid-distance/

Heard this iconic tune by homeboy Bob Seger on Detroit's WCSX this morning, and it resonated with the sentiments I had when I created this post/thread. Needless to say, that I'm STILL hopin' that someday Ford will be "Makin' Thunderbirds" again! ?

Other than incorporating the "split", Ford had the Ram's technology down pat back in the '60s! LOL We LOVED the "Magic Doorgate" in our '68 LTD Country Squire when I was growing up. It was the usual lime-ish green w/fake wood sides, common for the era. DEFINITELY the inspiration for Clark and Ellen's "Wagon Queen - Family Truckster"! I've attached a pic of a '66 version - which is the essential the same setup we had. Btw - that 390 CID in that wagon hauled a** - quite literally! ? -Ovaltine

But - I'm doubting that any Lincoln (other than a 2-seater) would have as minuscule rear seat as a 'Stang - thus I'm assuming that a Lincoln version would ride on a lengthened Mustang chassis. If that assumption proved to be correct - then a Thunderbird COULD then in theory share that platform fairly economically. With that said, that name: Thundercougarfalconbird IS starting to grow on me a little!!! LOL ? -Ovaltine

Correction - that would be THUNDERBIRD!

THUNDERBIRD.....THUNDERBIRD.....THUNDERBIRD.....THUNDER............ It HAS been done before! "The sixth generation Thunderbird debuted in the fall of 1971 as a 1972 model. With a 120.4-inch (3,058 mm) wheelbase, an overall length of 214 inches (5,436 mm) (growing to 225 inches (5,715 mm) by 1974), and a curb weight of 4,420 pounds (2,005 kg) (over 4,800 pounds (2,177 kg) when equipped with a 460 cu in (7.5 L) V8), it was the largest Thunderbird ever produced by Ford, sharing the assembly line with the Lincoln Continental Mark IV. " ?

A-fricken-MEN! I totally agree, esp. on the concept of EV's being good in urban areas. I work in A2, and EVs will make total sense in this kind of enviroment. However - until "Doc" invents the flux-capacitor and the "Mr. Fusion" for electric vehicles, the prospects of sitting stranded on a cold snowy isolated road in Northern Michigan in dead of winter with a completely drained EV has NO appeal to me whatSOever. A gasoline-hybrid would be the largest step I'll be taking into that realm until A.) petrol is non-existent or prohibitively expensive or B.) "Doc" shows up with the DeLorean! ? LOL -Ovaltine

One thing a person has to take into consideration when making purchse decisions on reports from entities like IIHS is the overall odds of an accident ever happening. As a person who grew up in the era of not wearing any seatbelts, coupled with countless rides in cars like Pintos, Mavericks and Mustang IIs, I really shouldn't probably be here - right? Nor should my friends who did the same, right? The fact that my wife and I then spent over 220k combined miles in our '83 Escort and' 85 Tempo (now finally wearing seat belts!) should have sealed the death trap deal - correct? Esp. after watching videos like this: So my point is - while it's certainly commendable and desirable to constantly test and improve vehicle safety, I dont't let a "marginal" or "poor" rating in the latest IIHS or other organizations' latest and greatest "roof drop from 50 feet" test deter me from buying a vehicle I believe to be a good value or high in everyday-type performance quality. Btw - be sure to watch the vid above. Now THAT'S some very scary crash testing %/&$#! I truly am grateful I never ran into anyone with that Escort! LOL ?

As to the "...but Ford couldn't sell more than 6,000 per year" prediction above, check out THIS set of stats about another old "dinosaur" in our midst: ? Since 2013, those sales are near or surpassing 10x that prediction! What's FCA's secret then? (I'm sure it has SOMETHING to do with 4 letters starting with an H and ending in an I. LOL) Dodge Challenger http://carsalesbase.com/us-car-sales-data/dodge/dodge-challenger/ 2017 64,537 2016 64,478 2015 66,365 2014 51,611 2013 51,462 2012 43,119 2011 39,534 2010 36,791 2009 25,852 2008 17,423

Here's the current "WEINER" in that battle, btw! LOL!

That grill above - back in '78 (actually late '77 calendar year) - was the initial salvo in the "Big-Rig-Look Grill War" that still rages to this day, 40+ years later! ?

Fair enough on which 4-seat model to emulate - beauty is in the eye of the beholder. ? But the last 2-seat model kind of had that early 60's streamlined vibe, mixed with the '55-57 footprint, so that would kind of be a "been there, done that" approach. Having NOT lived through the 1st Gen 'Birds, I picked the Squarebirds as the inspiration, due to the noticeable bada** vibe they put out - ala' the Gangsta' vibe that the Chrysler 300 reboot initially purveyed. It was that vibe that SOLD that original 300 reboot, to be sure - IMHO. -Ovaltine

Although I know that the mixing of the words Ford, two-door, and sedans is now passe', I can STILL dream about a modern rendition/take on the old "Squarebird "Thunderbird design, can't I?!? My first car at the age of 16 was a '72 T-Bird with a 429 4bbl w/dual exhaust. I sure would like to be able to purchase a modern/safe version of a similar car someday! The problem with the previous attempt at retro with the T-Bird was the two-seater concept - IMHO. It just wasn't convenient enough. A kicka** styled new car that can hold (at least) 4 comfortably would be bound to appeal to a larger segment than that one did. Methinks that a stretched S550/Mustang chassis would do the trick, right? Again - I know I'm just dreamin', but it's a nice one. ? -Ovaltine

It doesn't help the situation any that the emblems affected are about the size of a small salad plate! ?

Hey - just a show of hands here, but how many other people on here are seeing tons of Ford trucks and Edges running around with the messed up / faded front and rear logo emblems? This guy's video does a decent job of pointing out the problem, and a suggestion for a quick fix for those that don't want to spring for a new logo. See: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I1UbSPmxYrg As one person in his comments states - a $65k Lariat they bought shouldn't have emblems doing this kind of stuff. Does anyone on here know if this problem has be rectified on the latest models? Just curious. -Ovaltine

My co-worker's 2009 Fusion had the passenger handle peel a couple of years ago at about 30-35 k. It looks like he peeled off most of the offending bits, and hasn't bothered to tape it. After reading this thread, I'm always careful when using it, if he drives when the group goes out to lunch! ;-) -Ovaltine

My 2008 Jeep Compass' Jatco-built CVT had to be completely replaced at 75k miles. Fortunately the 2008's came with a Lifetime Drivetrain Warranty that FCA honored, even though Cerebus was long gone, and Jeep had gone through the bankruptcy already! The performance is tolerable - but since this is the ONLY vehicle transmission I've ever had fail on me in 37 years of driving - methinks I'll be avoiding ANY CVT equipped vehicles in the future. -Ovaltine