Zapata

lol is it really a suprise? Ford plans to kill the t-bird in the 05 or 06 production year. Overpriced and underpowered.

Red Nj-s

I called it. Noone wants a slow two seater made by Ford.

Collective27

Where did you get this info from, i know that it has had slow sales, but what is your source for this info.

gavriil

Underpowered? This latest iteration of the 3.9 engine gives it a 6.7 sec for the 0-60 which makes this car as fast as an auto CLS. That's not slow for this category.

gavriil

Ford to clip Thunderbird's wings
Production will end with '05 or '06 models, but it might resume

By Amy Wilson
Automotive News / April 20, 2003

NEW YORK -- Ford Motor Co. will stop producing the Ford Thunderbird after the 2005 or 2006 model year.

Ford Division President Steve Lyons says the current Thunderbird, which Ford introduced as a low-volume glamour car in 2001, won't be renewed after an initial product run of four or maybe five years. He wouldn't give an exact ending date, but the plan would have Ford shutting down production in mid-2005 or 2006.

"We're going to take a pause, but we don't know what the long-term plan is," Lyons says.

The decision isn't related to sales, he says. But Ford planned to sell about 25,000 Thunderbirds annually. In 2002, it sold 19,085 units in the United States and 1,136 in Canada. This year's U.S. sales are off 22.1 percent.

Stocks of the car piled up through the winter to as high as a 183-day supply on March 1. Lyons attributed the large inventory to an oversupply of 2002 models, which Ford produced into November. Ford resorted to incentives such as $2,000 dealer cash and discounts for employees, suppliers and others.

On April 1, the company had a 129-day supply of the $37,320 two-seater.

Moving a car in and out of production would be unusual.

"While it may go away for a short period of time, it may reappear from time to time," Lyons says.

"When you really stand back and think about the volumes we're trying to sell that vehicle in, it is meant to be a collectors' item. And it doesn't have to have a production run every year."

Red Nj-s

I think it is underpowered for a 40k roadster. I would just take out a bigger loan, and pick up a vette.

They tried to make it appeal to the classy people who don't care about sport, but classy people don't buy Fords.

Chaptorial

First the Taurus now the Thunderbird. Does Ford have any models left?

EdgarFanCLS

LOL..

Ford was convinced that T-Bird nostalgia was going to move 25,000 units per year @ $40k.

It's funny too, because Ford already markets another ragtop for around the same price.

It's called the SVT Cobra, and it's fast.

CLBean

Too pricey... almost had one for an overnighter once... wasn't approved for the drive list though... that sucks!

Hmmm... we should guess what model Ford is gonna discontinue next... I'm betting on the Escape... too pricey... and I'm sure the price will sky rocket when they come out with the HEV version...

fahoumh

LOL....Motor Trend picked a real winner for the '02 Car of the Year

charliemike

I think the price-gouging at the initial release of the car really hurt it ... But it's true that no one wants to spend $40k on a Ford. Hell, $35k for a Cobra makes me cringe.

Zapata

for 40k it's slow

zeroday

Expeditions and loaded Explorers seem to sell well and they are in the low to high 30 range so I don't think it's price vs brand name alone. Limited practicality combined with price and lack of brand 'mystique' for lack of a better word is more likely. Ford is just not looked at as a 'designer' brand which is what the age bracket they are targeting is looking for. I'm thinking they need to axe lincoln and the volvo name and create an all new luxury division with more of a sporty high end european image and design focus (no pun inteneded). Volvo and Lincoln both have stodgey images which turns off buyers.

Beltfed

Sure they do, it just has to be a worthy Ford.......people are lining up to pay $100k+ for the GT. Ford will sell every GT they produce, even if they go for $50k over MSRP.

Jens H.

Take ten grand off the price tag and they would have lot's of them.I drove one and it was pretty cool car but no at that sticker price .Jens

1SICKLEX

It just wasn't a looker. It ain't about performance. But did it outperform the Thunderbird S/C (a fav car of mine)? I don't think so and that car was really liked by the auto press.

TIMES HAVE CHANGED. The same people that bought a THunderbird back in the day are not the same people today. ANd their sons and daughters don't care about the car.

Zoot

I respect you man, but that idea of yours is just stupid.

Silver™

Could this be the first time you a Red agree