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N0KFQ > TODAY 01.07.14 15:55l 55 Lines 2509 Bytes #999 (0) @ WW
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Subj: Today in History - Jul 1
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Jul 1, 2005:
Last Ford Thunderbird produced
The last Thunderbird, Ford Motor Company's iconic sports car,
emerges from a Ford factory in Wixom, Michigan on this day in
2005.
Ford began its development of the Thunderbird in the years
following World War II, during which American servicemen had the
opportunity to observe sleek European sports cars. General Motors
built the first American sports car: the Chevrolet Corvette,
released in 1953. The undeniably sleek Corvette's initial engine
performance was relatively underwhelming, but it was gaining lots
of attention from the press and public, and Ford was motivated to
respond, rushing the Thunderbird to the market in 1955. The 1955
Thunderbird was an immediate hit, selling more than 14,000 that
year (compared to just 700 Corvettes). The success of the
Thunderbird led Chevrolet to continue production of (and improve
upon) the Corvette, which soon became a tough competitor in the
sports car market.
In addition to the powerful V-8 engine that Ford was known for,
the Thunderbird boasted all the conveniences consumers had become
accustomed to, including a removable hard convertible top,
soundproofing and the accessories standard to most Ford cars. In
1958, to satisfy critics who thought the T-Bird was too small,
Ford released a four-seater version with a roomier trunk and
bucket seats. The Beach Boys elevated the Thunderbird to pop-
culture-icon status in 1964 by including it in the lyrics of
their hit single "Fun Fun Fun" ("she'll have fun, fun, fun 'til
her daddy takes the T-Bird away"). By that time, President John
F. Kennedy had already included 50 Thunderbirds in his inaugural
procession in 1961, and a T-Bird would also feature prominently
in the 1973 film "American Graffiti."
Thunderbird sales slowed during the 1990s, and Ford discontinued
the Thunderbird in 1997. In 2002, however, in an attempt to
capitalize on car buyers' nostalgia, the company launched
production of a retro T-Bird, a two-seater convertible that took
some of its styling from the original classic. The luxury
retailer Neiman Marcus offered an early special edition version
in their 2000 Christmas catalog, priced at just under $42,000;
their stock of 200 sold out in two hours and 15 minutes. Despite
brisk early sales and good reviews, sales of the new Thunderbird
couldn't justify continued production, and Ford discontinued it
again in mid-2005.
73, K.O. n0kfq
N0KFQ @ N0KFQ.#SWMO.MO.USA.NA
E-mail: kohiggs@gmail.com
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