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12 Ford Thunderbird
The Ford Thunderbird is yet another example of a failed attempt at retro styling as the reinvigorating element in a model’s resurrection. The original Ford Thunderbird models of the 1950s and 60s were some of Ford’s most classic cars, beginning as Corvette-challenging sports cars then giving way to a blend of touring and muscle car profiles with long lines, powerful haunches, and plenty of chromed out fins. Even the first generation T-Bird was available with a supercharged 5.1-liter V8, which utilized dual four-barrel carburetors to crank out 300 horsepower.
When Ford reintroduced the Thunderbird for an eleventh generation in 2002, the result was a mix of underwhelming power, strange design, and overall a lapse in brand memory.
The laundry list of the new version’s failures include a nose that resembled a grinning fish, a curb weight over 3,700 pounds, and a five speed automatic as the only transmission option. Soft springs focused more on comfort than performance rounded out the package, and Ford struggled to even keep dealers selling the car at MSRP. By 2005, sales were down to less than half of Ford’s projections, and the T-Bird went into a hibernation from which it has yet to emerge.
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