The Splashiest Car Reveals of the Detroit Auto Show

With the big coupe market tanking under an onslaught of SUVs, Ford killed the Thunderbird after the 1997 model year. Thunderbird fans were left wondering when and how the iconic model name would be resurrected.

The answer came in the form of the two-seat Ford Thunderbird Concept roadster displayed at the 1999 Detroit Show. It was gorgeous--a slick updating of the all the styling cues that made the original 1955-to-1957 two-seat T-Birds legendary. Best of all, it wasn't just a "concept" but a clear preview of the car that was heading for production in 2002. That led to dozens of magazine covers, wild speculation on the Internet and a positive vibe for Ford that lasted three years.

In Hindsight: The two-seat T-Bird went into production for the 2002 model year, and was an immediate disappointment. Ford scavenged too many uninspired interior and mechanical pieces from the underwhelming Lincoln LS, and that meant the T-Bird was a lackadaisical performer with a boring cockpit. And it cost $40,000. It didn't sell well and died in 2005. Ford should have known there was a reason the T-Bird went to four seats in '58.

Source: http://www.popularmechanics.com/cars/news/shows/the-splashiest-car-reveals-of-the-detroit-auto-show?src=rss

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