NickF1011 Posted June 19, 2009 Share Posted June 19, 2009 Curiously, the coupe market is about the only one that hasn't 'exploded' with models over the last 10-15 years. It hasn't had to "explode" really, since there have always been coupes around so the market didn't need to explode. Sit down and really think about it: there are dozens of coupes on sale right now. Mustang Focus Camaro Cobalt Challenger Eclipse Solara Tiburon Genesis Altima Accord Civic RX8 370Z That's just a short list I thought up in a matter of a minute or so...and that's leaving out all of the luxury coupes on the market entirely. Do they all sell like gangbusters? No. But most of them are selling in enough volume that they will be around for awhile (Solara excluded). BTW, Nick, silvrsvt is about your age--in case you didn't know. Well he certainly has a different perspective on the 1960's than I do. I wasn't even a zygote until early '77. :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deanh Posted June 19, 2009 Share Posted June 19, 2009 You New Zeelanders and your sheep, I swear... Did you ever see the movie "Black Sheep"? classic... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IMSA-XJR9 Posted June 19, 2009 Share Posted June 19, 2009 There are more brands, more models, and more body styles available now than ever before in the history of the automobile. That's why I don't get the older generation of folk who say "all cars today look the same". Guess what? To all of us, all old cars look the same. I agree with both of your statements. But as an example let's look at 1988 for FMC (cars) . . . Festiva Escort Tempo Thunderbird Mustang Taurus Crown Vic Granted there were no CUVs, but nonetheless (and be it right or wrong) there quite a few more "car" options than today. (Again, not taking into account the purchasing habits of today's consumers vs. those in 1988, just making a "general" observation.) Damn internet conversation and all the damn qualifiers one needs to post with ones comment(s)!! :glare: :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NickF1011 Posted June 19, 2009 Share Posted June 19, 2009 I agree with both of your statements. But as an example let's look at 1988 for FMC (cars) . . . Festiva Escort Tempo Thunderbird Mustang Taurus Crown Vic Granted there were no CUVs, but nonetheless (and be it right or wrong) there quite a few more "car" options than today. (Again, not taking into account the purchasing habits of today's consumers vs. those in 1988, just making a "general" observation.) Damn internet conversation and all the damn qualifiers one needs to post with ones comment(s)!! :glare: :lol: Comparing that list to next year's Ford car lineup you will instead have: Fiesta Focus Fusion Taurus Mustang Crown Vic The only segment not still covered is the personal coupe entry with Thunderbird (and I guess Crown Vic, since it's fleet only now). But then take into account the fewer number of brands on the market during much of that period and I think it more than balances out overall. There were no full-line Korean automakers here then. The only full-line Japanese brands were Toyota, Honda, and Nissan. Even Volkswagen didn't offer much of a full lineup in the States at that time. The variety is just as great or greater, but the automakers individually may have become more streamlined in their portfolio offerings. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silvrsvt Posted June 19, 2009 Share Posted June 19, 2009 I agree with both of your statements. But as an example let's look at 1988 for FMC (cars) . . . Escort Tempo And both of them had coupe bodystyle...the Escort matter of fact had two models- the 2 door Escort and the EXP! :P Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IMSA-XJR9 Posted June 19, 2009 Share Posted June 19, 2009 And both of them had coupe bodystyle...the Escort matter of fact had two models- the 2 door Escort and the EXP! :P You're right! Though I always forget about the 2nd generation EXP. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichardJensen Posted June 19, 2009 Share Posted June 19, 2009 there are dozens of coupes on sale right now. Mustang* Focus* Camaro* Cobalt* Challenger* Eclipse+ Solara Tiburon+ Genesis+ Altima Accord Civic* RX8* 370Z* That's just a short list I thought up in a matter of a minute or so...and that's leaving out all of the luxury coupes on the market entirely There are fewer coupes available from each mfr., as compared to the same or more sedans and wagons/CUVs/SUVs. I've put an asterisk by every model that had a 60s-70s antecedent and a plus sign by every coupe offered by a mfr. that wasn't in the US at the time. When you consider that, in the mid 70s, you had Pinto, Maverick and LTD coupe/hatch variants along with the Mk series, T-Bird, and Mustang dedicated coupes from Ford, where today you have simply the Focus and Mustang coupes..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NickF1011 Posted June 19, 2009 Share Posted June 19, 2009 There are fewer coupes available from each mfr., as compared to the same or more sedans and wagons/CUVs/SUVs. I've put an asterisk by every model that had a 60s-70s antecedent and a plus sign by every coupe offered by a mfr. that wasn't in the US at the time. When you consider that, in the mid 70s, you had Pinto, Maverick and LTD coupe/hatch variants along with the Mk series, T-Bird, and Mustang dedicated coupes from Ford, where today you have simply the Focus and Mustang coupes..... And you go back to my other remark: There are a lot more brands here now. It only makes sense that each automaker would be forced to offer fewer body styles of each model as more competition entered the arena. Would it make any sense at all for Ford to have 7-8 coupes in the FoMoCo portfolio? Should every company have 7-8 coupes? That would make 100+ different coupes being available on the market today. :lol: That's just not supportable. I would venture to guess that the total number of coupes from all automakers on the market today isn't far off from what it was 20-30 years ago though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TomServo92 Posted June 19, 2009 Share Posted June 19, 2009 You're right! Though I always forget about the 2nd generation EXP. I actually liked the 2nd gen EXP. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichardJensen Posted June 19, 2009 Share Posted June 19, 2009 And you go back to my other remark: There are a lot more brands here now. It only makes sense that each automaker would be forced to offer fewer body styles of each model as more competition entered the arena. And yet: mid 70s Ford 5-doors: Pinto, Maverick, LTD, Bobcat, Comet, Marquis current Ford 5-doors: Escape, Edge, Mariner, Explorer, Flex, MKX, Expedition, Navigator, MKT I would venture to guess that the total number of coupes from all automakers on the market today isn't far off from what it was 20-30 years ago though. Perhaps---although I doubt it. Ford offered over 10 coupes in the 70s, as did Chrysler, and GM must have had close to 20. Are there 40 coupes on the market today? That aside, even if the number of coupes is the same, there are significantly more sedans and five doors on the market now than there were in the 70s. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IMSA-XJR9 Posted June 19, 2009 Share Posted June 19, 2009 I actually liked the 2nd gen EXP. I did too. The 1st generation just stands out a bit more in my mind, mainly because of styling and racing. If memory serves, Kenny Bernstein used an EXP or Lynx body on his Funny Car. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
timmm55 Posted June 20, 2009 Share Posted June 20, 2009 mid 70s Ford 5-doors:Pinto, Maverick, LTD, Bobcat, Comet, Marquis Huh? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TomServo92 Posted June 20, 2009 Share Posted June 20, 2009 Huh? Station wagons. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jpd80 Posted June 20, 2009 Share Posted June 20, 2009 (edited) The driver in all of this is an increased need for versatility and utility coming from buyers. My earlier suggestion of a Taurus or Fusion "coupe" was perhaps an little too specific when I should have said two door sedan, something that offers customers sedan room but the feel of a personal two door...... A niche for sure but more like a main stream product variant than a derivative like the coupe body. Edited June 20, 2009 by jpd80 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sixt9coug Posted June 20, 2009 Share Posted June 20, 2009 And yet: mid 70s Ford 5-doors: Pinto, Maverick, LTD, Bobcat, Comet, Marquis current Ford 5-doors: Escape, Edge, Mariner, Explorer, Flex, MKX, Expedition, Navigator, MKT They didnt make Comet or Maverick wagons. You did forget the Torino and Montego wagons though so its a wash. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
timmm55 Posted June 21, 2009 Share Posted June 21, 2009 (edited) They didnt make Comet or Maverick wagons. You did forget the Torino and Montego wagons though so its a wash. And the Pinto/Bobcat wagons were 2 door, or 3 door if you count the rear liftgate. Edited June 21, 2009 by timmm55 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sixt9coug Posted June 21, 2009 Share Posted June 21, 2009 And the Pinto/Bobcat wagons were 2 door, or 3 door if you count the rear liftgate. D'oh! forgot about that. The wood panel Pinto wagons rock though! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichardJensen Posted June 21, 2009 Share Posted June 21, 2009 I had forgotten that those Pinto wagons were three doors---man, there sure wasn't a lot going on with wagons in the 70s..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
timmm55 Posted June 21, 2009 Share Posted June 21, 2009 D'oh! forgot about that. The wood panel Pinto wagons rock though! All the old Squires were uber cool IMHO! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Edstock Posted June 21, 2009 Share Posted June 21, 2009 They didnt make Comet or Maverick wagons. You did forget the Torino and Montego wagons though so its a wash. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sixt9coug Posted June 21, 2009 Share Posted June 21, 2009 We were referencing 70s wagons! :D Kinda like how i mentioned Torinos and not Fairlanes.Nor Falcon 2 door wagons. 1970 Falcons were just Fairlane/Torinos at that point anyway. If we really wanna take it back, we can mention the Ranch Wagon 2 doors that they made till 65. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Milstar 04 Sport Posted June 22, 2009 Share Posted June 22, 2009 (edited) You all been playing with your peckers too long! You forgot about the car that saved Ford's Ass: the Fairmont! It came in the coupe, two door sedan, four door sedan, and station wagon. And it set the record for Ford, in 1978, for first year production! It beat the first year sales in 1965, the Mustang. As I recall, Ford produced 422,000 in its first year. They couldn't make enought of them. It was made in both the US, Canada, and Australia. It was known as the Fox body! I seem to recall that body ran until 2004, namely the Mustang. How could you guys miss this car? First sentence tells it all! Link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Fairmont"] Sorry for the puns, but couldn't resist! I hope for Ford's sake, the 2010 Taurus sales take off, but as some of you know, I am a Panther fan, I have owned four of them, 1990 TC, 1999 CV, 2000 CV and 2004 CV Sport. Hopefully, the 2010 Taurus will sell over 100,000, but who knows in this market! Edited June 22, 2009 by Milstar 04 Sport Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jpd80 Posted June 22, 2009 Share Posted June 22, 2009 It was made in both the US, Canada, and Australia. It was known as the Fox body! Ford Australia never used the Fox platform, Falcon is their own design since 1972 until the present day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Milstar 04 Sport Posted June 22, 2009 Share Posted June 22, 2009 I just accepted the article at face value, my bad. But I do remember the Fairmont, and what a success it was here in the states. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jpd80 Posted June 22, 2009 Share Posted June 22, 2009 I just accepted the article at face value, my bad. But I do remember the Fairmont, and what a success it was here in the states. Hey, don't feel bad FoA's Falcon had Fairmont and Fairmont Ghia as mid and upper trim models. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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