ExplorerDude Posted May 10, 2016 Share Posted May 10, 2016 (edited) Howdy All, I was poking around on Ford.com last night and came across a new page that they recently added, "Ford Discontinued Vehicles". On this page they had 3 specific vehicles listed: 1. Bronco 2. Ranger 3. Thunderbird https://www.ford.com/vehicles/discontinued/ I find it very interesting that these 3 particular vehicles are listed, especially with the rumors that the first two (Bronco and Ranger) are most definitely making a return in the 2018/2019 timeframe. The reason I believe it's a hint is so that they don't fall too far out of people's memory. I mean if the goal was to list just "Ford Discontinued Vehicles" then why not list the other most recent discontinued products. Seeing that these products were all discontinued long after the Bronco. 1. Escort 2. Excursion 3. Explorer Sport Trac 4. Crown Victoria 5. Five Hundred 6. Freestyle 7. Freestar 8. Windstar Just some food for thought and for a friendly discussion. Anyone have any thoughts on the subject? Edited May 10, 2016 by ExplorerDude 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silvrsvt Posted May 10, 2016 Share Posted May 10, 2016 (edited) Looks like its just history/advertising....they all have links to go to the Explorer, F-150 and Mustang Respectively. Though the Bronco is rather odd since it hasn't been built in nearly 20 years or so. The Ranger and T-bird left us in the past 10. Though a 4 door T-bird as a Taurus replacement would be interested...no matter what wheels it drove. I can see it being successful as a low production/high ATP halo product for the Ford line, but then again it might be pie in the sky thinking. Edited May 10, 2016 by silvrsvt Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akirby Posted May 10, 2016 Share Posted May 10, 2016 Though a 4 door T-bird as a Taurus replacement would be interested...no matter what wheels it drove. I can see it being successful as a low production/high ATP halo product for the Ford line, but then again it might be pie in the sky thinking. <cough> cd6 <cough> 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mettech Posted May 10, 2016 Share Posted May 10, 2016 T-bird and Mark, Mk? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
atomcat68 Posted May 10, 2016 Share Posted May 10, 2016 T-bird and Mark, Mk? I think with the four door coupe trend, I could see the two coming back in this form. I doubt a two door is in the works and for the Ford division, the Mustang has the convertible market covered and the last Tbird convertible fizzled out after one good year. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silvrsvt Posted May 10, 2016 Share Posted May 10, 2016 (edited) <cough> cd6 <cough> Not this again! How long have been talking about a RWD Ford sedan platform? I can find references to GRWD going back to 2006 or so...thought it was longer then that! Edited May 10, 2016 by silvrsvt I can't properly use english today! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akirby Posted May 10, 2016 Share Posted May 10, 2016 Not this again! I was referring to a 4 door Tbird, not a coupe. I can see MKZ and Conti moving to CD6 and if so it makes sense to have a performance oriented Ford version on the same platform. Why? Higher ATPs and Incremental volume above Fusion and a replacement for the Taurus SHO. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fordowner Posted May 10, 2016 Share Posted May 10, 2016 (edited) I think they list stuff about Escorts on Backpage.com or AdultFriendFinder.com Edited May 10, 2016 by Fordowner 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BORG Posted May 10, 2016 Share Posted May 10, 2016 (edited) Pretty sure Ford would catch hell for a 4-door sedan called Thunderbird, and there probably isn't any way to make a Thunderbird-type vehicle successful again since the segment is defunct. Mustang and/or Lincoln has this covered. As for the return of Bronco, I'm still hoping that's the B-Segment Utility. Edited May 10, 2016 by BORG 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silvrsvt Posted May 10, 2016 Share Posted May 10, 2016 (edited) Pretty sure Ford would catch hell for a 4-door sedan called Thunderbird, As for the return of Bronco, I'm still hoping that's the B-Segment Utility. 4 Door Thunderbird: Only reason it went back to 2 doors was the popularity of the Personal Sports Coupe in the 1970-80s And making the Bronco a B-class CUV would be completely stupid! It needs to be in-between the size of the Escape and no larger then the Edge. It would be basically the tough smaller SUV, not CUV Edited May 10, 2016 by silvrsvt 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PREMiERdrum Posted May 10, 2016 Share Posted May 10, 2016 A new Thunderbird sedan has been proposed more than once over the last several years, they just haven't had the right platform for it. And remember the rather late change in direction of the NG Taurus and its US cancellation... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akirby Posted May 10, 2016 Share Posted May 10, 2016 As for the return of Bronco, I'm still hoping that's the B-Segment Utility. Now that would be stupid.... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akirby Posted May 10, 2016 Share Posted May 10, 2016 A new Thunderbird sedan has been proposed more than once over the last several years, they just haven't had the right platform for it. And remember the rather late change in direction of the NG Taurus and its US cancellation... Rumors of a new platform, RWD Explorer/Aviator, cancellation of NG Taurus for NA, big push for Ford Performance vehicles, rebirth of Lincoln, cancellation of Fusion production at FRAP, now this Tbird reference......... it sure seems to be adding up to me. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PREMiERdrum Posted May 10, 2016 Share Posted May 10, 2016 Looks like its just history/advertising....they all have links to go to the Explorer, F-150 and Mustang Respectively. Though the Bronco is rather odd since it hasn't been built in nearly 20 years or so. The Ranger and T-bird left us in the past 10. They built a new "discontinued vehicles" page that features only 3 such vehicles, 2 of which we all but know are making a return soon. If the site was really an attempt to recapture customers seeking out info on cancelled vehicles, why isn't Excursion there? SportTrak? ZX2? Taurus X? Freestar? These 3 were chosen for a reason, and I don't think it's too difficult to see what that is. Anybody know how long this little easter egg has been up? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PREMiERdrum Posted May 10, 2016 Share Posted May 10, 2016 (edited) Double post. Edited May 10, 2016 by PREMiERdrum Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anthony Posted May 10, 2016 Share Posted May 10, 2016 (edited) They built a new "discontinued vehicles" page that features only 3 such vehicles, 2 of which we all but know are making a return soon. If the site was really an attempt to recapture customers seeking out info on cancelled vehicles, why isn't Excursion there? SportTrak? ZX2? Taurus X? Freestar? These 3 were chosen for a reason, and I don't think it's too difficult to see what that is. Anybody know how long this little easter egg has been up? As per the Wayback Machine, its first mention of that page is March 12, 2015. Edited May 10, 2016 by Anthony grammar 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bzcat Posted May 10, 2016 Share Posted May 10, 2016 I would be interested in a new 4 door coupe Thunderbird. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jasonj80 Posted May 10, 2016 Share Posted May 10, 2016 Rumors of a new platform, RWD Explorer/Aviator, cancellation of NG Taurus for NA, big push for Ford Performance vehicles, rebirth of Lincoln, cancellation of Fusion production at FRAP, now this Tbird reference......... it sure seems to be adding up to me. Don't Forget pulling up the next generation Mustang. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
630land Posted May 10, 2016 Share Posted May 10, 2016 (edited) The 1967-71 T-Bird was sold as both 2 and 4 door. "... went back to 2 doors"? Actually, they dropped the sedan for '72. Don't expect any new coupes, big sedans or RWD "retro car" in this cheap gas, truck biased market.If anything comes back it would be Ranger, Bronco, and another truck/van/UV. Aerostar? Econoline? F-100? Edited May 10, 2016 by 630land Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mettech Posted May 10, 2016 Share Posted May 10, 2016 I hope Ford brings in an aluminum platform for the next Mustang that could be used for a personal lux T'bird and Mark. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Butchy Posted May 10, 2016 Share Posted May 10, 2016 Aluminum Ranger....greater towing....that would be awsome! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Biker16 Posted May 11, 2016 Share Posted May 11, 2016 Now that would be stupid.... Why? What would 2020 wrangler clone do that a 2018 B CUV Couldn't? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tbone Posted May 11, 2016 Share Posted May 11, 2016 Ford, please do not make the Bronco a lame ass B segment CUV, and destroy the historical significance of the name plate. Thank you, Tbone 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
probowler Posted May 11, 2016 Share Posted May 11, 2016 (edited) Well I can't get the page, it's redirecting back to ford.. But I did find it on wayback machine. Even if it's not a hint for something, it makes sense for ford to list some of their iconic nameplates and possibly drive some Google traffic their way, point people towards newer vehicles that might appeal them. Keep the ford website at the top when people search "Thunderbird" or "Bronco". I don't think it means much that they've omitted a lot of shitty)un-memorable past vehicles. I do find it odd that the page has been taken down. Nvm: it's working again Edited May 11, 2016 by probowler Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fuzzymoomoo Posted May 11, 2016 Share Posted May 11, 2016 You are correct in that it doesn't work on the mobile version of the website Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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