mackinaw Posted January 19, 2021 Share Posted January 19, 2021 https://www.foxnews.com/auto/ford-thunderbird-returning-trademark Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harley Lover Posted January 19, 2021 Share Posted January 19, 2021 From the linked article, the most likely explanation: automakers often protect their unused IP by updating trademarks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Twin Turbo Posted January 19, 2021 Share Posted January 19, 2021 I know there are many reasons for Trademarking names (mostly just so no-one else takes it!)............but if we are getting a new T-bird, it'd better not be another EV SUV!!!! The recent sculpture revealed in China had many believing that was a thinly veiled view of the next gen Mustang (personally, I really hope it is, because I think it's stunning!!) That being said, that sculpture had definitely has inspiration from the early T-bird. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PREMiERdrum Posted January 19, 2021 Share Posted January 19, 2021 The last planned Thunderbird revival was shelved about 6 years ago. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fuzzymoomoo Posted January 19, 2021 Share Posted January 19, 2021 19 minutes ago, PREMiERdrum said: The last planned Thunderbird revival was shelved about 6 years ago. That's a shame. Thunderbird is a name that lends itself perfectly towards an electric car. 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ice-capades Posted January 19, 2021 Share Posted January 19, 2021 If the experience of the last generation Thunderbird based on the Lincoln LS chassis is the best Ford can do... let it DIE! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YT90SC Posted January 19, 2021 Share Posted January 19, 2021 22 minutes ago, fuzzymoomoo said: That's a shame. Thunderbird is a name that lends itself perfectly towards an electric car. Having owned several MN-12's and a couple Fox chassis cars, and just enjoying all 'birds in general, I love this. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fuzzymoomoo Posted January 19, 2021 Share Posted January 19, 2021 6 minutes ago, YT90SC said: Having owned several MN-12's and a couple Fox chassis cars, and just enjoying all 'birds in general, I love this. I can't think of a T-Bird I don't like. Even the last one I have a strange affinity for despite its many, many foibles and flaws. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YT90SC Posted January 19, 2021 Share Posted January 19, 2021 They ALL have their place. I love some more than others, but they all have a place. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T-dubz Posted January 19, 2021 Share Posted January 19, 2021 If the thunderbird was coming out again, I would definitely have to rethink my next vehicle purchase. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mackinaw Posted January 19, 2021 Author Share Posted January 19, 2021 I'm not a fan of the '80-'82 box-styling version, but the rest have their charms. And I can never forget the two-seat 'Bird may dad brought home for the weekend back in 1957. Definitely the biggest thing in my young life, back then. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rmc523 Posted January 19, 2021 Share Posted January 19, 2021 27 minutes ago, fuzzymoomoo said: I can't think of a T-Bird I don't like. Even the last one I have a strange affinity for despite its many, many foibles and flaws. I actually like the retrobird too. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PREMiERdrum Posted January 19, 2021 Share Posted January 19, 2021 The last proposed Thunderbird was a super high end 4-door "coupe" with a - ahem - unique combination of powertrains. When the MachE was in its early planning and was seen as more of a next-gen CMax, this would fill the upper portion of the electric market. The name means a lot inside the glass house and I expect that it could come back in another product cycle or two. Unless current attitudes shift, they won't put the nameplate on something undeserving. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sullynd Posted January 19, 2021 Share Posted January 19, 2021 33 minutes ago, rmc523 said: I actually like the retrobird too. Ive thought it’d be fun to do an engine swap in one. Think a 3.5 EB would fit? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pffan1990 Posted January 19, 2021 Share Posted January 19, 2021 1 hour ago, PREMiERdrum said: The last proposed Thunderbird was a super high end 4-door "coupe" with a - ahem - unique combination of powertrains. When the MachE was in its early planning and was seen as more of a next-gen CMax, this would fill the upper portion of the electric market. The name means a lot inside the glass house and I expect that it could come back in another product cycle or two. Unless current attitudes shift, they won't put the nameplate on something undeserving. With Jim Farley now in charge of Ford, I wonder if Thunderbird project will be resurrected. I like the idea of the 4-door coupe but would likely be a 4-door slantback crossover-ish vehicle with the retro styling of most (if not all) previous generations. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
probowler Posted January 19, 2021 Share Posted January 19, 2021 1 hour ago, pffan1990 said: With Jim Farley now in charge of Ford, I wonder if Thunderbird project will be resurrected. I like the idea of the 4-door coupe but would likely be a 4-door slantback crossover-ish vehicle with the retro styling of most (if not all) previous generations. God please no. I think a thunderbird revival would be great, and going electric makes too much sense. Hopefully ford has more respect for the name than to pull another fusion whitespace or mustang mach-e type vehicle Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akirby Posted January 19, 2021 Share Posted January 19, 2021 4 hours ago, sullynd said: Ive thought it’d be fun to do an engine swap in one. Think a 3.5 EB would fit? Ford engineers stuffed a supercharged 4.6L in a LS for one lap of America, so I’m pretty sure a 3.5EB would fit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ausrutherford Posted January 19, 2021 Share Posted January 19, 2021 The 4 door SUV coupe is the new personal luxury coupe of the 1950s - 1980s. Just do it. It's the future. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T-dubz Posted January 20, 2021 Share Posted January 20, 2021 I’d like the thunderbird to be a corvette competitor. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trailhiker Posted January 20, 2021 Share Posted January 20, 2021 46 minutes ago, T-dubz said: I’d like the thunderbird to be a corvette competitor. That would be great. The Ford GT has almost run its course, and a replacement that competes with the Corvette would be sell many more at a much more affordable price. The GT is great, but you just don't see them. The Thunderbird could be a car people actually drive, and not store in a garage as an investment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FordBuyer Posted January 20, 2021 Share Posted January 20, 2021 43 minutes ago, T-dubz said: I’d like the thunderbird to be a corvette competitor. Yeah, Ford needs a Corvette competitor. How about a lightweight steel bodied Ford GT type vehicle turbo engined for about $75,000 base price. Build it along side the Mustang line. Ford has built a following with its Ford GT line over last 15 years. Now call it Thunderbird and make it more affordable instead of catering to the super rich only. GM proves that can be done with the mid engined super car Corvette. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jcartwright99 Posted January 20, 2021 Share Posted January 20, 2021 (edited) Terrible idea. Thunderbird, while great, needs to RIP. It's ok to let nameplates go. In just about every version of what it was, would not sell well now. Edited January 20, 2021 by jcartwright99 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silvrsvt Posted January 20, 2021 Share Posted January 20, 2021 1 hour ago, T-dubz said: I’d like the thunderbird to be a corvette CUV competitor. Fixed that for you.... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rperez817 Posted January 20, 2021 Share Posted January 20, 2021 1 hour ago, T-dubz said: I’d like the thunderbird to be a corvette competitor. There are rumors that GM is planning to expand the Corvette name into a sub-brand that includes multiple BEV models. It would be great to have Ford do the same with the Thunderbird name, and would be a nice addition to a Mustang sub-brand. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roland Posted January 21, 2021 Share Posted January 21, 2021 If Ford has any sense they'll rip the Mustang badge off their electric SUV, declare it some kind of special edition, and relaunch it as a Thunderbird. Thunderbird has always been about sporty, stylish, personal luxury and that's much more in tune with what they've delivered than calling it a Mustang. But they won't. Because Ford sucks at brand management. They have exactly two brands that they haven't managed to destroy, "Mustang," and "F150." There's still time to save, "Mustang" and you can make a good start at rebuilding "Thunderbird" if you do it right. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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