When the Ford Thunderbird launched for the 1955 model year, it did so as a sporty, two-seat convertible that served as a direct Chevrolet Corvette rival, albeit one that was marketed as a more upscale alternative. That soon changed, however, as the Thunderbird gained another row of seating in 1958 and proceeded to grow in size in subsequent years. The long-running model was ultimately discontinued after ten generations, only to return as a retro two-seat convertible in 2002 before it bowed again following the 2005 model year. Now, sources familiar with the matter have told Ford Authority that the Ford Thunderbird is once again being considered for a comeback.
This time around, Ford is considering reviving the Thunderbird as a somewhat indirect Corvette rival. The new T-Bird would reportedly be more of a grand touring coupe, though it wouldn’t boast a mid-engine layout like the current-gen C8 Corvette, and as such, wouldn’t exactly be a direct competitor to its original rival.
As Ford Authority reported in January of 2021, Ford filed to trademark “Thunderbird” with the United States Patent and Trademark Office last year, signaling a potential return for the beloved model. Such a comeback would be the latest in a long line of them, as The Blue Oval just resurrected the Ford Bronco, as well as the Ford Maverick – albeit as a compact pickup, not a passenger car like the original.
Additionally, in June 2021, Ford Authority spies spotted Ford benchmarking a C8 Corvette Stingray, which raised a lot of eyebrows. Presumably, Ford was benchmarking the C8 against the the Ford Mustang GT500 – its closest Blue Oval rival – but it’s also possible that this was being done with an eye toward building a more suitable competitor, such as a new Thunderbird.
Sales Numbers - Premium Sports Cars - 2021 - USA
| MODEL | YTD 21 / YTD 20 | YTD 21 | YTD 20 | YTD 21 SHARE | YTD 20 SHARE |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CHEVROLET CORVETTE | +52.78% | 33,041 | 21,626 | 63% | 51% |
| PORSCHE 911 | +13.60% | 10,042 | 8,840 | 19% | 21% |
| PORSCHE 718 | +24.51% | 4,292 | 3,447 | 8% | 8% |
| MERCEDES-BENZ AMG GT | -10.86% | 3,110 | 3,489 | 6% | 8% |
| AUDI R8 | +11.70% | 649 | 581 | 1% | 1% |
| MERCEDES-BENZ SL-CLASS | -74.07% | 462 | 1,782 | 1% | 4% |
| MERCEDES-BENZ SLC-CLASS | -89.21% | 229 | 2,122 | 0% | 5% |
| NISSAN GT-R | -25.33% | 227 | 304 | 0% | 1% |
| FORD GT | -18.29% | 143 | 175 | 0% | 0% |
| ACURA NSX | -3.13% | 124 | 128 | 0% | 0% |
| BMW I8 | -90.58% | 18 | 191 | 0% | 0% |
| TOTAL | +22.61% | 52,337 | 42,685 |
Currently, the C8 Corvette remains in high demand since its launch in 2019 for the 2020 model year, and it dominates the premium sports car segment after finishing with a 63 percent market share last year. There’s certainly room for competition in this segment – particularly for vehicles that represent a great value, like the Corvette, which is precisely what a new Thunderbird could be.
We’ll have more on this very soon, so be sure to subscribe to Ford Authority for the latest Ford Thunderbird news and ongoing Ford news coverage.
Comments
Going to have to be an electric Thunderbird version. Otherwise, one is looking at a short run of production vehicles due to emission mandates.
All the comments so far on here suck. The Ford GT is the competitor to the current Chevrolet Corvette. It’s not my fault they don’t put the 2.7 in the GT as a base engine to compete with the base 6.2 Corvette. The 5.5 is on par with the 3.5. A front engine rwd two seater at this point would just be a Mustang without the two rear seats. A new Thunderbird would have to be Miata sized to be feasible. We already have a V8 rwd sports car from Ford. That’s also a dying market. The key here is THUNDERbird. Just like LIGHTNING. An electric Miata competitor could be a possibility. Another sporty crossover like the Mach-E is a possibility. But what would all the Ford faithful really want? Probably a Thunderbird that competes with a Mercedes SL Class but has Ford’s rumored 6.8 V8 under the hood, hooked up to a 7 speed manual or 10 speed automatic with 175 mph top speed. Front engine rwd all the way. Maybe a hybrid model. Think luxury and freedom over the GT’s max track performance.
Will never buy any vehicle that demands electricity. They are not cheap and they are worse than a gas powered vehicle due to producing more polution needing the power produced by coal and oil.
Right on!! I’m with you. Problem is people are so stupid. We can’t produce enough electricity to power the whole northeast in the summer OR California ever!!
You should actually drive one.
Obviously, you have never owned aTesla or any of the more current E Cars such as the Ford Mach E. My Model 3 gets the equivalent or just over 100 MPG ! (Do the math) The cost is roughly the same as any other car in the upper end of the medium segment. The power comes out of the box in my garage . My electric bill shot up around $10. As for the other stuff you are talking about, I don’t know where you are getting it. I also have an 03 T Bird which only comes out in the warm weather months, its a blast. Hope the new one is electric.
Dude where are you getting your conspiratorial nonsense as silly and ridiculous that an electric car produces more pollution than a ice car.
Furthermore as more and more cars become electric the prices will go down it’s very simple economics guy. More in a structured such a charging stations as well as considerably more vehicles on the road automatically the prices will go down because there will be more and more EVS… Right?…
In August 2002 I took the delivery of my Red & White/ Black interior/ White removal port hole top. I had med size White walls installed on the All Black Tires., Therefore It looked like at RETRO. I kept it till 2010, it had 7489 miles on it. It was always garaged & oil was changed each year& fluid levels checked. My wife & I are Seniors, we didn’t drive it all the time so sat in the garage. Taxes, insurance ate us alive, so we sold it.
Why not complete the orders you already have rather than introducing a new model every week, afterall, there are still people who have been waiting for 2 years on a Bronco order.
This. All day, every day. Thanks Robert.
I second this!
Bring it back! Rekindle the old feelings of American Graffiti! :)))
Okay yes a new thunderbird
bring it back as a rear engine electric hybrid. something on the lines of a porsche layout. with a light weight small block V8. and all wheel drive…..watch em sell like hot cakes!!
EV’s may offer prodigious acceleration, but the drive can be rather antiseptic. I own an electric car and the power can be eye-opener at first, but it becomes one-dimensional over time. A combustion engine would deliver the sound, vibration and feel of a sports car faithful to the legacy of a retro interpretation. A hybrid approach would make sense for the Thunderbird. Besides, EV’s will rule the roost one day, so let the old bird have one more pass. 🙂
Yea Ford just mad that Chevy has a better seller than them. Yes the Mustang outsells the Camaro and the F150 out sells Silverado but they have never been able to touch the greatest American built Sports car. The Corvette is heads and shoulders above all the rest at the right price point.
Give the new Thunderbird a fold down hardtop and run flat tires and load all of them with the best of everything .
I want to hear more about the Thunderbird and the better always wonderd why ford didn’t have nothing
The vette and thunderbird why ford hasn’t built something to compete against them.
Please, please, please keep the ‘design team’ that butchered the 02 model far, far away from the new one. I went to buy one but, at 6’1″ I could not sit without my head touching the roof. We deserve better, MUCH better.
Dave, may I make a suggestion for your head room problem?
PUT THE TOP DOWN.
Wonderful . Let’ make a big bloated “coupe” on an existing platform ( there are so many to chose from). Oops, tried this in ‘58. Better try harder this time.
It made Ford more money than the 2 seater did.
Why don’t you bring back impala.1968.
Ah yes, my first car, a Ford Impala…wait a minute
Last generation of T-bird was a d absolute pile of garbage on wheels. Slow, unreliable, and poorly designed.
The 11th generation Thunderbird is a blast to drive, very affordable, head-snaps to jealous passerbys. Naysayers never had the privilege to own or even drive one.
I agree it was a “chick car”. Not impressive at all. Humiliating putting the name Thunderbird on it. Reminded me of the 1980 version. It was a $hitbox Granada with the name Thunderbird on it.
Why don’t they make a more affordable version of Ford GT to compete with the Vette?
I second that!!!!
The FORD GT was NEVER meant to compete against a vette.The FORD GT was meant to be a ferrari killer.Back in the days a vetter couldnt even beat the BOSS 302 on the track.And the vette was no where near in the same class as the 427 COBRA!!
Agreed. Key word affordable.
To compete with the ugly c8 ford needs a mid engined car with a good V8,DCT or 6 speed Manual!!No stupid electric crap!!
Can I hear an Amen!
I’ve got a 1988 thunderbird for sale in Hermon Maine!! If interested give me a text/call at 207 930 0683.
All I have to say is, Ford Motor Company, if you’re going to do Thunderbird again, Please….you better do it right. By this I mean you have to reach out to perspective consumers ask what they want and expect in a performance oriented GT and engineer, build what they want at a reasonable price. And for God’s sakes, don’t make it limited numbers to individuals that have 7 figure incomes that are obligated by contract to not sell it within a specified time frame. Don’t rely solely on your marketing people to tell you what the North American consumer wants. Build what they want at a reasonable cost/profit and it will sell. I’m old school retired FMC Mgnt. Started working on 400 cid engine line in Windsor and worked my ass off for this company. I want Ford to be part of the future of global automotive leadership.
Please oh please…Yess!! Make it like they were, not like the 02-05 version. Also, reasonable price please! Use the Mustang drivetrain, and give it power!!
The headline is a bit misleading.
“Ford Thunderbird Being Considered As Possible Corvette Rival: Exclusive”
Then in the 2nd paragraph:
“The new T-Bird would reportedly be more of a grand touring coupe, though it wouldn’t boast a mid-engine layout like the current-gen C8 Corvette, and as such, wouldn’t exactly be a direct competitor to its original rival.”
I hope they make the new version more manly or masculine than the most recent retro version (2002-05) That was clearly a CHICK CAR.
It is very difficult to be impressed with a guy driving that Barbie car.
A far cry from honoring the name Thunderbird.
Whomever ate the forward thinkers in the F150 product engineering group need to lead the Thunderbird project. I was sooooo disappointed after reading this article. If the T- Bird is going to be a grand touring, don’t waste our time. 👎🏿
I think a 2 seat higher performance version of the thunderbird would be a good move, and would allow for mustang to grow a bit and be a more practical vehicle. Alternatively, a thunderbird that was bigger than mustang would give Ford something that dodge has been selling tons of challengers due to, a size that works for people.
I just hope it’s RWD and V8, maybe with a Turbo Coupe version that has the Ecoboost v6.
Going further, a great start is to take S650 and make the Thunderbird a longer wheelbase to allow for backseat room THEN go even longer to allow for a real Lincoln Mark9 4-door European coupe and LS sedan. This way development costs a spread through four different models. It’s a no-brainer considering this is how it was done with Mustang, Thunderbird/Cougar and Mark7 back in the 1980’s.
No SUV Thunderbird’s allowed thank you.
Electric, gas, hydrogen, …who cares? There are no roads worth driving on anymore thanks to unchecked construction expansion across this once great nation. Each generation sells property out to predatory development contractors and everybody keeps reproducing in fear of losing their fortunes to the government. So, where can we drive these cars? To cars and coffee?
I want the EV T-Bird to be chromed-out retro extravaganza.
Don’t be a boring blob with AWD, huge torque and 314 miles in the battery.
Maybe take the Gen 3 (61-63) or Gen 2 (58-60) for styling inspiration and really turn some heads.
In keeping with the SUV/Truck trend at Ford, why not make the Thunderbird a luxury personal truck based off the Maverick. How stupid is that?? But SUV’s are the way to go, no? Why not just take an F150 and make a Continental Town Truck while we are at it.
The T-bird name should’ve been badged to what is now the Mach-e.
I love my 03 Black Beauty..perfect senior ride