new vs. old

Well, I'll post the first post for the bird forum.

Below is a 55 Thunderbird and the new 2002 Thunderbird.

The new bird is supposed to get alot of it's styling from the early birds of 55-57, and possibly some of the slightly later ones. But, it is obvious this is a modern car. Based off a Jaguar platform (yeah, i need to do more research) with, of course, a V8 (3.9L) and 2 seats.

The 55 Thunderbird was the first from Ford. Was an answer to the Corvette from Chevy. Came with the V8, a 292 (my math says about 4.79L) cubic inch Y-Block. The Y-Block engine was Ford's next engine after the famed flatheads.
The 55 Tbird stock would beat a 55 Vette stock 0-60. I was hoping this new TBird would do the same with the 02 Vette, but Ford says "This is not a sports car." I was hoping Ford would give America another sports car, oh well.

SO what do you guys like better?
And/or what do you think of the recent 'retro styling' movement coming from some of the big auto makers? (PT Cruiser, Prowler, Thunderbird)

I prefer the old Tbird but quite like the newer retro style bird. I think its very healthy when the magor players are building unique retro type cars and look forward to what will come next:smoka:

Dre, are you talking about the straight six '55 vette or the optional V8. I'm sure it could beat the six, but I don't think it could beat the eight. Just wondering.

I thought the vettes at the time were all sixes...didn't know about the v8 option then. Hmm.
I'll try to find the article I read the numbers in.

If Ford does good with their new bird, maybe chevy will do some retro styling on their vettes.... The old vettes looked sweet as tang (no not astronaut tang)

Hakka, your right... Looks like 54 model year saw the first v8 in a vette as an option. I'll try and find some numbers.

thanks :)

Hey I was wondering if anyone has herd of any 1987 thinderbird turbo coupes w/T5 transmission for sale. I ahve been looking for one for a long time and was curious if someone could help me thanks.:)

Are the new birds out yet??

yeah, saw one sunday, cruising with a Bullitt GT

Best Bird was the 1984 Aero Bird. 5.0Litres of rompin stompin ass kickin power., HOORAH

chevy answer'ed the corvette, see'ing how its 1st production yr was 55;)

corvette was first produced in '53. the first V8 vettes were in '55 though. welcome to AF, by the way

I used to have a 1991 SuperCoupe and a 1994 v8 Thunderbird, I miss my SC...

If the old one drove like a new car, it would wins hands down!

Newer certainly has the tech/comfort advantage, older has that timeless simplicity to it (well... a little more simple... there was a speed sensitive radio option in some early ones that was a little complex.) It'd really be nice to have one of each. Or maybe one from the middle, like maybe 1975. 5100 pounds of steel and cast iron hurtling down the road via a 460 and 300 miles of vacuum line and enough emissions equipment to choke it down 220 HP (which ain't that bad, but it's still a 5100 pound car... good thing it had torque to spare.)

http://automotivemileposts.com/prod1975tbird.html

One big mutha.

my god...thats more than a ton more than my t-bird :eek: Well, make it dual exaust, put better intake, a light cam, headers, and a limited slip 3.55, and youll be one scary as hell freight train :bandit: