2002 Thunderbird
SONY DSC
The Ford Thunderbird made headlines so many decades ago, earning the title as America’s First Personal Luxury Car. It eschewed comfort and style, foregoing raw performance for a Mad Men-esque driving experience for the well-to-do. When the Thunderbird went away, many were left feeling nostalgic, until 2002.
The reincarnation of the Ford Thunderbird was certainly another first for American cars. We say that it helped start the slew of “modern classics” on the road today, like the S197 Mustang, the new Charger, and the new Camaro. They all follow design elements of their forbearers, and the 2002 Thunderbird started this trend.
It only takes a glance to see the 50’s and 60’s styling of the ’02 Bird. Long, swooping body lines terminate in rounded and arched headlights and taillights. That iconic porthole window made its way back into the design, of course, with plenty of chrome accents and retro, two-color finishes made available. Although the reincarnated Thunderbird received positive press and accolades, it eventually found its way to the dark side of the automaking world, earning a spot on Car and Driver’s “10 Most Embarrassing Award Winners in History”.
That doesn’t matter, though, because the 2002 Thunderbird managed to pull off some truly retro design elements that made the original Thunderbird so popular. Just 31,368 units were built in 2002, making it oddly collectible.
