The Ford Thunderbird debuted at the 1954 Detroit Auto Show as a two-seater convertible with attractive styling and a V8 engine. The T-Bird was so popular that it outsold the rival Corvette of the time by thousands of units. Flash forward to 2022 and the situation is completely different. The new Corvette is enjoying high popularity as the demand for the Stingray continues to be strong and the Z06 is on the horizon. The Thunderbird was last seen in 2005, and the limited production means there aren’t very many on the road.

Return Of The Thunderbird

If the Ford Thunderbird returns as a rival to the Corvette, it likely won’t be a direct rival with a mid-engine and a European design. Instead, it would be more like an indirect rival with a throwback grand touring style. Will this happen? It’s certainly possible. In 2021, Ford filed the Thunderbird name with the US Patent and Trademark Office. Some industry experts think that Ford is about to premier an all-electric sports car using the Thunderbird name. That’s still possible considering that GM has said they are looking to make an electric variant of the Corvette. Ford definitely has a history of bringing back old nameplates, such as the Bronco and Maverick. Right now, the only Ford rival for the Corvette is the Mustang, and it’s truly more of a rival for the Camaro.

What To Expect

At this point, chances seem slim that the Thunderbird will come back with a big V8 or even a powerful V6 engine. That’s why many think that an electric Thunderbird is the most likely result of this possible revival. Ford might turn the Thunderbird into a luxury coupe with an electric powertrain, or it might be a variant of something else already in the lineup. Hopefully, a coupe-style Thunderbird will riff off the previous retro design to make it stand out. It’s also very possible that Ford will do something completely different and turn the Thunderbird nameplate into a totally different vehicle. For example, it might end up as a crossover of some kind. With thunder already in the name, it seems like an obvious choice for an electric vehicle, no matter where Ford decides to go with it.

The Last Thunderbird

As mentioned earlier, the last iteration of the Thunderbird ended in 2005 after only 10,000 models were built. The lack of interest in the last Thunderbird can be attributed to a few different factors. The first was that it was the size of a four-seater convertible, and had a price tag to match, but it could only fit two people. The second possible reason is that the Thunderbird was unveiled some years prior to release and by release, the interest of the public had worn off. Finally, the Thunderbird didn’t really have anything going for it inside or out to justify the high price tag. It wasn’t high-tech on the inside, didn’t have a powerful engine, and the retro appearance just meant that a lot of space was wasted.

Despite the failure of the last Thunderbird, Ford can easily reclaim the badge with a sleek electric coupe or stylish crossover. The Thunderbird is likely to show up as a concept car first.