November 30, 2009

Ride N Drive Notebook from May 2001

Picked up a Ride N Drive Notebook that I've never seen before.  It came out for the 2001 Journalist Ride n Drive in May of that year. Printed by FMC.   Rumor has it that 100 cars were used or maybe it was 100 journalists.  I don't know.  It took place along the coast of California and this notebook has the route directions for the event, all neatly printed with space for notes along the way.  Think it might be a good road trip for some group in Calif. to follow.  It appears to be similar to the Mystery Drives that owners were able to take later that summer in several locations around the US.  We went on one held in the Dallas area but our directions were on a couple of sheets of copy paper.  Nothing fancy like this notebook which also has several different standard graphics of the retro in white, red, and blue.

June 09, 2009

For Comments & Questions

Please disregard the date this blog entry was posted.  Add your comment or ask your questions to this entry and I will try to keep up to date on my answers.  You may comment or ask about any of the subjects covered in my main website - Thunderbird diecasts, the Thunderbird old and new, Chrysler's TC or the Stereo pages.  This blog entry will be like a guestbook.Laughing

All comments and questions are screened before posting (to cut out spam) so it may take a few hours or a couple of days to see your comment or question posted here.

May 20, 2008

Color Stats 2002-2005

Detailed Color Statistics for the 2002 to 2005 have been posted on the color pages of my main website at www.portholeauthority.com.  They are in pdf format so you may download easily and print for your own reference.  The files cover how many made of a particular color, interior and hardtop combination.

Sorry, I do not have the breakdown for wheel styles or transmission shifter style.

March 2009 - Due to increased spam on the blog, I have removed some of the other entries that people may have needed the info on - please check in with Thunderbirdnest.com for that info.

October 18, 2006

The rarest 2003 Color combinations

1 There are 23 rare(ie only one of) combos for 2003.  I'll separate the colors so it's easier to read:

Desert Sky Blue - only 2:

2003 Desert Sky Blue Deluxe, Black hardtop, Black Accent interior & SST transmission, 21 Spoke Painted wheels 1
2003 Desert Sky Blue Premium,  Evening Black hardtop, Black (Standard) interior, 7 Spoke Chrome wheels 1 

Evening Black - all Deluxe models - 7

Evening Black Deluxe, Evening Black hardtop, Torch Red Full Accent Interior -Standard Automatic -21 Spoke Painted wheels = 1
Evening Black Deluxe, Evening Black Hardtop, Torch Red Partial Interior Accent, SST Automatic, 21 Spoke Painted wheels = 1
Evening Black Deluxe, Evening Black Hardtop, Torch Red Full Accent Interior, SST,  21 Spoke Painted wheels = 1
Evening Black Deluxe, Performance White Hardtop, Black Accent Interior, 21 Spoke Painted wheels = 1
Evening Black Deluxe, Performance White Hardtop, Saddle Partial Interior Accent, SST, 21 Spoke Painted wheels = 1
Evening Black Deluxe, Performance White Hardtop, Torch Red Full Accent Interior, standard automatic, 21 Spoke Painted wheels = 1
Evening Black Deluxe, Performance White Hardtop, Torch Red Partial Accent Interior, SST, 21 Spoke Painted wheels = 1

Mountain Shadow Grey - all deluxe models = 2

Mountain Shadow Grey, Evening Black Hardtop, Saddle Partial Interior, SST, 21 Spoke Painted wheels = 1
Mountain Shadow Grey Deluxe, Evening BlackHardtop, Black Accent Interior, SST, 21 Spoke Painted wheels =  1

Torch Red - all Deluxe models = 6 

Torch Red Deluxe, Evening Black Hardtop,  Torch Red Partial Accent Interior, SST, 21 Spoke Painted wheels = 1
Torch Red Deluxe,  Evening Black Hardtop, Black Standard Interior, Standard automatic, 21 Spoke Painted wheels = 1
Torch Red Deluxe, Evening Black Hardtop, Black Standard Inerior, SST, 21 Spoke Painted wheels =  1
Torch Red Deluxe, Evening Black Hardtop,  Whisper White Partial Accent Interior, standard automatic,  21 Spoke Painted wheels =  1
Torch Red Deluxe, Torch Red Hardtop,  Black Accent Interior, SST, 21 Spoke Painted Wheels = 1
Torch Red Deluxe, Torch Red Hardtop, Red Partial Accent Interior, standard automatic,  21 Spoke Painted 1

Whisper White - 2 premiums, 4 Deluxe = 6

Whisper White Premium,  Torch Red Full Accent Interior, standard automatic, 7 Spoke Chrome wheels = 1
Whisper White Deluxe, Evening Black Hardtop, Whisper White Partial Accent Interior, standard automatic , 21 Spoke Painted wheels = 1
Whisper white Premium, Evening Black Hardtop, Torch Red Partial Accent Interior, standard automatic, 7 Spoke Chrome wheels = 1
Whisper White Deluxe, Evening Black Hardtop, Torch Red Full Accent Interior, SST, 21 Spoke Painted wheels = 1
Whisper White Deluxe, Whisper White Hardtop,  Torch Red Full Accent Interior, standard automatic, 21 Spoke Painted wheels = 1
Whisper White Deluxe, Whisper White Hardtop,  Torch Red Partial Accent Interior, SST, 21 Spoke Painted wheels = 1

September 12, 2006

The Rarest Color/interior Combinations for 2002

With over 31K built of the 2002, there were still three combinations that were one of one.1   

2002 Evening Black Deluxe model, Performance White HardTop, Torch Red Partial Interior color accent, 21 Spoke Painted wheels -- 1


2002 Inspiration Yellow Deluxe Model, Performance White HardTop,  Inspiration Yellow Partial Interior Color Accent,  21 Spoke Painted wheels-- 1


2002 Torch Red Deluxe model, Evening Black Hardtop,  Torch Red Partial Interior Color Accent  21 Spoke Painted wheels -- 1

 I'll be posting the one of's for the 03s to 05s at later dates.  For more information on what was available on these cars, visit the rest of my website starting at  www.portholeauthority.com

Beaware that owners have been doing changes to their Thunderbirds since they came out.  The above is as released from the factory.  You may run into other combinations that were not available to be ordered as new.

August 13, 2006

Thunderbird Trivia

The top 12 states for Thunderbird sales:
STATE       # SOLD
01. CA......8,337
02. FL......5,719
03. TX......4,788
04. MI......3,808
05. NY......2,738
06. NJ......2,504
07. OH......2,504
08. PA......2,463
09. IL......2,351
10. OK......2,026 (Due to Hertz Rental cars)
11. NC......2,019
12. GA......1,954
These 12 states account for over 60 percent of the total sold.

August 02, 2006

Welcome to the Porthole Authority WeBlog

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Smile Here's your chance to say hello and get acquainted with the site.    You'll be able to contact 5bird7 thru this weblog.   I will answer general questions about the Thunderbird or you may be able to help in that regard.