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Living Legends Media Tours 2001:
Groups of 4 2002 pre-production Thunderbirds shown at various locations around the states, for outdoor shows and/or test drives, media events.
 
 
 

Mystery Drives 2001:  special test drives set up  for future owners.  40 minutes of driving with change of drivers half way thru drive.
 

Timeline of Events

01/03/99 : introduction of Concept
05/22/00 : go ahead for production
05/27/00 : Dream Tour started
08/00     :  Dream Tour ends
08/18/00 : Neiman Marcus edition introduced at Pebble Beach
09/25/00 : Neiman Marcus orders taken and closed
01/08/01 : Sport Roadster concept introduced
01/08/01 : Order bank opened up for 2002
05/29/01 : Living Legends Tours start
06/05/01 : Job1 at Wixom Assembly Plant
07/20/01 : Ford Employee Launch Party
07/26/01 : First delivery reported in Ohio*
07/00/01 : Mystery Drives started
08/10/01 : Living Legends Tours end
08/17/01 : 1st shipment of Thunderbird Collection started arriving
09/11/01 : WTC & Pentagon disasters
Mystery Drive in Washington DC cancelled,
Miami Drive shortened
09/18/01 : Shipping of cars resumed
09/19-23 : last Mystery Drive in Miami
09/27/01 : NM cars started being delivered to owners
11/21/01 : 2002 Thunderbird named Motor Trend's Car of the Year
12/07/01 : 2nd shipment of Thunderbird Collection (#2) started arriving
01/02 : Thunderbird Collection #5 started being delivered to owners with cars
01/29/02 : 10,000 T-birds have been built so far.
02/02/02 : Rolex 24 at Daytona  pace car
02/13/02 : Fashion Show of Thunderbird inspired clothing & accessories in New York; to be auctioned off later
02/02     : Thunderbird Collection #3 shipped
03/02     : Motor Weeks "Best Convertible for 2002" award
03/21/02 : Fashion auction on ebay.com  going into April and into May
05/24/02 : Launch event for 2002 Living Legends summer Tour
06/04/02 : Thunderbird Collection #4 started being delivered
06/16/02 : Christies auction of Ford Concepts including T-bird
08/12/02 : Specs for the 2003 available to dealers
09/02 : Living Legends Tour completed in USA, moves on to Canada
09/02 : production of the 02 still continues
10/02 : production of the 02 still continues
10/26/02 : William Boyer, key figure in development of the '55 passed away.
11/14/02 : production of the 02 finally stops on Nov.14, 2002;  31,121 were built.
11/18/02 : Production of the 03 started; cars being held
12/09/02 : 03s started shipping
12/16/02 : 03s started arriving
01/20/03 : 007 Bond editon started arriving at dealers
04/21/03 : Ford says that the current style will end after 2005 or 2006 model year and there are no styles being considered for later years though it is a future possibility.
05/12/03 : Specs for the 2004 available to dealers
05/30/03 : Last day for dealer orders of the 2003
06/12-16/03 : Ford's 100th Anniversary Celebration at Dearborn
06/27/03 : end of 2003 production
07/14/03 : start of 2004 production
01/17/04 : Pacific Coast Roadster arriving at dealers
02/01/04 : Thunderbird lost it's exclusive line at Wixom and is now being built in line with the Lincoln LS models.
02/15/04 : 50th anniversary of the Naming of the Thunderbird
02/20/04 : 50th anniversary of the 1955 Concept Thunderbird debut at Detroit Auto show
02/20/04 :  53,454 2002 through 2004 Birds produced  compared to 53,166 1955 through 1957 Birds produced thru Dec 1957.
07/02/04 : end of 2004 production
07/19/04 : start of 2005 production
07/30/04 : debut of "Thunderbirds",  a sci-fi movie with a custom T-bird
10/22/04 : 50th anniversary of the first sales of the Thunderbird in 1954
11/05/04 : 50th Anniversary Special Edition unveiled at Wixom plant and the Miami Auto show
01/03/05 : Job 1 for 50th Anniversary Special Edition
03/10/05 : Ford announced the end of the Thunderbird, July 2005
06/17/05 : Ford 50th anniversary celebration at Ford's World Headquarters
07/01/05 : Last Thunderbird rolls off the line 
09/03/05 : photo of last Thunderbird

 
 
 

Dream Tour: Three 1955 White Thunderbirds, fitted with  porthole tops, were driven around the country. Anyone spotting one of these Thunderbirds could enter a drawing to win one  by sending in time & location of spotting the 'bird.  After the end of the tour. a drawing was held & 3 winners chosen..
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Living Legends 2002 Summer Tour,
5 show cars including the Thunderbird are being exhibited at various car events around the states.
 

 

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* 2001 Shipping news:  100 cars shipped during week of July 23, 2001 - 1 has been spotted in Iowa, that leaves 99 others roaming out there somewhere!?  See B.O.N for delivery news from owners - BON archives gone - sorry.
A few (unknown quantity) were shipped out week of July 29.
Many more shipped out week of August 5
Shipping stopped for a few weeks - cars that had been shipped were returned to Wixom  - resumed shipping in mid-September
'Birds are being spotted on the road now.- October 2001

Celebrities buying one
(pictures anyone?? - spotted a celeb driving one lately??)
01~ John Travolta ~ as reported In Style Magazine 07/01
02~ Katie Couric ~ from the Today show ~ has received her red Thunderbird ~ (since sold)
03~ Rosie O'Donnell ~ 02 inspiration yellow (since sold)
04~ Alan Jackson gave one to country.com for promotional sweepstakes
05~ Oprah ~ blue with full blue accent interior in 02; red spotted in driveway in summer 03
06~ Dale Jarrett was given two Thunderbirds by Ford.
07~ Halle Berry ~ black ~ yes
08 ~ Ralph Lauren owns 2 also: A Nieman Marcus and PCR
09 ~ Lavar Arrington, LB for the Washington Redskins, '02 inspiration yellow.
10 ~ Dennis Gage of My Classic Car ~ 02 Blue
11~ Simon Cowell- judge on American Idol ~ Red
12~ ?
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Movies spotted using the new Thunderbird
Movie Year movie produced or released Description of car
Spiderman 2002 2002 - black
James Bond in "Die Another Day"  2002 - November 22 2002 Coral T-bird
driven by Halle Berry "Jinx"
Deliver Us from Eva 2003 - February red
The Cat in the Hat  Thanksgiving 2003  yellow t-bird used throughout movie
Shade 2003 2002 red in scene
 The Big Bounce January 2004 T-bird blue in trailer and in movie
Good Boy 2003 Red 2002 near beginning
Cradle to the Grave 2003 black 2002
Thunderbirds the Movie July 2004 pink custom T-bird & hot pink 04
My First Wedding 2004 black
Jiminy Glick in Lalawood 2004 red
A Cinderella Story 2004 white 02 (was reported 1st as an 03)
Johnson Family Vacation 2004 black 02
"Come Away Home" featured Martin Mull and Lea Thompson   ? 2002 red
King's Ransom  2005
shown on HBO 5/12/2006
2005 Steel blue but might be a 2004 Ice Blue or an 03?
Deep Water 2005 02/03 whisper white in short scene, custom wheels.
Another Gay Movie 2006 2002 Inspiration Yellow
Getting Played (made for TV movie) 2006 red 2003
the Groomsmen 2006 2002 yellow (short scene)
OH in Ohio 2007 2004 Platinum Siver
Christmas Claus 2008 2002 T-bird blue - made 4 TV - n dream sequence
The Promotion 2008 2002 Inspiration Yellow, background vehicle
Hatching Pete (tv movie) 2009 Silver or Cashmere?  2004/2005 in parade scene
Knucklehead 2010 02 Blue, short scene
The Wayshower 2011 black 2002
Girls Gone Dead  2012 Bronze 2005 (in first 2 minutes of show if you don't want to watch the rest)
For trivia buffs looking for more movies with older Thunderbirds -
check this offsite link:  http://automotivemileposts.com/movietvbirdsfifties.html
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Commercials spotted using the new Thunderbird
(besides Ford commercials)
Company Year Description of car
State Farm Insurance 2002 2002 - black
Sheer Blond Hair Color 2002 2002 - black
Sirius ad 2002 unknown
Radio Shack 2002 - fall 2002 red
Meguire's 2002 - fall 2002 black 1957 red
Revlon 2002 - fall 2002 red - sweepstakes car
State Farm Insurance 2003 - summer red - year unknown
Discount Tires 2003 - late summer red 02
Jack in the Box 2004 - early winter red - contest to lease one
Allstate Insurance 2005 - spring med steel blue 05
Thunderbird Blue 02
Astelin Commercial 2006 - February Steel Blue 05
Hartford commercial 2006 - March (March Madness week) Steel Blue 05
Ford commercial 2006 Red --  in the NY area that features Derek Jeter, he walks into a room with probably every car Ford has manufactured over the last 3 years, sitting next to a red GT is a red Bird
Dingman's Collision Center 2008/2009 04 Merlot used in customer testimonial video for their collision repair service
Eastwood Company for Deltran Battery Tender found in 2009 02 Blue used in Video (link updated 5/11)
JC Penny ad Feb 22, 2009 PINK - video
ABNB Credit Union June 2009 Platinum Silver 04 - video link
.
Spotted on Television Shows
(not commercials)
Show Year Color of Thunderbird
Titus 2002 February yellow
Wheel of Fortune 2002 February, Sept. red, black
Price is Right 2002 May black
American Icon 2002 June red
Motor Trend TV 2002 red
Oprah Winfrey 2002 October
repeat Dec 16
blue (hers)
24 2002 October 29 season premiere red plus  Ford Thunderbird commercials using red and black
24 2002 Nov.  interior shots episode 2, 3, 4,...
Sopranos 2002 finale blue
American Muscle Jan 2003 ??
American Idol Jan 2003
August 2002
red, etc... Ford furnished T-birds to judges
Promo - black with Simon driving
VH1 Feb 03 VH1 "Where are they now" video ice skaters, Bobick, drives blue Thunderbird
Wheel of Fortune spring/summer 03 red, yellow - prize at various times
Miss Match Sept 03 New series with desert sky blue 03 as Miss Match's transportation. 3 episodes? only and cancelled
Fraser Oct 03
Ep. 11.06
Mountain Shadow Grey
King of the Hill cartoon show January 25, 04 art dealer was driving a Red 02-04
Charmed, episode #135 Feb. 22, '04 Silver with hardtop, in fleeting background street scene
Price is Right March 1, 04 Merlot with sand interior - won on 6000 episode
Sopranos March 14, 04 silver or Thunderbird blue? (night shot apparently hard to tell)
Chris Isaak Show (on Showtime network March 2004 Torch Red bird (belongs to Isaak's manager)
Rides November/December 2003 Chip Foose's customizing done to a 2002.
also on video & dvd
CSI November 18, 2004 spotted in trailer for coming show
2004 Black
CSI 11/18/04 03 MSG, episode titled "Ch Ch Changes" #508 - marked the 100th episode of CSI.
Miami CSI 11/22/04 Blue 02 in  "Pirated" (production #309)
Gracies Choice (made for TV movie) 2004 02 blue with custom wheels 
One Tree Hill 2004 episode 1-21 red 03 or 04, 02?
My Classic Cars on Speed Channel, show on "Thunderbird Pageant." in CA Jan. 2004 Dennis Gage drove off in a Red 2002 with a white top
Monk (Mr. Monk and the Captain's Wife) -  week of Feb 15, 2004
Season 2 Episode 14 
Black with Black soft top driven by villain
Made In America with John Ratzenberger  Jan 21, 2005 red, black & yellow concepts in show about thunderbirds
NCIS episode #31 March 29, 2005 Yellow 02 in one short scene
NCIS 2.14 yellow 02 in short road scene
NCIS episode "bikini wax" ? Yellow 02 with full accent inteior
Great American Country  October 12, 2005 Jessica Andrews new video, "More to me than you"
Burn Notice 2005 episode 2-05 2005 Cashmere
BBC America  February 19, 2006 Red
Fraser November 2006 Mountain Shadow Gray in background scene
Double Cross (made for tv movie) 2006 Mountain Shadow Gray with deluxe wheels
Getting Played (made for tv movie) 2006 red 2003, background
Chuck 2007 2.07 Black
" The Matchmaker" on A&E
"Jack and Andrea"
Sept 2007 04 PCR
Modern Marvels, the episode was called "The Arch".  Sept 2007 Pacific Coast Highway. A red retro Thunderbird passes and crosses bridge
History channel January 2, 2008 Red, on the making of the Pacific Coast Hwy.
Here Comes the Newlyweds April 6, 2008 Red: they had a contest between the final two couples. Part of what they had to do was to select the types of cars they would have in the future. Each person had to select without their partner seeing what they selected. 

ALL four of the contestents selected as one of the cars a convertible. YES they all selected a cutout of a Thunderbird!!!!!

Dancing With The Stars April 14, 2008 Merlot 04 driven by Marissa
Dirt April 13, 2008 black retro bird parked. Episode titled "In lieu of flowers"
 The Matchmaker on A&E
Fine Living Network "What You Get For the Money"  2009 blackbird go through an intersection in Omaha, NE
Executive Vision, Topic is Transportation: Leadership Challenge CNBC, 10/20/09 background video of black in production line at Ford Wixom
Andrew Zimmern's Bizarre Food (travel channel)  2009 episode on east coast driving retro bird
Jersey Shores January 11, 2011 02 blue spotted (reality show on MTV)
Auto Esporte unknown, episode 1.13 black 02
Arrested Development unknown (2002-2006) yellow 02
RTL Autowereld episode Z5.04  episode Z5-4 red 03 background car
Real Housewives of Atlanta  October 21, 2009 03 Mountain Shadow Grey in opening fashion scene
Hatching Pete 2009 2004 or 2005? color not clear
Howe & Howe Tech  Jan 5, 2010 red drive by in background scene
Earth's Final Hours (made for tv movie) 2011 white in background scene
Homeland, series 2011 episode 1.06 2003 MSG background scene
Modern Marvels
2011 episode named "Waterproof" 
11/26/2011 Red ?
.Hallmark HOF movie on ABC 
[movie name unknown]
1/27/2013  2004 Merlot w/sand interior, background
NFL promo at Pike Place Market 
'49ers v. Seahawks game
September 2013 2002 Tbird 
TNT's "Dallas". March 2014 whisper white
American Pickers  August 2014 2002 I.Y.
Miss USA Pageant September 14, 2014 parade: Miss Louisiana was riding in an MSG 
CSI, N.Y. 5.08 2005 Medium Steel Blue; black?
About a Boy 2014, 1.08 MSG in background
Arrested Development (tv series ? 02 yellow in background scene
Love the Way you Lie November 12 2014 debut black 02
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Awards & Honors Received
From Year Award
Motor Trend Magazine 2001 Motor Trend 2002 Car of the Year
eMotion.com 2002 Car of the Year 2002
A.A.A 2002 "Cool Car of the year"
Motor Weeks 2002  "Best Convertible for 2002" award
Auto Interiors 2002 Best Car Interior Design
Grand American Road Racing Association 2002 Official Pace Car of the Grand American Road Racing Series
Rolex 24 at Daytona 2002 Official Pace Car
Women journalists NAIAS 2002 favorite Car of the Year 
J.D.Powers 2002 Top Entry Level Luxury Car
Business Week 2002 Gold Award - Best Product Designs 2002
African Americans on Wheels 2002 Urban Car of the Year
Latinos on Wheels 2002 Urban Car of the Year
Popular Science's 2002 Best of What's New
People's Choice  2002 Car of the Year
New England Motor Press Assn 2002 Favorite Convertible Under $40,000
Motor Trend 2002 Driver's Choice for 2002
AAA 2004 Cool Car of the Year - 2004
JD Powers 2005 2002 Thunderbird received highest honor in JD Powers 3-year dependability study for entry level luxury car!
Other Related Awards: . .
Golden Quill Award - IABC 2002 Excellence for Thunderbird Media Kit Design
IAAA 2002 Direct Response - Consumer - GOLD 2002 For Thunderbird Collection Set by J. Walter Thompson for Ford Motor Company
. . .
.
Contests, Raffles, Lotteries, etc... (ok, I haven't kept good track of these so if you remember any from this past year, plmk.  If you have any proof such as a ticket stub with the 'bird listed, even better - scan & I'll probably use here)
Feb 2002 Wheel of Fortune - 2 cars given away thru mail in contest - 
May 2002 The Price is Right - in their Showcase Showdown - black
March 2001 Farmer Jack Grocery Store chain - 1 given away
May 2001 National radio station contest - 4 given away
March 2002 Farmer Jack Grocery Store chain - win 2 year lease
January 2002 Country.com radio station giveaway - 'bird donated by Alan Jackson
May 30, 2002 Price is Right - black on "showcase showdown" (not won)
June 2002 Motor City Casino giving away 7 'birds 
May to Sept 2002 Kansas State Lottery - black 02on tickets
Sept. 2002 Menards Hardware & Schlag - red 02
Oct. 2002-Dec 2002 Houston based Charity Lottery - red 02 on phone card
Summer 2002 Melrose Hotel Giveaway - blue 02 on diecast box - win 1 year lease on new Thunderbird
and on and on seems to be a popular car to use for lotteries and raffles.
June to Sept. 2003 Kansas State Lottery - 007 on tickets
August 2003 Michigan State Lottery - Red 03 on posters but not on tickets.
October 2003 Washington DC lottery -
December 2004 Parish lottery for 2004 
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...

Misc

1 First Ford vehicle designed using Computer aided design, engineering & product information
2 Neiman Marcus edition made record for any car sold thru the NM Christmas catalog by selling out in 2.25 hours
3. Only 200 Neiman Marcus editions made
4. Total 2002 Production limited to 25,000 - HA! looks more like around 30,000 as production was extended due to late start scheduled for 2003
5. Serial #001 is in the Henry Ford Museum - black with black and red accent interior
6. 1st car off the assembly line - Job1 - was red with red accent interior (VIN# unknown at this time) as reported & photographed in Ford World June 2001 issue
7. Body code for regular Production Thunderbirds is 60
Body code for Neiman Marcus edition is 64
Body code for 50th Anniversary Special Edition  is 69
8. Count the number of Thunderbird emblems on  your 2002 - 12
9. Birds are said to be delivered to dealers with yellow valve stem caps which dealershps must replace with gray valve stem caps to show they have checked tire pressure - don't know if this really occurs - valve stem caps may be other colors, too- whatever they have on hand, such as lavendar or black. Ours came in with black and we switched to the lavendar caps found on another car on the transport.  Some NMs have come in with the lavendar caps
10. Ford Thunderbird Sales Figures

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.Music Videos
1: Toby Keith's "Whose Your Daddy" : Concept Sport Roadster shows up in the video - 2002
2: Jessica Andrews (country music) video (2003) of the There's more to me than you ~ Tempo version ~ as she drives a white retrobird down the road and a follow up version: "There's more to me than you ~white  Tbird used in background
3:

.

And Let there be Music!  Thunderbird Songs
Lyrics

. Artist Title
1 The Beach Boys Fun! Fun! Fun! +++++
2. Mark Cohn Silver Thunderbird (1990) +++++
3. The Delicates Black & White Thunderbird +++++
4. Gene Vincent & His Blue Caps Pink Thunderbird
5. Stevie Ray Vaughan Thunderbird?
6. Chuck Berry Jaguar and the Thunderbird
7. Danny O'Keefe Along For The Ride
8. Bob Seger Makin' Thunderbirds ++++
9. Walter Egan The Blonde in the Blue T-bird +++
10. Red Prysock What's the Word? Thunderbird
11. 03 Thunderbird?
12. Old Man Dub (2001) Brazzaville  - 2002 Tbird commercial song
13. Alan Jackson First Love (2002) - about his '55
14. Thunder Rocks What's The Word? Thunderbird (wine)
15 John Hiatt Thunderbird (2005) ++++
16 Lynn Howard & the Accents Red Thunderbird
17 Steve Azar Thunderbird
18 Astronauts '55 Bird
19 Paul Gabriel Thunderbird Sally +++
20 Rebel Rockers Red T-bird
21 Thunderbirds In My Thunderbird (1957) ++++
21b John Hiatt My Thunderbird (2005)
22 Burt Sisters Rock & Roll Thunderbird
23 Diana Krall Peel Me A  Grape
24 James\Dean Fire Red Thunderbird (2001) ++++++++
25 David Denny Thunderbird Sue (2004)
26 Dan Seals Bop (1985) +++++
27 George Strait Fireman (2003)
28 John Rogers Fifty-six Thunderbird (1987)
29 Alan Jackson First Love (2002) ~ about his 1955 T-bird
30 Trisha Yearwood Heaven, Heartache and the Power of Love (2007)
31 The Vinyl Stripes American Theme (2016) ~about a 2002 +++++++
. More Car Cruisin' Music:
Artist Title
1. . Route 66 Theme song
2. Beatles Black Bird
3. Bob Marley Three Birds
4. Lynard Skynard Free Bird
5. The Beach Boys Little Deuce Coupe
6. Ricky Van Shelton Cruisin' Down the Backroads
7. ? Surfer Bird
8. Woody Guthrie Riding in my car
9. Silage My car makes me sin
10. Donovan Riding in my car
11. Queen I'm in love with my car
12. Kids of Widney High I've got a new car
13. The Trashmen Surfn' Bird
14. Fabulous Thunderbirds Tuff Enuff
15.
16 ZZ Top Thunderbird (the wine)
17 recorded by Quiet Riot Thunderbird
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