[mbukukanyau]

"Good luck" - the bad Albanian from Taken

This is so funny!
I recall that Viper was supposed to become the end of Corvette. However, it would be good if T Bird took over from where the C7 left off.

 

[mbukukanyau]

The Ford GT in its original guise as the GT40 followed by two generations as the GT is not and never has been in the "Corvette segment." The Corvette has always been Chevrolet mass-market sports car. Ford's GT in its three iterations has always been a limited production street version of an endurance race car. It was priced to compete with the likes of Lamborghini and Ferrari. Ford has not tried to compete with Corvette since the First Generation Thunderbird (1955-1957).

If Ford were to bring the GT downmarket to compete with the Corvette, then this would be a titular admission that Ford has debased the Thunderbird badge beyond recovery. It would signal that it now wants to do to the GT badge what it did to the Thunderbird badge.

One can contend that Corvette has always been an endurance racer. Over the last 24 years or so, the most successful endurance racer. Corvette captured its first Production car class win at Le mans in 1960.

 

[mbukukanyau]

Corvette gained the V8 the same year the T-Bird debuted tho - they competed V8 to V8.

That is a long time ago.
Corvette has gone on to become what it is today, and the T-Bird died in a cloud of retro rust.

 

[mbukukanyau]

To be fair T-Bird died with Monte Carlo a dual only comparable with that between the DTS and the towncar

 

[mbukukanyau]

Had it not been for the T Bird, and the creation of the SBC, the Corvette might have only been a 3 year run. 1953 300 units, 1954 3740 units, 1955 700 units (The year T Bird debuted) 1955 T Bird 16,000+.

It is pretty obvious that GM had Ideas back then, just not a follow thru connection to the Customer's Voice. Or was it an Unbridled wad of Cash, without Bean Counter's objections? Or Foresight that just missed by a little?

Either way, the Vette evolved as did the T Bird. The Vette started as a Roadster, turning into a Sports Car, then to an Entry Level Sports/Super Car. T Bird started as a Personal Luxury Convertible and turned into a Personal Family Luxury, then back to a Retro Personal Luxury, when the Market just wasn't there.

Ford already has a Super Car in the GT. The market isn't huge, but it doesn't have to be, being they are hand built and out sourced. Much like Vette, they are somewhat Hand Built and Outsourced within a GM owned Plant.

As far as "Retro Rust" Lets talk Pony Cars, the Next Big Revolutionary New Market in Automotive World. Or how about Mini Vans? Maybe we can talk World Cars like the Taurus, even the K Car?

Who Lead the way? Who had the idea pitched to them, only to throw it and them out? So much an "Arm Chair CEO" could have done!

One cannot ‘outsource’ to themselves .
T bird died when it became a Monte Carlo competitor. There is no glamorous death there.

 

[mbukukanyau]

Corvette is now in rarified air. T bird is welcome, but let’s not kid ourselves. GT is what Ford should focus on to fight Corvette

 

[mbukukanyau]

Those are just names. Certainly Ford should compete with a similar-type vehicle, but Thunderbird would be a better name. GT, or even GT40, just sounds too generic, especially with a history of using GT as a trim level. that would be like GM coming out with a car called simply "SS". And while Thunderbird has a history quite unlike the current Corvette, that car's been gone a long time and Ford hasn't been using it for anything else.

The risk is another peer like situation Vs. Corvette. Remember the new Viper GTS getting smacked down by the then 12 year old C6 In the ZR1 guise at Laguna SECA.
The viper never recovered. The C8 is a much more advanced performance car. Ford will Need to make a far much expensive car to compete at Corvettes level.

There is really two cars that I would not like to be compared with at the any time from a marketing standpoint.

911 and Corvette. These two are refined thoroughbreds.


Ford can make a performance T Bird, but, my opinion is, they should avoid head to head comparison with Corvette.

If you look at the base corvette, let alone stingray, you can extrapolate what the Z06 is. It’s going to be a difficult car to beat, for anyone, let alone a new entry.
The Stingray is pretty quick to the Q mile…

You know these cars are proper Fanboi territory

 

[mbukukanyau]

I sat in a Room full of GM Sales People in 1993, viewing the All New at the time F Bodies. Lance, the Trainer asked "How would everyone order this vehicle?" I was the only one in the room who stated a V6, T Topped Fire Bird in a Bold Color with an Automatic. A Grocery/Golf Club Shuttle.

That being said, why does a Corvette fighter have to be Faster than a Z06? Ford already has the GT. The 1955 T Bird didn't go after the Hardcore Sports/Roadster that the 1953-55 Corvette was, but it did win the Sales Race Hands Down.

My guess is Very Few (less than 5%) of C6-8 Vettes ever see Laguna SECA but most will see the Golf Course.

Irrespective of how many people take their vipers and 911 ‘s to Laguna Secca, the perception of performance sells these cars.

FYI, that is a great experience that you shared.

How many Mustang and Camaro Convertibles are selling?

Corvette, Viper, 911, etc is the hill where fanbois die.

 

[mbukukanyau]

The V6 and 4 Banger Mustang is the only reason Mustang still exists, without a Hiatus. Not everyone Wants Fast, but most Everyone wants to Look It.

This might be true. However, Ford does a lot of Variants to keep it exciting

Ford doesn't get that choice. If they offer a performance T Bird, it gets compared to the Corvette.

Not necessarily, it could be something like the S Type.

 

[mbukukanyau]

Not unless they give it rear doors and rear seats.
PS:I wonder why Ford is benchmarking a Tesla Model S Plaid.

https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0173/8204/7844/files/4_ce74b183-4e3f-4d38-971f-5553f7f3e7ef_600x600.jpg

That might just be for something other than performance