Releasing a new model is always fraught with danger, especially if a manufacturer elects to pursue a retro theme. The New Mini, New Beetle, and the Fiat 500 stand as shining successes, while the Plymouth Prowler sits at the other end of the scale. Ford elected to follow that path with its Eleventh Generation Thunderbird, and it failed to taste the sales success the company envisaged. I must say a big thank you to Barn Finder Randy J for spotting this 2003 example listed here on Craigslist in Clermont, Florida. It is a garage-kept survivor featuring both tops and a genuine 23,000 miles on its odometer. They set their price at $16,500, a figure that looks competitive compared to recent successful sales.

Ford effectively created the Personal Luxury Car sector with its original Thunderbird, a car that combined elegant styling with respectable performance. It didn’t take long for the T-Bird to morph from a spritely two-seater to a four-seat barge, although this was more to do with buyer preferences than planning errors by Ford. If you examine any Thunderbird from the 1970s, they perfectly embody what became to be known as “land yachts.” The company’s Tenth Generation T-Bird ended its production cycle in 1997, but buyers had to wait until the 2002 model year for its replacement. The Thunderbird could have rested on its laurels, but the release of Volkswagen’s New Beetle in 1997 was a game-changer. The buying public eagerly embraced the retro theme, leading Ford to develop a concept car that integrated many design elements from the original Thunderbird. It first saw the light of day in 1999 but went into full production in late 2001. Our feature car rolled off the line in 2003, with its first owner selecting Mountain Shadow Gray from the six-color palette offered by Ford in that model year. Its presentation is all that you might expect from a garage-kept low-mile survivor. The paint shines beautifully, and the panels are laser-straight. There is no evidence of rust and no signs of repairs. The color-matched hardtop is in as-new condition, and the Black power top is perfect. Rounding out the exterior are dazzling 17″ chrome alloy wheels that perfectly contrast the dark paint shade.

The 2003 Thunderbird was a premium model at a premium price, so Ford rummaged around in its toybox to load the interior with creature comforts and safety equipment. Apart from airbags, buyers received climate-control air conditioning, power windows, power locks with keyless entry, heated power seats, power mirrors, supple leather trim, a tilt/telescopic wheel, cruise control, acres of woodgrain trim, and a six-disc CD stereo producing music you could “feel.” This car’s interior is all that you might expect, with no evidence of wear or abuse. The seats feature the typical wrinkles found on elegantly aging leather, and the carpet is spotless. Driving this classic with the top down won’t cause the new owner any shame.

Ford followed a “one size fits all” approach to the Thunderbird’s mechanical specifications, although the V8 under the hood didn’t come from its Parts Bin. Ford purchased Jaguar in 1990, grabbing the company’s “AJ” series V8 and enlarging its capacity to 3.9-liters for use in various Ford and Lincoln models during this period. Shifting duties fall to a five-speed automatic transmission, with power steering and four-wheel anti-lock disc brakes as standard fare. The company quoted power and torque figures of 280hp and 286 ft/lbs in its Sales Brochure, and with a curb weight of a surprisingly light 3,780 lbs, the performance was pretty respectable for a vehicle of this type. The seller claims that this T-Bird has a genuine 23,000 miles on its odometer without mentioning verifying evidence. The overall condition makes the claim plausible, and since it appears there are Service Records, it might be possible to confirm the figure. Otherwise, it runs and drives exceptionally well, ready for summer cruising with a new owner behind the wheel.

It is fair to say that the Eleventh Generation Thunderbird didn’t achieve the desired sales success, with the 2002 tally of 31,368 vehicles standing as the badge’s high point. That figure collapsed to 14,678 in 2003. The decline would continue in 2004 and 2005 before Ford permanently retired the badge at the end of that model year. There have been many reasons cited for its failure, but it generally believed that the car’s quality didn’t justify the price and that the company’s sales campaign was severely lacking. There is no indication that Ford plans to revive the badge, leaving survivors like this 2003 example to fly the flag. The seller’s price is competitive, but is it enough to tempt you to make a play for this classic?