Retro C6

[mcditalia]

Judging from the spy shots of the soon to be C6, the body style seems like a "sharper" C5 with not as much influence from the previous stingray models as reported. Personally, I would love to see more of a "retro" look incorporated in the C6 maybe even with a C1 feel to it. Ford is cashing in on the t-bird and will certainly do well with the new mustang retro design. Maybe its me, but I like the retro look incorporated in new models. Look at the 911 or XJ Jags, they have the same basic design for decades and it still works/looks good today. Picture a 2005 stingray with a stinger hood and side exhaust.

 

[LMN8R]

I think I agree with you, but take note on a couple of things.

1. They have already $H!Tcanned the Ford Thunderbird. The 2005 is the last model year for the car. After the initial surge of folks who wanted the retro car burned out, the thing has been selling at less than 50% of the expected volume.

-I think that doing the same thing with the mustang may hurt Ford in similar fashion. We'll have to see.

2. The C6 is done, and other than a couple of design cue changes, it is what it is. Like you, I cannot wait to see the real thing.

 

[ROCKETBLOCK]

As I have mentioned before, I think retro is not the way to go. If you like the C3 style, buy a C3. If you like the C2 style, buy a C2. The new Corvette C6 should be the cutting edge aerodynamic styling and technology. I'm too old for retro!

 

[bbw]

Doesn't the Thunderbird have a rather small 8 cylinder? What is the performance like? Can a model sustain good sales on looks alone?

 

[LongTimer]

IMO:
The success of the PT Cruiser sent the wrong fad design message to ford. The PT is a parody of retro, not a copy or a true retro. It has some very modern ques, like the headlights. Ford then applied the low, sleek, successful-back-then T-bird design as a true retro design to the tall Lincoln LS chassis and just smoothed the lines out. This retro bird was never as sleek as the original - a design that even had fins! So the bird dies as the vette lives on. De ja vu.

Last year a true retro body kit was applied to a C5 and made appearances around the US. It looked nice, but out of proportion. Just too big. Though available as an aftermarket conversion, this kit has not sold as well as that retro AVELET(sp?) that has a more original design.

I think some consumers look upon a true retro styled car as novelty that has not much personality of its own, just nostalgia. Most look at it, smile then walk over to an original, modern design that they like and buy that one.

 

[Lil' Red]

The Thunderbird was never meant to be made past the 2005 production date and it was the greed of the dealers that forced the lack luster sales.Ford would have you believe low sales was a contributing factor but in only sealed the inevitable. I agree that the C6 should set a new bench mark and I believe a few years into it we will see greater changes.

 

[mcditalia]

I think that "retro" if executed TASTEFULLY and CORRECTLY can be incorporated successfully in future designs for car manufacturers. Incorporating "new" and "old" is another different direction which hasn't been experimented with too much. Only certain car companies have tried this approach such as ford and chrysler and in my opinion have worked well, regardless of t-bird sales, which I agree have suffered because of greedy dealers.

I think its important for american car companies to focus on its history and heritage when creating new successive models. I would hate to see a future corvette that doesn't have any styling cues from older models. Japanese cars come out every couple of years with a successive model that looks nothing like the old one, where's the heritage in that? Cars are already too generic looking already!