Here is a two-seat convertible with one foot in the past and one foot in the future, a posture that would normally make it difficult to stand up, but not this car. Although it could be accused of being a parts-bin car, with lots of pieces borrowed from Lincoln LS, Jaguar S-Type, Ford Taurus, and other Fords, the Thunderbird is a beautifully detailed car in almost every respect.The new Thunderbird offers a combination of decent if not breathtaking acceleration, progressive and positive braking, and good, solid handling that will not make you nervous even at very high speeds. In its first year, only some 25,000 Thunderbirds will be produced, and almost every one of those already has a deposit against it. But if you can find one at the regular retail price, it will be a very good buy that could be a collector car of the future.
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