AS A BOND fan, whenever I see the retro-styled Ford Thunderbird I'm reminded of its fleeting appearance in Die Another Day. Driven by Bond's CIA counterpart Jinx (Halle Berry), it fits the larger-than-life character and joyfully OTT film down to that last T. Yet, out in the real world, there's something slightly surreal about it - especially in the UK.
Although the 1950s and '60s T-Birds are fondly remembered, the model lost its way somewhat through the 1980s and '90s before the forgettable coupé version was killed off in 1997. The revival set out to make a return to the glory years, thanks to a heavy dose of retro styling and a revisiting of its convertible roots. The final design was completed in 1999 under the watchful eye of J Mays, and the first production models landed in 2001.
Under the skin, the Thunderbird was based on the Ford DEW platform that had underpinned the Lincoln LS and the equally retro-looking Jaguar S-type. As the Thunderbird was a prestige model, instead of sticking the Mustang's V8 under the bonnet Ford built its own short-stroke, 252bhp, 3.9-litre version of Jaguar's AJ30 V8 engine, mated to its own five-speed automatic transmission.
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Will China Change Everything? - China is tearing up modern motor manufacture but is yet to make more than a ripple in the classic car world. That could be about to change dramatically
China now dominates the automotive world in a way even Detroit in its heyday would have struggled to comprehend.Helped by Government incentives, the new car world is dominated by China's industries: whether full cars that undercut Western models by huge amounts, ownership of storied European brands such as Lotus and Volvo, or ownership and access to the vast majority of raw materials that go into EV cars, its influence is far-reaching and deep. However, this automotive enlightenment hasn't manifested itself in the classic world in any meaningful way - until now.
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