6 Retro Flops, and 6 Concept Cars That Should Have Replaced Them - Popular Mechanics
Ten years ago, concept cars that brought a modern take to classic cars debuted at auto shows around the world. Many of them, like the VW New Beetle, BMW Z8, and Ford Mustang, made successful transitions from concepts to reality. We find six that flopped, and six concepts that should have made the leap to production. After a five-year absence, the legendary Ford Thunderbird nameplate returned for 2002 as a rounded tribute to the original T-Birds of the 1950s. It certainly appealed to an older crowd that appreciated the look, but younger buyers weren't into the... It rode on the same rear-drive chassis as the Lincoln LS and Jaguar S-Type (Jaguar was owned by Ford at the time) and used a version of the Jag V-8, making 252 hp paired to a five-speed automatic. But instead of firming the chassis for fun back-road driving, Ford tuned it for a relaxing ride. Unfortunately, it was not the hot seller Ford had hoped for. Just as the Thunderbird was a softer take on the 1950s T-Bird, the SSR was an oddly proportioned remake of a 1950s Chevy pickup truck. It was supposed to deliver one part truck, one part muscle car, and one part open-air convertible. It used a Chevy Trailblazer SUV chassis instead of one meant for a car or a pickup truck—so it offered no real hauling capacity. Source: www.popularmechanics.com
