 |
Ragtops: Whoosh Fulfillment
Ragtops are back with the wind in your hair, but no noise
Paul A. Eisenstein
From the Print Edition:
Raquel Welch, Jul/Aug 01
(continued from page 4)
If anyone doubts the new Thunderbird's potential for success, he need only check what happened when a customized version was offered in the Neiman Marcus Christmas book. The 200 black-and-silver T-birds, priced at $41,995, sold out in a little more than two hours.
ýhe convertible has come a long way from the days of Briscoe and Owen. Today's ragtop fans are more likely to make them part of a multicar collection -- though there are plenty of young buyers who choose convertibles like the Sebring and Sunfire as their basic transportation. Modern ragtops are easier to use, offer more creature comforts and in many cases offer advanced safety features -- such as the pop-up roll bar found in the Mercedes SL.
It's certainly possible that ragtops will someday fade from the scene again. But don't count on it. As the strong demand for the reborn Thunderbird clearly demonstrates, there's a core sect that possesses an almost religious fervor. And this time, they're not likely to let anyone take their T-bird¿or Boxster…or SL…or Sebring away.
Paul A. Eisenstein publishes an auto e-zine on the Internet at www.TheCarConnection.Com.
You must be logged in to post a comment.
RSS