T bird was hot for first year 2002, and dealers helped nail the coffin with add on price gouging, and inability to service the car. Sales declined some for 03 and by then writing was on the wall that sales would be far below expected numbers, cost to company was too high, not enough halo effect. One ongoing comment in the retro Thunderbird community is "those that really wanted one bought one right away, those are the ones that mattter." Current buyers of used retro birds, for the most part, lack the passion for the marque, enjoy it as a whim or toy, bought it at half retail price. And press mention and "media presence" is gone altogether.

Challenger runs same risk as speciality car, which is not necesarily bad.
Steve