Ford contacted bonspeed in 2002 and requested that we re-design the new Thunderbird with a fresh, masculine look. bonspeed took the challenge, while at the same time, we were designing the instrumentation cluster for the new Saleen S7. When the car was in clay, Steve Saleen saw our design and immediately approached us about licensing opportunities.
The bonspeed/Saleen Thunderbird was born, and when it went to SEMA, the design was awarded the prestigious Ford Design Award! Soon after SEMA, Saleen announced plans to offer the bonspeed/Saleen Thunderbird as a production vehicle. Unfortunately, Ford announced six months later that the Thunderbird production was being cut back. Production plans were scrapped and this became the only complete bonspeed/Saleen vehicle ever produced! This vehicle is a highly collectable concept that represents what the Ford Thunderbird could have been.
The bonspeed/Saleen Thunderbird was born, and when it went to SEMA, the design was awarded the prestigious Ford Design Award! Soon after SEMA, Saleen announced plans to offer the bonspeed/Saleen Thunderbird as a production vehicle. Unfortunately, Ford announced six months later that the Thunderbird production was being cut back. Production plans were scrapped and this became the only complete bonspeed/Saleen vehicle ever produced! This vehicle is a highly collectable concept that represents what the Ford Thunderbird could have been.
