Through April, Ford's U.S. convertible sales are up more than 28 percent from a year ago. In 2001, Ford convertible sales were up 6 percent, with Mustang again claiming the title as the nation's best-selling convertible. In total, customers purchased 54,783 Ford convertibles in 2001 (17.6 percent of U.S. convertible market), surpassing all other makes by more than 7,500 units.
"Mustang is again the best-selling convertible in the country and, with Thunderbird in our lineup, Ford again is dominating convertible sales," said Ford Division President Steve Lyons. "These American icons not only generate showroom traffic, but they also polish Ford's image."
With a combined 50 years of convertible heritage and registrations of new convertibles up 63 percent in the U.S. over the last six years, the timing couldn't be better for the duo of Mustang and Thunderbird.
Convertible sales are very healthy. According to R.L. Polk & Co., 2001 U.S. convertible sales totaled 310,595, up more than 10 percent over 2000. This marked the first time in 30 years sales surpassed 300,000 vehicles, according to ASC, a leading partner for specialty vehicle and open-air development.