The Chrome-Plated Tail Light Bezels were probably the single most popular aftermarket product ever produced for the 2002-2005 Thunderbird. Thousands of sets were sold worldwide beginning in 2002. Now, 15 years later, this item has completely disappeared from the market.
What Happened?
This popular product was first offered by a Texas-based company called ‘Ri-Tar,’ also known as ‘Restyling Ideas.’ Ri-Tar imported these Chrome-plated tail light bezels from China and sold them to dozens of online retailers and automotive specialty companies. They became so popular that they became a virtual ‘commodity’ in the automotive aftermarket business, selling for as little as $ 66 per set by some retailers!
About a year ago the original manufacturer in China went bankrupt and all tooling was destroyed and sold for scrap value. Ri-Tar acquired all the remaining inventory of these tail light bezels and continued to sell them until the supply was exhausted. By early May 2017, the last remaining sets had been sold, with no remaining stock anywhere. Despite this, several online retailers still advertise these popular Tail Light Bezels for sale, however, if you place an order you will soon discover that they are not available.
Will they ever be produced again?
Due to the high cost of tooling it’s very unlikely this popular accessory will ever be produced again. The estimated tooling cost for the Thunderbird Chrome-Plated Tail Light Bezels is $ 20,000. And because this aftermarket accessory had been available for nearly 15 years, much of the demand has been met. It would take a substantial financial commitment not only for the tooling, but also for a large initial production run, to bring this product back to market.
One last set available for sale!
We managed to source one last set of these popular tail light bezels, perhaps the last new set remaining anywhere. We paid a substantial premium to acquire this one last set and it is priced accordingly.
Will this happen to other accessories for the 2002-2005 Ford Thunderbird?
Due to the low-production, and resulting low demand for aftermarket accessories for the 2002-2005 Thunderbird, only a limited number of aftermarket manufacturers entered this very limited market. As demand has declined, many products and accessories for the ‘Retro’ Thunderbird have disappeared from the market as suppliers exit the market. The Chinese factory that produced these tail light bezels also manufactured a number of other custom auto accessories, including other products for the 2002-2005 Thunderbird. Among the accessories no longer available for the Thunderbird are the ‘Chrome-Plated Hood Scoop Bezel,’ ‘Stainless Steel Top-Door Trim,’ and the ‘Stainless Steel Retro Headlight Visors.’
Where can I still find aftermarket accessories and products for my 2002-2005 Thunderbird?
You can still find a wide variety of custom accessories, performance upgrades and hard-to-find Thunderbird collectibles at: mytbird.com. Since 2002, Powersport/Thunderbird Specialties carries the World’s Largest selection of accessories, OEM replacement parts, performance upgrades and collectibles exclusively for the 2002-2005 Thunderbird with nearly 400 unique items to choose from!
