Ford Motor Co.'s slow-selling Thunderbird will be grounded for a couple of years before rising again as a smaller, luxury coupe that will take the T-Bird back to its 1950s roots, industry insiders said.

Analysts and consultants who monitor Detroit's production plans have said Ford will halt production of the 1997 T-Bird coupe at year's end and not replace it until the 2001 or 2002 model year.

They said the rear-drive T-Bird's structural twin since 1977, the Mercury Cougar, will be dropped at the same time but replaced in spring 1998 with a small, front-drive coupe. Ford would not comment on its plans.