Unlike the Corvette, the Thunderbird was never a full-blown sporting vehicle Ford's description was personal luxury car, and the company essentially created this market segment. Crusoe saw a painted clay model on May 18, 1953, which corresponded closely to the final car he gave the car the go-ahead in September after comparing it with current European trends. The concept was for a two-passenger open car, with a target weight of 2525 lb (1145 kg), an Interceptor V8 engine and a top speed of over 100 mph (160 km/h). Hershey took the idea and began working on the vehicle. Walker promptly telephoned Ford's HQ in Dearborn and told designer Frank Hershey about the idea. Walking in the Grand Palais in Paris, Crusoe pointed at a sports car and asked Walker, 'Why can't we have something like that?' Crusoe and Walker met in France in October 1951. Crusoe, a retired GM executive lured out of retirement by Henry Ford II George Walker, chief stylist and a Ford vice-president and Frank Hershey, a Ford designer. Three men are generally credited with creating the original Thunderbird: Lewis D. In 2002, a revived 2-seat model was launched, was available through the end of the 2005 model year. Sales were good until the 1990s, when large 2-door coupes became unpopular production ceased after 1997. Succeeding generations became larger and more luxurious, until the line was downsized in 1977 and again in 1980. In 1958, the Thunderbird gained a second row of seats for greater practicality. Ford described it as a personal luxury car, a description which named a new market segment. It entered production for the 1955 model year as a two-seater sporty car unlike the superficially similar (and slightly earlier) Chevrolet Corvette, the Thunderbird was never sold as a full-blown sports car. To see over 80 photos of this car, including under carriage please visit our website Ford Thunderbird is a car manufactured in the United States by the Ford Motor Company. Enjoying driving a classic icon without breaking the bank. This is a great running little car and it handles as it should. According to receipts that came with the car, it spent much of its life in Virginia. The car features a 312 v8 paired to manual transmission. Along with the sale of this car comes the original dealer invoice. The car comes with a white hard top, white vinyl top, whitewall tires and more. It was delivered to the Fontaine Ford Sales in Peterborough, New Hampshire. This beautiful little bird was built on Maat the Dearborn, Michigan plant. GR Auto Gallery is pleased to present this 1956 Ford Thunderbird for your consideration. The only changes completed between its inception model to the 1956 was moving the spare tire to a continental-style rear bumper in order to make more room within the trunk. ![]() The Thunderbird was one of the longest lasting nametags for Ford and started strong by selling 23 models for every one Corvette sold when it first hit the market. ![]() ![]() This model did not inherit its second row of seats until 1958 and from there it slowly but surely grew in size, generation after generation until 1977 when the larger cars lost their popularity in the market. With the clever marketing plan in place, Ford began the production of the Ford Thunderbird in 1955 as a Personal Car segment and although it was very much a sporty two-seater convertible just like the Corvette, it paid more attention to luxury and comfort more so than the competition. Ford was looking for something to compete with the Chevrolet Corvette which started to show quickly as a popular segment but didn't want to pursue the sports car necessary but created a segment all of its own.
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