Thunderbird (Gen 1, two-seater)

STORY

Ford showed the Thunderbird at the Detroit Auto Show on February 20, 1954, as a two-seat rival to the Corvette. In 1955 it sold 16,155 cars against 700 Corvettes. For 1958 it became a four-seater, and 37,892 were sold that first year. In 1967 Ford offered a four-door for the first time, with rear-hinged doors like a Lincoln Continental. After a break, the name returned for 2002 as a retro two-seat convertible with a removable hardtop, and the last one was built in July 2005.