In the early 1950s, a small team of designers at Ford Motor Company, headed by Franklin Q. Hershey, was given the green light to move forward with a bold, new design. By the spring of 1952, the group became keenly aware that General Motors was designing a two-seat sports car of its own. The Chevrolet Corvette beat Ford to the punch when GM introduced it at the Waldorf Astoria’s Motorama in January 1953. Not until one year later, at the February 20, 1954, Detroit Auto Show, was Ford’s new entry introduced. It was called Thunderbird and was a “personal luxury car,” establishing a new market segment and spawning many competitors.

The first production car rolled off the line on September 9, 1954, and when enough cars were produced, Ford introduced the car to the public on October 22. Dealers reportedly received 4,000 deposits, prompting the company to revise its sales estimates upward. Standard features were power steering, brakes, windows, and a four-way seat, as well as an available radio, heater, and choice of a three-speed manual or Ford-O-Matic automatic transmission. With a gutsy 292-cubic inch V-8 under the hood, the power to effortlessly cruise the new interstates of America was instantly available.

As a result of its clean styling, creature comforts, and V-8 engine, the Thunderbird triumphed over the early Corvette’s novel fiberglass construction, anemic six-cylinder engine, and sports car austerity. The Thunderbird trounced the Corvette in its first year of production, totaling 16,155 units to the Corvette’s 700.

The “Little Bird” offered here is finished in iconic Torch Red over a red and white interior, and it is equipped with a black folding soft top, power windows, full polished wheel covers, an AM radio, and wide whitewall tires. This Thunderbird is beautifully presented for driving in the last days of summer, and it is a wonderful opportunity to experience one of the most popular collectible automobiles of all time.