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 20 February 1954 Detroit Auto Show, was Ford’s new entry introduced. It was called Thunderbird, and it was a “personal luxury car,” establishing a new market segment and spawning many competitors.

The first production car rolled off the line on 9 September 1954, and when enough cars were produced, Ford introduced the car to the public on 22 October. Dealers reportedly received 4,000 deposits, prompting the company to revise its sales estimates upward. Standard features were power steering, brakes, and windows; a four-way seat; and 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, with 16,155 total units to the Corvette’s 700.

The charismatic 1955 T-Bird shown here was formerly part of the well-known John Lingenfelter Collection of performance automobiles here in the Detroit area. Reportedly a longtime Florida car, it displays a glossy Raven Black finish, accented by a black soft-top and removable hardtop, black and white leather upholstery, black carpeting, and an attractive engine-turned dashboard and door panel inserts. The interior is optioned with a power-operated seat, an AM radio, a heater, and a clock, while the headlights are crowned by Mercury trim rings, adding an additional bit of flash to the nose, and the engine is fitted with the optional chrome “dress-up kit.” Intended to be driven reliably, the car has been upgraded to a 12-volt electrical system, with recent mechanical maintenance and a full professional detailing; the owner reports that it runs and drives well. The car is offered with a jack and full-size spare.

Similar to the Jaguar E-Type, Porsche 911, and even the Corvette, the first-generation Thunderbird is a car that no collection, regardless of its scope, should be without. It is more than an automobile; it is an American icon. This well-presented example will allow a new owner to experience what that is all about!