Ford introduced its two-seater, February 20, 1954 at the Detroit Auto Show. The new model was christened as the Thunderbird - rather than a sports car, it was termed as a “personal luxury car”. The Thunderbird only had five and one-half inches of ground clearance, which was far less than that of any other Ford of its time.

The first production car rolled off the line on September 9, 1954 and Ford introduced the car to the public on October 22 of the same year. Reportedly dealers received 4,000 deposits prompting the company to revise its sales estimates upward. Among the standards was a V-8 engine, Astra-Dial Control Panel with illumination and locking trunk. 16,155 were produced, including this Raven Black example with a convertible top and complementary white interior. It is equipped with chrome wheel covers, whitewall tires; power seats, brakes and windows.

Ford equipped the Thunderbird with an overhead-valve engine that had more horsepower due to a four-barrel carburetor setup. This thundering 292-cid V-8 engine powers a smooth Ford-O-Matic three-speed automatic transmission. The combination of these two mechanical features makes for a phenomenal ride.

This is a classic automobile with its iconic oval-shaped speedometer and sweeping, round dashboard. The Thunderbird is beautifully presented for driving in the sunny days of summer, and it is a wonderful opportunity to experience one of the most popular classic automobiles of all time.