Despite the relatively steep price (a 1955 Chevy Bel Air convertible started at just $2,321), Ford sold 3,500 1955 Thunderbirds in the first 10 days they were available. In its first three years, the Thunderbird outsold the Chevy Corvette by a margin of more than 4.5 to one. In that span, Ford made steady changes to the Thunderbird, even morphing it from a two- to four-seater in 1958. Other updates included the addition of a rear window, power seats, and a radio that automatically adjusted its volume according to the car’s speed. In the first year, only a 292 cubic inch V8 was available, but a 312 cubic inch engine was added as an option for the 1956 model year. The following year, Thunderbird buyers could also opt for a supercharged version of the 312 that produced 340 horsepower and a spine-jiggling 450 pound-feet of torque. Ford brought the T-Bird to NASCAR in 1959, and it won six races that year in what was then known as the Grand National series.
The Thunderbird has gone through 10 generational updates, with each one drifting further from the original. The 11th generation was an attempt to reimagine the styling of the original, but missed the mark this misfire led to the model being dropped in 2005.
First generation 1955 to 1957 models remain the most coveted to this day, with examples in prime condition routinely selling for more than $100,000.
