October 22, 1954, 70 years ago: Ford Motor Company introduces the Ford Thunderbird, as part of its 1955 models. Originally a 2-seat sports coupe, a convertible with a removable hardtop with "portholes," a rear seat was added in 1958, making it more of a luxury car.
From 1968 to 1998, Ford's Lincoln-Mercury Division marketed "rebadged" variants, as the Mercury Cougar; and the Lincoln Continental Marks III, IV, V, VI, VII and VIII. Ford stopped making the Thunderbird after the 1997 models, but brought it back in 2002. In 2005, in celebration of the car's 50th Anniversary, Ford brought it back as a special edition, complete with the '55 original's "portholes." This remains the last model year for the Thunderbird.
The "T-bird" was popular enough to become a watchword in popular culture. In 1962, in his song "Oh, Boy!" (to the tune of "Las Chiapanecas"), Thunderbirds and Cadillacs as the kind of cars that made parodist Allan Sherman give an enthusiastic, "Oh, boy!"
The Beach Boys mentioned the car in 2 songs: In "Little Deuce Coupe," they said the title car would "walk a Thunderbird like she's standing still"; and in "Fun, Fun, Fun," that's what the narrator's girlfriend will have, "'til her daddy takes the T-bird away." And a 1966 Thunderbird was the roadtrip/getaway car in the 1991 film Thelma & Louise.
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