Ford Thunderbird
Even though the Corvette was a commercial failure and didn’t earn any money for GM for long, the model proved highly successful in promotional purposes. It was very valuable as a halo car for General Motors. That was why Ford wanted its version and to capitalize on the trend. This is how the Thunderbird was born (via Ford).
In 1955, the first Thunderbirds left the factory. And even though Ford tried to present it as a sports car, it was clear that it was not one. The car had two seats and sporty looks. But it rode on a standard platform with comfortable suspension. The interior had many creature comforts. This was Ford’s first personal luxury car with others to follow soon. Ford turned it into one of the biggest personal luxury legends of the American auto industry.