Ford Thunderbird 1955
The Thunderbird came out in 1955 and even though Ford tried to present it as a sports car, it was clear that the Thunderbird wasn’t one. The car had two seats and sporty looks, but it rode on a standard platform with a comfortable suspension and interior. This was Ford’s first personal luxury car with others to follow soon (via Net Car Show).
Ford missed the mark with the Thunderbird and failed to introduce a proper sports car to rival the Corvette, but it managed to create a sales hit. The T-Bird outsold the Corvette easily and became one of Ford’s best earners in the late ’50s. This sealed the faith of the Thunderbird, and Ford turned it into one of the biggest personal luxury legends of the American industry.