Ford Thunderbird

The Ford Thunderbird is a car manufactured in the USA by the Ford Motor Company. It entered production for the 1955 model year as a two-seater sporty car; unlike the superficially similar (and slightly earlier) Chevrolet Corvette, the Thunderbird was never sold as a full-blown sports car. Ford described it as a personal luxury car, a description which named a new market segment. In 1958, the Thunderbird gained a second row of seats for greater practicality. Succeeding generations became larger and more luxurious, until the line was downsized in 1977 and again in 1980. Sales were good until the 1990s, when large 2-door coupes became unpopular; production ceased after 1997. In 2002, a revived 2-seat model was launched, which will be available through the end of the 2005 model year.

1980-1982 "Box Birds"

Main article: 1980-1982 Ford Thunderbird.

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1980 saw a new, shrunken Thunderbird that was little more than a sedan with nicer trim. In fact, it was merely a rebodied Ford Fairmont compact?though in post-fuel-crisis America, these vehicles could be thought of as intermediates, rather than compacts.

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