Coys Auction - Automoto D‘Epoca
Padova Fiera
Padova, Italy

Italy

Saturday 25th October 2008

Admission by catalogue only - admits two.

The public got its first glimpse of the new Ford Thunderbird in February 1954 at the Detroit Auto Show, the mock-up displayed being close to what would eventually end up in production. It drew rave reviews from both the press and the public. On September 9 1954 the first production Thunderbird rolled off the assembly line in Dearborn and in 1955 it proved an instant success, priced at around $3,500 for a nicely equipped example. Unlike the Corvette, it was powered by a V8 engine, with either manual **or** automatic transmission, had an adjustable steering wheel, roll-down windows, tachometer, clock, 150mph speedometer and ball-joint front suspension. It was marketed as a ‘personal luxury’ car and never was **or** ever meant to be a sports car.

1964 saw the launch of the fourth genera