The Ford Thunderbird appeared after two men, Louis D. Crusoe and George Walker, and their car manufacturer, had a change.

Rusoe was a millionaire and was asked to retire by Henry Ford II. He is a successful businessman with a knack for the automobile market. Crusoe is Vice President and General Manager of Ford, so his job is to bring excitement and prestige to the Ford name. Walker later served as Vice President and chief stylist.

In October 1951, two men were walking down the aisles of the Grand Palais in Paris when Crusoe pointed to one of the sportier cars on display and asked Walker why they couldn’t do the same. Walker quickly replied that they did such a job in the works. Walker, who may have been in a fight at the time, picked up the phone and called his assistants to speak to Dear𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐧. By the time the two men arrived in America, plans for a sportier car were in the works.

Over the next few months, there was talk of a “true Ford sports car” and many different designs were created. The design goals were: 2,525-pound curb weight, Interceptor V-8 engine, balanced weight distribution, better acceleration than the competition, and a top speed of more than 100 miles per hour. –

While a clay model is being developed, other decisions are being made based on the specifics of the vehicle.

Finally on May 18, 1953 – 17 days after his deadline – Crusoe saw a finished model, painted in clay, for the first time. This model closely resembles the shape of the final first Thunderbird.

By the summer of 1953, the car was far enough along that it was decided to start building it. Crusoe made this decision in September while he was in Paris evaluating other sports cars against their clay models in Dear𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐧. Production wouldn’t begin until the fall of 1954, making the car a 1955 model. Ford was excited to tell the world their new model was in production, but they weren’t there yet. named.

There were approximately 5,000 names considered including; Hep Cat, Beaʋer, Detroiter, Runout, Arcturus, Saʋile, El Tigre and Coronado. Crusoe, unimpressed with any of these names, offers $250 to anyone who can think of a better name. A young Ford stylist named Alden “Gib” Giberson, came up with the name “Thunderbird” and this name would quickly attract everyone’s love.

Once the name was decided and last-minute appearance changes were made, the Ford Thunderbird was ready to hit the market. It made its first public appearance on February 20, 1954 at the first post-war auto show in Detroit.

The first Thunderird was sold on October 22, 1954 and would create a legend for future Thunderirds.