Another instant success for the Ford Motor Company, the public got its first glimpse of the new Thunderbird in February 1954 at the Detroit Auto Show. The preliminary mock-up received great reviews from both the press and the public. On September 9, 1954 the first production Thunderbird rolled off the assembly line in Dearborn.
The first year 1955 was an instant success as the new high-spirited thunderbirds where equipped with the new overhead valve V8 engine and higher horsepower, starting price at just under $3000.00.