In the 1950s, the Thunderbird stood out as a shining example of the melding of space-age and classic design elements.
Ford is one of the most storied names in the automotive business, with a legacy stretching back to 1903 that includes industry icons like the Model T, Mustang, and F-150 pickup. During the heyday of American car design in the 1950s, the Thunderbird stood out as a shining example of the melding of space-age and classic design elements, and Ford built the bones of the Thunderbird to do the remarkable outer shell proper justice. The Thunderbird was crafted by Louis Crusoe and George Walker, who were inspired to create something special for Ford after seeing a Ferrari Barchetta at the 1952 Grand Palais car show in Paris. After two years of sketching and modeling, the gorgeous new model was finally ready for production, but it still needed a name.
More than 5,000 potential monikers had been suggested, including the forgettable options Savile, Runabout, Detroiter, and Beaver.
