The wire wheel and white walls of an immaculate 1956 Ford Thunderbird. This, the second model year of this new "personal luxury car" was Ford's response to Chevrolette's Corvette and was strongly influenced by the recognized market for a new, small sports car. Serviceman returning from Europe had been exposed to Triumphs, Jaguars and MGs and developed a taste for cars smaller than what the US automakers in Detroit typically produced. The production Thunderbird wasn't a sports car, but was loaded with creature comforts, a V-8 and a plush ride. The removable hardtop with circular portholes was a standard option allowing for topless driving on nice days. In the first year over 15,600 cars were sold at around $3000 each. A well maintained car can easily fetch 15 times that now. The 1956 model had some small changes, including an increase in horsepower and an externally stored spare tire. The eleventh generation Thunderbird ceased production in 2005. The iconic name almost never was, as "Whizzer" was given very serious consideration.
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