55 years of Thunderbird celebrated this weekend

(June 25, 2010) DEARBORN, Mich. — The Ford Thunderbird is known for its classic design cues and the character of a true American sports car. But it also has 55 years of history to go along with that, and owners across the country are coming together to celebrate.

Nearly 300 Ford Thunderbirds and their owners will be heading to Dearborn to honor the 55th anniversary of the classic car with a car show at Ford World Headquarters on Saturday. Drivers will be coming from more than 30 states, with several coming from Canada.

“The Ford Thunderbird is one of the most iconic products in the history of the automobile,” said Jim Farley, Ford’s group vice president of Global Marketing. “Each generation of the Thunderbird had a unique personality that ushered in a new generation of breakthroughs in design or technology.”

Scene at the
50th reunion
in June 2005

The car show will kick off at noon and run until 4 p.m., with Thunderbirds from every year of production on display. The event is hosted by The Water Wonderland Thunderbird Club,

The American Road Thunderbird Club and The Thunderbird Nest. “We appreciate the passion so many have for the iconic Thunderbird and the Ford brand. The emotional connection that our owners have with Ford has always differentiated us,” Farley added.