In this 1955 promotional spot, the Ford Motor Company unveils its new two-seat sports luxury car, the Thunderbird, unpacking the marketing plan for five more decades of T-Birds to follow. The Thunderbird story starts here—watch. 

Auto writers and historians have been kicking around their theories about the Thunderbird for years, but this commercial spot from Ford in 1955 leaves no doubt of the automaker’s intentions. First, note the the dreaded term “sports car” is never mentioned once. Not once. Instead, the ‘Bird is described as “designed for those who appreciate the distinctive in personal transportation.”

Nor is there any serious mention of the Thunderbird’s performance attributes. The presentation focuses on the two-seater’s luxury appointments, including full-width power bench seat, telescoping steering column, power windows, and weathertight removable hardtop. Finally, the Ford guys manage to get in an unsubtle dig at the Chevrolet Corvette and its fiberglass construction, describing the T-Bird as a “steel-bodied beauty.” Oh, ouch. We enjoy these insights into Motor City marketing history, and we hope you do, too. Video below.