October 22, 1954: Ford Motor Company introduces the Ford Thunderbird, as part of its 1955 models. Originally a 2-seat sports coupe, a convertible with a removable hardtop with "portholes," a rear seat was added in 1958, making it more of a luxury car.
From 1968 to 1998, Ford's Lincoln-Mercury Division marketed "rebadged" variants, as the Mercury Cougar; and the Lincoln Continental Marks III, IV, V, VI, VII and VIII. Ford stopped making the Thunderbird after the 1997 models, but brought it back in 2002. In 2005, in celebration of the car's 50th Anniversary, Ford brought it back as a special edition, complete with the '55 original's "portholes." This remains the last model year for the Thunderbird.
The "T-bird" was popular enough to become a watchword in popular culture. In 1962, in his song "Oh, Boy!" (to the tune of "Las Chiapanecas"), Thunderbirds and Cadillacs as the kind of cars that made parodist Allan Sherman give an enthusiastic, "Oh, boy!"
The Beach Boys mentioned the car in 2 songs: In "Little Deuce Coupe," they said the title car would "walk a Thunderbird like she's standing still"; and in "Fun, Fun, Fun," that's what the narrator's girlfriend will have, "'til her daddy takes the T-bird away." And a 1966 Thunderbird was the roadtrip/getaway car in the 1991 film Thelma & Louise.
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October 22, 1954 was a Friday. Baseball season had ended 20 days earlier, when the New York Giants swept the Cleveland Indians in the World Series. The NBA season didn't start for another 8 days. The NHL season was underway, but no games were scheduled.
There were 6 college football games that night:
* The University of Miami, ranked Number 16, beat Maryland, 9-7 at the Orange Bowl in Miami.
* The University of Houston beat Villanova, 28-7 at Municipal Stadium (later renamed John F. Kennedy Stadium) in Philadelphia.
* Furman University beat Davidson College, 19-7 on neutral ground at American Legion Memorial Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina.
* George Washington University and the College of William & Mary played to a 13-13 tie at Griffith Stadium in Washington.
* The University of Detroit beat Tulsa, 28-18 at University of Detroit Stadium.
* And the University of Denver beat Wichita State, 27-14 at Hilltop Stadium in Denver.
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