The first generation Ford Thunderbird was produced from 1955 to 1957, the first 2-seat Ford since 1938 and countering Chevrolet’s 1953 introduction of the Corvette. The 1956 Ford Thunderbird 2-door convertible had a base price of $3,150 and over the three-year production period, a total of 53,166 were produced. It was an all-new concept in motoring called the 'personal luxury' car, offering sporty performance in luxury and comfort. For the 1956 model year, rectangular fresh air vents were added to the front fenders and exhaust tips were moved to the ends of the bumper. A “Continental Kit” was added to house the spare tire to increase trunk space. An optional 312 cubic inch V-8 engine was offered to maintain the car’s performance in view of the unavoidable weight increase. To improve rear-quarter visibility with the removable hardtop in place, "porthole" windows were available as a no-cost option.