Cars
Marilyn Monroe. Blondes prefer Thunderbirds
Marilyn Monroe's iconic 1955 Ford Thunderbird, symbol of glamour and tragedy, journeyed through her life until its auction in 2018 for $490,000.
This black Ford Thunderbird is the only car owned by America’s greatest female icon ever to be located, documented, and brought to auction. It was purchased brand new on December 20, 1955, a few months before Marilyn Monroe married playwright Arthur Miller. It was registered to “Marilyn Monroe Productions Inc.”, the star’s own production company, which she co-founded with photographer Milton Greene in 1955. The Ford Thunderbird was first marketed by Ford Motor Company in late 1954 as a 1955 model.
It was a two-seater response to GM’s Corvette. Although initially considered a “sports car” by enthusiasts, Ford had no wish to compete in that market, which mainly consisted of small, low-powered European models with no power equipment and few creature comforts. Some claim to have detected a whiff of Marilyn’s signature perfume, Chanel No. 5, in the car’s glove box.
