T-bird dead

LOS ANGELES: Ford's last Thunderbird rolled out of its United States factory earlier this month, putting an end to the classic nameplate.

The Thunderbird sports car had been one of Ford's icons since the first one -- a black two seater -- was produced in 1955.

Ford will donate the 1997 laser red T-bird to the Classic Thunderbird Club International in California, which already owns the first Thunderbird.