On May 25, 1961, President John F. Kennedy announced before a special joint session of Congress the dramatic and ambitious goal of sending an American safely to the Moon before the end of the decade. A number of political factors affected Kennedy’s decision and timing. In general, Kennedy felt great pressure to have the United States “catch up to and overtake” the Soviet Union in the “space race.” Four years after the Sputnik shock of 1957, the cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin had become the first human in space on April 12, 1961, greatly embarrassing the U.S.
In addition, the Bay of Pigs fiasco in mid-April put unquantifiable pressure on Kennedy. He wanted to announce a program that the U.S. had a strong chance at achieving before the Soviet Union. After consulting with Vice President Johnson, NASA Administrator James Webb, and other officials, he concluded that landing an American on the Moon would be a very challenging technological feat, but an area of space exploration in which the U.S. actually had a potential lead.
What many people do not realize is that during that period there was a real lack of funding to actually see the project to fruition. The President turned to several leading American corporations for help. As the Kennedy family was very close with Ford Motor Company (Note that he changed the presidential motorcade cars from Cadillacs to Lincolns), it was logical the he would turn to Ford for financial, as well as technological help, and in return, Ford’s involvement in the Lunar Landing program would bring immense marketing attention to Ford.
But the marketing folks over at Ford were very shrewd, and wanted more than just a Ford logo associated with the project. They wanted something that the average American consumer could relate to.
So along with top scientists at NASA, Ford began top secret work on a modified vehicle that could be brought to, and driven on, the moon. The most logical choice was the Thunderbird, because of it marketing position of being the most technologically advanced car in the Ford line. They wanted to retain the outer body styling to resemble a relatively stock 1962 Thunderbird, but underneath the vehicle would be designed to be light weight and run in the harsh conditions found on the moon. Powered by electric motors, the entire outer body was to be shaped from light absorbing materials designed to recharge the battery packs. In addition to the drivetrain, doors and roof height had to be enlarged to fit through astronauts, in their large suits on. However, it was very important to Ford, and to Kennedy, that the Thunderbird remain stock in appearance.
Due to recent changes in the Freedom of Information Act, only now are we able to fully understand why Kennedy was so adamant about having a stock Thunderbird land and drive on the moon. It would come to light that his rivalry with Fidel Castro ran far deeper than generally acknowledged by the administration. It was also revealed that, unknown to most people, Fidel Castro was a borderline-obsessive Thunderbird enthusiast, and that and integral part of the “Bay of Pigs” incident was actually centered around a shipment of T-Bird engine parts that “accidentally” found it’s way into Cuban waters.
Kennedy knew that America driving a Thunderbird on the moon would be a slap in the face of Castro and Communism all over the world. It would be akin saying: “Hey, we left a Thunderbird up on the moon, why don’t you go and get it if you’re so smart!”
But sadly, in the end, the Lunar T-Bird project was doomed to failure, and ended up a mere footnote in space exploration history. Only three working Lunar Thunderbirds were actually produced by Ford. Two were destroyed, 
but there is evidence that one remains. It turns out that the last version of the Lunar T-Bird was secretly being delivered to the yard for crushing when it was intercepted by an unknown group of men carrying semi-automatic weaponry.
No-one knows the identity of the men or the whereabouts of the vehicle. But occasionally rumors arise that the only surviving Lunar T-Bird has been seen being driven through the countryside by a bearded man with a cigar…. somewhere in Cuba.
By the way, Happy April Fool’s Day!