[2][5][6] In 1953, he applied to a scholarship competition called From Dream to Drawing Board to?, for the Art Center College of Design that was hosted by Motor Trend magazine.
[2][5]Thompson graduated in 1956 and subsequently began working at the Ford Motor Company, hired by Alex Tremulis.
[6] In 1963, Thompson began conceptual sketches along with other designers for the Ford Bronco, which was to compete with the existing Jeep CJ-5 and International Scout.
[1] Thompson proposed an idea to Ford in 1965 for an all-terrain vehicle, it was initially the first of series of cars that would serve developing nations in Africa.
Ford declined to work on the project in 1967, when they believed the car would not sell enough units to make a profit for the company.
Using the frame of the Shelby Cobra, the Cougar II housed a V8 engine, fiberglass body, and retractable headlamps.