Ford Thunderbird (seventh generation)

Seventh generation Ford Thunderbird
Overview
Manufacturer	Ford
Also called	Guri Conquistador
Production	USA: 1977–1979 YV: 1978–1989
Assembly	Wixom, Michigan Chicago, Illinois Lorain, Ohio Pico Rivera, California Mahwah, New Jersey Hapeville, Georgia Barcelona, Venezuela
Body and chassis
Body style	2-door coupe
Layout	FR layout
Related	Ford LTD II Mercury Cougar
Powertrain
Engine	302 cu in (4.9 L) Windsor V8 351 cu in (5.8 L) 351W V8 351 cu in (5.8 L) 351M V8 400 cu in (6.6 L) Cleveland V8
Dimensions
Wheelbase	114.0 in (2,896 mm)
Length	217.7 in (5,530 mm)
Width	78.5 in (1,994 mm)
Height	52.6 in (1,336 mm)
Chronology
Predecessor	Ford Thunderbird (sixth generation)
Successor	Ford Thunderbird (eighth generation)

Main article: Ford Thunderbird

The seventh generation of the Ford Thunderbird is a personal luxury car built by Ford from the 1977 to the 1979 model years. In a key marketing shift for Ford, the Thunderbird changed market segments for 1977, shifting from a full-size car to the larger end of the intermediate segment. Based upon the Ford LTD II, this generation is the first of four generations of the Thunderbird to share its basic design with the Mercury Cougar.

The squarer, sharper styling was popular, as this generation became the most popular in the history of the Ford Thunderbird. Helped by a $2,700 drop in price from 1976, over 318,000 sold in 1977 and 352,000 in 1978 (the best single sales year in Thunderbird history), followed by 295,000 in 1979. The popularity of the styling with its unique wrapover roofline would carry over in smaller versions as the 1978-1983 Ford Fairmont Futura and the Mercury Zephyr Z-7 coupes which were originally designed as Fairmont based downsized Thunderbird proposals.

Design

Since Lincoln reintroduced the Mark series in 1969, it had shared common engineering and underpinnings with the Thunderbird. During the 1970s, this led to the latter car becoming heavy and expensive in comparison to competition from Chrysler and General Motors. For 1977, as both cars were redesigned, the Thunderbird was split from the Lincoln Mark V. As the Ford LTD II quietly replaced the Torino, the Thunderbird replaced the Elite. Instead of serving as an introductory model below Lincoln, the Thunderbird was re-positioned into a new segment of the personal luxury market. Alongside the Mercury Cougar XR7, the Thunderbird now competed in the best selling reasonably priced intermediate personal luxury class against the Chrysler Cordoba and the General Motors quartet of the Buick Regal, Chevrolet Monte Carlo, Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme, and Pontiac Grand Prix.

Although not as deliberate a downsizing as what was to come to future Ford cars, the 1977 Thunderbird was far smaller than its predecessor, shedding nearly 10 inches (254 mm) of length and 900 lb (408 kg) of weight; height and width remained essentially unchanged. The 1977 Thunderbird was created on the existing intermediate car platform by recycling a select mix of body, interior and trim parts from the previous year's Ford Elite, Mercury Montego and Mercury Cougar combined with some all new body, interior and trim parts to create a dramatic new Thunderbird look. The Thunderbird was distinguished from the LTD II and Cougar 2-door models by its unique wrap-over "basket handle" roofline with opera windows and large rear side quarter windows separated from the rear window by thin C-pillars. Headlamps hidden with retractable covers and full-width dropped center taillamps made a comeback from the late 1960s. As such being based on the intermediate Ford platform, a wider range of powertrains were now available. The base engine was the 302 cu in (4.9 L) Windsor V8, while the larger 351 cu in (5.8 L) 351M and 400 cu in (6.6 L) and T-tops were available as options along with the 351W. In California, the 351 was the only engine available. Although the smaller engines had lower output than the 460 V8, the lighter weight did compensate towards overall performance; the 400 was dropped in 1979 with the introduction of CAFE requirements.

1978 Diamond Jubilee Edition

In 1978, Ford offered the "Diamond Jubilee Edition" Thunderbird to commemorate the company's 75th year as an auto manufacturer. This option package escalated the price of the car to almost US$12,000, virtually doubling the base price; it included every option except a moonroof and an engine block heater. It was originally available in only two colors- Diamond Jubilee exclusive "diamond blue" metallic, or "standard issue" ember metallic; both with matching velour cloth seats with a "biscuit" design. Later in production, Ford offered leather as an option, and offered white as an exterior color with blue or white trim and interior. This option was available on the Lincoln Continental Mark V as well for the much more substantial cost of US$23,000.

In 1979, a similar option package was available named "Heritage". It included basically the same optional equipment, still with only two color options available: Heritage Maroon or Heritage Baby Blue. The "Heritage" option remained available into the next generation of the car. All Thunderbirds received a new grille pattern and revised taillamps for the last model year of this generation.

Production totals

Year	Production
1977	318,140
1978	352,751
1979	284,141
Total	955,032