1979 thunderbird coup windows#
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. 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 all new styling from the doors back to create a dramatic new Thunderbird look. Alongside the Mercury Cougar XR7, the Thunderbird became more competitive in the best selling reasonably priced intermediate personal luxury car market against the Chrysler Cordoba/ 300, Dodge Charger/ Magnum XE and the General Motors A-body quartet of the Buick Regal, Chevrolet Monte Carlo, Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme and Pontiac Grand Prix.Īlthough not as deliberate a downsizing as what was to come to future Ford cars, the 1977 Thunderbird was shorter than its predecessor, shedding nearly 10 inches (254 mm) of length and 900 lb (408 kg) of weight height and width remained essentially unchanged. As the Ford LTD II replaced the Torino, the Thunderbird replaced the Elite. For the 1977 model year, as both cars were redesigned, the Thunderbird was split from the Continental Mark V.
During the 1970s, this led to the latter car becoming heavy and expensive in comparison to competition from Chrysler and General Motors.
1979 thunderbird coup series#
Since Lincoln reintroduced the Continental Mark series in 1969, it had shared common engineering and underpinnings with the Thunderbird. Development and production history 1978 Ford Thunderbird The styling of its unique wrapover roofline would carry over in smaller versions of Ford automobiles such as the 1978–1983 Ford Fairmont Futura and the Mercury Zephyr Z-7 coupes which were originally designed as Fairmont-based downsized Thunderbird proposals. Helped by a US$2,700 drop in price from 1976, over 318,000 were sold in 1977 and 352,000 in 1978 (the best single sales year in Thunderbird history), followed by 295,000 in 1979. The squarer, sharper styling was popular, as this generation became the best selling in the history of the Ford Thunderbird. Rather than being the traditional Ford counterpart of the Continental Mark V, the Thunderbird would share the chassis with the Mercury Cougar and the Ford LTD II before the Ford Fox platform version was introduced for 1980. In a key marketing shift for the model range, Ford repackaged the Thunderbird from a full-size car to an intermediate car, and ceded its full-size luxury coupe status to the Ford LTD Landau coupe. The Thunderbird remains a beloved classic car among collectors and enthusiasts, celebrated for its timeless styling and its role in automotive history as an emblematic representation of the evolving American automobile market.The seventh generation of the Ford Thunderbird is a personal luxury car that was built by Ford from the 1977 to the 1979 model years. Production of the Ford Thunderbird concluded in 2005, ending its rich history as a symbol of American automotive design and innovation. This tenth-generation Thunderbird paid homage to the original '55 T-Bird, featuring a classic look with modern technology. In 2002, Ford revived the Thunderbird with a retro-inspired design as a two-seater convertible. The seventh generation, produced from 1977 to 1979, was notably downsized and offered a range of V8 engine options, reflecting the era's focus on fuel efficiency. It evolved from a sporty two-seater into a luxurious cruiser with a focus on comfort and performance. The Thunderbird underwent several redesigns over the years, reflecting changes in automotive trends and consumer preferences.
This design continued for the subsequent generations. The second generation, introduced in 1958, featured a larger, more luxurious body with a rear seat, transforming the Thunderbird into a four-seater. The Thunderbird quickly became popular and is credited with starting the "personal luxury car" trend in the automotive industry. It featured a sleek and stylish design, a V8 engine, and a focus on comfort and amenities. The first generation of the Thunderbird, introduced in 1955, was designed to compete with the Chevrolet Corvette. It was introduced in 1955 as a two-seater sports car and evolved over the years into a luxury personal luxury car and later a retro-styled two-seater. The Ford Thunderbird, often referred to as the "T-Bird," is an iconic American automobile produced by Ford Motor Company.
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