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1978 Ford Thunderbird

Ford celebrated the 1978 model year by offering their personal luxury coupe in a limited-production Diamond Jubilee Edition. This special model was used to commemorate the company's 75th Anniversary. Selling for $10,100 there were a total of 18,994 examples of the 2-door hardtop coupe produced. The Diamond Jubilee Edition Thunderbird had a unique monochromatic exterior finished in Diamond Blue metallic or Ember metallic. They had padded vinyl roofs and color-keyed grille texture. There were unique quarter-window treatments, special hood ornament, cast-aluminum wheels, and body-side moldings. The opera windows had 'Diamond Jubilee Edition' script and there were hand-painted 'D.J.' monograms on the door (along with the owner's initials). Also, unique features included color-keyed bumper guards and turbine aluminum wheels. The inside featured a leather-covered steering wheel, twin illuminated visor vanity mirrors, seatbelt warning chimes, 'Super sound' package, and cloth split-bench seats. The Diamond blue models had a blue luxury cloth interior while the Ember bodies had a chamois color interior.

Styling for the 1978 Thunderbird was similar to the 1977 model. Ford offered the Thunderbird in six new body colors, four vinyl roof colors, striped cloth bucket seat trim, and new russet interior trim.

Standard equipment included AM/FM stereo search radio with power antenna, manual passenger recliner, hand-stitched leather-covered instrument panel pad, dual sport mirrors, and whitewall tires.

The Thunderbird was available as a hardtop coupe along with a Thunderbird Town Landau Hardtop Coupe model. The Landau edition was a mid-year 1977 model which continued into 1978. They had a brushed aluminum wrapover applique on its roofline, pinstriping, script on the opera windows, cast-aluminum wheels, and accent paint. Other features included 4 body colors, dual sport mirrors, a lighted visor vanity mirror, and crushed velour split-bench seats with fold-down center armrests. The Town Landau also had SelectAire conditioning, day/date clock, and trip odometer.

Powering the Thunderbird was a 90-degree, overhead-valve V-8 that displaced 302 cubic inches (5 liters) and offered 135 horsepower. A 351 CID V8 with 150 horsepower and a 400 CID with 166 horsepower were also available. The steering was handled by a recirculating ball and the transmission was a SelectShift three-speed automatic.

A Sport Decor Group was also available which added blackout grille, imitation decklid straps, paint stripes, twin remote mirrors, and spoke-style wheels.


by Daniel Vaughan | Nov 2012

Related Reading : Ford Thunderbird History

The Ford Thunderbird is an American automotive icon first introduced in 1955. During the early 1950s, military men were returning from fighting in World War II. In Europe, the style of the vehicle was very different from the Detroit American car. The graceful but sporty MG, Triumphs, and Jaguars, to name a few, had found their way into the hearts of many of these American soldiers. In the U.S.,....
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1978 Ford Thunderbird Vehicle Profiles

Recent Vehicle Additions

Performance and Specification Comparison

Price Comparison

1978 Thunderbird
$10,110-$109,800
1978 Ford Thunderbird Price Range: $5,410 - $10,110

Compare: Lower | Higher | Similar

Other 1978 Ford Models
$3,000 - $4,110
$3,555 - $4,250
$3,590 - $4,045
$5,335 - $6,200

Thunderbird - Seventh generation

Specification Comparison by Year

Year
Production
Wheelbase
Engine
Prices
318,140
114.00 in.
8 cyl., 302.00 CID., 130.00hp
8 cyl., 351.00 CID., 135.00hp
8 cyl., 400.00 CID., 173.00hp
$5,060 - $7,995
352,751
114.00 in.
8 cyl., 302.00 CID., 134.00hp
8 cyl., 351.00 CID., 152.00hp
8 cyl., 400.00 CID., 160.00hp
$5,410 - $10,110
284,141
114.00 in.
8 cyl., 301.58 CID., 130.00hp
8 cyl., 349.79 CID., 149.00hp
$5,875 - $10,686

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