1977 Ford Thunderbird

The seventh generation of the Ford Thunderbird was built from 1977 through 1979, with its wheelbase shrinking from 120.4 inches to 114-inches, moving from a full-size to a larger intermediate car. While the previous sixth generation Thunderbird had shared similarities to the Continental Mark V, the seventh generation now shared design commonalities with the Mercury Cougar. It would become the best-selling generation in the history of the Ford Thunderbird, attributed to its squarer and sharper styling and its more favorable pricing that was nearly $3,000 less than 1976. 1977 and 1978 were the best sales year in Thunderbird history, with 318,000 in 1977 and 352,000 the following year, and 295,000 in 1979.

Ford turned to its parts bin for creating the intermediate Thunderbird, using a selection of interior and trim parts from the previous year's Ford Elite, Mercury Cougar, and Mercury Montego. The styling from the doors back was unique to the Thunderbird and was distinguished from its LTD II and Cougar 2-door models by its own 'basket handle' roofline with opera windows and large rear side quarter windows. The front headlamps had retractable covers and in the back were full-width dropped center taillamps. The base engine was a 302 cubic-inch Windsor V8 which it shared with the LTD II and optional on the Granada and Maverick. The 5.0-liter unit had a 2-barrel carburetor and delivered approximately 130 horsepower at 3,400 RPM. An optional 351 CID overhead valve V8 delivered between 149 and 161 horsepower, depending on the setup. A 400 CID V8 brought horsepower to 173 hp and 326 foot-lbs of torque. Ford also had a 460 CID V8 but this was reserved for the LTD. A Select-Shift three-speed automatic transmission was standard.

Standard features included an AM radio, electric clock, Wilshire cloth/vinyl bench seat, HR78x15 steel-belted radial tries, coolant recovery system, wheel covers, and a 'Thunderbird' nameplate located on the rear deck section between the taillights. The interior had a new five-pod instrument cluster with European-style graphics and simulated burled woodgrain.

The Town Landau trim level added additional amenities and luxury accouterments including a leather-wrapped sports steering wheel, console, dual sport mirrors, an aluminum roof wrap-over applique, unique stripes on the upper bodysides, accent paint on wheels and fender louvers, and 'Town Landau' nameplates. A Town Landau plaque was located to the right of the instrument panel along with an owner's nameplate in 22K gold finish.

The total 1977 Ford Thunderbird production reached 318,140 examples, a significant increase over the 52,935 produced a year earlier.

by Daniel Vaughan | Aug 2020