My brother had a car similar to this 1979 Ford Thunderbird and what sticks in my mind the most is what a smooth, quiet ride it had. This example has almost been stored more than it’s been driven and it’s located in Elkton, Maryland. It can be found listed on eBay with a bid price of $3,100 but the reserve isn’t met.
This car appears to be an amazing condition overall, especially the interior. The seller mentions that “there is no rot or rust any where the floors and trunk is Solid.” It looks fantastic so far. The underside looks just as nice!
Here’s where the screeching brakes sound comes into the picture. “The driver side door has a dent as well the driver side fender i do have trim.beside that the car is mint.” The seventh-generation Thunderbird had a fairly short run, from 1977 to 1979 right in the middle of Ford’s downsizing program. The next generation cars were really small.
The interior looks amazing on this car, I don’t really see a flaw in the interior anywhere. The door gaskets looks nice and soft and not eroded or ripped like on a lot of older cars. The dash top looks like a car that has been stored indoors and even the speaker holes on top of the rear parcel shelf aren’t warped or ripped.
This car has the smallest engine that was available at the time, Ford’s 302 cubic-inch V8 which would have had an anemic 133 hp. The seller has done some work to get it running after apparently being in storage: “New parts to get her on back the road such as rebuilt 2 barrel carburetor. New tune up and wires New battery. had the radiator service. also had the Air conditioning change to R134 that blow ice cold. service breaks and service transmission and put New dual exhaust this beautiful car runs beautiful you will not be disappointed”. Have any of you owned a seventh-generation Thunderbird?
Car is in MD. With Jersey plates.
Hmmm…
I’m a little suspicious about what looks to be fresh paint on the underside of this example. 29K miles? Documented?
Assuming the car is as clean as the seller suggests, even at 129K miles, it could be reasonable buying, depending on the reserve.
I always liked this model of T-Bird and was looking at leasing one, new, in 1977 – until the heavy-duty everything, LM-1 Chevy V8-powered, almost-a-9-C-1 Buick Skylark hatch came up, which I mentioned some time back on another thread.
These were grossly under powered but they do have covered lights, so…
I had a 78 LTD with the 302 2bbl. Comfortable, rode nice, felt solid as a rock, but it was a DOG! I could’ve pushed it faster than that 302.
Not buying the mileage.
My dad had matching 77 and 79…black w tan int.still love em
My neighbor had one of these but more of a chocolate brown and it was in better shape than the feature car, he couldn’t give it away. He finally traded it in on a Mercury Mountaineer, I think he got $1000 trade in.
Fond memory’s of these as I graduated high school in 79. One of our well-heeled neighbors, who was a steet mill exec, purchased a 79 T-Bird and Cougar for his son and daughter. Here’s one from the local Pull and Pay yard in Indy for $1,000.
That’s a ’77. The ’78 and ’79 had larger squares in the grill like the feature car and the Thunderbird emblems on each headlamp cover (not shown in your photo). The ’79 is distinguished from the ’78 by its different separate rear taillights.
There you go. Your pieces of worthless knowledge for the day!
Had one of these back in the early 80’s. Grey on grey. Loved that car! Great cruiser!
Why are so many of these older decent condition cars always baby sh#t yellow? Lol
My brother had a maroon and white two tone. I’m thinking it was a 1978. It was our road trip car. That thing would just float down the highway. Many may say they are under powered but, it got there and back in comfort and with a bit of style for the time. Remember, a doughnut is not a wedding cake and it’s not supposed to be.
I worked at the Chicago assembly plant building these cars in 1977-78. I was a relief man and filled in on almost every post along the line. When employees called in sick for the day or days, I filled in for them so I know these cars better than most having built almost every part of them on the assembly line. I’ve owned a couple ’78 D.J.s, and a ’79 also along with a ‘black/red interior ’78 with factory bucket seats, center console with automatic shifter on the floor and T-Tops. Ford called their T-Tops a “T-Roof” and it was nice cruising with the tops off on a Saturday night. To my disappointment, I sold that car many. many years ago but now I am currently looking for a similar replacement to relive my youth again. It must be a super low mileage 78-79 ‘Bird and have the T-Top T-Roof option with bucket seats and center console and automatic shifter on the floor. I will consider all cars with those options. Should be black but would take a burgundy/red car too or even a white or silver car as well if no rust and the price is right.
Why don’t you try running a want ad here on the site: https://barnfinds.com/post-your-want-ad-here-on-barn-finds/
I will, thanks.
I have this one.
This is not a Thunderbird. It’s a glorified LTD.
I currently have a baby blue 1979 heritage edition with a 351. I love it, it has plenty of power and does just float along which is great. But the same was true with the 1967 fords power in Galaxie size cars. The 390 cars had great power but 352 cars hardly pulled them.
I had a 77, black with gray top and interior. Loved that car. I had the 400 in it so it wasn’t as weak as the 302. Beat a 80 vette in a drag race. lol
I bought a new 1978 that was also black, gray top and interior, with a 351 Windsor.
So they removed the catalytic converter when they modified the exhaust so it can’t be sold in California and other states with similar smog rules.
Perhaps short sighted on their part at the time, but over here in NJ/MD etc. once a car is 25 years old there’s no emissions check as long as you go the QQ (Classic) plates route.
Illinois is the same way. California has it’s own emissions laws and has had them for decades. Too many cars on the road I guess. Warm dry weather and No Rust on the west coast so they last practically forever. checkout the old Lincoln and Country Squire. Can you find all the other old cars in this pic ? This is the 405 in Los Angeles at rush hour.
My Dad bought a T-Bird new in ’78. That car was awesome on road trips. I used to sleep in the back seat. You hardly heard or felt anything in it. I’d kill for 1 today.
I really liked these. With the previous generation of ‘Birds, one needed a commercial ship license to operate. I knew someone who had a 1979 ‘Bird in lipstick red, white top and interior, you could spot the thing from outer space. Now I really want one (this one is too far).
I had a 79 and I hated it
I had a 1979 and loved it.
I had a 1979 T-Bird. With the 351. Unique in that it had the Sport Instrumentation package with a tachometer.
One has to look at this generation Thunderbird with a proper perspective. Car & Driver reviewed this generation T-Bird and praised its handing. “negotiate through the switchbacks with aplomb”, if I remember their quote correctly. Compared to most cars in the 1970s, this was a good handling road car.
further to….
I currently have my third 1978 Thunderbird. I bought a new heavily optioned base model and kept it 19 years; bought a Diamond Jubilee in 2003, a drunk hit it and was totaled in 2005; last year, due to a Barn Finds poster’s link, found a Town Landau and bought it. Hope to keep this one until I’m gone.
Bummer to hear about the Diamond Jubilee, but I’m glad to hear we were able to help you find the Town Landau! Send us an email at mail@barnfinds.com with more photos so we can do a story on it!
I had a 79 bought it in 82 for $2500,spotless even had an 8 track adapter, but sad to say the motor was worthless, replaced it and even the replacement leaked like a sieve. You had to lift the engine to remove the oil pan . Replacing that gasket was a major job. The car finally left me on the end of a junker’s hook. But I do have a garage full of parts from it. Anyone need an 8 track player?
A nice looking car, especially when you compare to the steaming pile that came along after it.
Yes I haave had two of them. A 77 and 79 both being the color of this car but mine had the cloth interior. Loved both wish I would have kept the 79 really liked it.