I find this car to be interesting because my high school colors were orange and white. It was a new school and rumor has it that the head football coach, a University of Tennessee grad, had a lot of sway in recommending the school’s colors. Orange and white aren’t typical colors for either a high school or a personal luxury coupe such as a Thunderbird. In the luxury car field in the 1970’s, anything in the orange range was usually metallic, subdued, and called Burnt Ember or something similar. Well, there’s nothing subdued about this 1978 Ford Thunderebird’s special-order paint. It’s as orange as orange gets. This one-of-a-kind orange ‘Bird is located in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and is for sale here on Facebook Marketplace for $27,500. Thank you, T.J., for spotting this bright ‘Bird and sending it our way.
The seller, who I assume is the guy in the photo dressed in orange and white and holding two trophies, only gives us the following description: “Special order. Marti report available. Special order paint. 400 V8 engine. Power antenna on rear deck. Always garaged.” It’s listed as having 46,500 miles on the clock and based on the photos and overall excellent condition of the car, I believe those to be the actual miles. The orange paint is shiny and glossy and is contrasted by a white vinyl top and white body side moldings and pinstriping. With a major restyling and downsizing the year before, the ’78 Thunderbird had minimal changes. The hidden headlamps are back along with the egg crate grille, and the Thunderbird logo adorns each headlamp cover and a stylized bird can be seen on the hood ornament.
The long hood, short deck styling was popular back then and Thunderbird continued its horizontal, full-length taillamp treatment.The chrome on those mandated big bumpers and bumper guards look good as does the vinyl top, trim, and glass. There’s also a power antenna on the rear deck.
The ‘Bird’s white interior is very ’70’s and appears to be in great shape. The pleated and button seats and door panels look great and the instrument panel, steering wheel, carpet, and seat belts are in a contrasting brown. The seller doesn’t list all of the interior options, but it appears to have a 6-way power seat, power side windows, and cruise control.
Even though these seventh-generation “Torino Birds” had been downsized and were now considered an intermediate, they’re still large cars weighing more than 4200 pounds. And luxury and a smooth, quiet ride were what they were built for, not performance. Nonetheless, this T-Bird was ordered with the largest engine option available back in 1978, a 400-cubic-inch V8 that generated 173 horsepower. It’s paired with a SelectShift three-speed automatic transmission. I realize that an “orange-orange” personal luxury car isn’t everybody’s cup of tea, but this example is both unique and looks to be in great condition. What do you think?
I’m with Ron. Not my favorite colors, but certainly eye-catching. I remember Mustang II’s of this time in orange; it must be that color. The silver bumper fillers, which I assume would come from the factory with all non-stock colors, look fine. Appears to be in very good shape. Meager ad; go ahead and show us the Marti Report. A straightforward cruiser.
You said it, we see plenty of Pintos in this orange creamsicle colorway, and silver bumper fillers on fleet spec police cars and taxis from this era.
The orange paint is near & dear to me in ways. I had a pinto hatchback in the same color back in `78! GLWTA!
That’s a first. I don’t think I have ever seen an orange T-Bird, from the factory or otherwise. Probably would not be my first choice in the color palette but it certainly is eye catching, especially with the white interior and vinyl top.
Nice one, Ron and T.J.!
I’m all in on orange, but that isn’t surprising. Ford offered Tangerine (orange), of course, seen on many Pintos, Mavericks, etc., of the era.
https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/nEcAAOSwJHheiJUB/s-l1600.webp
I’m with Bob, show the dang Marti Report, it’s not like they ran out of room to add photos. Sigh.
Ford Thundergourd
Thoses T-Birds always attracted me. The rear side glass are beautifull. They were more common back then, there was 3 of them at same time in my tiny village, Dark blue with white vinyl top, Light Gray with dark red vinyl top and a black one with tan/brownish vinyl top. The blue one own by an elderly lady last until the mid 90’s if I remember corectly.
And that orange, well I guess the Marty report support the custom color because it’s hard to believe it came from factory that way.