The Classic Ford Thunderbird – the 1970 to 1979 Model Years

The classic Ford Thunderbird remains one of the all time great cars, and this unique model is highly collectable and widely sought after by car enthusiasts from around the world.  The decade of the 1970s saw some of the most interesting changes to this classic car, and those 1970s Thunderbirds are among the most popular with drivers and collectors alike.

The 1970 Model Year
The 1970 Ford Thunderbird incorporated a number of new styling features, including a longer hood treatment and a styling bumper and grille treatment.  This unique styling made the bumper nearly invisible and brought a head turning style to the 1970 Thunderbird.

The 1970 Ford Thunderbird also featured a new extruded aluminum grille that was flanked by stylish headlights, and a power radio antenna that was hidden when not in use.  Concealed windshield wipers and cowl air vents completed the sleek futuristic design of  the 1970 Thunderbird.  The interior provided the ultimate in luxury, with a full width bench seat, stylish bucket seats and a fold down center armrest.  Passenger safety was addressed with the introduction of a new three point safety belt system.

The 1971 Model Year
The 1971 model year is notable for a number of reasons, not the least of which is that the famous Nieman Marcus catalog featured “his and her” Ford Thunderbirds in their 1971 catalog, touting them as the gift for the couple who has everything.  These “his and her” Thunderbirds came fully equipped with tape recorders, telephones and other special equipment, and the pair sold for a cool $25,000.

The 1972 Model Year
The 1972 Ford Thunderbird continued its reputation for luxury and style.  The two door model offered in 1972 was all about style and comfort, with a 120 inch wheelbase and an overall length of 216 inches. The car was strikingly beautiful, with a new level of comfort and style.  In addition the standard power brakes were redesigned to provide a longer life than previous systems, as well as greater reliability and stopping power.

The Pinnacle of Luxury
The Ford Thunderbird reached what many considered the pinnacle of personal luxury with its 1975 model.  This redesign kept many of the most popular features of previous model years, while making the car longer and heavier, with an overall length of just under 224 inches and a weight of just over 5,000 pounds.

This additional length was used to accommodate the most powerful engine Ford had ever used in a Thunderbird – the 460 CID V8, and the addition of luxury features like air conditioning accounted for much of the extra weight.  The car also included standard features like concealed windshield wipers, opera windows, a vinyl roof, solid state ignition, an automatic seatback release, a spare tire lock and power side windows.

The 1976 Model Year
The 1976 Ford Thunderbird was much the same as the previous year’s model, but some additional luxury appointments were added, providing an additional level of comfort, convenience and style.  New optional equipment on the 1976 Ford Thunderbird included a power lumbar seat and a state of the art AM-FM eight track tape player.

The 1977 Model Year
The 1977 model year represented another new direction for this classic automobile.  The car was built on a 114 wheelbase, and it was a bit slimmer and sleeker than the car it replaced.  The appearance of the 1977 model was highlighted by a unique wrap over roof that featured beveled glass opera windows.  Other features included a chrome plated grille, unique wall to wall taillights and those popular hidden headlights.

For the rest of the 1970s (78 & 79) the Ford Thunderbird would continue to be a popular mass market car, and a popular choice for drivers looking for a little bit of luxury and a lot of style.

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