The 1979 Ford Thunderbird was the last of the 'Torino Bird' models. With its square lines and plush interiors, it may have seemed more like a luxury sedan than the kind of sports performance car that was the original T-Bird. The '79 Thunderbird did carry on the legacy of its sports car heritage, though, in its range of powerful V8 engines. The entry-level choice was a 302 cubic inch, 5.0 liter V8; buyers could upgrade to a 351 cubic inch, 5.8 liter or a 400 cubic inch, 6.6 liter V-8 powerhouse.

Design changes for the '79 Ford Thunderbird included yet another revision of the front end, with a boxier look for the grille. This time, the back end got an overhaul as well, as the wrap-around taillights were replaced with individual taillights. The interior also saw some minor changes, with an even bigger dose of chrome.

In the 1979 Thunderbird, Ford had a solid midsized car that combined the comfort of a sedan with some of the power of a muscle car. Drivers liked its ease of handling and quick acceleration as much as they praised its (relative) fuel efficiency. But the Thunderbird was also a little stranded in between categories: was it a sports car? A family sedan? A classic muscle machine? Back to the drawing board went the guys in Dearborn, ready to launch an all-new incarnation of the TBird for 1980.