1979 Ford Thunderbird Reviews, Pricing & Specs

The 1979 Ford Thunderbird was the last of the 'Torino Bird' models. With its square lines and plush interiors, it may have seemed more...

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.