12,509 original miles. Desirable 351 V8. Cold A/C and alloy wheels. Great color combination. Recently serviced and ready to drive. So original, the factory-installed tires are included (new tires are on the car). As close as you’ll get to a new 1979 Ford Thunderbird!

This was the best-selling Thunderbird of all time, suggesting that Ford knew their audience in the late 1970s; the big Thunderbird was the right car for the time. Today, the angular styling still works well and gives the ‘Bird a distinctive look that’s two parts Lincoln and one part traditional American luxury. Dressed in attractive Dark Cordovan Metallic (which is maroon), it shows off the sharp creases of the bodywork rather well and the finish is holding up extremely well. Red paint often has a hard time with sunlight but this one has been properly maintained and protected all its life, so there’s a great shine and surprisingly few signs of use. Excellent panel gaps remind us that Ford quality wasn’t as bad as we remember and is there anything cooler than the mini opera window between the door and quarter glass? There’s not as much chrome as you’d expect, with big ‘70s bumpers that are in excellent shape as well as a shiny grille up front. A white pinstripe provides some nice contrast and matches the rub strip, and those flip-up headlights are always cool. Look closely and see if you don’t find a lot to like.

The code DF Cordovan cloth interior is remarkably well preserved and just as comfortable as you remember. Twin bucket seats look sporty and offer the kind of stretch-out space you don’t find in cars today. There’s a lot of faux burled walnut, but it works with the all-burgundy landscape and provides a great backdrop for the big, round gauges ahead of the driver. Everything works except the clock, but that’s a fairly small demerit in a pretty darned nice car. The A/C blows cold and the factory AM/FM stereo radio sounds decent. Other options include dual remote mirrors and matching floor mats with the same ultra-deep carpet that’s on the floor. You’d swear this is a Lincoln, not just a Ford. The back seat looks virtually unused, the headliner is in excellent condition with no sags or discoloration, and the door panels are like new. In back there’s a massive trunk with the original mat, cardboard bulkheads, and the original factory-installed spare tire that’s never been used.

Power comes from Ford’s bulletproof 351 cubic inch V8, which was the top option in 1979. Specs are modest (it was 1979, after all) but it’s a great runner—smooth, torquey, and reliable. It always starts easily, idles nicely, and pulls the Thunderbird around with appropriate enthusiasm. The big aluminum air cleaner is a familiar Ford look, as is the corporate blue engine enamel. Check out the original markings and decals, and it’s 100% original save for maintenance items like belts and hoses and a new hood insulation mat. Underneath, it’s also original so it’s not shiny and perfect, but the floors are in excellent condition with a light dusting of undercoating that hides nothing but has protected the metal for decades. The FMX 3-speed automatic transmission feeds 2.75 gears out back, so this is a fantastic highway cruiser that’s ideal for a road trip. There’s also a new muffler and tailpipe, which gives it an appropriately hushed soundtrack and the ride is luxury car plush. The low mileage means it’s tight going down the road and it stops well thanks to power front disc brakes. Those handsome alloy wheels were optional and carry brand new 215/75/15 whitewall radials (as a bonus, three of the original tires are included with the car).

Documentation includes factory owner’s manuals.

Distinctive and fun to drive, this Thunderbird is an affordable way to get into the hobby without making any sacrifices in comfort or utility. Add in the easy maintenance, great preservation, and the torquey 351, and you get a car that checks all the boxes despite its reasonable price. Call today!

Harwood Motors always recommends and welcomes personal or professional inspections of any vehicle in our inventory prior to purchase.