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75th Anniversary |
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1978 Thunderbird Information:
Total production 352,752
Chicago IL production was 260,792 (code G)
Los Angles, CA production was 91,959 (code J)
Of this a total 18,994 were Diamond Jubilee Editions between the two assembly plants.
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1978 Factory Pricing |
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Base Thunderbird $5,411.00 |
Town Landau $8,420.00 |
Diamond Jubilee Edition $10,106.00 |
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Ford factory photo from: Mark Leclerc |
Owner: David Yerly |
Owner: Unknown |
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1978 Engine Information |
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| Code F 302 | 134 hp 2bbl V-8 (base engine) |
| Code H* 351 W | 144 hp 2 bbl |
| Code H* 351 M | 152 hp 2 bbl |
| *For 1978 there does seem to be some mix up or no break down between the 351 W and 351 M engines. Both the 351 W and 351 M are listed as Code H from the factory. You must check the valve cover engine family decal to determine which one you have. I have found this on my own cars that were purchased new and have been in the family since 1978! | |
| Code S 400 M | 166 hp 2bbl |
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1978 Thunderbird Paint Codes |
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| 1C | Black |
| 1G | Silver Metallic |
| 1N | Dove Gray |
| 3A | Dark Midnight Blue |
| 3U | Light Blue** |
| 46 | Dark Jade Metallic |
| 5Y | Ember Metallic ** |
| 5Q | Dark Brown Metallic |
| 81 | Russet Metallic |
| 83 | Light Chamois (Town Landau only) |
| 8Y | Light Champagne Metallic ** |
| 9D | Polar White |
| 86 | Pastel Beige |
| 3V | Burnt Blue Glow *,** |
| 7L | Light Jade Glow *,** |
| 8W | Chamois Glow*, ** Diamond Jubilee only |
| 3E | Diamond Blue |
| 5Y | Ember Metallic |
| *All Glow colors are extra cost options | |
| ** Not available on Town Landau | |
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Click to see full size ad |
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Be patient it is a huge file | ||
Specific Diamond Jubilee Information
So here goes the revised list of paint, vinyl roof and interior combinations (with
the appropriate codes for each)
Diamond Jubilee Paint/Vinyl Roof and Trim Combinations
Diamond Blue Metallic/Diamond Blue vinyl roof and interior (cloth)
Ember Metallic/Ember vinyl roof and Chamois interior (cloth)
Late or Spring color options:
Pastel Beige/Ember vinyl roof and chamois interior (cloth or leather)
Polar White/Diamond blue vinyl roof and interior (cloth or leather)
Polar White/Ember vinyl roof and chamois interior (cloth or leather)
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A link to "Ford Times" September 1978 Diamond Jubilee reproduced article |
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Leather trim was available on the Spring Edition Diamond Blue, Ember Metallic and
Polar White Diamond Jubilee's, with a time frame of early March 1978. The late or
Spring Edition also appears to be when the T-Roof Convertible option (See T-Roof
Convertible section below) became available. The T-Roof Convertible option was available
on the Diamond Jubilee Edition!
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Diamond Jubilee Paint Codes |
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| 3E | Diamond Blue Metallic |
| 5Y | Ember Metallic |
| 9D | Polar White |
| 86 | Pastel Beige |
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1978 Diamond Blue Jubilee Don Holton |
Ember Metallic Jubilee Owner Unknown |
Polar White Owner Unknown Sorry no link |
Pastel Beige Hershey AACA - 1986 Owner Unknown |
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Diamond Jubilee Vinyl Roof Codes |
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| YZ Valino | Diamond Blue padded vinyl roof (Y in code is for Valino grain vinyl roof) |
| YC Valino | Ember padded vinyl roof |
| A typical example of a Diamond Jubilee paint code would be: 3EYZ (which includes the vinyl roof code.) | |
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Diamond Jubilee Trim Codes |
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| TB | Luxury Blue cloth |
| UB | U-Soft Diamond Blue leather (other possible code is SB) |
| TT | Luxury Chamois cloth |
| UT | U-Soft Chamois leather (other possible code is ST) |
1978 Thunderbird Literature:
1978 Ford Car Facts book various revisions during
year including November 1977, Jan 1978, Mar 78 (T-Roof Convertible).
Ford Times Apr. 1978 pg 31-33, 1978 Ford Buyers Digest Section on Thunderbird
Ford Times Sept.1978 pg 32-36 A Jewel of a car article on the Diamond Jubilee
1978 Ford Color and trim selection.
1978 car exterior color selections sheet 6-20-77
1978 Thunderbird Sales Brochure (dated 8/77 on back cover)
1978 Thunderbird Sales Brochure (dated 1/78 on back cover includes T-Roof option)
1978 Edition of Car Buying Made Easier
1978 Owners Manual 1st printing
1978 Owners Manual 2nd printing includes T-Roof Convertible option operating information.
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1978 Thunderbird Ad |
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Click to enlarge |
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T-Roof Convertible 1977*-78-79 |
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Cars and Concepts 1977 Brochure |
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The factory installed T-Roof Convertible option was a mid year addition to the option list. The T-Roof conversion appears to have been completed by Cars & Concepts and was added to the Fords own factory option list after producing Thunderbird T-Roofs in 1977 through Cars & Concepts own "Dealer Network". The mid year option addition of the T-Roof Convertible also sparked a revised 1978 Thunderbird brochure dated 1-78. The time frame of the "factory" T-Roof Convertible production availability was scheduled beginning March 1, 1978 at the Chicago Assembly plant and March 27 for the Los Angles assembly plant.
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T-Roofs |
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My 1978 T-Roof |
Tim Brewer, Pearl, Miss. '79 Heritage T-Roof |
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