There were still two V8 engines available, the 255 cu in (4.2-liter) and time-honored 302 cu in (5.0-liter). Being nothing but a sack of skin and bones can both be less than aesthetically pleasing and reinforce the perception of emaciation and anemia.įor 1980, anemia was definitely the buzzword around Ford’s engine department. On the other hand, certain thin girls don’t look so good, in an emaciated, anemic sort of way. There will always be those who speak the contrary but sometimes, big-boned girls can look pretty darn fine. In 1978, the best-selling year for that generation, sales of the Torino-based ‘Bird totaled 352,751. The Seventh Generation 1977-79 Thunderbird had been a monumental success for Ford, selling 284,141 units even in worst-selling 1979. Thirty-two years after its introduction, this generation Thunderbird still looks a lot like this poor soul. If you’ve ever lost a lot of weight, or know someone who has, you know there’s more to successful weight loss than what the scale reads. The Thunderbird was the last full-figured holdout in the Ford fleet, the rest of which had been downsized a year or two earlier. Maybe it was a good idea at the time, what with the recent fuel crisis, current recession and stricter CAFE standards looming on the horizon. As a result, it shed nearly 700 pounds of road-hugging weight, lost 16″ in overall length and shrank 5.5″ in wheelbase. In this case, it might also help explain the 1980 Ford Thunderbird.įor its Eighth Generation, Ford dipped and marinated the Thunderbird in a barrel of Slim-Fast. The old adage of “it seemed like a good idea at the time” just seems to reek of an unfortunate outcome. It tasted wretched, although it seemed like a good idea at the time. Using a cheater bar seemed like a good idea at the time.Īnother time, when I desired a root beer float but had no vanilla ice cream, I substituted chocolate. It slipped, causing me to hit my forearm on the bumper and necessitating a late-night trip to the emergency room. (first posted ) Once, while working on my ’63 Galaxie, I used a cheater bar to remove a bolt.

79 t bird