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DIAMOND JUBILEE EDITION AT A GLANCE:
Years Available: 1978 only
Introduction Date: October 7, 1977
Body Color Code: 3E - Diamond Blue Metallic
5Y - Ember Metallic
86 - Pastel Beige (March 1, 1978 introduction)
9D - Polar White (March 1, 1978 introduction)
Paint Stripe Code: 3429-A - Light Blue (Polar White Paint with Diamond
Blue vinyl roof)
5068-A - Blue (Diamond Blue paint)
5204-A - Orange (Pastel Beige or Polar White
paint with Ember vinyl roof)
5620-A - Light Chamois (with Ember paint)
Vinyl Roof Code: YC - Ember Valino Grain Padded Vinyl Roof (with Ember,
Pastel Beige, or Polar White paint)
Y2 - Diamond Blue Valino Grain Padded Vinyl
Roof (with Diamond Blue or Polar White paint)
Interior Trim Code: TB - Diamond Blue Luxury Cloth
TT - Chamois Luxury Cloth
SB - Diamond Blue Ultra Soft Leather and
Vinyl (optional; late introduction)
ST - Chamois Ultra Soft Leather and Vinyl
(optional; late introduction)
Price: $10,106.00
Production: 18,994 (production by color being researched)
 Built to help celebrate Ford Motor Company's 75th Anniversary, the Diamond
Jubilee Edition was the best equipped, most luxurious Thunderbird ever,
and the ultimate Thunderbird for 1978. The list of standard features is
provided below left, and rivals that of any luxury car in 1978, regardless
of make, model, or cost. In fact, the list was so complete that there were
initially just 6 options available. Later, with the introduction of leather
seating surfaces, 7 were available.
Ford built just one other car to celebrate its anniversary in 1978, and
that was the Continental Mark V Diamond Jubilee Edition. As with the Thunderbird,
the Mark V version was also available only in limited color schemes, and
were said to be the best equipped car in standard form in Lincoln's history.
The Mark V Diamond Jubilee Edition cars featured front bucket seats and
console in standard form, which were pioneered by Thunderbird back in 1958.
1978 would set a new Thunderbird sales record for the second time in as
many years, and there's no doubt that the Diamond Jubilee Edition cars
contributed to the strong sales. Today, these cars are still highly revered
among collectors, and many original examples in good condition still exist.
These cars are somewhat prone to rust in all the usual places, and some
of the special trim pieces used on these cars can be difficult to find,
but engine, drive train, electrical, and body parts are in good supply,
which makes these cars very restorable today.
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DIAMOND JUBILEE EDITION STANDARD FEATURES:
5.0 Litre (302 CID) 2V V-8 Engine*
DuraSpark Ignition System
Select Shift Automatic Transmission
Formal Padded Valino-Grain Vinyl Roof
Opera Windows with Diamond Jubilee Edition Script [image link opens in new window]
Wide Color-Keyed Vinyl-Insert Bodyside Moldings
Partial Wheel Lip Moldings
Hand Stitched Leather Covered Instrument Panel Pad
36 Ounce Interior Carpeting
22K Gold Finish Owner Nameplate [image link opens in new window]
Seat Belt Reminder Chime
Color-Keyed Pinstriping
Owner's Personalized Initials on Doors
Deluxe Bumper Group with Color-Keyed Front and Rear Bumper Rub Strips
Color-Keyed Cast Aluminum Wheels
Color-Keyed Grille Texture
Color-Keyed Jewel-Like Hood Ornament
Biscuit Sew Style Luxury Cloth Split Bench Seats
Thunderbird Ornamentation on Upper Seat Bolsters
Luxury Cloth Headlining
Color-Keyed Luggage Compartment Trim with Deck Lid Liner
Power Windows
6-Way Power Driver's Seat
Manual Passenger Side Recliner
Power Lock Group (Power Door Locks and Electric Deck Lid Release)
Illuminated Entry System
Driver and Passenger Illuminated Visor Vanity Mirrors
Front Seatback and Door Panel Assist Straps
Sports Instrumentation Cluster
Leather Wrapped Luxury Steering Wheel
Ebony Woodtone Interior Appliques
White Sidewall Radial Tires
AM/FM Stereo Search Radio
Power Antenna
Dual Remote Control Sport Mirrors
Unique Car Keys with Ebony Woodtone Accents
Front Cornering Lamps
Luxury Sound Insulation Package
SelectAire Conditioner (Manual control)
Tinted Glass
Interior Luxury Group—includes:
Convenience Group (left and right-hand remote control mirrors,
Interval Windshield
Wipers, Automatic Parking Brake Release,
and Trip Odometer
Light Group (Dual Beam Map Lights, Lights under instrument panel,
in glove compartment,
ash tray, trunk and engine compartments,
"Door
Ajar" light in instrument cluster, "Headlights On" Warning
Buzzer)
Tilt Steering Wheel
*6.6 Litre (400 CID) 2V V-8 Engine mandatory in California, with California
Emission Equipment
Above: Diamond Jubilee interior shown in Blue Luxury Cloth with Biscuit
Sew Style
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Above: Formal Padded Valino-Grain Vinyl Roof in Diamond Blue
Above: Diamond Jubilee Edition Opera Window
Above: 22K Gold Finish Owner's Nameplate
Above: Color-Keyed Pinstripping and Owner's Personalized Initials on Doors
(additional striping material was provided for owners who did not want
their intials on doors)
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