1978 Ford Thunderbird Diamond Jubilee Edition

Description

OFFERED WITHOUT RESERVE

Out of a combination of a lifelong automotive passion and an unyielding desire to support the people of his Alabama community, the Generous Collection was born. Mr. Greg Rusk, a successful business leader in the cardboard industry, with a big heart for helping families and friends in times of need, would regularly pay overly generous fees to acquire an interesting vehicle. After decades of collecting and supporting local automotive enthusiasts, the Rusk family is ready for these vehicles, each with their own story, to write their next chapter back on the road, where they belong.

The Generous Collection returns with Part 2 offering over 250 cars in August all offered without reserve, emerging from years of long-term silent storage. From the quiet shadows of the Generous Collection to the sunshine of backroads and highways, enthusiasts now have the opportunity to own a piece of a generous car-collecting legacy.

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Created to celebrate Ford Motor Company's 75th anniversary, the 1978 Ford Thunderbird Diamond Jubilee Edition captured the spirit of late-1970s American luxury with unmistakable flair. Its most striking feature was the paint scheme, most famously the exclusive Diamond Blue, which gave the car an unmistakable sense of occasion the moment it rolled off the lot.

Inside, Ford spared little expense. Plush velour seating, woodgrain accents, and a Diamond Jubilee nameplate on the opera windows and dash reinforced the sense that owners were driving something genuinely special. Every detail, from the color-keyed wheel covers to the plush carpeting, reflected careful attention to craftsmanship.

Beyond its styling, the Diamond Jubilee Edition helped cement the Thunderbird's identity as a personal luxury car for a new generation of buyers. It sold remarkably well, proving that comfort, presence, and distinctive design still resonated strongly with American drivers.

This Diamond Jubilee Edition is powered by the popular 351M V8 and remains in largely unmodified condition, an example of what Ford called “The most exclusive new Thunderbird you can own.”

This 1978 Ford Thunderbird Diamond Jubilee Edition is now represented at no reserve by a Broad Arrow Specialist with a clean Alabama title in the current owner's name.

Highlights

• Offered from The Generous Collection

• Special Diamond Jubilee Edition

• Finished in Diamond Blue (3E) paint

• Complementary landau roof and cloth interior

• Powered by a 351 cu in (5.8L) two-barrel V8

• Three-speed automatic transmission

Factory Equipment

• The Diamond Jubilee Edition includes:

• Elegant pinstriping and color keyed bumper rub strips

  • Deep-cushioned, all-cloth split-bench seats

  • Standard 6-way power driver’s seat, power windows, and door locks

  • Color keyed cast aluminum wheels

  • Distinctive formal roof

  • Illuminated entry system

  • Sports instrumentation cluster and leather wrapped luxury steering wheel, both with ebony wood tone applique.

• The chassis number (8G87H293742) decodes as:

  • 8 – 1978 model year

  • G – Chicago assembly plant

  • 87 – Thunderbird 2-door hardtop

  • H – 5.8L V8 2-barrel (351M)

  • 293742 – Sequential production number

Modifications

• Edelbrock carburetor and air cleaner

Known Imperfections

• While reasonable efforts were made during preparation for the sale, due to the volume of vehicles in this collection, it was not possible to diagnose or detect all imperfections present. Please refer to the photo gallery.

• Scratches on seat backs

• Wear on various interior and exterior surfaces as shown in the gallery

• Chrome pitting on front bumper

• Faded and dull exterior paint

• A highly detailed underside scan can be viewed in the gallery.

Ownership History

This 1978 Ford Thunderbird Diamond Jubilee Edition is offered from The Generous Collection of no-reserve automobiles.

Additional Information

Motor vehicles older than 35 years (1991) are exempt from Alabama’s titling requirements. In states that issue titles, an Alabama registration converts to a title upon transfer.

A Broad Arrow Specialist is working as an agent on behalf of the seller of this listing. As such, the purchase transaction will be facilitated by Broad Arrow, including vehicle payment, applicable taxes required to be collected by the seller or Broad Arrow, and title/ownership reassignment. Broad Arrow is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Hagerty.

Contact: Ramsey Potts Phone: 912.508.4096 Email: rpotts@hagerty.com

Please note that all lots in The Generous Collection are offered after many years of storage, without operation or service, in warehouse facilities. The seller endeavored to provide very limited mechanical servicing to bring some cars back to running potential; however, not all cars will be running at time of sale. Because of the extended static display, it must be assumed that all cars will require extensive additional mechanical attention before being driven safely and, in most cases, cleaning both the interiors and exteriors. All the cars will have imperfections associated with long-term static storage and require extensive sorting to perform best and safely. The burden of determining a car’s status, both mechanical and cosmetic, rests fully on the bidder, prior to bidding and the close of the auction. All lots are sold as is, where is.  

Additionally, due to the location of the collection and limited access to the facility following the close of the auction, all lots must be retrieved while a Broad Arrow representative is onsite, between the hours of 9AM to 6PM local time beginning Monday, September 14 through Wednesday, September 30. No cars can be retrieved prior to September 14, and any lots remaining after September 30 will be re-located outside in the parking lot for retrieval by their buyers.