To accommodate the higher drivetrain tunnel that was required in a lower car, Ford used it as a styling feature, building in a full-length center console featuring ashtrays, switches, and minor controls; as the console divided both seats, the Thunderbird was a true four-passenger vehicle.
12.
Detail improvements continued to be made throughout the life of the Mark IV, and included reclining seats with " chequered brushed nylon centre panels " and head restraints, introduced for domestic market cars early in 1977 along with a new set of column stalk operated minor controls ( as fitted already in the TR7 ) replacing the old dashboard mounted knobs and switches.
