A Tisket, a Tasket; 1979 MERCURY ZEPHYR Z7

Initial sedan and wagon body styles were joined midyear by a pair of clearly Thunderbird-inspired, basket-handle coupes called the Fairmont Futura and the Zephyr Z7. The coupes shared the sedans' 105.5-inch wheelbase but shaved more than an inch off their height, and rear-seat room suffered. But as drivers' cars, particularly when equipped with the top-option 302-cid V8, the coupes drew favorable comparisons against General Motors' hot-selling Chev-rolet Monte Carlo and Buick Regal Turbo.