It’s very easy to see how Ford was losing market share in the later 1970s…everything looked like the Lincoln Continental! In the rush to chase the sales success of the Chevrolet Monte Carlo, Ford had taken a gamble. After seeing an uptick in sales by turning the plain Torino into the Elite, the company went whole hog. Stacked square headlights, razor-sharp corners and body lines, about a foot between the grille shell and the radiator core support in case you wanted to mule in some illegal gardening supplies, and engines that drained oil wells and produced power just adequate enough to be worth the effort. They dubbed it the LTD II, presumably to make sure there was a difference between the full-size LTD and the new intermediate. At least they did that…Chrysler was swapping names about this same time period, so you didn’t know if your Fury was going to be a destroyer or an aircraft carrier.
Most 1970s cars evoke a certain look: the padded roof, the wire hubcaps, the vinyl interiors. But this LTD II doesn’t have any of that. This 460-powered sled is a slick roof, wearing dog-dishes and has what’s left of an interesting cloth-style setup. Cop car? We’d need to see proof, because there really aren’t any tells on the car and the 460 isn’t a guarantee. But the look is certainly working…all that’s missing is an aerial about five feet long, a gumdrop light and two cops who happen to be friends looking to find justice in the funky world of wherever, USA. Jokes aside, though, we’d love to see the C6 get a GearVendors and watch this car hit the open road in an event like the Silver State Classic or at an ECTA event. There’s something about a flying brick that’s just awesome in it’s own right.
Facebook Marketplace link: 1977 Ford LTD II
I’ve always had a soft spot for the late 70s LTD’s…pull one of those up behind a tiny econo box today, HAHAHAHA…the front of the LTD, would look like it was smacking its lips…MMMMM, lunch.
The LTD II did get the 460 as a option. 400 2 bbl. was tops.