The seller lists this color as “Saddle Bronze Metallic,” but whatever color this 1974 Ford LTD Brougham 2-Door Hardtop is, it isn’t the same color as the one Buddy Ebsen used while playing Barnaby Jones five+ decades ago. It’s a great-looking car in a popular body style (2-door hardtop) in a top trim level, and the seller has it listed here on eBay in Franksville, Wisconsin. They’re asking $15,000, or you can make an offer.
This is one imposing car; the front end would do some serious damage to almost anything this side of an Egyptian pyramid. And I bet it would even do some damage there. I’m wondering what Chip Foose or Dave Kindig would do to make those bumpers look better? I’ve always liked the eyes-wide-open look of cars from this era. A favorite is the ’65 Mercury Monterey, but this LTD is also hard to beat. It’s like a shark, an emotionless beast, and it’s coming for you (insert Jaws music here).
The second-generation Ford LTD went through some incredible changes and redesigns during its decade-long run (1969 through 1978). The ’69 LTD is almost indistinguishable from the redesigned Bunkie-Beak 1971 models, and these puff-daddy enlarged 1973 and later cars. Ford could have wrung a few extra generations out of this one generation of LTDs easily. This car is JC Whitney’d up a bit with the chrome exhaust extension (at least it’s poking down rather than out the back), and the white letter tires, but this looks like one really nice car. It had damn well better be at $15,000. You can get a really, really nice Lincoln for that money.
Speaking of really nice, check out the gorgeous interior. Brown isn’t everyone’s favorite color, just as green isn’t, but for a 1970s car to be anything other than brown or green was quite a feat. Speaking of feet (gggggg.. hands around neck), this car is basically 19 feet long, so measure your garage space first before making an offer on this beast. The seats look perfect, both front and rear, and I don’t believe this car has any power options at all, which isn’t surprising for a 1970s car, even a top model like this LTD Brougham. The trunk looks great, as does the underside. AAA+++ to the seller for such great photos!
The clean engine is Ford’s 402-cu.in. OHV “400” V8 with 170 horsepower and 330 lb-ft of torque (net), rolling through a three-speed automatic to the rear wheels. 0-60 in 11.7 seconds, and that’s the MPG you’ll get with this monster, unfortunately, but you’ll have a crowd around every time you stop for gas. How much would you pay for this LTD Brougham?
Wow. Its very clean. The JC whitney curb feelers could come in handy not scuffing the whitewalls while parallel parking…… That is…… If this car had them. That being said, the hub caps and trim rings and white letter tires do give off a pretty good looking vibe. I’m usually one of the first to say it needs proper, period correct white walls. But if the rubber is in good shape I wouldn’t race to replace it. Great refference to Barnaby Jones too. This looks like a cream puff for sure.
J C Whitney’d, good one Scotty. That is a phrase to use in the future for similarly-endowed cars. And as usual, a fun write-up.
Looks like a clean LTD. One (trivial) thing which caught my eye is the hub caps/trim rings. Checking literature, I’d say this is actually correct; if I’m interpreting the info correctly, “full wheel covers” and “deluxe wheel covers” were, surprisingly, optional. Whitewalls would definitely be an improvement.
Not cheap. But based on friends’ experience with the seller, the car is likely under consignment, and there is probably a ****significant**** mark-up to the advertised price.
The 1974 Ford full-sized brochure indicates that full wheel covers were standard on the LTD Brougham.
Ha! A Quinn Martin production, and for the record, I read, Jones’ car was a ’73, but no matter, that series slogged on for 8 seasons. I’m sorry, Ebsen just couldn’t shake the “Jed Clampett” role, a fate of many actors then. I don’t think he did much after that.
The car itself is just the epitome of 75 years of making cars, simply the best. Yet, trouble for the LTD was right around the corner. Imports had some mighty big shoes to fill replacing these cars. Economy, while dismal, about 10 city/15 highway, was about average for most passenger cars then, gas wasn’t an issue previously, but I bet shortly after this car was ordered, there had to be some remorse, as those long gas lines you saw? All had cars like this waiting, as the Honda Civic rolled by. For the time, these were wonderful cars, Naturally, I’m curious about appeal today.
“Franksville”,,,,stirring up some ghosts for me. Franksville was a renowned town one passed through whilst going around the scale on I-94,, :0.
You know, let me just say, I wasn’t proud of the shenanigans I did while trucking, I didn’t kill anyone but did what had to be done to make a buck. I wasn’t alone in that regard. Also it was pre-cameras and I wouldn’t get away with half of what I did today.
Talking about typecast, Max Baer, Jr. was forever after only thought of as “Jethro Bodine”, and as a result, left acting. He’s the only surviving cast member of the Beverly Hillbillies! :-)
I drive a dark brown ‘73 Galaxie two four with some engine mode mods. It accelerates so fast now yes almost scary. But it so quiet, her a lot if attention, and people tend to give it a wide berth. 10-11mpg, but that’s the price of enjoying it .
They rusted out fast and bad, but one of the best used cars I ever had.
This is a clean Ford and is nice to see it has the 400 engine. It is a survivor.
This is a clean Ford and is nice to see it has the 400 engine. It is a survivor. Get rid of the chrome exhaust tips.
Anybody know what the small objects on top of the front fenders are? Chrysler-style turn signal repeaters? GM-style fiber optic lamp monitors? Something else from the JC Whitney catalog?
I believe those objects on the fenders are small lights that flash when turn signals or caution lights are on, so no driving down the road forgetting to turn them off. Also, a passing car can see these.
Those are additions not factory . But as has been pointed out this car was dressed by the JC Whitney catalog.
Scotty – you’re following Adam’s lead from a few days ago and calling it a 402. It’a a 400!
Todd, I rarely follow anyone’s lead, if you’ve been paying attention over the last 9.5 years. I’ve been calling a 402-cu.in. “400” a 402 for years.
https://www.automobile-catalog.com/car/1974/849905/ford_ltd_2-door_hardtop_400_v-8_cruise-o-matic.html
“The Ford 400 engine was based on the 351 Cleveland but had a half-inch longer stroke than the 351 Cleveland. The 400 had “square” proportions, with a 4.0 in (102 mm) bore and stroke. Ford called the engine a “400” but in actuality it displaced 402.1 cu in (6.6 L; 6,590 cc).”
I like to think I’ve paid attention but I missed that detail. Never noticed that you referred to it as that. Guess we’ll have to change what we call all the 302s/5.0s (actually 4.9 liters). Car magazines in the 80s used to point that out in their 5.0 Mustang articles.
Ha, that’s a good point! It’s probably marketing more than anything.
Missing AC Compressor..
Two things to go, the rwl tires in favor of whitewalls and, as someone else mentioned the exhaust tips. Leave the tailpipe ends tucked behind the bumper please.
I didn’t think this car had a/c until I saw the firewall.
Barnaby’s last couple of years showed a LTD with cornering lamps. On shows and some movies in those days you could tell a car manufacturer sponsored the show because all of the cars in the main action were the same make.
I wonder if a person could swap in the hideaway lights from Mercury Marquis.
Love these old Fords. Excellent example of how our parents and grandparents valued comfort over conveniences . Flight bench seat, air and 400 motor but no cruise or power touches. Was this one of the optional colors as I don’t recall it being common.
Best bet for those park bench bumpers I’ve always thought is to remove the factory sprung brackets. Then replace them with simple brackets that pull the bumpers in to the front & rear facia’s. Still a bit ugly but at least they’d fit the car.
Don’t need no magazine hot rodder to figure the bumpers out. I’ve been imagining that fix since I first saw them when they were new. Though back then I couldn’t imagine being caught in any post 73 American car.
Someone must have made the seller an offer, it’s been sold!