Ford tested the waters in 1965 with a luxury version of the full-size Galaxie 500. Their advertising hyped that the car was quieter than a Rolls-Royce. The consumer response was positive, and the car quickly became a series of its own. Chevy followed suit soon by offering the Caprice as a gussied-up Impala. This 1971 LTD is said to have a 429 cubic inch Police Interceptor V8 under the hood, so you could go fast in style. Located in Bee Spring, Kentucky, this Ford is available here on eBay through a dealer where the bidding has reached $5,100. The seller has set a reserve north of there.
Second-generation LTDs were launched in 1969 and followed two years later with a significant restyling. With the ’71 update, Ford’s long-running tradition of twin round or square “jet exhaust” taillights was dropped in favor of horizontal taillights on all full-size Fords. Also, the LTDs would no longer have hidden headlights as they had since 1965. LTDs were available in two trim levels, base and Brougham, and sedan, hardtops, coupes, convertible, and Country Squires could be ordered. The base 2-door hardtop, which we believe typifies the seller’s car, saw a production of 104,000 units in 1971.
Under the hood of this Ford is the 429 Police Interceptor engine, which was the biggest you could get. The seller says it’s rare, but we can’t determine how many of the six-figure LTDs were ordered with it in ‘71. Paired with a C6 automatic transmission, we’re told the car runs and sounds great (2 ½ inch Magnaflow mufflers with resonators). The seller uses the word original a lot to describe this Ford, so we assume it’s also numbers-matching.
This LTD wears Medium Ginger Metallic paint with a matching interior. The vinyl top is also the same color and I’m surprised this isn’t a contrasting color, so maybe it has been renewed. This was a common combination as I recall in the 1970s (remember the LTD driven on TV by Buddy Ebsen in Barnaby Jones?) and this all looks well-maintained. The car has equipment that was typical of the genre, like power steering, power front disc brakes, and factory air conditioning (I’m not sure, but the belt looks to be missing). The seller provides a video of the car in action to help confirm the product.
LTDs only had hideaway headlights from 1968 to 1970.
Also had them from 75-78 model
Thanks Grey, I forgot about those.
Those were very Lincoln Continental looking, as was the Mercury Grand Marquis. (But no de Sade option, as the old Car and Driver joke went.)
I bet they both cut into Lincoln sales.
Would rather have that 429 in a 1970 XL (pronounced ecks-ell).
Cool ride but I rather have Gator setup. Now that was a bad a** ride!!! 🐻🇺🇸
gator Mc Cluskey: What did u put in my drink, Bones?
Bones: YELLLLOOOOWWWWSSSS.
Dont forget Rapid Roy!
Cheers
GPC
Shakey puddin with Lou .. .
The 4 spd floor shift/column auto combo blew me away!
I saw that original “Gator” car at the Ford Nationals last year. Too cool!
If you watch Gator in the one chase scene where he’s driving the 71 sedan like this, with a 4 on the floor, when he stops, you see him move the gear selector on the column into park!!!
Gotta watch for those many bloops.
There seems to be too many indicators this car is not what it appears to be.
Such as?
Such as?
When I was a young pup, I worked at a rustproofing shop in Canader, eh. We had a contract with a FMC dealer and they funneled FBI LTD’s through their dealership…we bottom sprayed all of them
All to say…these mofo’s were FAST…we teens got to shuttle them back and forth from the shop to the dealer and vice versa along 10 miles of the QEW. Hot car; teenager lead foot…bad combo lol
Seller does not list a VIN number in the ad. Fifth digit has to be a P or the engine has been swapped. P code Interceptor only available on Police package cars, which this is not. No Police package on LTD trim level until 1975. Prospective bidders should get the seller to post a VIN to determine it’s legitimacy.
Good point. That is not an original motor to the car.
The saler should correct it. If not ,he might be committing a felony and the feds frown on it.
Agree! This is not a PI engine car. Other items were included with the police package such as 140MPH speedo and other items. The regular 429 was available as an option for this year. I suspect that is why the seller is not showing the vin which in turn would verify such.
I agree, this is not a 429 PI car. I had a ’72 Ford Custom 4-door sedan that was an ex-Connecticut State Police cruiser and like Big Schwag noted, the speedo was a 140mph unit and it said “certified” on it. The cruisers had heavy duty suspensions, sway bars, heavy duty alternator and radiators along with a few other items that were needed for extreme use. This car could have an original 429, they were available that year but it’s not a 429 PI. Also, most of the 429PI cars were base model Customs, not LTDs as towns back then took it easy on the taxpayers and didn’t splurge tax dollars on the high trim models. This LTD is a nice car and while it probably doesn’t have a 429 PI, the 429 it does have should provide pretty good performance, even for a full-size car that weighs about 2 tons.
Barnaby Jones drove the 73 up LTD, the later ones were Broughms with factory sunroof if you look closely, hard to tell because the cars were always all brown, but the later ones were baby Lincoln’s,
A/C belt is not there, must not work.
This car was purchased at Mecum Indy this year for $17,600.
Aside from the questions apropos the vin number, the air not working and the blahhhh interior the color sucks hind tit.
If you watch Gator in the one chase scene where he’s driving the 71 sedan like this, with a 4 on the floor, when he stops, you see him move the gear selector on the column into park!!!
There was no such thing as a police interceptor option. All that customers could order was a taxi cab option with the big engine and the doors painted in a different color if they wanted that. Also, dual exhaust did not necessarily mean that it was a performance engine. And, they never came with those cobra jet valve covers either unless it was ordered with the corbaJet engine.
Just curious. E-mailed the owner on Ebay many hours ago for the VIN number with no response. I hope whom ever is interested in buying this thing, or bidding on it, realizes this is not the “P” motor. Save your money and buy the real thing and not a wanna be.
I have for sale a real 1971 Ford Custom 500, P code, all original condition, if anyone is interested.,VIN: 1J151P181245, DOOE-R heads. For information Text me at 5202857832.
Do you still have 1971 police car , can you send pictures. What are you hoping to get for it? John 559 778 7860 California
Matching numbers drive train or not, having the FE 429 is a great deal. If I had the coin I’d own this.
I’ve been looking at these, LTD’s and Galaxie’s as a possible daily sleeper. Maybe one day. GLWTS.
429 is part of the 385 series of Ford engines which includes the 460, and the 370 truck engine. The FE engines of similar size were 428 CI.
The 1971 Police Cruiser I drove back then had a 429 with a 4bbl carb that you could not purchase as a civilian. Could’nt even buy a rebuild kit. Shocks were very large and the suspension was a bit harsh.. That being said, that car would get up and go very quick. I don’t recall if it was an interceptor car or not, but it was assigned to the police department Iwas on and we drove it well into the 300k mark.. It idled constantly except during shift change.. The only interceptor I rode in was a 1967 Ford full size with the floor boards rotted out.. Had a 4 speed stick on the floor and it would burn rubber in 3rd gear.. Wish I had it today.. LOL
The carb was a Rochester Quadrajet…you could get a rebuild kit.
Oh!! Of course… You were there right along side me doing patrols and working on the cruisers.. Don’t make contradictory comments when you have nothing to back them up with..
We called them quadra bog’s in hs auto-shop in the 70’s!
This car is in excellent condition. The interior looks brand new. A set of mags and ready to cruise.
30K and not over yet. Wow.
I had a dark green ’72. Sans Interceptor. Was great
I have for sale a real, all original 1971 Ford PI, VIN: 1J151P181245, DOO-E heads, 140MPH speedo, all numbers matching. For information text 5202857832.