429 Police Interceptor: 1971 Ford LTD

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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.

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Comments

  1. Allen L

    LTDs only had hideaway headlights from 1968 to 1970.

    Like 13
    • Grey

      Also had them from 75-78 model

      Like 2
      • Allen L

        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.

        Like 4
  2. Ignatius J. Reilly

    Would rather have that 429 in a 1970 XL (pronounced ecks-ell).

    Like 9
  3. Big Bear 🇺🇸

    Cool ride but I rather have Gator setup. Now that was a bad a** ride!!! 🐻🇺🇸

    Like 27
    • gaspumpchas

      gator Mc Cluskey: What did u put in my drink, Bones?
      Bones: YELLLLOOOOWWWWSSSS.

      Dont forget Rapid Roy!
      Cheers
      GPC

      Like 6
      • Shawn Fox Firth

        Shakey puddin with Lou .. .

        Like 4
    • AZVanman

      The 4 spd floor shift/column auto combo blew me away!

      Like 10
    • Big C

      I saw that original “Gator” car at the Ford Nationals last year. Too cool!

      Like 3
    • RH FACTOR

      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!!!

      Like 8
      • Bob C.

        Gotta watch for those many bloops.

        Like 0
  4. Dave

    There seems to be too many indicators this car is not what it appears to be.

    Like 2
    • BoatmanMember

      Such as?

      Like 2
    • BoatmanMember

      Such as?

      Like 2
  5. wuzjeepnowsaab

    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

    Like 17
  6. David G

    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.

    Like 21
    • Glenn Hilpert

      Good point. That is not an original motor to the car.

      Like 3
      • Johnny

        The saler should correct it. If not ,he might be committing a felony and the feds frown on it.

        Like 2
    • Big Schwag

      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.

      Like 7
      • FordGuy1972 FordGuy1972Member

        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.

        Like 2
  7. John Oliveri

    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,

    Like 2
  8. joe

    A/C belt is not there, must not work.

    Like 3
  9. Jim henn

    This car was purchased at Mecum Indy this year for $17,600.

    Like 1
  10. Gerard Frederick

    Aside from the questions apropos the vin number, the air not working and the blahhhh interior the color sucks hind tit.

    Like 1
  11. RH FACTOR

    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!!!

    Like 1
  12. Robert G.

    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.

    Like 6
  13. Glenn Hilpert

    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.

    Like 3
    • Serg442

      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.

      Like 1
      • John Anderson

        Do you still have 1971 police car , can you send pictures. What are you hoping to get for it? John 559 778 7860 California

        Like 1
  14. Geof

    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.

    Like 2
    • brad460Member

      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.

      Like 5
  15. piper62j

    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

    Like 5
    • Hendo

      The carb was a Rochester Quadrajet…you could get a rebuild kit.

      Like 0
      • piper62j

        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..

        Like 0
      • Mongoose2

        We called them quadra bog’s in hs auto-shop in the 70’s!

        Like 0
    • Hendo

      If you didn’t know where to find a rebuild for a Qjet in the 70s… you were trash at being a detective. I guess it is true what they say about the types of meat heat clowns that become cops. You boomer clowns look around good, see the world…you did this…your ignorance, shortsightedness, complacency and willingness to apeal the authority did this. Thanks for leaving a world that is on the verge of unfixable to us.

      Like 0
      • Piper62j

        Hendo.. What have YOU done to make your world better? You younger generation sit back on your haunches and criticize the life you live and blame it on others. You MUST be a lefty.. DO SOMETHING!

        Like 0
      • Gerard Frederick

        Wow! You must have been raised in a barn, NO manners whatsoever, insulting and arrogant.. I don´t know the subject of your vitriole and know nothing about what you write about; it´s just that civility has gone out of the window and you are one of the most uncivil and unpleasant individuals on this forum

        Like 0
  16. Pugsy

    This car is in excellent condition. The interior looks brand new. A set of mags and ready to cruise.

    Like 2
  17. BoatmanMember

    30K and not over yet. Wow.

    Like 0
  18. Aric armstrong

    I had a dark green ’72. Sans Interceptor. Was great

    Like 1
  19. Serg442

    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.

    Like 0

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