Sixteen. That’s the total number of words the seller pulled together to describe this well-preserved, low mileage 1985 Ford LTD Crown Victoria. If you like beige and browns, low mileage originals, and boxy full-sized 80s styling, this Crown Vic will float your boat. Located in Forked River, New Jersey, this Beige Blue Oval is for sale here on craigslist for $3,995. Yet another thank you to our pal, Pat L (short for LTD?) for sending this great tip over to Barn Finds.
1985 represents the middle of the LTD Crown Vic manufacturing run which lasted from 1980 to 1991. Based on the few supplied photos, the Crown Vic appears to be straight and solid with no sign of tin worms. It appears to be wearing a coat of Medium Sand Beige paint that presents well with a matching half-length padded vinyl roof. No closeups of the vinyl roof are provided but it looks okay from a distance. As a tribute to the chrome roof crown of the original 1955-56 Ford Fairlane Crown Victorias, LTD’s had a brushed aluminum band that covered the B-pillars. In perusing an online sales brochure, this Crown Vic also has the standard vinyl insert bodyside moldings, bodyside accent stripes, front and rear bumper guards, and deluxe wheel covers.
The seller describes the condition of the Clove Brown interior as “perfect” and based on the few photos, it’s in great shape for a 37-year-old car. I can’t spot any cracks in the dash or rips in those wide front and back vinyl seats that Ford promised could provide “true six-passenger roominess and quiet riding comfort.” Model year 1985 marked the end of optional 8-Track Cassette players and CB Radios. I can’t tell, but it probably has the factory AM/FM radio, although the brochure states that radios could be “deleted for credit.” Floor mats and sunlight in the photos make it tough to determine what kind of shape the brown cut-pile carpeting is in and the seller does share that the factory air conditioning is not working. There are no shortage of ash trays and the sales brochure boasted of courtesy lights in the glove box as well as the front ashtray. There are no photos provided of the cavernous trunk, but one could assume it’s in as good of shape as the rest of the car (and possibly light gray instead of beige).
For some unexplained reason, the seller didn’t provide any photos of the engine bay but used five of their 16 words to state that this Crown Vic “Runs like a new car.” Under that long hood rests a 5.0 liter 302 cubic inch V8 mated to a 4-speed AOD automatic transmission. The seller claims the engine only has 57,000 original miles and based on the condition of the car through the photos, that’s very possible. 1985 was another good sales year for the full-sized LTD Crown Victoria with 199,110 units sold including 13,673 2-door sedans, 30,825 Country Squire station wagons, and 154,612 4-door sedans like this survivor. This Crown Vic is definitely brown and ready to cruise up to six passengers downtown. Yes, the Blue Oval sold a lot of these workhorses, but how many of them are in this kind of low-mileage, original condition?
Typical crappy Craigslist ad. That said, this could be quite the bargain if you want a smooth, comfortable, bulletproof cruiser. Maybe even a daily driver; what can you get today for $4000, a beat-up econobox with 200k miles? And to top that, it’s even something you could take to Cars & Coffee and have some fun (many will instantly jump to their ‘experience’ with Crown Vic law enforcement vehicles).
I wouldn’t even care that it’s beige and brown. Just fix the a/c and be on your way.
Don’t think I would drive it anywhere to show it. With the price of some used garbage out there be a great every day driver. Can’t see this car being valuable but these were pretty reliable. Not an exceptionally good looking car then or today. Huge bumpers and that half vinyl top not my choice but it was the 80’s.
We rented these cars new, piled in the passengers and skis and headed for the mountains. They were a very good car. So many went to crusher later on.
In the Midwest, during the ’80’s, LTD’s, like this Beige Betty Lou, seemed to be out and about everywhere. I remember e the town police had a silver ’79, with it’s one year unique single headlamps with amber parking lights in the grill, *and* the front fender edges. Many local municipalities ran Ford, and the Highway Patrol always ran Chevys.
The ’79-’88 always had a formal look, compared to the ’89 and up, with their newly aquired curves in the front and rear.
Oh, and, “Runs like a new car” – that means working A/C.
Where’s Ben Matlock ❓
Wasn’t there a Grand Marquis that looked just like this? My buddy had one in the 90’s. Same color. We called it the valdez. It even started sometimes too.
Yep, the Mercury Grand Marquis was the LTD Crown Victoria’s “twin.” There was a time when Ford and Mercs weren’t twins from a styling perspective…
The 1979-87 had a different front and rear end, but were otherwise identical. The 1988-91 were even more similar.
1992-97, the CV had a Taurus inspired Aero look, while the MGM had a more traditional design. The two cars had completely different interiors. GM did the same thing with the Caprice and Roadmaster.
Ford later consolidated both lines with MGM styling and a CV interior.
If this was mid-July, I’d be driving it back down south.
That LTD looks to be a passed down driver from a grand parent or grand aunt or uncle? Obviously garage kept & in impeccable condition. Definately a good value even if you have to put money into it. I would say based on the condition it was hardly driven except to get groceries or church. Vinyl seats & the lack of door ashtrays I would say this is a striped down version of the Crown Vic.
If I’m not mistaken this model just has the pocket ashtray behind the drivers seat & the in panel dash. Not the usual 2 up front & 2 in the back. As for cigarette lighters? I’m guessing this one only has the one in the front ashtray. Not the three like we usually see with two in the rear armrests in addition to the one up front.
I sold Fords back in the 80’s sold one like this but with the full complement of options to a family in Mexico. When the car was 10 years old I bought it back with only 300 miles on it. The family could never get the car registered in Mexico and never drove it. These cars are so good looking with the aluminum turbine wheels
Blank slate here, not my favorite year. But with all the possibilities, who cares? Excellent cars even stock.
Ford Crown vic and theMercury Grand Marqux were built onthesame assembly line near Windsor, Canada. The Towncar ws always built in Wixom, Michigan. At this time Toyota sent quality control personnel to the Ford Wixom plant to learn their quality control proceedures. Toyota had massive QC problems inthe 80’s
Looks like a good buy for a,”Driver”. Don’t have to worry about,”Numbers matching” and the other things that make junk valuable. The cars sometimes on here are no longer cars, just a piles of junk. Not this one.
Wow, I’d snap this one up in a heartbeat for $3995 if I had the room. It doesn’t need any paint work, body work, or upholstery work, all of which wouldn’t be worth putting into a car like this. I’d just fix the A/C and enjoy driving it. I hope whoever buys it is someone who’ll appreciate it for its originality, maybe someone who’s looking for an inexpensive way to get started in the hobby, instead of some flipper who’s looking to make a quick buck off of it…
Would any police dept consider buying these low mileage examples to modify/use to patrol around town today? I know the officers would love the room & comfort. & sure would be a lot cheaper than a new patrol car.
They are prohibited from doing so, these units, while stout, do not meet the safety standards of the new patrol Explorers. Recall the FHP trooper who used her Explorer to stop a wrong way driver on I-275 a few months back? She walked away, a head on crash in an old Panther would have at least a 50% chance of fatality. Same reason that in my state school busses have to be replaced at 5 years, regardless of condition.
The ironic thing is the trooper could buy this LTD to drive to & from work & according to you, could be seriously injured in an accident!
On the other hand, this LTD would most likely KILL all the people in the back seat of any modern sedan(or smaller SUV/CUV)!! with their ridiculously short rear overhangs & trunk lids! – IF the LTD rear ends a modern smaller vehicle hard enough. & the LTD driver, if properly belted in place, would not be injured much. The back seat on a modern vehicle is way too close to the end of it! & there are no air bags BEHIND the rear seat passengers, not that they would do any good anyway.
As a former Ford salesperson I can assure you there is a difference between the LX version andthe police package version of this car. The disc brake caliper is larger, dipads are a stronger material, hoses are aroclip, fuel pump has different parts in it. For munciple use you want the police package.
This is definitely the stripped down version of the LTD Crown Victoria; apart from the ash tray absence, the back seat has no fold down arm rest. I own a 1985 Ford Crown Vic with the rare 351 Windsor engine (carburetor) and a full padded vinyl roof (a rare option in ’85); it’s my daily driver and has seen me through many a long harsh Canadian winter with no issues. Secret is to undercoat, undercoat, undercoat!
I see the comments about this Crown Vic being a base model. I agree. These cars are so beautiful withtheupper level package and the turbine aluminum wheels and the fancier door panels and padded roof. I had a neighbor inRichmond, Texas that had a Ford store. He told me to go order what I want and the price is $100.00 over invoice. I ordered the Crown Vic with every option and also a Country Squire with every option. My cars were even more comfortable than a no option equipted town car.