Gulfstream Aqua Poly (?) is such a nice color for this 1968 Ford LTD. I’m assuming it’s the original paint since it appears to be wearing very old bias-ply (?) tires with three-ring/three-ribbon white walls, and the seller says this car has just 9,904 miles on it! They have it listed here on eBay in Las Vegas, Nevada, and the current bid price is $8,655, and there is no reserve.
Do any of you know this color? Color chips/charts are all over the board, sometimes Gulfstream Aqua looks like the darkest aqua/teal color, and on others it isn’t the darkest. I wish we had a photo of the data plate/tag. The seller says this gorgeous LTD two-door hardtop has had just one owner since it was new, and the unusual part of those 9,904 miles is that they go on to say it was parked in 1999 and not taken out until two years ago. So it somehow accumulated fewer than 10,000 miles in 31 years of driving, between 1968 and 1999? I guess that’s about 320 miles a year, and I have a car that I’ve owned for well over 20 years and drive it maybe 20-30 miles a year, sometimes if even that.
Whatever the case is, this car is beautiful, and if it’s all original, it’s really a find. Sadly, though, the seller is very slim on photos, but they did include an engine photo, so that’s great. I want to see inside that trunk and some underside photos, but if it’s been in a garage its whole life when not being driven those 9,904 miles, I’m guessing it’s as solid as can be. The first-generation LTD was made from 1965 through 1968, and I want one of each. It’s such a great progression of design for those four years.
Sadly, this is the only interior photo, and that’s rare. I don’t recognize these seats and door panels on any LTD brochure; they look like Custom 500 seats and door panels to me. Unless they’ve been redone? I can’t imagine that, and there’s no mention of the interior at all. 1968 was Ford’s first year with the new, safer, two-spoke steering wheel, and I can’t imagine there are any cracks or any other issues inside, but we don’t know for sure.
This is, I believe, (it’s hard to see the label) the 302-cu.in. OHV V8, which had around 210 (gross) horsepower and 295 (gross) lb-ft of torque. It’s backed by a three-speed automatic, and the seller says it was recently serviced, and the car “does run and drive.” That isn’t exactly a glowing recommendation, but at least it’s functional. It’s had fresh fuel and a new battery in the last week. Hagerty is at $9,900 for a #3 good-condition car, how much will this one sell for?
Wow. If I can ad something about the tires. I know our 1970 Oldsmobile Ninety Eight came new with twin stripe white wall tires. So I’m thinking those triple stripe ones are easily from that time period. I guess it was a short lived fad. This is an incredible time machine here if its all original. Its definitely worth a look see for someone.
In 1969 my folks bought a gold ’67 Buick Electra 225. The car had Mobil Golden Circle bias ply tires with a thin gold stripe that matched the paint very closely.
In 1971 it was time to replace those gold stripe tires, so Dad and I took the car to the local Mobil station to get a new set. Those tires were no longer available, and at the time of discontinuation they had been priced at $135 apiece.
Dad chose narrow stripe whitewalls and called it good.
Pretty interesting. Definitely not from Vegas going by those photos. I zoomed in on the dealer sticker on the trunk which says “Keating Ford”. I think that’s in Connecticut which makes more sense given the supplied photos. Impressive Estate home and Carriage house in the background so this Ford came from someone of means
I agree with JCA’s comments. I live in Las Vegas Nevada since 1996 and none of those photos are from Las Vegas Nevada in the add. Still a very clean Ford!
Off topic Dave, but saw an older red Harley Davidson other day w fresh set of fat whitewalls and it really made the bike pop. I had a daydream of riding it down a nice road 😎 As for this Ford LTD.. well it would make a very nice and cheerful cruiser w the mild 302. Beautiful lines on this coupe. Thanks for the article SG. 👍
My dad had a’69 Torino GT that was gulfstream aqua. The photos appear to be the same as I remember.
The gas crisis was full blown. The 302 was considered small for this size car. The 390 two barrel was more popular. I have a sister bought a new one very similar to this. Briefly had a girlfriend almost identical to this car. Both were great cars. Someone will get a nice car.
The gas crisis did not start in 1968. The gas crisis, specifically referring to the oil crises of the 1970s, primarily occurred in 1973 and 1979. These periods were marked by significant disruptions in global oil supplies, leading to shortages and price increases.
There was no gas crisis in 1968. Someone just picked up a base LTD, no power anything, no A/C. Still a really nice time capsule.
That’s right. The first US gas crisis was in 1973 and people couldn’t believe that a gallon of regular gas could cost more than 50 cents.
The second crisis hit in 1979, but I forget what the prices hit that time around.
Too dark for Gulfstream Aqua – I have the G.Aqua color and it is :
Serial Letter “F”
and
Number #3065-A
From my Marti Report.
These beauties are still out there!
Strange that the listing ended on early Monday evening? Did it sell outside Ebay? This looks to be Acapulco Blue Poly – Code D on the door tag.
I had one of these in college but it had the 390 2V and was meadowlark yellow in color with a black top and black interior.
Very smooth on the freeways but not great on fuel economy with a 2V.
Otherwise a very dependable ride.
I have a Gulfstream Aqua 1968 Mustang convertible. This LTD is not Gulfstream Aqua. My guess is Acapulco Blue.
interior looks like a base LTD interior. Brougham interiors were nicer with the split seats. As long as the doors have wood trim they are correct too. Looks better in person. We had several galaxies and lts
I had the 4dr HT version of this car, same color, as an LTD Brougham with turbine style hubcaps that must have weighed 5 lbs ea (!) with the 390 2v engine. Drove it 13 years and then passed it on to a new family driver. One of the best cars I have ever owned!
While the provided photos show a really clean car, can someone from the NE tell me if that engine bay is going to look like that after 50 years and 9k miles? The sticker on the inner fender on the right side just looks well worn for a low mileage car.
I bought a 71 Coupe de Ville in Dallas in 1985 that had 7,800 miles on it and it looked totally like new – everywhere. No surface rust on anything. Was a total garage queen. So just wondering on that. Maybe it was driven and the engine washed regularly so it wore down the stickers…I don’t know
The exact car I learned to drive on. Up and down the driveway at least 500 times.
“This listing was ended by the seller on Mon, Jul 28 at 5:24 PM because the item is no longer available.”
The seat and door panel pic confused me as well as I didn’t see that combination in any brochures. Then I googled 1968 Ford LDT Interiors and all kinds of pics popped up. Sure enough that’s what this is. Jonny C also posted about a ’68 LTD on this site on 10/01/2020 with a similar interior.
I painted my ‘60 Ford F100 Gulfstream Aqua/Corinthian White. This car is not currently that color.
Nice car/ not worth the ask IMHO.
Man alive, what a gem.
I remember when my parents bought a brand new 1969 Falcon 4 door off the lot, and it was Presidential Blue. Almost the exact shade as this beauty.