Blacked out, tricked out, and slammed, this 1985 Ford LTD in Oregon City, Oregon comes with modified parts front to back including a cammed 5.0 V8, tubular suspension, and SN95 Cobra front brakes. After earning a cult following as a “four-door Mustang” sharing its Fox platform with Ford’s contemporary pony car, these mid-sized Fords often find themselves acquiring Mustang-style modifications and improvments before hitting the road as “sleepers,” a mostly stock-appearing sedan with surprisingly quick capabilities. Tip your hat to this car’s builder for leaning into its sporty side with lowered suspension and a comprehensive build that flies its ’80s flag high. Check out more details here on Facebook Marketplace. The $16,500 asking price buys an old-school Ford that would stand up to a host of today’s $40,000+ sedans while promising wildly lower total cost of ownership. Thanks to Mitchell G. for spotting this fun Ford.
A European-style three-spoke steering wheel nicely matches the interior, and a “7 Ball” shifter adds some easily-replaceable whimsy. Factory-style bucket seats pay homage to the original LX and police-versions of this car, factory sleepers that surprised contemporary sports cars. Can you even buy a new V8, manual transmission sedan today? Wood trim and power windows offer some basic luxury touches. Thankfully nobody covered that wood with fake carbon fiber vinyl.
Anyone can chop their springs and fit wider wheels and tires, but before mocking this boxy LTD’s handling potential, consider that Bob Bondurant’s racing school used similar cars for years, according to LTDLX. Credit the seller for mentioning the paint has worn to the primer in places, most notably the rear bumper in this picture.
Fans of the 1979-1993 “Fox” Mustang immediately recognize this nearly identical engine compartment. Mods include adjustable caster / camber plates and an aftermarket radiator and fan system. Claimed internal engine upgrades should have this 5.0L (302 cid) eight approaching 300 HP and 325 lb-ft of torque. Your V6 SUV or sedan might make 250+ HP for a split second before shifting at full throttle, but this 5.0 should prove stout and satisfying in the low and middle ranges, a feeling many younger drivers have never experienced. Would you consider this ’80s black box as an alternative to today’s pseudo-sporty sedans?
This looks like a lot of bang for your buck. I don’t think you could build one like this at this price. Even the stock V8 ones command a premium price, if you can find one, most were V6’s. Back in the 80’s I rented one of these a couple of times. Even the V6 was was a decent performer on the highway, and I was quite impressed with ride and quietness of these cars. Only reason we never bought one as a family car was lack of front wheel drive, that we felt we needed living out in the country in the northeast. Somebody is going to get a fun ride with this one.
Yeah,and even the HO 302 was CFI w/AOD.
Very nice car, good price , a cheaper Marauder.
I looked at one of these, back in ’85. The salesman couldn’t push me towards a Mustang GT fast enough! One thing I don’t remember, though. Was a manual shift an option on these? This would be an awesome car, with the performance adders.
Huh, apparently these LTDs were available with a 4-speed manual, standard with the 2.3L Lima I-4 and optional with the 3.3L I-6 (which got an auto trans as standard), tho’ I doubt many were so-equipped on dealer lots.
The 5.0L V8 LTDs Bondurant ordered for his driving school also got manuals IIRC, but this spec didn’t carry over to the LTD LX production version they inspired.
Big C, I had one of those as a patrol vehicle and everyone that I ever saw was an automatic transmission. They were very fast, extremely responsive, scary light in the rear-end at high speed. I had a love/hate relationship with mine but it died in the line of duty in a head-on collision with a felony Trans Am running from the Virginia State Troopers that crossed into North Carolina. But that’s another story… They were a interesting car to drive after being in a Caprice. LOL.
I absolutely love this thing!!! It looks like a very professional job installing the manual trans, and clutch pedal, etc. This is about as close to a fun to drive 4 door hot rod Mustang as you could get. Very nicely done.
Ugh. Another person who got hold of a JC Whitney catalog.
Well J D C, there are far worse publications out there than the JC Whitney catalog. Should we ban what’s left of those too?
Has a “Certified Calibration” 140mph speedo, so I wonder if this isn’t a repurposed police car. (There was a police version of the Fox body LTD. A few have turned up here on BF. They were popular with big-city and college police departments, basically anywhere that didn’t do much highway pursuit work and wanted something a bit more economical.)
The LTD LX had a tach where the fuel gauge is, and moved the fuel gauge to where the shift quadrant would be on a column-shifted automatic car. And like most non police cars of its day, was still stuck with an 85mph speedo.
Bill D. I had an 85 LTD LX civilian version that had a Certified Calibration 140 mph speedo. It was originally ordered by an exec at the Ford Oakville Assembly plant. It was black like this one with the factory Mustang rims. Car was a blast to drive and surprised a lot of people with it’s speed. My cousin was shocked that I could keep up with his Mustang GT in the twisty curves. Sadly after 350 000kms and driving on salty winter roads it was done.
Rick D
There are a few of these conversions running around the country – we have several here in Phoenix that I see at shows from time to time. The nicest one is a white one that was featured in Hemmings Muscle Machines years ago (don’t think I’m allowed to post the link here). Its owner used to bring it to the Fab Fords show when it was at Knotts Berry Farm.
Thanks Fitch. Fast Ford here. 😎
I really miss my Black ’85 LTD LX! It was fun to drive,& it had a limited-slip.I “gave it away” when I sold it.Mistake.
Heck, I thought it was a K car.
Factory LX…did they come with a manual from the factory? I thought it was a auto only? Nice car, if put back stock….This is a forgotten car and it rare…
Factory LXs were auto-only, but this isn’t a factory LX, just a near-clone someone built.
Thankfully there actually are several 4 door sedans you can still buy new with a manual transmission. I personally think the BMW M3 is the best one available today.
The only domestic built ones are the excellent Cadillac CT4-V and CT5-V Blackwing. I never thought I would live to see the day when I would say the last manual standing was a Cadillac!
Thankfully there actually are several 4 door sedans you can still buy new with a manual transmission. I personally think the BMW M3 is the best one available today.
The only domestic built ones are the excellent Cadillac CT4-V and CT5-V Blackwing. I never thought I would live to see the day when I would say the last manual standing was a Cadillac!
Although I’d do without the performance mods, I love this version of the LTD.
Cook Cty. (Chicago) IL. Sheriff had these….they would SCOOT!
Only so much you can do to a gussied-up Fox Body Fairmont (which is what this is). And what was done here is a vast improvement.
Same basic floorpan as a Mustang GT.
Almost anything you can do to that Mustang,
you can do to this.
Ever with the engine mods I think it’s sacrificing HP with that 3 inch exhaust would be better with 2 1/2 running a bansanni X pipe
While a Ford service manager in the ’80s. We saw 3 of these, all were white and had steel wheels with wheel covers. The LX badges were peeled off and they had a whole bunch of police radio gear. I was told that they were DEA vehicles. I imagine you would need something like this for chasing bad guys in the Nevada desert!
As a sales manager, I would have ordered the 5 speed were it available for ordinary sales. I sold about 10 manual GT’s to every automatic. I don’t know what was available in special ordering, that would require approval from Dearborn and then only if it were available on the assembly line. I liked driving the LX better than the GT because the extra wheelbase made it more stable, actually correcting the chief fault of the Mustang. I’m retired now and while getting my Fusion serviced a few weeks ago I ventured into the showroom and found 2 Mustangs GT’s, a fastback and a convertible. They were both automatics, shat are we coming to?
challenge the euros? I think it was an attempt:
Motor Trend on uTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fmNo554rtt8
I just gota ’85 wagon model
IMHO, this was the best looking version of the LTD. My favourite was LTD wagon.