The Ford Elite may have had an identity crisis during its brief 1974 to 1976 run. As a personal luxury car, it could have been sold just as easily as a Thunderbird, and buyers would have known what it was. Located in Shawano, Wisconsin, this 1976 example looks to have had some performance touches, and I’m not sure that the paint color is original to the car. Only needing some TLC (as we’re told), this big Ford is available here on Facebook Marketplace for $7,500. Another tip brought our way by Lothar… of the Hill People!
Under the skin, the Elite was a Torino/Gran Torino and was called the Gran Torino Elite during its first outing (1974). For the next two years, it was simplified as the “Elite,” including the seller’s ’76. Ford’s plan for the Elite was for it to be a junior T-Bird so it could compete with the likes of the Chevy Monte Carlo, Olds Cutlass, etc. FOMOCO was able to create the Elite from the underpinnings of the Mercury Cougar XR-7, and the car found 366,000 buyers in the mid-1970s. Where are they all today?
Standard fare in 1976 was a 351 cubic inch V8, and apparently both “Windsor” and “Cleveland” variants were in the mix. Only an automatic transmission was available, and power goodies prevailed (such as brakes and steering). If the 351 wasn’t beefy enough, you could opt for a 400 or a 460 V8, but in their detuned form, they were mostly good for slurping gasoline. The seller’s car has the 351 but with big wheels and tires in the back, so has anything been done to it otherwise to make it more potent?
Not a lot of details are imparted regarding this ’76 Elite. The seller says they’ve only put 40 miles on it during their ownership, which may have been a while since they do start it up regularly. Stored indoors, the dark green paint is shiny, but there are a couple of paint bubbles. And given the odd variation of green on the upholstery, my gut tells me that dark green was not the car’s original color. The seller started out at $8,000 and cut it by $500. Is this enough to motivate you?
Where’s Thunderbird from the movie “The Crow” when you need him? I had one of these, in wagon form with a 400 and fake wood trim. It was ok, if you like ugly, gutless and gas guzzling cars. Never again.
The car just doesn’t look right without the side/ door trim and the landau or full vinyl top.
A 1975 Torino Elite was the last car I bought to drive regularly. My folks gave me $1000 for high school graduation. I bought the car from Hertz car sales for $3100 in 76 with 12K miles on it with full warranty. After a couple years of stinking up the baseball field at college, I bought an F250 and went back to work in the business that I was raised in. Nothing but trucks for my daily drivers since.
Looks like it was prepared for resale. Needs a good inspection before purchase.
These don’t have a strong following and compete with other similar makes and models based on price, unless this is someone’s dream car, better to wait.
Steve R
Maybe too much money for this one, but what is wrong here? That pea soup green interior cannot go with the fairly dark green paint, can it? Has the paint been changed?
definitely repainted ,
These were lovely driving cars when new. I dated someone whose dads family business bought a new fleet of cars. They were LTDs, then Elites, then small TBirds. I dove many Elites and enjoyed them for suburb driving. This one could be a mess. Clearly the paint is wrong and looks awful with the interior color which is correct. The vinyl top can be replaced but the wide side moulding that made it look like an Elite are missing and it will be very hard to find them. Not sure what I would do with this car but brought back memories.
I had a 76 Thunderbird and the Ford Elite was really more of a Torino than a Thunderbird in 76. Thunderbirds had the 460 and loaded with all options, but looks like this Elite is sans factory AC. The Cougars were still nice in 76 as well.
My grandfather had a 77 Thunderbird, bought it new and his had the 351 M engine, was the 460 an option in 77 ? I’ve never seen one before, i believe I’ve seen a couple 400 powered one’s in 76 and 77.
I had a 460 in my 76 Tbird, and I think that was the last year it was offered. The 351s came after that I believe.
Ok thanks, thats why i probably never seen one.
Beautiful looking car. IMHO, this is perhaps the best looking car I’ve seen with the Ford name. Assuming everything on the car works like they’re supposed to and safely, I’d be willing to pay the price for it.
I think the price is okay if your eyes can stand the color clash with the limey pea soupy interior versus the not likely original dark green paint.