You’re looking at a pretty rare Ford. 1972 would be the final year of the LTD convertible with only 4,234 rolling off the assembly line. That’s all. When you consider over 825,000 full size Fords on the 121-inch wheelbase were produced in 1972, the percentage of those being convertibles comes out to be only .005. That’s miniscule. And how many survivors 50 years later have lived a pampered and protected life and look like this one? Probably not many. Located in Ormond Beach, Florida, this full size fun-in-the-sun Ford is for sale here on eBay for a BiN price of $21,900 or make an offer.
Fords were given a styling update in 1971. With a new front end treatment, Ford said goodbye to hidden headlights and in the rear, Ford said goodbye to many years of the round, square, or rectangular jet-exhaust taillight look with new horizontal taillights. Not surprisingly, 1972 saw minimal styling changes with the biggest being the taillights integrated into a new rear bumper. This ’72 LTD is said to have been a “Fair Weather Ford” with its previous two owners only driving it in the spring and summer and in local parades. The exterior looks to be in very good condition. The paint color is so ’70’s (I believe it’s Bright Green Gold Metallic) and the chrome, trim, lenses and brightwork all look good. There are no photos of the LTD with the top up, but the seller describes it as being in really good shape and has a glass window. The car also comes with the original convertible top boot and the original bag it came in.
Like the exterior, the LTD’s green interior is also in very good, clean condition. I can’t find much to fault as the seats, door panels, dash, steering wheel, and carpet doesn’t look like a 50-year-old car. Seeing this LTD’s interior, especially that angled cockpit-inspired instrument panel, brings back lots of memories. My dad bought a new 4-door LTD in 1971 and I learned to drive on that car and spent lots of time behind the wheel watching the gas needle as well as the speedometer. It was a really good driving, reliable car. It was tough, too, since it survived both me and my twin brother learning to drive on it.
It’s no surprise that the engine bay is as clean as the rest of this LTD. The standard engine that year was the 351-cubic-inch V8, but this blue oval has the optional 400-cubic-inch V8 that generated 260 horsepower when new. The seller says it is “100% original, runs excellent and you can drive her anywhere.” The mileage is listed as 80,632. I envy the next owner of this great-looking LTD convertible. Hopefully they will continue the tradition of pampering it and driving it only in spring and summer and in a few local parades.
Thanks Ron. Very nice LTD. The period-correct colors make it especially attractive. A fun summertime cruiser. Maybe you could even participate in a local parade or escort the high school homecoming queen or court.
It makes sense, with only a half-percent (0.5%) of production being convertibles, no wonder they were dropped.
Thanks, Bob. This is quite a survivor and I was surprised to read about the low production number. I recently found this article about “possible” causes for the death of the convertible in the 70’s. An interesting read…
https://www.hemmings.com/stories/2018/09/24/on-the-many-possible-causes-for-the-death-of-the-american-convertible-in-the-seventies
Ron, that indeed is a good article. Reading through the comments, there are multiple interacting reasons why convertibles went away in the 70’s and are but niche players today. We like to ‘box up’ and simplify complex issues, when actually there were at least a half-dozen reasons for the convertible’s decline.
Very nice LTD. Has had excellent care to be this nice with 80k on it. When I was 3, my folks bought a new 72 galaxie 500, which is basically a cheaper, less equipped LTD. As the writer mentioned, tough, reliable car as I learned to drive innit as well and inherited it to drive when I got my license. Sadly I didnt appreciate it as much as I should have and punished it more than I should have, but it kept going
400 v8 had good power in 72 and I remember being able to burn rubber with ease. I’ve got too many already or I’d consider adding this nice example. Hope it goes to an appreciative home.
Another possible reason I can think of; convertibles were more work. Sort of like a 4 wheeled sail boat. Notice that today most droptops are retractable hardtops!
Wrong on the HP rating, not 260 as stated. The official net rating was 172.
Has 7 other vehicles listed, all or best offer.
Yep, you got the color correct!
If I,m Not Mistaken Wasnt The 400 engine derived from Fords 351-M Windsor Line , The Cleveland Motor Didnt Have The Coolant By-Pass Hose And The Windsor Motor Did
The 351M/400M are a Cleveland design.
351 Windsor is completely different. 351M/400 is part of what ford called their “335” series of engines and are more closely related to the 351C.
I got it! Bought it in March 2023 and drove from Florida to home in North Carolina ( with my wife following) with no trouble at all. Have been to one car show with it and got many comments, mostly that no one knew Ford made a convertible in 1972. Great car. Love it!