I experienced a bit of “Deja vu all over again” when I saw this ’72 Ford LTD Drop Top tip from T.J. (Thank you, again, T.J.!) I wrote about this same car three years ago on Barn Finds when it was located in Ormond Beach, Florida. An older gentleman from my home state of North Carolina purchased it and drove it home with no issues. He’s had it for three years, has put less than 2,000 miles on it and says, “I’m getting older and it’s time to sell.” It’s a rare rag top as only 4,234 LTD Convertibles were built and is still in very good survivor condition. It is located in Shalotte, North Carolina, and is for sale here on craigslist for $14,000 or best offer.
I’m assuming the LTD’s appearance hasn’t changed in the past three years as the seller repurposed the same Florida photos from the 2022 article. It’s been a pampered “Fair Weather Ford” all its life and only driven in the spring and summer and in local parades. The original Bright Green Gold Metallic paint is still shiny and presentable and all of the Ford’s chrome, trim, lenses, and brightwork looks good as well. I’m not spotting any rust or accident damage and the LTD also comes with the original green convertible top boot and the original bag it came in. There are no photos of the LTD’s convertible top included in the ad. When sold three years ago, the top was described as in very good condition and with a glass rear window.
Unlike today, you could get interiors in a wide range of colors back in 1972 – even green (to compliment all of that faux wood accent trim). Like the exterior, the LTD’s 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 53-year-old convertible. There’s some carpet fading, but overall, this is a nice, spacious (okay, huge) original interior.
There’s only one small photo of the LTD’s clean and tidy engine bay. The standard engine that year was the 351-cubic-inch V8, but this blue oval has the optional 400-cubic-inch V8 that is mated to an automatic transmission. 82,500 original miles are on the clock and the seller says the LTD “runs, drives, and stops as expected.” The seller states that he has put on new tires, water pump, belts and hoses, and control arm bushings. I hope the next caretaker will continue pampering this rare Ford Convertible. There aren’t many out there this original and in this nice of condition.
IMO The price seems good. ..What a beautiful car.
Buy it and drive it. I’d drive the heck out of this car.
Another I wish automobile for me. I once owned a yellow 72 LTD convertible with black top and interior. I wish I had been able to keep it. Faced with health issues, I reluctantly sold it to a dealer who sold it to a collector. Friends frequently said LTD stood for La Ti Da which IMO was appropriate. Luxury on the grand scale with open air driving. This beauty won’t last long.
Nope “Love To Drive”.
Agree with above comments. And..When’s the last time anybody saw one of these cruising down the road ?
Here’s when I’m too old to drive a car.
For me it’s kind of amazing to think back and realize that full-size models also came as convertibles. This is a very nice example. The period-correct colors look great. Someone is going to have fun with this one.
Too bad this was Ford’s last year. 1970 was Mercurys last year. 1967 was Lincoln’s last year. (for full sizers) So these big droptops didn’t make it into the malaise era. Excepting GM of course.
I really like this car. Why isn’t Ford building cars like this today? It might solve some of their problems. A full-size car that holds six people with a great big trunk and a powerful V-8 under the hood. Wow! What a brilliant idea! It’s a wonder no one hasn’t thought of this before. Oh wait, they have.
“Why isn’t Ford building cars like this today?” Five (5) words: Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards! This gorgeous example was the last of a dying breed, with a highway fuel mileage figure in the low teens, if you were lucky, and city mileage numbers in the single digits! Don’t get me wrong, I love these old boats, but times have changed, and if Ford tried to built a car like this today, it wouldn’t really be the same car, with uni-body construction, an Ecoboost four-cylinder under the hood and front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive under the floor. Between the safety, emissions and fuel economy rules, it wouldn’t look anything like this!
This info is good to know for me as I’m getting ready to sell my 71 LTD convertible. It’s a red on red Cobra Jet with a black top. The 429 runs great and the body and interior are mint. I bought it when I was collecting convertibles and suspect the Cobra Jet was a rare option. I guess I will try to get $25,000 because of it’s rarity.
My mother had a red and white one in 72 with a 429. It was going to be mine at 16 but she kept it. I did take my driver’s test in it. Lovely car to drive, especially with the top down. I bought myself one from a dealer. The owners of the dealer were the only one’s who had driven it before me. It was yellow with a white top. Downsized and miss that car.
One my favorite Galaxy/LTD BODY styles. Too bad it’s not a 429, but still a great piece of Ford history. Never forget Burt Reynolds in White Lightning! Was his made into a four speed?
If this is as shows, it’s a deal
Oh but for some AC!
Hello, Vintage Air or Classic Auto Air? Can you help me? LOL! Write a check with enough zeros on the end of it and A/C can be yours!
wow no a/c. look like it just drove off the set of the original FBI show.
Yes, but Inspector Louis Erskine’s Ford would have been a Government-issue Custom 500 sedan, with Blackwell tires and “dog dish” hubcaps on steel wheels, LOL!
Officially yes. But at the end of the show they gave him nice Mustangs and T-Birds to show off Ford cars. As a little kid, always watched the end to see what he was driving.
Load of tin from Detroit, or Long term Debt. Sho would like to have that fast ford.
This Ford is a clean survivor with the 400engine Nice.
Nice car! Perfection would require a big block 429 CJ or 460, with bucket seats and a console, but it’s pretty close to perfect! Engine upgrades are straightforward, if expensive, but finding OEM factory bucket seats and a console, with a basket handle shifter, will be more challenging, but the lack of those items certainly isn’t a deal breaker, by any means! GLWTS!
very nicecar drive i would drive tghat car and enjoy it