Ford’s popular full-size luxury car, the LTD, had a banner year in 1973, selling 556,000 copies. Then, along came the OPEC oil embargo, and sales plummeted by nearly half as big gas guzzlers were suddenly out of vogue. The seller has a Brougham edition of the ’74 LTD, but someone has been at work over-personalizing it (like adding an itty-bitty rear spoiler). With an oil leak that should be addressed sooner rather than later, this interesting “rat rod” is located near Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. It’s a “cheap wheels” opportunity that is available here on craigslist for just $2,650.
The LTD arrived on the scene in 1965 as a gussied-up Galaxie 500. Ford claimed the car was quieter than a Rolls-Royce (“please pass the Grey Poupon”) and was a sales hit, prompting Chevrolet to respond with the Caprice. The LTD would stick around into the 1980s when Ford began calling them Crown Victorias instead. In 1974, the Brougham was the top model, and Ford built 39,000 2-door hardtops like this one.
The seller’s well-used example is a far cry from how it was sitting on the dealer’s lot in 1974. The original color of this Ford may or may not have been red, and the placement of its chrome trim suggests it once wore a vinyl roof covering (typical in those days). The wheels are aftermarket, the bumpers have been painted black, and a tiny rear spoiler was added that looks totally out of place. The interior sports bucket seats that came from another car, no doubt.
At 143,000 miles, the big 400 cubic inch has sprung an oil leak with no indication of the source or severity. But the seller says the machine runs well, and we assume that applies to the automatic transmission, as well. Even though the price is sensible, it’s going to take just the right kind of buyer whose tastes align with those of the seller. Our thanks go to Tony Primo for this rather unusual tip!
Reminds me of the hockey 🏒 stick spoiler j-roc made for Julian’s Monte Carlo lol. Then charged him $50. Lol.
OMG! 😲 NO! BRO! Chopped like a HAM! 🤮
Talk about dumb looking with that tiny wing. No engine photos.
Dechromed with the blacked out treatment and Orange paint. Suits me fine.Also like the hood inserts. Appears to be from a full size G.M. product from the late sixties? Spoiler not so much.
First generation Camaro SS hood louvre, 1968-1969. Used, pitted examples are often cheap at swapmeets.
Steve R
I was trying to think of something to say, but remember what they say, if you don’t have….
Someone put some time in
Without the spoiler I would offer top dollar. How does a buck three eighty sound?
This creation would be gone in 60 seconds if it was close to me. Love the early 70 LTDs, had one form up north that had a plug to warm up the block. These things are beasts, never die, built right. Hopefully, my post doesn’t disappear…. Like what’s up with that? Did I step on someone’s toes?
🤦♂️🤦♂️why! why! why! 🤦♂️🤦♂️my eyes! MY EYES!😭
Rather have the stick diesel 4 door.
Which juke joint parking lot was this photographed in? (sorry, it’s the hood louvers and seriously wrong spoiler-I’m not as resilient in my dotage and sometimes just have to scream!).
What a bunch of old fuddy-duddies. Someone had fun with it. You don’t have to buy it.
At least you can find it in the Wal Mart parking lot.
Oooffaa about the only thing nice I can say I kinda like the tucked in bumper, takes away from the factory park bench look.
A waste of Camaro SS velocity stacks.
Well it is unique and your friends won’t ask you to drive.
This is not a “Rat Rod”. That is a fairly specific genre. This is not that. Wow. Why am I needing to explain this to professional car people?
Pretty nice car, with the glaring exception of the, whatever that is on the trunk.
That blacked out grill fooled me. At first I thought yeah the seventies were kind of a haze for me but I honestly don’t remember seeing one of these on the road back then. After a closer look…. But yeah the spoiler has got to go
This looks like a kid got hold of it sometime in the late 80s and tried to make a Mustang out of it.
The first picture had me conjuring up the 71 mercury cyclone 1 of none super cobra jet 460 dual quads, 4 speed 4.39 trac loc clone.
The second picture brought out a picture of Karl Malden??? Is that the guy on barnaby jones with the rain coat and wrinkled nose?
A for effort. A low buck rig you can leave anywhere.
Lil” wang
Here, hold my beer……
I don’t care, I like it, but I would ditch the rear baby wing. Must’ve swiped it off some kids Honda…
Ditch the spoiler, build a strong 460 and an overdrive trans, add a 4.10 rear gear….this could be a cool and unusual sleeper.
And…. sold! Or at least taken off CL.