Gold is an appropriate color for this gem. I don’t know the exact color of this 1972 Ford LTD Brougham two-door hardtop as the seller didn’t include a photo of the data card, but this car looks great no matter what color it is. The seller has it posted here on craigslist in Yuma, Arizona, where I should be right now rather than living in this 37-below wind chill, and they’re asking $9,500 or best offer. Here is the original listing, and thanks to local_sheriff for sending in this tip!
Long-time member, commenter, and Ford expert, Bob_in_TN, may know the exact paint color and any other facts that I’ve left out. We’ve seen many second-generation LTDs here on Barn Finds and I like them, maybe because they remind me of the car that Burt Reynolds’ character drove in the movie White Lightning.
Being a Brougham, this example is more about luxury than speed, though, and it has a C6 three-speed automatic with a column shift, rather than a manual floor shifter four-door as in the movie White Lightning. The second-generation LTD was made from 1968 for the 1969 model year until 1978 with enough design updates that it looked like Ford could have split it up until at least three different generations.
The interior photos are mostly close-ups without an overall photo showing the driver’s side including the seat, but from the passenger door side, it looks ok inside other than some cracking on the dashboard. The 1971 models were updated and in 1972, they were basically the same, other than a couple of minor bumper changes. This car appears to have just under 50,000 miles and it sure looks like those are actual miles, given the condition. The seller says that the interior is original as is the radio, and I’m assuming that everything works, including the power windows, but we don’t know for sure.
The engine is Ford’s 400 (402) cubic-inch OHV V8, which would have had 172 horsepower and 298 lb-ft of torque. The seller says that it runs “good” and if it runs as well as the entire car looks, I’d bet that it runs better than just good. Have any of you owned an LTD Brougham from this era?
Thanks for the call-out Scotty. As for the color, “Ginger Something” flashed in my head. I did a little googling, but couldn’t convince myself that “Ginger Glow” is or isn’t this color. Perhaps other posters will know. No surprise, at this time there were several colors in the gold/brown range.
My comments around this very nice LTD: lots of full-size Fords in my small blue-collar town of these model years, but most were four-door Galaxies. One was my driver’s education car, and yes the teacher was a coach who obviously was doing the job because he was assigned to it, not because he had any real interest in teaching kids to drive. This LTD is a bit nicer than those bread-and-butter Galaxies. I do remember the over-boosted steering.
And…. 1972 was when my dad, not a car guy, asked teenage me, who was a car guy, for recommendations on the next family car. I pointed them to the newly restyled Gran Torino. I thought it was a bit cooler. Still do.
This example would make for a bulletproof cruiser for not much money.
Thanks, Bob! I agree about the price, especially with the “or offer” part, that really looks like a nice car for the money.
Ginger glow metallic is what it was called. As a kid, my folks bought a new 72 galaxie 500 8n ginger glow metallic with a white vinyl top. 400 2V. When I got my license in the early 80s, they bought a new car and I inherited the “old ford”. Lots of good memories.
While technically not that powerful, it was pretty torquey and I remember having a hard time getting my dad to believe the rear tires do naturally wear out in 7000 miles.
They were good, common cars that rode and drove well. Handling wasn’t great but not many full size cars did handle well back then.
So funny you mention the overboosted steering. Was way too much! Had a 400 and 429 and the steering was abt 6 turns lock to lock and zero feeling. Kinda scary on a curvy two lane
wasn’t a bug, but a “feature”, “One finger steering”
Steering Feel’s overrated
Frank
Ginger Glow is a brown metallic. That is Gold Glow.
I stand corrected. It is indeed Gold Glow. Ford had a few “glow” colors in it’s lineup in the middle of the 70s. Dad had our Gold Glow 72 Ford Galaxie, and ordered a new 76 F250 Supercab in medium Green Glow metallic. Absolutely still love that color and would order a new pickup tomorrow if you could get that kind of color again.
Well, I’m a fan of the ’72 Galaxies as I’ve owned my ’72 Galaxie 500 since 1995. It’s my third Galaxie and I’ve grown to really like the late 60s/early ’70s big Fords. I think this car is a real bargain at $9,500. Recently, I saw an ad for a low mileage ’72 Galaxie and the dealer selling it was asking $25k. The LTD Brougham was the highest trim level for the big Fords in 1972 and if true, the mileage is pretty low. Bob_in_TN mentions “Ginger Glow” for the exterior color and that could be correct. My green Galaxie’s color is called “Ivy Glow,” so Ford may have had a few colors with “Glow” in the color name. These big Fords were known for their smooth, soft ride but that meant giving up some in the handling department. These Galaxies aren’t muscle cars anyway (except for maybe the ’71 Galaxies with a 429), they are highway cruisers for the most part. This car is in amazing condition in and out except for maybe the rear bumper which looks like it’s pushed in at the center. I can’t see this one lasting too long considering the price being asked.
Yes! You have the perfect username for this car, FordGuy1972! Thanks for the additional information.
Did I see you on Lou Costable’s ( or however you spell that ) YT channel with this car ?
Yes, Bud Lee, Lou Costabile picked out my car for one of his “My Car Story” videos three years ago at the Ford Nationals in Carlisle, PA. He’s a nice guy, very enthusiastic cars and his website features quite a few videos of cars and their owners. The wife and I really enjoyed the experience.
Growing up, my neighbor across had a 71 brougham 4 door hard top, blue with a black vinyl top, absolutely beautiful, one of my favorite cars in the neighborhood. In my humble opinion, this will make someone a sweet ride for reasonable money.
I love these cars . This one looks like a jewel . Unfortunately I don’t have any use for it or anywhere to put it .
In 1972 I would have given this car a second look. However then and now and I have always been a fan of low mile survivor cars, I wasn’t sure about the price , but B/F experts say it’s a good deal ,so I would go along. It is also only about 100 miles from my house. Checks all the boxes except the one that says you can afford this and it makes no sense to buy it. If I were to buy it, I would use it and drive it!
My dad was a big Ford guy along with being a true believer in power. His weapon of choice in 1970, 71, 72, etc. was the XL with the 429 in drop top configuration. Always had to be white on white on white. It was cool having a dad that was a big-time car guy. When I was looking for a car I found a nice 70 Barracuda convertible I wanted to buy. My dad suggested I pass as it was under-powered with a 318. Ended up with a 71 SS454 El Camino. Dad always knew best.
RIGHT ON DAD! My first car i was alowed to drive was from mom an dad 1974 poop brown vega.( i ) bought my first car a 1972 Thunderbid in 1980 still have it
What a nice example of the 72 LTD. Great value, and options here. To the next owner; find a set of the optional turbine hubcaps to finish the perfect look of this one.
My dad had a 72 just like that one, I mean everything was the same. It was trouble free, quiet. and a great riding car.
These cars saw extensive duty in any Quinn Martin tv production.
Dashboard gauges and such almost identical to our 1970 Ford Galaxy 500
Station Wagon.
Merry Christmas to all, hope you’re not in Buffalo.
Worse, I’m at Fort Drum
I owned a beautiful, but zero optioned ’74 two-door LTD that was black with a tan brocade vinyl-fabric interior, 351 2bbl w/3-speed auto. Loved it. Wish I still had it. Large cruisers are fun drivers.
Had 2 two-door 72 LTDs. A soft top w 429 and a 2 dr with no vinyl top and this same 400. Both were C6 trannys and never had an issue with anything. Very rare to find one with no rust in or below the corrugated rocker moldings. My 72 hardtop had 54K miles in 1994. Perfect condition. $2600.oo. Would love to pay that again now. Good luck opening those doors in todays parking spaces
Had a 78′ LTD ex Georgia State Police Interceptor with the 460,
bought it in 1990, a little past it’s prime, had been used by a small town PD most of it’s time.
Still was painted B/W with the decals (department said it was my job to remove them, they did take the light/bar siren, but curiously, not the Vascar unit) Fixed it up pretty well, painted her black, strapped a Sun Tach on the Column.
Never got more than 8mpg, highway/city, everywhere.
Not great performance by 78′ but that Motorcraft 4 barrel sounded great when you’d get into it,
Sold her, dammit,
Frank
had a 73 LTD 2 door 351 Windsor and C4 good little car, Little as in underpowered, but good on gas, got almost 20 MPG on the highway and about 15 in town. Later picked up a 74 LTD Brougham 460 C6 black outside tannish looking mauve inside. Both rode like you were sitting on a cloud. but that 74 city or highway the best I ever got was 9MPG. I seldom put my foot in it, due to the gas mileage, but when I did, hold on to your hat, whoa Nellie wasn’t in it. I liked them both but preferred the 460 in the Brougham.
My brother had a 4 door Galaxie. I Had the Mercury Monterey 2 door version of this car. Very comfortable and a wonderful highway car with lots of room for my young family. A little hard to find a parking spot downtown though. If I’m not mistaken, I think the hood length was a par 5.
Talking Police Interceptor, I have a 2017 Ford Interceptor Utility. Runs strong, fast, handles incredibly. Pursuit mode is a hoot. Haven’t tried the programmed J turn.
Best looking Ford LTD ever. 400 V8 the worst Ford V8 ever from that era. Spun timing chains like clockwork and were gutless.
I recently bought a ’72 LTD coupe with 45k miles. So far, it’s been a lot of fun. I totally agree with the numb over-boosted steering.
There was a blooper involving Burt’s LTD in the movie. Most of the scenes showed him shifting gears. But in one scene, after escaping from the police in a hairy raising chase, he pulls into the front yard and places an automatic transmission in “Park.” The movie was on “Star Channel,” the predecessor to “The Movie Channel.” We were little kids; we watched it a dozen times and always got a laugh out of that blooper scene.
I always notice that as well. It goes from Auto to manual tranny 3 or 4 times. Cruising in town talking to the girls. Loading up the moonshine. Leaving the family party at the end. Btw that was a Galaxie in White Lightning
There was a blooper involving Burt’s LTD in the movie. Most of the scenes showed him shifting gears. But in one scene, after escaping from the police in a hair raising chase, he pulls into the front yard and places an automatic transmission in “Park.” The movie was on “Star Channel,” the predecessor to “The Movie Channel.” We were little kids; we watched it a dozen times and always got a laugh out of that blooper scene.
I bought a ’72 LTD Brougham four door that was the same colour, with the 400,C6, bronze brocade seats,a/c, brown vinyl top,tints, and the rim blow steering wheel back in 1982 in South London for £500. Noticed that it flashed the oil light on corners so put new Quaker State in as soon as I could. Did 18 mpg in town, 22 on a run(Imperial gallon). Used it with no problems for two years until I married and sold it for £500. I believe it had THREE brake lights! Liked it better than the ’69 350 Camaro I had before! Great car!