Ford rolled out the LTD in 1965 as a fancy version of the popular Galaxie 500. Early advertising compared its quiet ride with that of a Rolls-Royce. After more than 20 years of production, the LTD gave way to the Crown Victoria in the mid-1980s. This 1974 edition is a 4-door sedan that has emerged from 25 years of slumber on a Nebraska farm. Yet it runs and looks as good as it did at the turn of the century. The nearest big town is Fort Collins, and that’s where you can find this big Ford, which is available here on craigslist for $19,500. Rocco B. delivers again with a neat tip.
Second-generation LTDs were in production from 1969 to 1978, with a major facelift in between. If you were a fan of TV cop shows in the 1970s, it was hard not to see an LTD or a Galaxie in many scenes. Within months of the LTD’s introduction, Chevrolet quickly followed suit with the Impala-based Caprice, which was every bit the success story that the LTD was. Though sales were softened by the OPEC oil embargo, Ford still sold 72,000 LTD four-door models like this one in 1974.
We’re told this one-owner Ford was last registered in 2001. At the time, it had 115,000 miles and was retired apparently for reasons not related to mechanical health. We’re guessing it was Grandpa or Grandma’s car (though they had no children), and they got to where they couldn’t drive anymore. Fast forward 2.5 decades and the family now needs the LTD to find a new home. Everything about the car speaks “time capsule” regarding the body, paint, vinyl roof, and interior.
This Ford has a good running 400 cubic inch V8 with a 2-barrel carburetor. which wouldn’t have been too popular when you were waiting in lines to buy gasoline on even or odd days (remember that?). Options abound on this luxury car, including power seats and air conditioning (of course). The couple kept records on the car’s service, and those documents will follow it on to the next owner. This is a beautiful big Ford, but is it worth nearly 20 grand?
Looks like a clean LTD. A good example of the days of roomy, quiet, smooth-riding big sedans. Well-equipped— 15 options. I can imagine this “western Nebraska farm couple” knew the importance of taking care of their farm equipment, and keeping records. Which carried over to their car. It even has a stick-on compass, and the Ford shifter warning sticker is still intact.
Get it roadworthy (perhaps, new whitewalls) and enjoy the ride.
Nice, but pricey. There is a lot of competition in that price range and below.
Steve R
My neighbors had one blue with a white top and blue interior. Its was a very nice car that I was able to drive on occasion. The price is too high considering the seller is advertising the milage as 15,780 instead of the true mileage. What else is the seller not truly telling us? But the 1985 Pontiac Grand Prix would be more in my price range
The seller is not being misleading about the cars mileage. The odometer does show 15,780, which is accurate since it’s a 5 digit speedometer, they specifically state the mileage is 115,780 in the next sentence. It probably would have been better to leave the odometer reading line blank when filling out specifics in the ad to reduce confusion.
Steve R
That one really is a ’70’s time capsule. The interior upholstery screams it. Hope it goes to a good home.
They opted for a lot of comfort features; dual rear speakers, power seat and speed control. Also passing on many more; power locks, trunk, windows and tilt column. A/C was a 10% boost over MSRP yet some still question why buyers in middle and northern states passed over it. Beautiful LTD in its earth tones. I’ll bet it’s a treat to drive.
Just for the record the Craigslist ad states $15,500. Nice comfortable quiet ride.
I had a ‘75 model two door in the same color combo as this car with the same interior. Boy I miss that car and it was one the best cars I have ever owned and I drove it in high school and then at my first duty station at Ft. Rucker,Al. Those were the days.
Back in the day, there were a lot of people in my age group who bought cars like this instead of going a little smaller and sportier. They got fairly good economy and were reliable as could be. Some are still out there.
I know a ’76 LTD that could be mistaken for this one but I think it’s down in the 56K mile range. Not bad for never being outside and never being used in the winter. Here’s the funny thing: It’s got a 460, lots of power and it gets in the upper teens for mileage. They’ve run a few Suburbans since then and never got anything close to that LTD.
I stripped a two door with super low miles years back for the drive line like a fool. It rode and drove so nice but no one wanted the boat
Yup so few wanted them, but they made so many. Bought one for $200 and a best car story could be told .
I had the exact car, even the same color. Mine was a 351 cid, and was not easy on gas either.
I like the $4000 monaco more. Not even considering the huge price difference.
20K is big big bucks for a car that will need a lot of work to make it roadworthy.
Also I don’t think that is the most popular big Ford so IMHO the price is way out of range.
Otherwise it would be a nice ride.
yeah, that price is way out there for sure.be lucky to pull 7500.00 out of it. nothing collectable about it.
I had a 74 Gran Torino with the same paint and vinyl top colors.
Same interior too.
That medium copper metallic color is very nice.
This is the last year the 351 and 400s were still true Clevelands. After that, they received the “M” moniker. It has been said that they weren’t quite the same.
Great car in the day. But the pricing seems a bit aggressive for a 4 door, brown car with over 100K. If it had 15K on it, maybe? Best of luck to them.