Cool and tough isn’t how a person normally describes a 1971 Ford LTD, but there it is. I like luxury as much as the next person, but a two-door LTD with “racing wheels”, blackwall tires, and in cosmetic condition where you wouldn’t have to worry about leaving it in a big-box parking lot while you shop? Yes, please. The seller has it posted here on craigslist in Rochester, New Hampshire and they’re asking $6,000. Here is the original listing, and thanks to Mitchell G. for the tip!
I’d prefer plain black steel rims, but I don’t know if I’d change anything about the exterior of this LTD. I may try some polishing compound, but that’s it, and that may make it look worse so I’d probably leave it for now. Ford made the second-generation LTD from 1968 for the 1969 model year until 1978 and other than maybe a convertible, I don’t know if there is a more-popular body style than this. You noticed there’s no optional vinyl top and it gives it a clean look. I’m normally a vinyl top fan but it might look out of place on this car.
The seller says the paint has “light blemishes” from the Arizona sun, but that looks like serious rust on the lower lip of the trunk. Our 1970 Olds 98 had rust there and had to be fixed, as a lot of vehicles do. Anything is fixable, but matching the cool 54-year-old “patina” would be impossible. I’m not sure what the license plate means, not enough?
Since it’s a craigslist ad and it’s also 2025, all of the photos are in vertical format, unfortunately, but the seller included a variety so kudos to them for that. That being said, this is the lone interior photo, sadly. I’m not sure why everything wasn’t taken out before taking this one photo showing the interior of a car that’s listed for sale, but I don’t understand a lot of things. The dash is cracked, the seat has been recovered, and the steering wheel has been changed. I’d source a factory-style wheel asap, I couldn’t live with the one in there now, or the seat fabric.
The engine is a mystery, there’s no mention of the size V8 it is and no VIN photo since this is a craigslist ad. Your guess is as good as mine, is it a 351? A 390? A 400? One of you may know if there’s any way to nail it just by this one engine photo. It looks pretty good under the hood and again, it’s great that the seller included an engine photo, a lot of sellers don’t do that. It’s said to need minor things and the seller says it’s an 8 out of 10 mechanically, so that’s good, right? Any thoughts on this LTD?
Well here’s my guess…
Cleveland..
its a nice unmolested car…
Ford LTD 2-door Hardtop 351 V-8 Cruise-O-Matic (aut. 3) , model year 1972, version for North America U.S. (up to September):
manufactured by Ford (USA) (United States)
2-door coupe body type
RWD (rear-wheel drive), automatic 3-speed gearbox
gasoline (petrol) engine with displacement: 5766 cm3 / 351.9 cui, advertised power: 114 kW / 153 hp / 155 PS ( SAE net ), torque: 361 Nm / 266 lb-ft, more data: 1972 Ford LTD 2-door Hardtop 351 V-8 Cruise-O-Matic (aut. 3) Horsepower/Torque Curve
characteristic dimensions: outside length: 5491 mm / 216.2 in, width: 2012 mm / 79.2 in, wheelbase: 3073 mm / 121 in
reference weights: shipping weight 1748 kg / 3853 lbs base curb weight: 1875 kg / 4133 lbs
how fast is this car ? top speed: 175 km/h (109 mph) (©theoretical);
accelerations: 0- 60 mph 12.9© s; 0- 100 km/h 13.7© s (simulation ©automobile-catalog.com); 1/4 mile drag time (402 m) 19.3© s (simulation ©automobile-catalog.com), more data: 1972 Ford LTD 2-door Hardtop 351 V-8 Cruise-O-Matic (aut. 3) Performance Review
fuel consumption and mileage: average estimated by a-c: 18.6 l/100km / 15.2 mpg (imp.) / 12.6 mpg (U.S.) / 5.4 km/l, more data: 1972 Ford LTD 2-door Hardtop 351 V-8 Cruise-O-Matic (aut. 3) Specifications Review
The car in this ad is a 1971, not a 1972. If it was a 1972 it wouldn’t have the dip in the center of the front bumper. The rear bumper would also be taller and surround the tail lights.
I have a dumpster in the back parking area of my office. Should I paint it or leave the patina? Asking for a friend. BTW, the paper towels are a nice touch. Adds a subliminal detail that conveys clean.
Now that made me laugh! And I don’t usually laugh when reading these posts. But I have a “thing” with paper towels and toilet paper as well. After 45 years of marriage, I am the one who skimps when using paper towels, less so her. I just spent over $25 at Walmart on TP! There’s just the two of us. Does that mean we are “full of it”? What made me laugh was the funny reference to the bag with paper towels in the photo, perhaps a subliminal reference to the cleanliness of the car? By the way, there are a lot of Daves here. There’s me, here in PA, there’s NHDave, and the other Dave who already posted. I don’t think I can change without reregistering. Are any of you old enough to remember “Dave’s not here!”.
Woops, I forgot Dave Brown who also posted, so there at least four of us Daves. Whenever I see Dave Brown’s posts, I think of my friend Dave Brown, a housemate of mine from days in Northern California, a guitar player and singer. He had a VW bus that had a bad accident in the early 70’s, sustained a head injury, recovered, got married and moved back to PA, but died recently with Parkinson’s. Lots of Dave Browns I think.
Ain’t that the truth, WoodyBoater? Same thing with oil cans and coolant canisters in the trunk. Or fast food wrappers and super gulps in the footwells. If you prefer a trashy car to advance the atmosphere, more power to you. But wouldn’t it only take seconds to remove the junk for the sake of taking decent pictures? You want to sell a car, after all!
As others note – cleaning out the interior is step 1….
Jim, the plate proudly exclaims that it’s “Not an EV” or electric vehicle
But paint it black and add a couple spot lights on the A pillars and watch the seas part in front of you!
Oops Scotty, not Jim…
Oh man, I should have gotten that, thanks, PaulG!
Fifty years ago
Yeah it’s a Cleveland. That engine and the front grille are the valuable items. These cars are not really worth much; certainly not anywhere near $6k
In the early 80s, I bought a 72 LTD convert in the same yellow with black interior and top. A glass and trim shop installed a new top and found matching vinyl for the driver’s seat at a REASONABLE price. Try finding even a glass and trim shop today let alone the costs. But that LTD with Windsor motor could burn rubber while providing a smooth cruise. After several years of storing it in winter I reluctantly decided it would no longer a viable option. Now I often think of my former cars and wish I could have kept them. But it would take a Barn to hold all the ones I really enjoyed. The LTD convert is close to the top of my list! 👍 I guess this is just another sob 😭 (definitely NOT Saab 🤮) story.
What’s sitting on the dash? Is it a troll? A leprechaun? Or is something watching 👀 like a spy or big brother 🤔. Similar to Plymouth *Suddenly it’s 1960* , maybe * Suddenly It’s 1984* 🤣 😂
I always wanted one of those illuminated Vigin Mary statuettes to stand on the dashboard!
What’s sitting on the dash? Is it a troll? A leprechaun? Or is something watching 👀 like a spy or big brother 🤔. Similar to Plymouth *Suddenly it’s 1960* , maybe * Suddenly It’s 1984* 🤣 😂
What’s sitting on the dash? Is it a troll? A leprechaun? Or is something watching 👀 like a spy or big brother 🤔. Similar to Plymouth *Suddenly it’s 1960* , maybe * Suddenly It’s 1984* 🤣 😂
I apologize for multiple posts of the same comment. I don’t know what happened 😕
These were the largest generation of full sized Ford automobiles ever made. This one is equipped as were the vast majority of cars from the time. However, a complete restoration is needed on this vehicle.
Yep, it’s a 351M/400 2-bbl, used in full-size Ford cars and eventually Ford trucks.
351 Cleveland was used in Mustang, cougar, Torino, Montego, etc.
No 351 Cleveland was ever installed in an F-series truck from the factory.
But it happened again. lol.
Almost like Gator McCluskey’s Ford in “White Lightning”…..just needs that 429CJ under the bonnet!
And a 4 speed.
Could the above LTD be a “French Connection” movie car?!
https://www.imcdb.org/v525515.html
Nah.
You could get an LTD with a 4 speed manual trans!! – but has anyone here ever seen one?
Once upon a time MANY MANY Moons ago I had a 71 like this it was a couple of years old and had about fifty thou. When I got rid of it several years ago It had almost 200thou, bad trans, wrecked and repaired when I finally sold it. These take a licking and keep on ticking, more than I can say about a late model VW I had,
These a rare, now. Most were junked by the late 70’s. Oil crisis and rust issues. For around $3000, this wouldn’t be a bad going to town rig.
I bought one of these a 72 in 1978 blue one I was driving back to the hotel after a 12 hour shift on a drilling rig and fell asleep at the wheel I woke up in the ditch doing 70 Mph and hit an approach it went 15 ft in the air broke a telephone post off midway and landed on its nose I pulled myself out and the car then tipped over and slid into a pond Left me on the side of the road bleeding hard from hitting my head on the dash I finally got someone to pull over and take me to the hospital. Four hours later the police came and charged me with leaving the scene of an accident because they sent divers in to look for me. Andy R
The engine in this car is a 400 cid.
This engine is a 400. The 351 in the ‘71 full sized ford was a Windsor. Cleveland was not used in the big cars and the 351 M hadn’t been introduced yet. Early ‘71s could have had a 390, which was soon replaced with the new 400. Also available was a 429.
The last big ford that you could get a 4 speed in was the ‘69.
Thanks for the engine info, folks! I knew the experienced Barn Finds family would come through again.