Ford decided there was a market niche for a full-size luxury car not named Lincoln, so they rolled out the LTD in 1965. It was a Galaxie 500 with a higher trim level. The car was an instant hit, prompting Chevrolet to do the same with the Caprice (a fancier Impala). Ford sold more than 110,000 LTDs in 1967 (excluding the Country Squire), including this somewhat forgotten 4-door hardtop. It doesn’t run and needs a lot of love, so the seller has priced it as such at $2,000 here on craigslist. The location is sunny Scottsdale, Arizona.
Some of you may remember Ford’s advertising back in 1965, when they compared the quiet ride of the LTD vs. a Rolls-Royce. A pretty bold statement and one that I never got a chance to test out, as I’ve never ridden in a Rolls (I wonder if R-R ever challenged Ford on that claim?). The big Fords were treated to a styling refresh in 1967 as the 1965s had been all-new. Stacked headlights would continue as a Ford trademark for one more year in ’67. Chevy’s Caprice was also successful, and Plymouth joined the mix in 1966 with the VIP, which ended up a distant third in sales.
In 1967, the LTD came with a 289 cubic inch V8 standard fare. You could order it with a 390 big block, which the original owner of this example did. And you wouldn’t order an LTD with a manual transmission, so this one has a column-shifted 3-speed automatic. Before being parked, this Ford traveled over 127,000 miles. Its light blue paint seems to have been replaced by grey primer in places, and the dark blue interior shows its age and use. We’re told that rust is minimal, but is it that before or after primer?
You’ll have to tow this Ford home to figure out why it doesn’t run. And the condition suggests it’s been sitting for a while, so if you’re lucky, only the fuel system is mucked up. The seller only provides four photos, and none of them give us a peek under the hood. BTW, the car comes with a spare tire and wheel, which seems to be a big selling point. The seller will only accept phone calls or texts, yet craigslist only works by email, so he/she may not get many inquiries. Another Ford tip brought to us by Jack M.!
They were scientifically tested and it was actually true,the LTD was quieter than a Rolls.Keep in mind,older Rolls were not the insulated vaults they are now.The LTD’s secret was Upgraded frame mounts alot of insulation and high quality build(Ford’s of the 60’s were very well built) Being a child of the 60’s and teen of the 70’s in a Ford family i know the joy of whispering to your sister for the other side in a big Ford and her hearing you :P
The low entry price may seem enticing, but it’s a non running car that has lots of dings and dents. Who knows what’s wrong with it mechanically? What’s the condition of the engine, carb, transmission, brakes, suspension, wiring. As with many cars like this, if it’s your dream car, it might be worth a chance, but if you are just looking for cruiser from the 1960’s through 1980’s that doesn’t need mechanical work and looks good you can find something for not much more money.
Steve R