Fresh out of long-term storage, this one-family-owned 1972 Ford LTD Convertible looks like an outstanding car to tinker with. Yes, it isn’t currently running, but it turns over and look at that solid body on this rare ragtop! The seller has it posted here on craigslist in Kennewick, Washington, and they’re asking $4,500. Here is the original listing, and thanks to Curvette for the tip!
A lot of us dream about finding a car like this LTD convertible hidden away in storage. This is one great-looking car. We don’t know too much about its history, other than it’s supposedly a one-family-owned car and is fresh out of long-term storage. We don’t know how long it was stored or where, but it was presumably in storage, as it looks rock-solid.
And, the rear window is out of the convertible top, so outdoor storage wouldn’t have been good. As it is, even indoor storage isn’t ideal with a window missing. Or, with a window out, it isn’t missing; the seller says it’s included. They also say it’s super solid and rust-free; it doesn’t get much better than that. $4,500 for this car seems like a no-brainer to me. Of course, shipping a non-running vehicle is more expensive than shipping a running vehicle. Ford made the second-generation LTD from 1968 for the 1969 model year until the end of 1978, at which point, the design had changed quite a bit. This is the last year for the LTD convertible, and this one almost appears to be wearing the base-level Custom trim wheel covers rather than the LTD full wheel covers?
The Pacific Northwest wins again; the interior looks great in this 54-year-old car. The white vinyl seats look almost perfect with no visible cracking, an amazing feat for seats this old in a convertible. Was the top ever down on this car? The back seat looks equally perfect, and we don’t get to see the trunk or any photos of the underside. Those would have been nice, but the seller has included more photos than most craigslist sellers. Here’s a 1972 Ford brochure, and another one.
The dusty engine is Ford’s 400-cu.in. OHV V8, which was rated at around 172 horsepower, and it’s backed by an automatic transmission, of course. The seller says this car isn’t currently running because it’s in storage, but it turns over. Hagerty is at $16,300 for a #3 good-condition car, which this one isn’t, but it’s just a random value for the next owner to shoot for as they start tinkering with this one. I’m guessing the paint would shine up nicely, and hopefully the mechanical issues aren’t too daunting. Plan on doubling the asking price to get this one on the road (tires, brakes, shocks, fuel system, battery, etc.), but that would still be a bargain price for a car this nice. Any thoughts on this LTD convertible?
Good write-up SG. Looks like a solid Ford. I agree, get the mechanicals in shape, fix the top, and try to get some life back into the paint. (This color was everywhere back in the day, now it would be completely unacceptable on a new mainstream vehicle). Then the decision: stick with the dog dishes, or give it some flashy wheels.
Thanks, Bob. I’d stick with those wheel covers, even though it’s probably sacrilege for a high-trim LTD. I guess if it were a Custom or even a Custom 500, they may be more appropriate.
My vote is for the hub caps as the car sits. Keep it simple, clean and functional. No whitewalls either.
Give it the upgraded hub caps!
RK, our own Ron Denny wrote up two really nice examples in that same color, a few years ago (I should have mentioned them), and Adam just wrote one up a few days ago. I’m not a big fan of the turbine-1960s-spy-movie-looking wire wheel covers for LTDs in this era, but I like the ones shown above.
I agree with you and Rex on the standard wheel covers on the upscale LTD. In the late sixties and early seventies my dad ordered several dealer demonstrators for Mom to drive that had those turbine/finned wheel covers. Those things were HEAVY and were prone to fly off the front wheels in tight turns with a little speed. Dad finally wised up and quit ordering those wheel covers.
My mother had one new and I’ve owned two. Great driving cars, not too big but room for everyone. Interesting the asking price is right around what the base price was new in 72. The hubcaps were std on base LTDs, with wheel covers a few dollars more and the beautiful deluxe wheel covers (my favorite) a few more dollars on top of that. Sadly, it is hard to re-attach the glass rear window and will most likely require replacing the top to get the window back in.
Interesting detail on possible rear window issue.
“Base” LTD’s? I thought that the LTD was the top trim level in full size Fords of this era, there was no such thing as a “base” LTD! There was the Custom, Custom 500, Galaxy 500, LTD, with the LTD Brougham as the top trim level. The link to the brochures in the post shows pictures of each trim level, and only Customs and Custom 500’s got “dog dish” hubcaps. BTW, the Ford Custom was the police car of choice in movies and TV shows of the era, with SFPD Inspector Harold “Dirty Harry” Callahan (Clint Eastwood) driving one in “Magnum Force” (1973) and Detective Lt. Mike Stone (Karl Malden) and Inspector Steve Keller (Michael Douglas) driving one in “The Streets of San Francisco” (1972-77).
Note that you had a choice in Galaxie 500, LTD and LTD Brougham four-door models between a “post” style (Pillared Hardtop) and a “Hardtop”, or what we used to call a “Convertible Hardtop”, an oxymoron to be sure. The Custom and Custom 500 were only available as “Pillared Hardtops”.
Nice find and write-up. Deal!!!
I came here to say this might be Ford’s worst color of that time period, but seeing that pic of one properly shined and detailed, I’ll have to eat my freshly typed words…
Pasco,Kennewick & Richland, Eastern Washington’s Tri Cities just North of the Columbia River. Hot & dry as Scotty says. Expected is the rust free body. The surprise is the interior as rubber,plastic and cloth really take a beating in that type of environment. That does support the implication of a well stored car. :-) Terry J
That’s good info, Terry, thanks much. My wife and I hit the Tri-Cities a few years ago for a wine trip, and it didn’t disappoint.
Great comments, everyone! We’d be nothing without the fine folks who send in these outstanding tips. I love how much experience there is out there on every vehicle shown here on Barn Finds. When there are so many great comments about trivia and “insider info” (like the rear window), and those things, it makes it even better. Thanks!
The Good: General condition, the price. The Bad: No rear window and the top will have to be replaced. The Ugly: Most of the paint might buff out, but the hood could stand a repaint. The Verdict: It will need a fuel system and brake system rebuild to be roadworthy, along with rebuilding the front end and a shock absorber replacement. The engine and transmission may or may not also need work, but you will have to get it running to find out. The 400 isn’t my favorite Ford engine, parts are scarce because it wasn’t around for long, but an engine swap with either a 351CJ or a 429 CJ or SCJ is an option. There’s lots to like here, and it won’t take much to get this “King of the Road” cruising back down the highway again! GLWTS.
You could be right, sir. I thought it was odd that Hagerty listed the 400 cars as less valuable than the 351 cars. Normally, the bigger engine gets more money, but not according to them.
Part of the issue is that the 400 was only available from the factory as a two-barrel motor, and aftermarket four-barrel manifolds for the 400 are non-existent. If you want four barrels or more in an engine bigger than a 302, then either the 351, the 429 or the 460 are your only choices. Source: Wikipedia (see link below).
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_335_engine
Just put 351 c 4v heads on that 400 and it becomes a scalded wild animal. Mo engine swap, just heads intake and exhaust and poof 429cj eater. Ask Jon Kaase
great deal. paid the same for my 70 lesabre convert not running. turned out to be a good buy. get it running, clean it up and enjoy or triple your money if it’s as solid as it looks. if were on the east coast i would be right on it.
Eons ago i had 71 LTD coupe put lots of miles on it. It did have a 400 and no trouble. Only trouble I had was transmixer not shifting until car had been driven a while. I finally found a cure after I got rid of the car of course/ I think it was Trans X.
If I had a few extra $$$ and a good place to store and work on I would be headed upriver. Much neater than my 2001 SABLE.
I owned a 1971 Galaxie convertible my junior year in high school. Earl Schieb blue, white bucket seat interior with the staple automatic shifter and console. Big enough to haul a bunch of girls to music camp in the summer of 1979. Mine also had the glass rear window which tore off the white vinyl due to its weight. Had the 351 and I seem to recall it getting pretty good mileage during the oil crisis. My current 1959 wagon has a later 351M engine, which is an emissions-strangled mess but a torque monster.
I like that the bucket seats and console, with the “basket handle” shifter were part of the package to go with the convertible! Very rare for a full-size Ford in 1971! I bet you miss it every day! I know I would! The 351M and the 400 were specifically designed for the anti-smog era, designed for low-end torque, not power. Both were “tall deck” versions of the 335 block. The short deck version is better known as a 351C, which at least could be had with a four-barrel carburetor and in CJ and SCJ versions. The 351M used a short-stroke crank, combined with domed pistons, while the 400 used a long-throw crank with dished pistons, to get the correct compression ratio and displacement while using the same tall deck block.
Thanks for your wise words. I am at the moment trying to get my 351M dialed in for better performance. Also looking at some of the suggestions below from “FORDS AWAKE.” I’m okay with it’s capabilities to pull a tree stump but would like a little more top end acceleration. At the moment, it seems to have a flat spot around 55-65 mph (no idea the rpm).
good potential
Edelbrock 2171 Performer 400 Aluminum Intake Manifold for Ford 351M/400. Sells at Summit.
To convert your 1972 LTD 400‑2V to a 4‑barrel:
1.) 4‑barrel intake (Edelbrock 2171 recommended)
2.) 4‑barrel carb (600–650 CFM is perfect for a stock 400)
3.) New valley pan or intake gasket set
4.) Throttle/kickdown linkage bracket (Lokar makes one if needed)
5.) Possibly a different air cleaner for hood clearance
This combination adds 20 to 30 HP
Then add the Edelbrock 1406 Carb
Then add this cam:
Comp Cams 260H (High Energy 260)
Duration @ .050: 212/212
Lift: .460/.460
LSA: 110°
No need to change springs with this cam
Adds another 20 to 25HP.
Next Put Doug’s Headers on and dual exhaust.
This adds an additional 20HP
Next add a HEI distributer for consistent spark and adjustable weights.
Lastly add the advanced timing gears and adjust 4 degrees out of the 6 degreed Ford added in for retardation in order to meet government requirements of that time period. And move torque to more of the mid-range.
This combo wakes up the 400 like unbelievable power improving drivability.
I did this to mine and am very pleased with the total result.
Listing update: this one is a mystery, has it sold? If you click on the craigslist ad now, it brings up a white Suburban.
Now it says:
This posting has been deleted by its author.
Well, As long as that F series truck has a 400 or 335 family engine in it, most of the above comments still apply. LOL. :-) Terry J