Ford LTD
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1971 Ford LTD convertible |
The
Ford LTD is a
car model name that has been used by the
Ford Motor Company both in
North America and
Australia.
The LTD designation is considered by some an abbreviation of "Luxury Trim Decor" and by others as a limited body style classification for the
Galaxie. There is evidence that, at least in Australia, it originally stood for "Lincoln Type Design." The original "Car Life" review at the time the first LTD was released suggests that it stood for nothing and was just three meaningless letters (that article also noted it could not stand for "limited" as Chrysler at the time already was using and had the copyright on that car name/designation). It was to be called the Galaxie LTD, in reference to the introduction of the
Chevrolet Caprice which itself was an upscale model of the similar
Chevrolet Impala model line and the similar body style but varying trim levels found in the
Dodge Monaco and
Polara. These upscale models had features found primarily on luxury models from these same manufacturers, but were sold with much lower retail prices. The standard upgrade on these cars were power windows, a power drivers seat, power brakes, power steering, air conditioning, a full or half-vinyl top (called a
landau or
brougham randomly across different models by the same manufacturers. For example, the LTD was offered with a Landau top, but the
Mercury Marquis and
Ford Torino offered exactly the same roof as a Brougham package). Another list of upgrades were interiors made of better materials and more powerful engine options. Most of these upper trim models were usually all hardtops as opposed to pillared bodies.
A luxury range of large cars wore the LTD badge from
1965 to
1991 in the United States. The LTD name debuted as a high-line option package on the
Galaxie 500, but became a separate model for 1966. The
Ford Galaxie name continued for the lower levels. In
1975, the LTD name took over completely, although the long-standing economy line, the
Custom 500, remained available through
1978 for fleet sales in the US and as a full line in Canada. The LTD often shared its grille and trim pieces with the Galaxie XL sport coupe and the Country Squire
station wagon. An even more upmarket model with
Lincoln-like hidden headlights and fender skirts was marketed as the LTD Landau from 1975 to 1978. During this period, the model was also sold in Mexico.
In 1977, the name was split and used on two different car lines. The full-size LTD continued, but a rebodied version of the
Ford Torino was sold as the
LTD II. Both offered coupe, sedan, and wagon body styles. This arrangement continued until the standard LTD was moved to the
Ford Panther platform in
1979. An LTD Custom 500 model was available in Canada from 1979 to 1981.
In the early years of this body, two grille designs existed: a lower-line one with single square headlights and amore premium design with duals. The single-light design was most commonly seen on police cars, a market which this LTD and its successors came to dominate. In 1980, the top model became the
Ford LTD Crown Victoria, easily identified by a
targa-like chrome band across the roof, usually paired with a landau
vinyl roof.
From
1983 to
1986, the LTD nameplate was used for two separate cars, kept on the full-size sedan as the LTD Crown Victoria and placed on a midsize car based on the
Ford Fox platform as the LTD. The LTD continued in sedan and station wagon forms through 1986, overlapping slightly with the first model year of the
Ford Taurus in 1986, the car that became its successor.
The LTD was a very successful car, being the third-best selling car in the United States in
1983 and
1984.
1975-1978
The LTD was redesigned for 1975. While the new LTD weighed less than earlier models, it was still far in excess of two tons, meaning that agility and fuel economy were both weak points. The most economical engine available was the 302 in³ V8, but was too underpowered. The next largest engine was Ford's 351 in³ V8, which was the most common, if not most powerful choice. Still larger was Ford's 400 in³ V8, and topping the range was Lincoln's huge 460 in³ V8, which gave good power but got less than 10 mpg in city traffic; some examples were observed being as thirsty as 6 or 7 mpg.
1977-1979
When Ford decided to phase out the Torino in 1976, they adopted the successful LTD name for its replacement. Since the first and full-size LTD was still on the market, the product planners added a "II" after the LTD. The LTD II was essentially a restyled Torino, and continued until 1979.
1979-1991
Downsized two years after its main rival, the
Chevrolet Impala, the new 1979 LTD was seven inches shorter than the old one, and four inches shorter than the LTD II. The interior remained just as large as the previous LTD though, and the whole design became more efficient; the reduced width, size, and bulk all led to improved road manners and manueverability, which had been major drawbacks in the previous LTD. Ride quality improved as well with the new car, as did fuel economy. Originally, the LTD was offered with the 302 and 351 in³ V8s, but the 351 was cancelled (except for police specials) after 1980. For 1981 and 1982, Ford offered a 255 in³ V8. The 302cid (5.0 liter) V8 became the sole powerplant after a 1983 refresh, although the police version could still be had with a carbureted 5.8 L V8 up to the 1991 model year. The 302 was reworked again in 1986 (when it gained fuel-injection), and continued under the hood of these cars until their 1992 redesign. The LTD name went on a smaller Fairmont-based sedan for 1983, and the full-size cars became LTD Crown Victoria. All LTD Crown Victorias equipped with the 302 engine made for the 1986 model year and later came standard with electronic multi-port fuel injection. For 1988, the LTD designation was dropped, along with the coupe. The Crown Victoria was redesigned for 1992.
1983-1986
Ford's final family sedan based on the
Fox platform, the LTD, and its Mercury twin, the
Marquis, were basically a restyle of the unsuccessful 1981 to 1982
Ford Granada and
Mercury Cougar, and the popular 1978 to 1983
Ford Fairmont and
Mercury Zephyr. In fact, the running gear was identical to the Fairmont, sharing the Fairmont's controlled ride and handling, and all of the virtues of the later Fairmont, including its reputation for reliability.
Both inherited the Fairmont's 2.3 L four-cylinder, 200 in³ inline six, and (in 1984 police and LX models only) H.O. 5.0L V8 engines. The V8 gained fuel-injection in LTD and Marquis however. Inherited from the Granada was Ford's 3.8 L Essex V6, which gave smooth and reliable power. The Essex gained fuel injection for 1984 in the US, it was carbureted in Canadian markets until 1986. An odd option from 1983 to 1984 was a
propane-powered four-cylinder engine, but was discontinued due to poor sales and few propane fueling stations. The LTD's final year was 1986, when Ford kept it alive due to the radical nature of its replacement, the Taurus.
In the middle in the 1984 model year, Ford introduced a performance LTD called the LX. It came standard with the H.O. 5.0L V8 engine (w/ CFI or central fuel injection), four-speed automatic overdrive transmission, 600 lb./in. front and 270 lb./in. rear coil springs, front and rear sway bars, 10" front disc and 10" rear drum brakes, and a 3.27:1 rear gear ratio w/ a Traction Lok differential. The LX model was the only Fox LTD to have a center console, a floor-mounted shifter for the transmission, and a tachometer in the instrument cluster. Roughly 3200 LXes were produced from mid 1984 through 1985. The Mercury version of the LX was the Marquis LTS and was available only in Canada.
Because of the sturdy body-on-frame construction of the large, roomy LTD/Crown Vic, the marque is a popular choice amongst police agencies, primarily in North America, but in US-influenced countries abroad as well.
The LTD was also produced locally in Brazil between 1967 - 1983, based on the 1966
Ford Galaxie. A locally-produced stretch limousine was also produced (the film
Wild Orchid featured an early 1980s LTD limousine).
In
Australia, the LTD name adorned a luxurious, long-wheelbase version of the
Ford Falcon from
1973 and is favoured by government officials there. There is a related downmarket model called the
Fairlane, which is still a luxurious car.
At least in Australia
LTD originally stood for "Lincoln Type Design" although Ford in Australia later promoted a connection with meaning "Limited."
Originally, the LTD was offered as a luxury sedan and a vinyl-roofed hardtop coupé called the LTD Landau, based on the Falcon Hardtop Coupé. (Unlike the US version, the Australian Landau was never offered as a sedan.) Both models were notable for their concealed headlamps, which would be revealed when their vacuum-operated grille sections were activated. The technology was similar to that found on an option offered on an earlier
Ford Thunderbird.
A facelift in
1976 saw an even more flamboyant grille with four round
headlamps, apeing
Rolls-Royces and other luxury models. The Landau was dropped.
In
1979, a squared-off LTD was launched, based on the XD series Ford Falcon of the time. The third generation LTDs came on stream for the
1989 model year, based on the EA26 series Falcon.
Currently, the fourth generation LTD, built on the EA169 platform, is Ford Australia's top model and is exported to
New Zealand and in small numbers to
Coleman Milne of the
UK. It received its first major facelift in
2002, as part of the 'BA' series updates, though it began sharing its tail lights with the lesser Falcon.
Unlike some lesser Fords, the Fairlane and LTD were never assembled in New Zealand.
Sci-fi movie
Men in Black starred on screen a re-vamped version of this car painted all black, used as the primary transportation vehicle of the main characters (played by
Tommy Lee Jones and
Will Smith).
Characters Sal and Annie Boca from the 1971 film
The French Connection also drove an LTD.
In the movie
National Lampoon's Vacation, the
Family Truckster is largely based on a wildly modified (or uglified) LTD Country Squire station wagon.
In the movie
Blues Brothers 2000 the "Blues Mobile" was a 1990 Ford LTD Crown Victoria police cruiser. The vehicle was featured extensively throughout the movie, as it was used to perform various high-performance stunts and supposedly filled with over a dozen people.
In the video game
Grand Theft Auto: Vice City the taxi and police vehicles are modelled after the mid-1980's Ford LTD.
Ford Crown Victoria*
LTDworld.com - Ford LTD World*
1979 Ford LTD Landau
