Ford LTD (Americas)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

(Redirected from Ford LTD (North America))
This article is about the domestic (U.S.) model. For the Australian-built vehicl
e of the same name, see Ford LTD (Australia).
Ford LTD
'72 Ford LTD Coupe.JPG
1972 Ford LTD 2-Door Hardtop
Overview
Manufacturer Ford
Production 1964 1986[1]
Body and chassis
Class Full-size (1964 1982)
Mid-size (1982 1986)
Layout FR layout
Chronology
Successor Ford LTD Crown Victoria (for full-size LTD)
Ford Taurus (for mid-size LTD)
The Ford LTD (pronounced el-tee-dee) is a range of automobiles manufactured by F
ord Motor Company for the 1965 to 1986 model years. Introduced as the highest tr
im of the full-size Ford model range, the Ford LTD introduced options and featur
es normally reserved for luxury brands (such as the Lincoln brand). The largest
vehicle produced by Ford in North America for most of its production, the LTD wa
s joined by the intermediate Ford LTD II from 1977 to 1979; the LTD II served as
the replacement for the Torino/Gran Torino range. At various times throughout i
ts production, the LTD range included two-door and four-door pillared and hardto
p sedans, a two-door convertible, and the Ford LTD Country Squire five-door wood
grain station wagon.
For the 1979 model year, the LTD would undergo downsizing, becoming externally s
maller than the LTD II. For 1983, the LTD effectively became a midsize car as th
e Ford Granada was discontinued and renamed the LTD; its full-size counterpart b
ecame LTD Crown Victoria. The mid-size LTD was replaced by the Ford Taurus after
1986, as Ford shifted much of its model line towards front-wheel drive vehicles
.
Outside of North America, the 1965-1968 Ford LTD was manufactured in South Ameri
ca into the 1980s.
Contents [hide]
1 Etymology
2 1965 1968
2.1 Limousine
3 1969 1978
3.1 Timeline
3.2 Mechanical Details
3.3 LTD II
4 Panther-platform (1979 1982)
5 Fox-platform (1983 1986)
5.1 LTD LX
6 Brazil
7 Venezuela
8 References
9 External links
Etymology[edit]
This section does not cite any sources. Please help improve this section by addi
ng citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and remov
ed. (October 2014) (Learn how and when to remove this template message)
The LTD designation is considered by some an abbreviation of "luxury trim decor"
and by others as a limited trim designation for the Galaxie. There is evidence
in early 1970s Australian LTD sales brochures that "Lincoln type design" was ada
pted by Ford's Australian marketing as the meaning of the LTD nameplate to play
up Lincoln-like exclusitivity and design influence of its Falcon-based LTD luxur
y car since actual Lincoln models were not sold in that country. However there i
s no evidence of "Lincoln type design" ever being used in brochures or advertisi
ng copy of North American sales literature. The original Car Life review at the
time the first Galaxie 500 LTD was released suggests that "LTD" stood for nothin
g and was ambiguous in meaning just like the "XL" suffix of the Galaxie 500 XL m
odel.[citation needed]
1965 1968[edit]
First generation
Ford Galaxy 500 LTD 1965.jpg
Overview
Also called Ford Galaxie 500 LTD (1965)
Production 1964 1968
Model years 1965 1968
Assembly Louisville, Kentucky
Mahwah, New Jersey
Pico Rivera, California
Atlanta, Georgia
St. Louis, Missouri
Body and chassis
Body style 4-door hardtop
4-door sedan (1967-1968)
2-door coupe
2-door convertible
4-door station wagon.
Related Mercury Monterey
Mercury Park Lane
Mercury Colony Park
Ford Galaxie
Ford Custom
Ford Country Squire
Powertrain
Engine 289 cu in (4.7 L) Challenger/Windsor V8
302 cu in (4.9 L) Challenger/Windsor V8
352 cu in (5.8 L) Thunderbird (FE) V8
390 cu in (6.4 L) Thunderbird Special (FE) V8
427 cu in (7.0 L) Cobra (FE) V8
428 cu in (7.0 L) Thunderbird (FE) V8
Dimensions
Wheelbase 119 in (3,023 mm)
The Ford Galaxie 500 LTD was introduced in 1964,[2] and prompted the Chevrolet C
aprice mid-year, the AMC Ambassador "DPL," the Plymouth Fury "VIP," and the simi
lar Dodge Monaco. These upscale models had features found primarily on luxury mo
dels from these same manufacturers, namely Cadillac, Lincoln and Imperial, but w
ere sold at much lower retail prices. These cars commonly came equipped with opt
ions like power windows, a power driver's seat, power brakes, power steering, ai
r conditioning, and a full or half-vinyl top (called a landau or brougham interc
hangeably across different models by the same manufacturers). Other upgrades wer
e interiors made of better materials and more powerful engines. Most of these up
per trim models were usually hardtops as opposed to pillared bodies.
In 1966, the LTD series became completely separate from the Galaxie 500, which c
ontinued as the mid-line offering (the performance-oriented Galaxie 500 XL share
d top billing with the LTD). The Twin Comfort Lounge Seat (a split bench seat) w
as a new option.
The 1967 LTD two-door hardtop got a new formal roofline, keeping up with the com
petition. All models re