Update: My apologies; turns out this was a Ford Canada brochure. Oldcarbrochures.com has a separate section for Canadian brochures, so this must have slipped in under the radar. No wonder I didn’t remember there being a Custom 500 after 1974! Should have trusted my memory after all.
Here’s another car I would not have remembered as existing: a coupe 2-Door Pillared Hardtop version of the Ford Custom, and in 1977, no less. What I learn here every day could fill a blog!
If you asked me before now what was the Custom 500’s final year, I’d have guessed 1975 or so, and solely as a sedan 4-Door Pillared Hardtop. Oddly (or not), there’s no picture of any Custom other than the two-door in the ’77 brochure (on top); you must go all the way back to ’74 to see the four-door accounted for; in fact, until 1976 Customs were built only as four-door sedans and wagons, unless you go waaay back. So, for some reason, Ford chose to add a 2-Door Pillared Hardtop to the Custom 500 series for its last two years. Can anyone explain that? Given that all of 4,139 of them were sold in ’77, the explanation will have to be a pretty good one. I wonder if any are left?
Nope can’t explain it unless you’re in the market for a two door detectives special. ”
“I want the Ford version of ‘anycar’.”
“Well step right up, Sir and try the Custom 500.”
Wasn’t the C-500 only in Canada after 1975?
In the USA, the Galaxie 500 and Custom 500 were dropped for 1975. C-500 was brought back as a price leader for winter ’75. I was suprised to see the rear end still had the elaborate decorations. But then gone for ’76 on.
The C500 stayed on through 1977, as this one attests to. Or are you referring to Canada only?
Yeah, I meant that the Custom 500 was Canada only after 1975. Same with Chevy Bel Air.
That’s not what I meant. This is a US-spec ’77 C500, its last year in the US.
That’s interesting. My copy of the ’77 LTD brochure doesn’t show the C500. I wonder why they bothered revising the brochure for such a marginal model?
From oldcarbrochures: http://www.oldcarbrochures.com/static/NA/Ford/1977_Ford/1977_Ford_LTD_Brochure/1977%20Ford%20LTD-06-07.html
The Whole point of this post is that I ran across this ’77 Custom 500 2-door in the ’77 brochure at that website. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have bothered to write it up.
Unless it’s a Canada only brochure???
UPDATE: It is a Canadian Brochure! I should have looked for the fine print on the bottom of theb last page. My Bad!
My parents purchSe the Ford Galaxy 2-doir hard top, two tone (my siblings and I referred to it as the grasshopper because of the light green body and the half top dark green “rag” top a venal looking rough texture material. This appeared to give the car a “coup” appearance. Now that was my first “land yacht to navigate! It was a smooth drive…heavy car and the trunk was large enough to hold two teenage wardrobes for a 3 week summer camp…and I am talking a ton of clothes, shoes and every accessory!
It was a really cool car!
The Galaxie 500 wasn’t simply dropped for ’75. It was absorbed into the LTD line, whose range was expanded downward to cover what had been the Galaxie 500’s market territory. From 1975-82, there were clear styling differences between the lower-line and upper-line LTDs (e.g., headlight treatments) that paralleled the pre-’74 Galaxie 500 and LTD and marked each LTD trim level’s mission. Even though everything was badged as an LTD, there were still two semi-distinct sub-models, to line up with the Chevy Impala and Caprice.
All I can think of, like the 70.5 Falcon, is a perceived hole in the line-up in models and price.
These were all over the TV dramas of the day, like Charlie’s Angels, where just about everybody was seen driving a Ford product
I think they even drove these on Little House On The Prairie!
Correct me if I’m wrong but it seems that what you learn here every day does fill a blog.
I did without this car in 77 and am happy to continue to do so.
Even while growing up in the 1970s, I rarely saw a Custom or a Custom 500 on the street (we had a 1971 LTD 4-door hardtop brougham) except in the movies. In grade school I remember watching a movie of a Ford assembly plant in 1971 where they were pumping out government-spec Customs (dog dish hub caps, no center tail light, framed door glass, etc) and I didn’t even realize that they made that model!
I spotted a Mexican oddity on their version of the Ford LTD. Here a ’78 model
http://www.flickr.com/photos/hartog/6330349866/in/photostream/ Their Custom and LTD got some Mercury front end.
I’ll bet there was no more than $ 200-400 difference between the base prices of the Custom and the LTD in those days. For the extra money, the LTD would offer some nicer interiors, a little more zing for the buck. In the day, the Custom along with the BelAirs, and Fury I’s would reek cheap.
But today, to me anyhow, the Custom with whitewalls and full wheel covers looks pretty good.
How old was the “platform” that this car used? 1965 or before?
I’m just curious.
The 1965 Galaxie chassis was used to 1968. I don’t know if the 1969-72, 1973-78 gens get a all-new chassis or just a modified chassis.
According to some Ford car history sites, the 1969-78 biggies were same chassis, but the 73-78 was a newer body shell. Easy to rebody BOF cars, hence the ‘all new cars’ promoted back then each fall.
According to the hoopla when the Panther chassis was launched in 1979…the previous full-size Ford chassis was evolutionary up to 1965.
The 1965 and beore that the 1949 were the only all-new full-size full-size Ford cars after WWII up until the Panther. Of course later, with the myriad models and platforms and badge swaps…things got blurry.
You’re suggesting that the 1957s weren’t new? (other than engine and transmissions?) Good luck bolting a 56 body on a 57 chassis.
Oh, they were new – but evolutionary; a lower body on a modded frame.
As opposed to a clean-sheet approach; as Chevrolet did in 1965 and 1977.
I’m going by the C&D write-up in 1979 of the new Panther Fords…I think it was Rich Ceppos who bylined it. He made a point of hammering that there were, up to that time, only eight all-new full-size Fords, 1949 and 1965 being the only postwar ones.
He could be wrong, but I don’t know. Sheet-metal changes can hide a lot of similarities; and wraparound windshields are superficial.
First glance was, “huh? A Custom 500 after 1975?” . . . . then I realized this would have to be the Great White North where the big low-bucks models soldiered on.
I could’ve sworn I saw the Custom 500 listed in U.S. Brochures in ’75 . . . but, as the disclaimers say manufacturers have the right to make changes/deletions . . . . without notice . . .
I do remember in the mid-70’s seeing some LTD’s with dog dish wheel covers and blackwalls; usually fleet (private fleet) business cars.
Dave C. – Check out some of the Chevy accessory brochures from ’68 or ’69. Some of them had a Chevy Biscayne ridiculously dressed up with just about every dealer installed accessory . . . wire wheel covers, dual remote mirrors – spotlights; sedan door chrome visors . . . rear window venetian blinds (my Dad was crazy about those in the day – wanted one for our ’65 Dodge Custom 880 sedan after he saw a few on period Chrysler Newports/New Yorker sedans . . . never materialized).
I do have to admit – the lower line full-sizers do look kind of nice with a few exterior accessories. I remember once seeing a ’73 Bel Air sedan in my youth that had a black vinyl roof of metallic green paint; full size wheel covers, whitewalls and side molding. Had to look twice as from a distance it could’ve been mistaken for a Caprice . . .
Billy- When my Dad traded his strip down 2 dr 59 Biscayne( 6 cyl, 3 on the tree) for an equally strip down 64 Biscayne, the dealer repaired the rust, installed carpets, radio, new wide whitewall tires and full hubcaps. Even detailed the engine. My Dad wanted to buy it back. It was just beautiful.
A local doctor bought it before my Dad saw it. Imagine a doctor buying a 5 year old car today, even as a second car.
Imagine how depressing it would have been being a car loving kid in 1977 and have your dad bring home one of these to be the new car instead of an LTD or one of the new GM B-Bodies.
Then again right there in the Ford showroom he could have chosen a Maverick, Pinto, Mustang (that was Pinto based) or a stripper LTD II all of which were pretty terrible.
Maybe Dad should have just visited the Chevy, Pontiac or Olds showroom for his new full size coupe…..
Compared to the barge-handling of the full-size Fords, the Maverick was pretty reasonable. And the Pinto…as a road car, it has to be America’s sleeper. Not great, by any stretch of the imagination; but no slouch. Far better than the Nova, Chevelle, or even Mustang.
A friend’s dad had the 2-door Custom back in the late ’70’s, and it was nice inside – maybe they’d optioned it up a bit. Anyway, I saw one recently outside a garage in downtown Toronto. It looked to be in nice shape, and the owner had it in presumably for some late summer TLC before putting it away for the season.
The image of the red 2-door is taken from the Canadian brochure (check the last page on TOCMP, it mentions Ford of Canada). I’m fairly certain that a Custom 500 was available in the US after 1974, but as a 4-door fleet-only model. A full Custom 500 range of 2-door, 4-door and wagon continued in Canada – from 1979-81 it was called the “LTD Custom 500”, and the only badging was on the dash. I’d like to see the 1977 US brochure – I’ll bet the same photo appears but with it as an LTD. This one looks doctored to black out the rear LTD badge in the horizontal panel, and the wheelwell moldings.
I was under the impression that, in the U.S., the Custom 500 was last sold to the general public in 1975, then was a fleet-only model from 1976-78. Chevy dropped its equivalent to the Custom 500, the Bel Air, after ’75.
It would make sense that the Custom 500 lasted longer in Canada, and with a wider range of models, given the Canadian market’s greater slant towards smaller/cheaper cars. Chevy kept selling both the Biscayne and Bel Air in Canada for a few more years after they stopped selling them in the U.S. From past discussion here, the Bel Air was available as a 2-door in Canada for more than a decade after the style had been dropped in the U.S. The Bel Air was never sold as a 2-door in the U.S. after Chevy dropped the 2-door pillared sedan body style at the end of the 1969 model year. In Canada, a Bel Air 2-door hardtop was re-introduced for 1970 as a replacement for the 2-door pillared sedan, and 2-door Bel Airs continued to be available through at least 1980, possibly all the way to the end of Canadian Bel Air production in 1981.
Yep, that’s what the Standard Catalog of Ford says: The Custom 500 was only available to fleet buyers after ’75, but oddly enough, 2-door, 4-door, and station wagon body styles were all produced.
The Canadian Custom 500 had a 2-door hardtop from 1970-74, then replaced by the 2-door pillar top until the end in 1978. There was a Panther based LTD-Custom 500 in 1979 only, then replaced by the LTD-S, which morphed into the Crown Vic S.
If you look at the first picture just so, the reflection off the trunk makes it look concave like a pick-up bed. The ’77 full-size Ranchero.
Not to hijack the thread but since we’re on the topic of the last of the truly ‘big’ strippo-specials, how about a CC on the last, big, stick-shift Chevy, the 1977 Chevelle with a 250 six and three-on-the-tree?
I dunno why, but it must be because in ’75 I was 12 years old, and able to ride my bike to “automobile row” and browse all the dealerships; but I truly loved the ’75-’78 full-size Fords (and almost everyone on TV drove one). Always liked that “pillared hardtop” also. These cars looked great with “poverty caps”.
The greatest Custom 500 of all-time? Hands down, Gator McKlusky’s ’71 4-door sedan, from the movie “White Lightning”.
Canadian or American – these cars and the naming style still stink. It’s a Ford version of a Colonnade, in other words, a frame-less windowed door with fixed side glass, which makes barges like these by any manufacturer impractical and has led to 4-door most everything, even 4-door “coupes” – don’t get me started on THAT either!
In my junior and early high school years, a 69 Ford Custom was kept by a family down the street from the folks house. It always had whitewall tires, full wheel covers, and was painted white over metallic green. It was always very clean.
For the 1975 Chicago Auto Show, during depth of recession, Big Three brought out ‘economy’ models to counter sticker shock.
Ford promoted strippo Pinto, Maverick, and Mustang II*, and return of Custom 500 for that season, but was gone for ’76.
GM had base ‘S’ models of new Monza, Starfire, Skyhawk.
Mopar started rebates with ‘Buy a car, get a check!”
* I think called Ponys
I consulted my copy of the “Standard Catalog of American Cars 1975-1986”. Lots of conflicting information on the availability of the Custom 500 in the 1976-78 period.
For 1976, the text says “LTD was the only full-size Ford available to private buyers this year, as the Custom 500 badge went on fleet models only.” That seems pretty straightforward, but it’s the only thing it has to say about the Custom 500. It does not explicitly mention which body styles the Custom 500 was available as.
The chart showing price/weight/production figures etc. for 1976 lists two and four-door “pillared hardtops”, as well as a “Ranch Wagon” — I don’t think I realized the Ranch Wagon name was still in use this late in time. While there are production figures shown for all three body styles, there is no price or weight shown for the 2-door. Looking back at earlier years, the 1946-1975 volume of the Standard Catalog indicates that the 1970-75 Custom 500 (and 1970-72 base Custom) were available only as four-door models; the two-doors were dropped when Ford eliminated the two-door pillared style after the 1969 model year. In light of all this, I’m wondering if the 2-door was only available in Canada, and the production figure in the book represents cars produced in the U.S. for the Canadian market.
For 1977, the only mention of the Custom 500 in the text is the sentence “As in 1976, the Custom 500 was for fleet buyers only”. The chart lists the same three body styles as in 1976, but this year there aren’t any price or weight figures for any of them. At first glance, that makes me wonder if the Custom 500 had been completely dropped in the U.S. and all of these were cars built for Canada. But the reference in the text does indicate fleet availability in the U.S.
For 1978, while the heading in the text section still reads “LTD/Custom 500”, there is no actual mention of the Custom 500 in the text. The chart lists the same three body styles as the past two years, again with no price or weight figures for any of them. A confusing note follows, reading “Custom 500 was produced for sale in Canada. Totals include an LTD ‘S’ 2-door and Ranch Wagon for sale in the U.S.” I suspect that the reference to the 2-door is a typo which should say 4-door. If I follow this, there was still a Custom 500 in Canada, but the American equivalent was now called an LTD ‘S’ and was not available as a 2-door. FWIW, the Standard Catalog doesn’t show an LTD ‘S’ in 1979 (though there was an LTD II ‘S’), but it would reappear in 1980.
From the 1975 US police brochure, at least we know this much.
BTW, I love how they portray the 351’s performance as “brisk”, LOL. The Saskatoon police had this exact package, even the livery was similar. I knew a cop who was one of my CB “buddies”. He said the force unilaterally loathed those cars. They were beyond slow, with a top end of barely 90 mph.
Another thing I remember about these was that when they were new, the smog pumps would make a strange whirring, or chuffing noise under acceleration. Sounded like crap, but the whole car was.
Between my reading of what’s in the Standard Catalog and the info that roger628 posted earlier on Canada, I think this is the chronology:
United States:
1969: Last year for Custom 500 2-doors. When Ford discontinues the 2-door pillared sedan from its fullsize line, no replacement is added to the Custom 500 range. From this point on, the Custom 500 will be available only in 4-door form.
1975: Last year the Custom 500 is sold to the general public. It will continue for two more years as a fleet-only model.
1977: Last year for the Custom 500 name.
1978: The Custom 500 is replaced by the LTD ‘S’, which serves the same function.
1979: If the Standard Catalog can be trusted, there is no Panther LTD ‘S’ this year, with buyers seeking a stripper/fleet model instead directed to the LTD II ‘S’.
1980: With the demise of the LTD II, the LTD ‘S’ reappears.
Canada:
1970: When the 2-door pillared sedan body style is discontinued from Ford’s fullsize line, it is replaced in the Custom 500 lineup by a 2-door hardtop.
1975: Like other fullsize Ford 2-doors, the Custom 500 2-door becomes a “pillared hardtop”.
1978: Last year for the Custom 500 as a distinct model. Right up to the end, unlike its U.S. counterpart, it continues to be sold to the general public, and continues to be available in 2-door form.
1979: For one year only, the Custom 500 becomes a subseries of the LTD, as the LTD Custom 500.
1980: The LTD Custom 500 is replaced by the LTD ‘S’.
1975-1978 Ford Custom 500 4 door Pillar hardtops were only available as a fleet purchase car! for taxi or Police service! Canada only.. In the U.S they went by LTD from 75-78!
My Driver’s Ed. Car was a 1975 Ford Custom 500. (I’m from Michigan)
I was deep into owning several of these cars back in the period from 1975-1983. The Louisiana State police bought and fielded 300+ 1975 & 1976 Ford Custom 500 4dr Pillard Hardtops with the 460 PI “C” code engine and full interceptor package. I don’t think the Custom 500 was available even for US fleet or police use in 1977 or 78. I learned later it did continue in Canada until the end of the platform in 1978. In 1977 The LSP fielded 77 Plymouth Gran Fury 4dr’s, and in 1978 they went back to Ford with 438 1978 Ford LTDs with the full PI pckg and “C” code 460 interceptor engine. I personally owned several examples of each of these cars as well of at least one or more of almost every 4dr police offering made by the big three from 1974 to today. Copcars are in my blood. But the 75-78 Big Fords are my fav’s and my focus.
One other observation: Why would they build a 2dr Custom 500 coupe? I have a theory it has to do with using up whatever is left at the production facilities to build as many total units of SOMETHING before the big changeover. We saw 76 Custom 500s with more chrome than standard and the top of the line Landau trunk applique. Not the plain gray pebbled bar with a chrome surround. The LTD’s in 1978 got the same LTD or Landau trunk panels, sometimes c-pillar chrome where a vinyl roof would have stopped, but no vinyl roof. Added amenities like int. WS wipers, nicer interior appointments. I’ve personally seen these oddities but usually only on the ‘Last Year’ builds. Also saw such when the panther switched in 92 for the last version of the Crown Victoria. The 91 LTD CV’s got loaded down with all kinds of extra chrome gingerbread. Two thirds of the CHP order that year came that way un-requested.
I have a custom 500 77 2 door for sale
I have a 1978 ford custom 500 4 door
Anyone have any pics of 1971-1975 Custom 500 2-doors? They are really hard to find on the web.
How about a 76?