I enjoy cruising through our local thrift stores from time-to-time in search of vintage small appliances or the occasional cheap sweater. If you have time to parse the high noise-to-signal ratio, you can sometimes find some really good deals – I scored a fully-functional 1940s Smith Corona Skyriter portable typewriter for $5.00 once, for example. Occasionally, I’ll also luck out on finding a CC in the parking lot, as I did with this 1971 LTD Two-door Hardtop.
The 1971 Full-size Ford brochure shows a vinyl top on the LTD, and the trim on this car matches what should be on an LTD. So perhaps this car, like many aging men with Male Pattern Baldness, has gone for the ‘shaved’ look up top? At any rate, it sure looks nice with the white over red.
Here’s the (in)famous ‘Bunkie Beak,’ sans hidden headlights, a feature that was dropped beginning with the 1971 model year. It’s still a commanding nose—this car has presence… This car likely has the 6.6l (400 c.i.d.) V8 — there was also an optional 7.0l (429 c.i.d.) available.
Out back, we’re treated to the new-for-1971 horizontal brake lights with reflective center panel, exclusive to the LTD.
It’s hard to stereotype the typical thrift store customer — all kinds of folks shop there for all kinds of reasons. In this case, though, I noticed an older (than me, so late ’50s, early ’60s), and slightly portly gentleman in the other checkout lane when I left, and thought he might be the owner. Sure enough, I saw him getting in the car as I was pulling out…
It was nice to see a car that would normally have been cast off long ago being given a second life by someone. Perhaps the owner will luck out and find that missing trim piece during a future thrift store stop…
For two very different takes on the 1971 Ford LTD, go here and here.
There still be treasures to find in a thrift store. 2 months ago I found a nice vintageTelechron electric clock(1927-1932 according to my book on the subject). It had the original cloth cord that was falling apart so they could not test it and priced it at $3.00 plus tax. I took it home and cleaned it and replace the cord and plugged it in and it works very well. The case was in great shape. So a clock that could fetch about $100 or $500 was bought for $3.00 plus tax and put back into working order with a $4.00 Home Depot lamp cord(eventually I will replace the cord with a nice reproduction cord(rubber underneath and cloth covering it) )and an hour of time.
Heck even if it did not work the $3 for a parts clock is a good price
True that there are still treasures if you know what to hunt for and go to more stores than that national thrift store chain that skims the good stuff to sell via its own website. That said my #2 son found a small square 6 generation ipod mini in the bulk toy bin of one outlet of the “good” and “willing” thrift store when we were hunting small Lego pieces. I sold it for $80 which profited him and #1 son $30 each after the cost of a generic power cord and a new cheap armband to hold it. Apparently it was donated by the parents of a wealthy kid as the songs and audio books were from Christmas time over a year prior from when we found it…
Can you tell us what is the name of that national chain of thrift stores that has a website for the “good stuff”. My wife and I frequent thrift stores in our area.
I like this a lot,another car that I get a late night detective TV show feel about.I’m slowly being made a full size fan by this site
Yup, the two door detective version versus the uniform cops using the 4 door versions…
I had one of these as a company car one time for about six months circa 1973; mine was black vinyl over yellow with black interior. I was working for a third rate loan company at the time and the LTD was one of our repos. What I remember most about it was that it was smooth and quiet, and that the A/C provided copious amounts of cold air. I was glad that I didn’t have to pay for the gas as it got around 10 mpg.
Ah, back in the days when a full-size car could be a coupe, a sedan (with or without pillars), and a wagon – all in a variety of trim levels.
This is one of the best looking Fords of the 1970’s. A ’71 Ford totally captures the vibe I’ve always received from when people talk about that era. This is a beauty in a terrific color combination and such a refreshing change from the white blob and silver appliance parked next to it.
“This is one of the best looking Fords of the 1970′s. A ’71 Ford totally captures the vibe I’ve always received from when people talk about that era.”
Agreed. Ford loses me with it’s ’68-’70 full size cars, but while the ’71-’72 cars use many themes from the earlier cars, they got it right with these – and I like them better then the ’73 and up cars that followed.
You didn’t mention it, but I’m sure you recall the LTD also came in a very smart looking convertible – the last of the breed.
Why, yes, the convertible is quite the smashing example of 1971 Ford goodness. I think I got interrupted while typing my comment earlier!
Plus, said ’71 LTD convertible is now hibernating on a trailer in an insulated pole barn in east-central Missouri. No snow, no salt, no condensation.
I hate to admit that the in-dash CD player in my current driver was found at Goodwill. An honest-to-Hank factory unit, sitting amongst the goodies I always go in for – obscure golf clubs and stereo gear. While perusing the stock, I’ve found new oil filters, wipers, air filters, etc. They even let me take them out and try them out for operation and fit. My wife says I’m their ideal customer – a cheap skate that hates to throw out anything with the tiniest utility. My counter claim is that I try to spend what I save on her. She’s not buying that line for a millisecond.
Awesome! I’m no fan of these, but I love seeing this one in such good condition anyway.
Nice. 1970s LTDs were staples in my extended family’s fleets. This shade of red reminds me of my great aunt’s snazzy ’78 LTD Landau.
Interesting that most of the survivors I see of this model are red, rather than the harvest hues of the time. Reapints, or just a popular colour choice on the LTD? I recall my dentist driving a convertible of the same vintage and colour.
My money is on modern repaints. I do recall a decent number of red LTDs (Ford used a more subdued shade of red than did Chevy and Plymouth) but most of the ones I remember were brown or light green.
This version is missing the used car dealer cheap vinyl decal white double pinstripe down the sides though…
Whenever I see one of these, I suddenly become 12 years old again and see the most beautiful new car I have ever seen in my entire life. There is something about the 71 LTD 2 door that Ford was never able to replicate in another big car ever again. The 72 was close, but they ruined that wonderful tail end. The 73 was just chubby and lost all appeal to me.
I always believed the 71 LTD to be head and shoulders above the Impala/Caprice of that year (and as much as I love the 71 Fury now, it was not even in the running back then). This was a much better looking car than the 72 Thunderbird, too.
When I grow back up, I remember how horribly these aged, especially in salty climates. Don’t think I would want to live with one of these, but they are sure nice to look at.
Whenever I see one of these, I suddenly become 17 years old again and see the stupidest new car I have ever seen in my entire life.
Amazing what five years’ difference and a dollop of hormones will do 🙂
OK; I’ll shut up now and let you enjoy your love fest undisturbed, having spoken my piece on these earlier: https://www.curbsideclassic.com/curbside-classics-american/classic-curbside-classic-1971-ford-galaxie-500-dominos-delivers-even-if-ford-doesnt/
And I enjoy looking at them now too, from a safe distance.
If you took Ed’s subject LTD, but made it a Galaxie 500 and colored it the same lime green as Paul’s Domino’s mobile, you’d have my first car.
TOTAL POS, but what do ‘ya expect for $75, purchased out of a farmer’s yard in 1978?
Had to re-install the brake master cylinder and a couple of freeze plugs, then come up with a starter & battery. Drove it home, where I did a few other repairs, then doubled my investment by installing four recap tires for another $75.
This car was definitely a special order car. Weirdest set of options ever: 351 Windsor 2 bbl, FMX auto trans, Armstrong steering and brakes, factory A/C, AM radio, remote control driver’s side mirror, delay wipers.
Not much to look at, especially after the rear bumper rusted off.
Still, I did get some fun out of it and ended up selling it for $250, IIRC.
By 1971, or 1968 at the earliest, I began to hate all full-size cars. All overhang and too big.
This LTD, however, is really nice and very cleanly styled. Still wouldn’t buy it, though, even in retrospect.
Now, if we’re talking Chevelle, or any other GM mid-sizers 1968 – 1972, I’m all ears. I’d even half-listen to the odd Colonnade! Yeah, I know, out of character…
Too big & thirsty for me but a nice car all the same.I always had a 15 mpg rule for cars any less and I stayed away
We had one of these in our family (4-door hardtop) for 30 years. It is interesting to note that the bottom side of the center taillight housing (pot metal) takes on an upward bow on almost every one that I’ve ever seen. I know that plastic materials creep over time but I didn’t realize that pot metal appears to do the same thing.
I still have a full set of 1971 LTD taillight housings in my garage. I’m going to mount them on a board hung above my workbench and put 120V 5W night light bulbs in it. Some day . . .
I always thought that Ford lost the plot after the ’69s.
The ’68 was an attempt to take the ’65–67 shell in a new direction, reverting to horizontal headlamps, for example. It didn’t quite work until they got an all new shell. To me the 1969 was a stunner, especially the high series with the hideway headlamps, but unfortunately the magic didn’t last.
The ’70 facelift looked like the ’69 left in the sun to melt, with those droopy looking taillights.
Also, the ’69 LTD had a cool looking strip of body color going across the grill nicely which nicely added the illusion of width, while the ’70 simply had a nondescript wall-to-wall gaping maw of dark hued die-cast metal.
Not to mention a drop in build quality around this time, as well as their propensity to rapidly decompose in salt country, as has been discussed here on multiple occasions.
I remember being disappointed as a kid when the ’71 came out minus the hideways. Even the XL was gone, and up to that point had been around all my life 🙂
My dad had a number of 60s Galaxies or LTDs as company cars, hence my affection for them. My bucket car is 67 XL 7-Liter convert or a ’69 XL GT convert (to avoid the ugly flying buttress roof) but I wouldn’t kick a ’71-’72 out either, especially the handful of ’71s that were built with leftover ’70 XL buckets and consoles.
I posted this 1967 Mercury Park Lane before, but it seems to fit in perfectly here.
Same color combo, same automaker.
33 pictures of it here:
http://www.classiccarshelter.nl/classics/7/1009/mercury-park-lane-67.htm
Classy,what a shame Mercuries are so often overlooked and dismissed as a Ford with knobs on or a poor man’s Lincoln
I saw the car in the metal a few times, it’s a beauty. An original first owner’s car, very well maintained from bumper to bumper. Everything documented.
The man who has it for sale made a trip through Europe a few years ago with some of his American friends. This 1967 Mercury was one of the participating cars.
Don’t pay attention to the Dutch language, but here are 20 pictures of that trip, including the Mercury and a 1976 Ford Thunderbird “Lipstick Edition”.
http://www.classiccarshelter.nl/classics/15/1018/road-trip.htm
I was in many early 70s Fords in my youth (mostly Country Squires) and the thing that always bothered me about them, even as a kid, was the weird headlight and wiper switches, sticking way out from the dashboard. It always looked as if they could be knocked off the dashboard easily.
The full-width taillight with center brakelight is enough to make me want one of these in itself. Sharp sharp sharp! Those wheelcovers would be immediately replaced by the optional big honkin’ Turbine covers though.
These Fords were all over, back in the day. A good friend’s grandmother had a ’71 or ’72 LTD coupe that would be perfect for you… Baby blue, with a 429!
Sadly I never had any seat time in that one, as she lived out of town and only came for short visits.
Another friend’s dad had a lime green coupe with black vinyl roof. I think it was an LTD, but it might’ve been a Galaxie. That was a “real” car (meaning purchased from a reputable used car dealer instead of a farmer, and for considerably more than $75.)
Around the time I had my ’71, this guy’s son (my friend) bought a lime green ’71 4-door Galaxie 500 sedan.
Oh I’d be all over a 429 car! Even a sedan would work provided its not brown, gold, yellow, etc. When I moved to Alabama in ’88, I saw these cars a lot — my father would pass by a slightly beat-up ’71 LTD sedan in some guy’s front yard daily. He eventually stopped, I raised the hood to find the 429 — despite my pleas, he would not fork over the $350 asking price. Darn.
Some idiot hauled a ’71 LTD convertible 429 across the scales at the scrapyard last year. it was originally that awful pale yellow but had been repainted red…the body had zero damage and the top & interior had nary a tear. The engine was complete to the air cleaner lid …I begged the yard to sell it to me in vain (there was no title). It still disturbs me.
My father had a real straight green ’72 LTD..400-2bbl, vinyl top, green cloth interior, dog dish hubcaps, AM radio, A/C. I didn’t like the ’72s quite as much but that car would really move!
They were all gold, brown or yellow.
Interesting to note then Ford continued to 1972 or 1973 to offer a RHD version of the full-size Galaxie/LTD to Australia and New Zealand. Here a 1972 Galaxie 500 LTD from Down Under http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8XF4oHdRwaw and a 1971 Galaxie LTD http://www.flickr.com/photos/hartog/6330320280/in/photolist-aDoxE9-aDoxF7-aDoxU3-aDoxVb-aDjH3e-aDjGJc/
Australia only got the sedans and wagons. I don’t think then the hardtop coupe was sold Down Under.
Also, I wonder why Ford dropped the front-vent windows for the 1971 full-size sedans and wagons? Considering then years later, they bring it back as an option for the 1973-78 gen.
Indeed – the Galaxie/LTD was used as Government ministerial transport here until the Aussie XA Falcon-based LTD came along in ’73. I’ve only ever seen a couple though – and one was horrendously rusty. The ones I’ve seen were sedans, so don’t know if we got wagons too. We probably did – they’d have been primarily used as hearses I think.
I’ve always liked these, even after finding out about their soggy handling, poor build quality, and alarming propensity for rust. They seem to exude a certain class, elegance, and “old money” feel that their rivals from GM and Chrysler don’t have.
Recently I’ve seen a lot more of these come out of the woodwork being offered up for sale- more than I ever knew still existed.Most of them were in the two extremes as far as condition- near-creampuffs or total basket cases.
That said, a ’71-’73 Impala or Caprice would still be my first choice. Unless the LTD happens to be a convertible 🙂 .
Yep, a ’71 to ’73 Impala or Caprice would be pretty sweet.
Back when these were popular on the used car lots, we lived across the street from a used car dealer that had a first-rate body & paint guy. The owner and his dad had a thing for those models and there were almost always 2 or 3 of these Chevies on the lot. They were also fond of the Monte Carlos and Colonnade Cutlasses.
Now, if only I had a time machine…
Thrift stores are great – I’ve come home with shirts and jeans that still have the original store tags on them, and a couple of nice suit jackets that looked brand new and fit like they were custom-tailored. On to cars. I like the big Fords of that vintage, especially the coupes and convertibles. Red and white makes for a nice color combo. Friends of my parents had a Custom 500 coupe of that vintage…unfortunately it was the dull brown color.
This car has a great quarter window to C-pillar ratio, you can’t even see if there was anyone in the back seat. I kinda like these, I guess I watched Magnum Force to much. Its too bad the driver of this red LTD didn’t turn out to be Buddy Ebsen in a matching red sport coat.
These big Fords litter ebay at almost give away prices, I guess they never caught on for “Donking”.
Of the 1970’s Ford LTD’s it’s hard for me to decide which year I like best between the 1971-72’s, I’ve thought 1971 had the best looking front end but the 1972 had the best looking rear end, I wish they’ve put the 1972 rear end on the 1971 model, I also consider 1972 to be the last great year of the Ford LTD.