The Ford Elite has been well documented at CC; a Gran Torino-based PLC and as a precursor to the ’77-’79 downsized Thunderbird juggernaut, it has an important place in Ford history. They also have a special place in my heart, as my family (briefly) owned one in the ’80’s. I’ve spotted a few over the years, and whenever I do, I document them.
Let’s check out a couple of these now rare finds.
Our neighbors always had Fords as far back as I could remember (with anomalies being an awesome H-body LeBaron and a second generation Saturn sedan). They had a first year Escort wagon in dark blue (complete with the little globe badge on the front fender) and an ’83 pale blue Escort wagon at the same time. That second wagon replaced a triple-brown Elite, which was sold on to my father as a winter beater sometime in the ’80’s. As was my father’s custom, he drove it for two or three years before it was probably retired due to rust.
There is only one photo of the car that I could locate, sitting outside of our old garage getting an oil change. My one specific memory of the Elite is when we were driving on Route 17 (now I-86) somewhere between Binghamton and Owego when we lost a hubcap. I still drive this section of road on my way home to my parents and think about that errant hubcap every time.
The two Elites that I’ve seen over the years have both been in excellent shape. The first was in Ottawa, Ontario in a parking garage. It was an odd color combo, silver with maroon trim. I liked that it was a survivor in good shape, even if the colors were a bit jarring.
The front end in this is relatively tasteful, compared to other Personal Luxury Coupes of similar vintage.
I wonder if this Elite is still roaming the mean streets of Ottawa in 2026?
Closer inspection of these photos (they were taken in 2012 on a Sony point-and-shoot) leads me to believe that the landau roof is part of a restoration effort…
… as it appears to be painted on, versus a Brougham-typical padded vinyl top that would have adorned a period-correct Elite.
The second Elite appeared a few years later in south Providence, in a much more fetching color palette of blues and grays. It was in decent shape with a few pockets of rust blooming here and there, and I believe it was for sale.
And I see you, rusty rockers. In New England speak, this car is in “great” shape.
Compared to the grey and maroon Canadian Elite, this rooftop is closer to what came from the factory originally.
Fleeting romantic thoughts of owning this particular beast passed through my head, but there was no way it was going to happen.
Someday I’d at least like to slide into the driver’s seat of an Elite and take a road trip, just to scratch that itch.
Spotted in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada July 2012 and Providence, Rhode Island December 2015
Related CC reading:
Curbside Classic: 1976 Ford Elite – A Highfalutin’ Hash
Curbside Musings: 1975 Ford Elite – I’m So Fancy
My uncle worked for Ford, and my dad worked for a Ford supplier. The Torrence Avenue plant was 15 minutes north, and the Ford stamping plant was 5 minutes south. So we had Fords. Yet, I wasn’t impressed with our Fords. I remember them as ho-hum floaty willowy vehicles. Rust. Geez.
That didn’t change for me until the Fairmont, Fox Mustang and Escort. These were much better designed efficient Fords. The Fairmont comfortably seated 4 adults, which no Torino could do, although the Torino was seemingly 40% larger. The Escort was far superior to my dad’s Pinto. The Fox Mustang was way better than the 1971 Mustang in the family.
So I look at the Torino based cars and I’m reminded of the sloppy puffiness, the cramped deep seated interiors, and the motion sickness. Naturally we knew plenty of people with these cars. I lived amongst them. Yet, in no way do I miss or desire them. I never had. 1970s-era Detroit products weren’t very good. There’s a reason millions chose to drive Japanese cars.
I’m still a Ford man. I currently have 5. I wish Americans would return to supporting their communities, neighbors, environment and economy by buying GM, Tesla or Ford. Our auto legacies are worth saving, right?
Parts of I-86 are still Rt 17 as those have not yet been upgraded to Interstate standards. We’re in Endicott (for 2 more weeks only, then Denver) just E of Owego. They’ve been upgrading that stretch of road for about 2 years.
As far as supporting a legacy, we’ll continue buying Japanese vehicles as we have for 25 years now as long as they continue to make a superior product and have the best value for money.
I will always call it 17, but most people will probably be more familiar with it as 86. It cut right through the heart of Horseheads and was the main way to get from point A to point B for most of my growing up.
The silver/cranberry, color combo was quite popular in the “70’s”, early “80’s”. One of all time favs. My sister/brother-in-law had a “75 Charger SE” in these colors. Brother had an “82 Pontiac T1000”.
it wasn’t so much the color combo as the painted roof, I would have thought it would have been some sort of soft-material versus paint…but what do I know?
It was originally. The painted roof was a low-budget attempt at restoration and looks like crap IMHO.
I kind of, sort of followed these Fords. Wasn’t the Elite just a gussied up Torino, which itself was just a gussied up Fairlane, which had deep roots in the original Falcon? Except that now it’s 3 feet and 1,500 pounds heavier?
I know automotive inflation, and I’m not speaking of price, has long been a thing, but aside from acreage of sheet metal on the outside how much difference is there from the old Falcon. Is it really better, more interior room, better handling, better MPG, more reliable, faster, etc than a fully optioned Falcon? Maybe not first year, but 289, C4 auto, not a 144 Fordomatic 2 speed?
The Elite was a gussied-up Torino, but the 1972 and later Torino had parted ways with the original Fairlane. The Fairlane was unitized, with the high-mounted coils in front and leaf springs in back. The 1972 Torino went to a separate perimeter frame with a conventional double-wishbone suspension in front and coils and trailing arms in back. It really was a new car.
As for the relationship between the old Fairlane and the Falcon, see here: https://www.curbsideclassic.com/blog/tech/cc-tech-ford-falcon-comet-and-fairlane-how-these-unit-body-fords-were-alike-and-different/
Or, the Elite was a de-gussied Cougar, and a pre-gussied Thunderbird.
I maybe a Ford guy but, sorry to say, these cars were ugly especially front the side and most especially the front.
I think they’re better looking that the same era Cordoba, with it’s fake coin badges.
Here’s how to pimp a Ford Elite or granTorino… choose the T-Bird and put Guy Lafleur in it . Photo by Bruce Bennett Studios via Getty Images Studios/Getty Images and the description said ”Guy LaFleur #10 of the Montréal Canadiens pulls up in a Lincoln Continental Town car circa 1980’s” …They’ve pimped it out even more.
I love all the 70’s era Turbine “Road Wheels” no matter what car they’re on.