Next issue that was preserved on the Ads and More posts, is again quite a jump-in-time from the previous one.
Starting off with this VW ad that spreads over four pages, folded behind the cover:
I think the term “High-Performance” was, shall we say, debatable concerning this LTD.
Seems like the 505 has been with us forever.
At last, we’re done with Le Car ads.
It’s practically the same engine…
I always liked those silver Mazda ads that they used throughout the model range- whether it’s an RX-7 or a truck.
Would you prefer this or the Mazda B2000?
Buick nodding quite blatantly towards BMW in this ad.
Compare the Volvo’s shape with the Audi and the T-Bird shapes below.
Montreal for $15,000?
Not one but TWO Original D-Types.
I’m sorry, simply parking between a Jag and a BMW will not do the job.
Thanks for reading, see more from this issue in the coming days.
“Nobody sweats the details like GM.”
I can’t believe that an ad like this was produced in the 80s….then again, I don’t know GM and it’s nameplates well enough to know when that ad wouldn’t have been less laughable.
When these ads were running, my first thought was “I’d be sweating too if I built cars like GM.”
GM’s advertising in the 80s was as awful as its cars.
In the late 80s there was a short-lived trend in TV advertising of phony “focus group” ads with ridiculously fake dialogue, where a bunch of actors would “debate” what they wanted in a product.
GM had such an ad with a bunch of office worker characters pitching what features they wanted in a car — quality, value, etc. It concluded with one actor evaluating the GM product and proclaiming, “That’s leadership!”.
A power-suited woman in the group then responded, “That’s GM”.
That’s me losing my lunch.
When I first looked at that Buick ad on my small screen, it looked like it was about to pass a horribly crumpled-up wrecked car on the road. Now that’s an odd thing to show…
You are not the only one, I thought they were going to extol the new GM ABS or some other superior braking performance…
Interesting, this was during the years Dad and I had a subscription.
Although I make over ten times the money I did when I was 17 I see that the price of a used D Jag has increased even more. On the other hand, if I stepped back into time with my line of credit intact I could buy a 289 Cobra.
And Jackie Stewart on the same page as a Tempo? Yeesh..
Jackie Stewart was a Ford consultant, perhaps due to his prior involvement with them in racing. This doesn’t mean Ford always took his advice!
“I think the term “High-Performance” was, shall we say, debatable concerning this LTD”
Let’s call it an honest effort. The LX had the Mustang 165 hp HO 5.0 and a sport suspension that really woke it up.
It also should be kept in mind that the only two engines available in the civilian LTD prior to the LX were 6 cylinders, the ancient falcon six and the Essex 3.8, and both on plush suspensions with bench seats. The LX package was the same year Mustang GT with 4 doors essentially, it’s just too bad the stick wasn’t available.
Plus the ad doesn’t lie about it’s origins. Bondurant driving school had been converting LTDs to Mustang spec for training puropses(since 4 door sedans would be useful to a “class”), and Ford put that idea into production.
Dang, I knew someone would beat me to these points!
When the LTD debuted in 1983, the base engine was a FOUR CYLINDER….not a 6, except on the wagon. The V8 was an option, but with 130 horsepower, and there was also an optional 4 cylinder propane optional for the sedans.
The 4 cylinder was the standard engine (except for the wagon) all years of the LTD.
BTW, both the inline and V6 were used in 1983, but after the 1983 model year, the inline 6 was dropped from ALL Ford cars.
Correct about the 2.3, I meant to say ‘the only two engine upgrades available’ regarding the sixes, not sixes available only, I should have proof read that better. But I’m not aware of a V8 being available in LTDs except for police package cars, and both the 83 and 84 Brochure verify this.
http://www.lov2xlr8.no/brochures/ford/83l/bilder/7.jpg
http://www.lov2xlr8.no/brochures/ford/83l/bilder/8.jpg
http://www.lov2xlr8.no/brochures/ford/84ltd1/bilder/3.jpg
http://www.lov2xlr8.no/brochures/ford/84ltd1/bilder/7.jpg
I bet Ford would’ve been in trouble with CAFE rules if they offered the 302 to civilians, as many buyers might’ve opted for it. It certainly was fun in the Fairmont.
Note that a propane version was offered (of the Lima I think), but Wiki says it was later discontinued for lack of interest.
Only the Fox LTD LX and ‘cop’ versions got V8’s
Why were these called ‘LTD’? These were planned to replace the Panther LTD’s, but gas prices eased.
Ford did overuse LTD, as Olds did with Cutlass, though.
It’s just a guess, but I think that LTD was used because Ford had already used LTD II on a Torino-sized car with reasonable (but not overwhelming) success, and Fox-platform cars had used nearly a half dozen names and Ford wanted something “familiar” to it’s buyers.
BTW, the LTD outsold it’s “bigger sister” in 83, 84,and 85. In 86 with the Taurus going on sale the LTD fell to about HALF of LTD Crown Vic sales.
The V8 was an option in 1983 on any LTD (but it was a lowish powered 130 horsepower 302).
The V8 in 84 and 85 was indeed available if you bought the “police” or LX. In 86, the V8 was a police only option as the LX was no longer sold.
Not according to the brochures, and I personally never seen a regular civilian lo po 5.0 powered LTD. And unless you’re a police department you can’t just go out and buy the police package. The LX was the only way you could get that car with any V8 as a civilian
Automobile Catalog is the same – Base, Wagon and Brougham, year by year only engines it ever had were the 2.3, 3.3, and 3.8
http://www.automobile-catalog.com/model/ford_usa/ltd_usa_5gen.html
My Encyclopedia shows the 4.9 being available in ’83, but the brochures don’t. That availability may be for police package only. That’s my contribution to this puzzle. 🙂
Pick one up for peanuts today and make it into your own sleeper – the Fox aftermarket industry is willing and able to offer you a vast number of bolt-on performance additions. The more I think about it, the more I like the idea.
The problem with picking one up for peanuts is that, in many if not most cases, the ones remaining are in the hands of people who know what they have. They’re not pricey but most that aren’t rusty or totally thrashed are probably priced above “peanuts” level.
I’ve always thought one would be a lot of fun to build though. I actually like the angular shape of that generation LTD, so the V8 version is appealing to start with, and some massaging could make it even more enticing.
+1 They’re very thrashed now a days, seems like all the ones in warm dry climates were crushed from age or miles and elsewhere they just rotted to the ground and beaten to a pulp. Fairmonts oddly seem a but easier to find in decent shape, but I too prefer the LTD styling
Gentlemen read the ad copy again. Ford is selling a civilian 175 HP 5.0 / 4 speed AOD LTD. No bones about, anybody could buy this at a Ford dealer.
I recall some magazine road tests of this car. It is not a unicorn.
I had to make a double take to tell the Audi 5000 ad and Ford Aero ad were separate!
The Grand Am driver looks like he’s falling asleep at the wheel. Pontiac builds excitement indeed. They should be taking notes from SAAB. That looks exciting!
The driving lights under the bumper of the Grand Am look like aftermarket bolt-ons, and they are misaligned. Same with the passenger-side headlights, though that could be because of the angle the picture was taken on. It doesn’t look good anyhow.
32% Nastier is one of the best slogans I’ve seen in a while! Dodge should come up with a way to use it today.
Ha! Seems Crocket put his Daytona in the classifieds seeing the Testarossa come out! No wonder he was so mortified to see to blown up!
As always the classifieds produce some great highlights; TWO Jaguar D-Types, one of which was being sold by Brian Redman? Also you could buy a real Cobra for less than a (surely ambitiously-priced) replica! Bristol’s only sedan, even the Morris Minor woodie looks great.
Ads from this era are also interesting to see the adoption of composite headlights as time goes on. They weren’t legal in the US yet in ’83. The Mark VII had them for ’84, as it was the car that finally got them DOT-approved, but I don’t know if anything else did. Here, they’re popping up in a few cars for ’85–from these ads we see them on the Jetta and Cressida. I think the Camry also adpoted them for ’85 and a handful of other things. But the real breakout year where they saw widespread adoption was ’86.
My parents old 85 Jetta had those square composites, I always wished it had the round ones I’ve seen on Euro Mark IIs