All Ford Day highlight – 1969 LTD coupe
If there’s one thing that’s guaranteed at the annual All Ford Day in Victoria, it’s that you’ll encounter Fords that are extremely rare in the Australian market. Such was the case at the 2023 event, when this LTD two-door hardtop was spotted amongst the 1,500+ Blue Oval machines on display.
The US-market LTD first appeared for the 1965 model year and influenced the look and spec of the Australian version that was released eight years later.
Based on the Galaxie, the original LTD was a luxury-oriented vehicle, adding special ‘pinseal’ cloth and vinyl seat upholstery, faux walnut detailing and a gaberdine headlining. Distinctive wheelcovers and a vinyl roof were either standard or optional, while extensive sound deadening lead Ford to proclaim the LTD was quieter than a Rolls-Royce.
Available in two- or four-door hardtop form only, the first-year LTDs were fitted with a 289 V8 and automatic transmission as standard, with larger engines optional. Selling just over 105,000 units across both body styles in 1965, the LTD enjoyed similar sales the following year. From 1967, the LTD was separated from the Galaxie as its own model line, with a pillared sedan body added, while hidden headlights were added a year later as part of a front-end styling makeover.
The LTD really hit its straps in 1969, when the second-generation version debuted with an all-new body on a longer wheelbase. That year, Ford sold over 111,000 units of the two-door LTD hardtop and more than 113,000 units of the four-door sedan. The ‘69s featured a bolder grille design, still with hidden headlights, but adding a thick horizontal divider.
Interiors were in patterned velour and vinyl, with a power front bench seat and power steering. Ford’s 302 V8 was now the standard engine, with larger 390 and 429 V8s available, all matched to a three-speed automatic.
In 1970, Ford introduced a Brougham sub-series that featured even more opulent interior trim, while an LTD convertible was added in 1971. The second-generation LTD would continue in the American market until 1978, with the third generation lasting a further four years. From 1983, the LTD was split across two model families; one on a smaller platform, replacing the US-market Granada; and the other on a reduced (but still full-size) wheelbase and renamed the LTD Crown Victoria. While the smaller LTD was replaced by the Taurus in 1986, the larger version remained in production until 1991.
The LTD shown, a 1969 two-door hardtop, has only two owners from new. Its current owner sourced it out of Florida in 2014 and, after some basic maintenance to the factory 390 V8, drove it to New York, then across the country to San Francisco, San Diego and Los Angeles with no problems before shipping it to Australia in 2015.
With only 20,375 miles on the odometer when bought, this LTD now shows just under 31,000 miles and is said to still run perfectly. The owner adds that the factory air con, power seat, power windows, radio, clock and all gauges work, with no evidence of rust, even under the vinyl top.
Stored under cover and well maintained, including the recent fitting of new suspension components and yearly oil changes, the only modifications made by the second owner include a 2.5-inch exhaust system and wider wheels. On its first display at All Ford Day in 2015, this car won Best Elite Ford.
For sale at All Ford Day 2023, this rare LTD was also listed on justcars.com.au at time of writing. For more details, click HERE.
For the JUST CARS report from the 2023 All Ford Day, click HERE.
