There are many cars that sold in the tens of thousands, if not a hundred or more, that we no longer see on our roads. Imagine cars like the 1961 Rambler Ambassador, Renault 15/17, and Hyundai Tiburon, among others, and you’d be on the right track. Our Pick of the Day, a 1979 Ford LTD four-door sedan, is one of those cars. It is listed for sale on ClassicCars.com by a dealership in Canton, Ohio. (Click on this link to view the listing)
Let’s pick up the story in 1978—General Motors was starting its second year with its downsized full-size models. Over in Dearborn, Ford’s full-size LTD series (which had its origins from the 1969 model year) was in its final year, consisting of a base LTD and the LTD Landau. (There also was a cheaper Custom 500 for the Canadian market.) The most notable defining feature of the latter was its hidden headlights. All body styles—two-door Pillared Hardtop, four-door Pillared Hardtop, and station wagon—were on a 121-inch wheelbase with a length as long as 226.8 inches. Curb weight ranged from 4,167 to 4,702 pounds, with the wagons weighing 500 pounds more than the four-door. In a world of two oil crises and a Japanese onslaught, these cars were not cutting it in Detroit’s New World Order.
With the redesigned 1979 LTD series, the difference was startling: wheelbase was down to 114 inches (formerly the realm of mid-size cars), length was 209 to 214.7 inches, and weight ranged from 3,559 to 3,836, with only a 250-pound penalty for the wagon. The models within the series remained LTD and LTD Landau, with Ford continuing to distinguish the styling between the two: gone were the hidden headlights of the Landau, instead featuring with a conventional front end with each side utilizing a pair of square halogen headlights with a split bar underneath for the parking lights—a style used by several manufacturers at the time. The base LTD used a single headlight per side, complemented by parking lights on the tips of the front fenders, with “road lamps” inset in the grille. When Ford said “There never have been LTDs like these before,” the company was not kidding.
Ford produced this two-eyed LTD through 1980, though the manufacturer shuffled the lineup: LTD S, LTD, and LTD Crown Victoria, with the LTD S featuring the twin-headlight look. Starting for the 1981 model year, all models within the LTD series (now LTD and LTD Crown Victoria) would feature quad headlamps. Confusingly, for 1983, Ford applied the LTD moniker to a replacement for the Fox-based, mid-size Granada, while the full-size car remained the LTD Crown Victoria until 1992, when the series dropped the LTD name and simply became Crown Victoria.
This Blue Glow Metallic 1979 Ford LTD four-door sedan is one of those dual-headlight variants that seemingly have been disposed of years ago but, lo and behold, here’s one in fine condition. In fact, it only has 10,883 on the odometer, so you’d be correct in assuming the paint is original. “Why did the original owner save this car?  We don’t know but he did keep it in a climate-controlled environment until his passing in 2019,” says the seller. “The original blue cloth interior is also just as crisp. The original chrome and trim is clear and bright. Options include cruise control, air conditioning, AM radio (!), Exterior Accent Group, left-hand remote mirror, and more. Power comes from the standard 302 two-barrel V8.
“In 2019, the car was completely freshened up mechanically that consisted of belts and hoses, fresh brakes all around, new radiator etc.” adds the seller. “The air conditioning system was also converted to R-134A and blows ice cold.” Quite a find considering it may have been decades since you’ve seen one—and this one may be the best. If your blood flows Ford Blue, then the $19,995 required should be reasonable for a barely-used car that is never seen anymore.
Click here  for this ClassicCars.com Pick of the Day.
