Ford LTD II

Manufacturer	Ford Motor Company
Production	1977–1979
Assembly	Lorain, Ohio Atlanta, Georgia
Predecessor	Ford Torino Ford Elite
Class	Mid-size
Body style	2-door coupe 4-door sedan 4-door wagon
Layout	FR layout
Engine	302 CID Windsor V8 351 CID 351M V8 351 CID Windsor V8 400 CID Cleveland V8
Transmission	3-speed C4 automatic 3-speed Ford FMX AutomaticC6 automatic
Wheelbase	114 inches (2,900 mm) (coupe) 118 inches (3,000 mm) (sedan)
Length	215.5 inches (5,470 mm) (coupe) 219.5 inches (5,580 mm) (sedan)
Related	Ford Ranchero Ford Thunderbird Mercury Cougar

The Ford LTD II was the last mid-size car built by the Ford Motor Company between 1977 and 1979 for the North American market. It was based on the Ford Torino, which it replaced, and used the same platform as the concurrent Ford Thunderbird, which was downsized and dramatically reduced in price for 1977 to occupy the market position of the 1974-76 Ford Elite, which was a Torino derivative designed to compete with the popular Chevrolet Monte Carlo.

The largest car ever marketed as a midsize, the LTD IIs styling emulated the squared-off grille and body lines of the larger LTDs, which were produced until the 1978 model year. A two-door coupe and four-door sedan were available in all three model years, with a four-door station wagon offered for 1977 only. It was also the platform for the final Ford Rancheros.

While 1977 sales were reasonably strong, they dropped dramatically for 1978 and 1979 in the face of newly downsized intermediate models from General Motors, as well as Chrysler's new Dodge Diplomat and Chrysler LeBaron and Ford's own Fairmont, which took over the mid-size wagon slot for 1978. Ford downsized its own full-size LTD for 1979, with dimensions very similar to the LTD II, though the Panther body LTD had much greater passenger and luggage space.

The LTD II was not directly replaced in the Ford lineup. The Fox platform-based Granada and then LTD became the midsize entry, mostly through default. The interior dimensions of both were virtually identical to the compact 1978 Fairmont, and quite similar to Chrysler’s K-car series. Noticeably more cramped than the LTD II or competition Malibu and Celebrity; the Chevrolets easily outsold Dearborn’s entry in the segment. Ford would not have a true replacement for the midsize market in terms of interior space until the Taurus was introduced as an 1986 model.

Engine choices were all V8s; the 5.0 L 302 Windsor, the 5.8 L 351M, the 5.8 L 351 Windsor, or the 6.6 L 400 Cleveland. The 400 was not available in 1979. The 302 was not available in California.

References

1978 Ford LTD II Factory Sales Brochure - http://amcar.fvn.no/brochures/ford/78ltd/bilder/12.jpg^{[dead link]}