This 1972 Ford LTD convertible is one of those cars you'd never have dreamed could look this cool. Yet here it is. A very cool resto-mod with an updated look, a fuel-injected V8, and a nicely modernized interior, it turns a ho-hum car into something that grabs everyone's attention and makes the driver grin like an escaped convict. And we all agree, this is the best driving convertible we've ever had in our showroom.
The shape is familiar but you've never seen an LTD look this sleek before. Remarkably, the body isn't modified save for shaving a few badges and body-colored bumpers, but that makes all the difference. Better still, the creamy white paint makes for a subtle presentation that achieves almost the opposite effect, because this car generates a ton of attention in public! They spent plenty of cash getting it straight and even before spraying the paint, and it pays off with crisp shut lines and those subtle creases on the fenders stand out in marked contrast, a detail many folks may not have noticed before. Silver cladding on the rockers makes the car look even longer and lower than it is and the body-colored bumpers are a big help in making it look trim and neat. In back, the taillight bezels have been blacked out, giving it an industrial-strength appearance while the grille has been painted a contrasting tan that looks exactly right. Even the stock mirrors were painted body color to help them blend in, but they look great because they're not the usual aftermarket pieces that everyone else uses. This car marches to its own beat, and it's a good one!
The cream leather interior is anchored by a pair of power leather buckets from a late-model Ford Explorer. At a glance, you'd almost think they were born in the LTD, especially since the patterns on the rear bench are such a close match. The door panels were upholstered to match the seats, with black carpets and dash to keep it from being overwhelming in the sunlight. As a luxury car, you also get amenities such as cold A/C, cruise control, power windows, and a tilt steering column. A big honkin' stereo includes a Pioneer AM/FM/CD/iPod head unit with speakers scattered throughout the car plus a custom subwoofer enclosure in the trunk that still leaves plenty of room for your gear (this is a full-sized car, after all). A newer power convertible top fits well and folds itself neatly into the well in a matter of seconds.
You can forget the wheezing '70s powerplant, this one is fitted with a 351 cubic inch V8 and factory EFI, so it's torquey and reliable. Transplanted from a '90s full-sized Ford pickup, it's a great choice in the luxury-oriented LTD. The installation is so neat it almost looks like a factory job, complete with a serpentine belt drive system, modern A/C components, and a giant aluminum radiator up front. That installation also includes an automatic transmission, which seems appropriate. However, the suspension and brakes are more sports car than luxury yacht, with coil-overs at all four corners and 4-wheel disc brakes. A set of tubular headers feed a custom dual exhaust system with intermediate resonators and big mufflers so this luxury car sounds appropriate. There's also a recent gas tank out back. Big 17-inch wheels tuck neatly into the oversized fender wells and carry fat 235/55/17 Firestone radials.
Proving that dare to be different can be ultra-cool, this Ford LTD is an awesome car that you didn't even know you wanted. Now that you've seen it, it's kind of hard to forget, isn't it? Call today!