The 1971 Ford LTD Convertible Coupe was the first of its sort for the legendary car manufacturer , and one of the last as well .
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From its arrival in 1965 , the LTD infuse the full - size Ford lineup with a common sense of luxury more often associated with higher - priced cars . Value - conscious shoppers found that a bargain hard to pass up , and by the last of the 1960s , the LTD was pressing the more modestly priced Galaxie 500 for sales agreement supremacy among Ford ’s big crime syndicate cars . The LTD lineup grew substantial in 1970 with the gain of plusher Brougham models .
Originally the province of a couple hardtop models , the LTD finally sum a four - door sedan and took the Country Squire station wagon under its flank . But one matter it never had until 1971 was a convertible . In 1970 , Ford ’s lone grown open car was in the XL serial , but that was the last rill for the partitioning ’s full - size of it sports exemplar . Though convertible demand was wane in general , Ford keep the ragtop and elevated it to LTD position .
Full - size of it Fords were totally restyled for 1971 . The look began with a prominent perpendicular grille theme acquire from 1969 - 1970 LTDs and XLs . headlamp were exposed , but plant in thick cavity that flank the central grille . The trail border of the vaulted hood now concealed the windshield wipers . On the side of meat , a couplet of furrow bulged out from the far ends of the car , then faded again toward the centre . A large gusset cove under the trunklid held the taillights , which were a three - incision design on LTDs and Broughams . in spite of appearance , there was a new , level instrument gore .
Wheelbase continue at 121 inches , as it had been since 1969 , but front- and rear - wheel cut were fractionally wider . A force ventilation system system was fresh received . originate business organization about vehicle rubber were accost by steel " Guard Rails " now built inside each door .
Except for the two optional 429 - cid V-8s , all carryover engine used in big Fords lost 10 bhp from 1970 . Standard in LTDs was a 351 - cid V-8 with a three - speed manual gearbox . Available V-8s were the seasoned 390 - cube problem , a new 400 - cid powerplant , and the 429s . Most LTDs and Broughams came with the SelectShift Cruise - O - Matic automatic transmission .
LTD standard equipment let in power front disc brakes , a self - regulating clock , and woodgrain midland appliques . The convertible added vinyl upholstery and a five - ply vinyl great power top ( in a choice of white or black ) with a tempered glass rear window . Soft - top prices began at $ 4,094 .
The well - traveled – but well - maintained – 1971 LTD convertible see here belongs to David and Karen Erschen , of Pontiac , Illinois , There are more than 113,000 miles on the pallid green ragtop ’s mileometer , but its role are all original . Over meter , the body and locomotive engine compartment have been repainted and the bumpers rechromed .
index add up from a 260 - bhp 400 V-8 with a two - barrel carburetor . The Cruise - type O - Matic trans was required with this engine . Other accessories include magnate guidance , baron front seat , AM / FM stereo , air conditioning , corner lamps , and deluxe rack cover .
The Erschen ’s LTD is one of 5,750 convertibles build for 1971 . After another 4,234 came out for 1972 , the LTD ’s whirlwind romance with opened - melodic line motoring ended .
