Rubens gave us a detailed look at the Ford Maverick’s second life in Brazil. But there was another American ex-pat Ford already living in Brazil at the time; the Ford Landau, a reincarnation of the 1966 Galaxie/LTD that first showed up there in 1970, powered by the venerable Y-Block V8. And it was built through 1983. Alberto Simon shot this one, which has lost its door handles, and guesses that it’s from about 1980. It’s hard to tell.
The basic Galaxie had been in production in Brazil since 1967, looking virtually unchanged from its original US version. But the Landau appeared in 1970 as the Lincoln of Fords in Brazil. Trying to pin down all of the minute small changes made to the Landau over its 14 year run is too tedious. What’s clear is that it started out its second life in Brazil with its original stacked headlights intact, but with some remodeling of the grille. And powered by the the old 292 Y Block V8.
But somewhere along the line it gained a rather Mercury-esque front end, which it retained through to the bitter end. And it finally got the 302 V8 that was also available in the Maverick, seen behind it in this car show shot.
Landau production was always very modest, given its role as Brazil’s biggest luxury car, and peaked in 1976 with 5556 units sold. The second energy crisis really hit it hard, and in 1979, Ford engineered a version to run on alcohol, which was very popular in Brazil for some years, given its ability to make it from abundant sugar cane. In it last year, 1983, there were 93 gasoline-powered and 32 ethanol-powered Landaus built.
This is what the world would be like without planned obsolescence. Does this Landau really look any worse than a 1983 Ford LTD? Not in my book.
For a more in-depth look at these cars, head here.
Love it!
These are amazing. But then I have long been a fan of the 1966 American Galaxie 500 and its brethren.
It helps to have some basic familiarity with these, but what is fascinating is to look for the many similarities and differences. Those late 70s Lincoln wheelcovers, for example. The back of that one up top actually looks a bit like a 1965 Plymouth.
I love the auto show picture. Not only is there a Maverick on display, there is a version of the Dodge Dart Swinger in the background too. Brazil would have been a great place to go car shopping in the early 80s. Better than here in the US, I’m afraid.
From a style standpoint I would certainly choose this over a Crown Victoria in the 1979 – 1983 time frame.
Love that second picture. That look would be more appropriate if she had lifted the car cover and found a naked man.
She may be thinking: “Oh may God! They used the Lincoln emblem turned 90º!” I don’t know if there is a story behind it.
They’ve done that more than once!
https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2501/3677870461_d76126af67_b.jpg
Wow! I’ve never seen this one! By the place of the back mirrors is it an Asian Ford?
British Ford Executive, the top of the 1966-72 “Mk.IV” range.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Zephyr#Mark_IV
That’s interesting, so before Taurus and Scorpio there was a Zodiac… it’s interesting how deep is the difference between Fords from different places, specially in the past.
I could’ve sworn I’ve seen this on 1980s Panthers, but a Google Image Search shows an “inverted V” of approximately the same shape on the Crown Vic and what looks like a normal Lincoln logo with a wreath on the Grand Marquis. Am I just misremembering the Crown Vic logo, since there are so few 1980s cars on the road where I am?
Our Ford Cortina had that hood ornament too.
Looks like a Granada wearing a Galaxie suit.
I spotted more photos of these Brazillians Galaxie/LTD/Landau.
http://odairhotrodbrasil.blogspot.ca/2011_06_01_archive.html
https://www.flickr.com/photos/ifhp97/8166087314
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/297448750358890955/ (the green 1969 to the left)
http://www.galaxieclube.com.br/carros-dos-scios
I saw this link who tells more about these Galaxies from Brazil including a vintage ad who wouldn’t be shown here since it was very politically incorrect and seem a real magazine ad, not a spoof like the National Lampoon’s VW ad. http://blog.dearbornclassics.com/ford-galaxie-boys-brazil/
I like the profile of the first one pictured .
-Nate
How do you say Efrem Zimbalist Junior in Portuguese?
I wonder the same question about David Vincent (In the opening credits of the tv series “The Invaders”, David Vincent drive a Galaxie convertible althought he also drived some Fairlanes, Comets, ‘Stangs and Falcons in the series) as well as Cannon, Barnaby Jones, Mike Stone and Steve Keller if they had driven some Galaxie in Brazil instead of LTD, Custom 500, Continental and Torinos. 😉
1,000,000 times more appealing than a box Panther
Probably not that much heavier either.
Something about the styling (and of course the black color) makes it appear related to these Easter Bloc limousines as shown in Tatra87’s article last month on the Toyota Century:
Way fun. I noticed this model is Rubens’ article and my curiosity has been sated.
The first pic shows what seems to be a 1983 model, with the reverse lights being part of the tail lights. But looking carefully , you will see a pair of reverse lights on the bumper, close to the license plate. That means that car received a bumper from an older model. Or the other way around.
Anyway, the car looks beaten up…
Mini used one for the basis of a humorous piece of sales lit.
I wonder how they got turned on to one in the first place.
it’s stories like this one that make CC such a source of joy. Many thanks!
I’d love to bring back some of the grilles, taillights and other unique pieces from one of these alternate universe cars, put them on a US version, take it to car shows and claim it is the year that those pieces came from. Then when people question the year tell them it was imported. Of course it would be better to have an actual car but I’m thinking it would be cheaper to ship a few pieces and put them on here vs buying and shipping the entire car.
The LTD appeared first as a 1969 model, the first Brazilian car with optional automatic transmission. The 1970 had some minor changes – like weird black paint running through the lower part of the body and a different grille. The LTD Landau came out first as a 1971 model with a very tacky smallish rear window and brought the brougham era to Brazil.
Here the 1970.
I took shots of a 72/73 a while ago, to be seen at the cohort:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/146186930@N03/30853701441/in/dateposted-public/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/146186930@N03/30942210375/in/dateposted-public/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/146186930@N03/30640366020/in/dateposted-public/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/146186930@N03/30825328002/in/dateposted-public/