All these years, and we’ve never had a proper ’65 or ’66 LTD four door. I wrote my ’65 LTD CC “It Launched the Great Brougham Epoch” using a two door hardtop, which was really all wrong, as the semi-fastback coupe was hardly a proper brougham. And I can hardly ever remember seeing any of those coupes back then. The LTD was all about the four door, at least the first two years. In 1967, the LTD got its own unique roofline, although that was really just thanks to a fatter C pillar.
But here at last, we have a proper ’66 LTD four door, shot in front of the Capitol, no less, by Rui Meireles, a new Cohort poster.
There’s only two shots, including this one from the front. And I see the license plate leaves no doubt as to its identity.
It seems a bit retrograde comparing the ’66 LTD against a Jaguar Mk X for quietness, given that the ’65 was pitted against a Rolls-Royce.
And quieter than a Grosser 600, even. Gott im Himmel! These Amerikaner…what’s next? That their damn LTD handles better than our European cars?
Well, it most likely does than Lord Bath’s 7 passenger Daimler limo.
Enough of that. It seems Ford scoured the continent for cars to show up with its quietness.
Let’s wrap this quickie look at Ford’s Brougham for the People with a shot of one of the Lehmann-Petersen stretch sedans, which is unusual in being a hardtop.
As is apparent from this shot of a ’65, there’s a third side window that apparently rolls down too. I wonder if that sealed well and was as quiet as the factory sedan?
More on the original LTD: CC 1965 LTD – It Launched the Great Brougham Epoch PN
A ’66 with ’69 wheelcovers. Interesting, because in ’72 my dad bought a ’69 LTD that was wearing ’66 wheelcovers, lol.
My best friend’s family had a 1966 four-door hardtop. It was maroon with a white roof, and had the black “panty-cloth” interior. It was quite luxurious compared to our 1965 Chevrolet Bel Air wagon. Although it lacked the power windows and seats that made a car seem really luxurious at that time.
The Rob Walker in the first ad is the scion of the family that owned Johnnie Walker whiskey. He was quite the car enthusiast. He raced cars in his youth, and later owned racing teams.
In Formula One, costs began sharply to rise in the 1960s and the days of the gentleman owner were nearly done. When asked why he was withdrawing, Rob Walker replied: “People don’t drink that much whisky”.
The first picture in front of the Capitol really looks like the prototypical image I have of the LTD, no matter the year. It’s one of the best big car profiles in my eyes. The Brazilian big Fords, even though they always were pillared hardtops, in that particular angle look exactly the same.
Paul, just a simple note…the coachbuilder was Lehmann-Peterson, not Petersen.
The contemporaneous Bronco also wore ‘66 wheel covers (the big medallion hole made it possible for the front locking hub to pass through).
Seeing the LTD in front of the Capitol reminds me of all those Ford Mustangs Efrem Zimbalist Jr. drove around DC during the credits of “The FBI.” Product placement par excellence…
The Wikipedia entry on the Marquess of Bath says: “From 1960 onwards he amassed what would become the largest collection of paintings by Adolf Hitler, numbering sixty by 1983. To some extent an admirer of Hitler, the Marquess is quoted as saying ‘Hitler did a hell of a lot for his country.'”
Clearly a man of impeccable discernment!
If the Daimler wasn’t as quiet as the LTD, it would at least have been sonorous; both Daimler V8s issued a pleasing burble. Lord Bath should have been reminded Hitler also did a hell of a lot TO his country and many others.
The stretched Ford LTDs and also Mercury Park Lanes were not done by Lehmann-Peterson. They were done by Andy Hotton’s DST, Dearborn Steel and Tubing.
http://www.coachbuilt.com/bui/a/aha/aha.htm
From the information in the above link: “But the project that really got Hotton started in the limousine business was the design and fabrication of a series of 85 1965-66 Ford LTD and Mercury Park Lane stretches that were sold through authorized Ford and Mercury dealers in the mid 1960’s. It’s unknown as to how many limos were LTDs and how many were Park Lanes, although a couple of the Fords are known to exist.”
DST also did the ’64 Ford Fairlane Thunderbolts and the ’67 Thunderbird Apollos for Abercrombie & Fitch.
Paul’s least favorite cars … funny thing but last night we were going through some old papers and found the title to our 1977 LTD Landau!
I don’t know why we have it other than it was forgotten when the next owner totaled the car a few weeks after buying it.
Perhaps you’d like to have it Paul? Early Christmas gift!
Seriously, I never thought much of the LTD. But then, my dad worked for North American Aviation who was owned by GM, and that’s mostly what he owned. Maybe a corporate discount?
Although no direct connection has been made, I see the fine hand of Iacocca in the creation of the LTD. FoMoCo was focused on the machinations of Pontiac as it was perceived to be breathing hard on Ford for the number two sales slot. Not that was very likely to happen but any tarted-up model that could bolster volumes was to be pursued. Pontiac offered the 1964 Bonneville Brougham trim options which was conceptually the same as the LTD. What did Ford have to lose?
That gold/black top, one in the magazine ad is the same colors as my aunt/uncle’s
“68” .
Was a “4dor”, hardtop as well.
Lasted till “75”. The rust was getting the better of it by then. “74k” on the odometer I believe.Tranny was slipping a bit too.