Ford LTD II
The Ford LTD II was a by the U.S. carmaker Ford produced 1976-1979 model of the upper middle class with rear-wheel drive. Parallel model of the LTD II was that of the Mercury Cougar Division offered.
Model history
The LTD II was introduced for model year 1977 and replaced the Ford Torino, on the unchanged technique he developed; new was only the body.
Model Name
For the new middle class series Ford was the name used for ten years and successfully established Torino fall. The last model of the Torino had last been strongly criticized for its lack of profitability; by a new name, the new middle class model should be externally perceivable deposed by his predecessor.
The name LTD II put up a reference to Ford's full-size models that have been designated since 1965 as Ford LTD ( for " Limited" ). The terminology should suggest that the new mid-range model standing in a relationship to the full-size LTD and its "little brother" is. This was true, however, only until 1977, because the model year 1978 presented new version of the LTD was smaller than the outdated LTD II this respect, the model range of the brand Ford in 1978 was marked by a contradiction.
Technique and body
As the Torino, even the LTD II had a separate chassis in the form of a box frame. He was the last American middle class vehicle, which is still used this construction method; the models of the competing companies General Motors and Chrysler had already long been self-supporting bodies. Ford introduced the use of a box frame in advertising as the best way is to filter out road impact and enhance driving comfort for the passengers, critics pointed contrast to the fact is that a vehicle with a separate chassis mainly to construct cheaper and easier to modify.
As a driving source of the LTD II took only eight-cylinder engines, which were 4.9 liters, 5.8 liters or 6.6 liters. In the last model year of the largest engine was no longer available. The power transmission was standard with a three-speed automatic transmission.
The body of the LTD II was redesigned. She was smooth-surfaced and dominated by angular features. Special features were the very wide radiator grille and the stacked twin headlights, which were a common stylistic device in the second half of the 1970s. As a body versions: a four-door sedan and a two-door coupe was available, its wheelbase was slightly shorter as already at Torino. Coupe and sedan had either a closed C -pillar or a process called Opera Window third side window; higher versions also had a related with vinyl roof. Only in the first model year, there was also a five-door estate with a body from the B-pillar corresponded nor that of the Torino wagon, so had high arches in the rear fender.
Ford saw three trim levels for the LTD II before:
- The basic version was called LTD II S,
- A superior equipped version was known as the LTD II without further addition,
- The top version was offered as LTD II Brougham.
The production
Sales of the LTD II were generally disappointing. The car appeared in the times of oil crisis unreasonably large and heavy. Against the model year 1978 redesigned center class models from General Motors, which were much smaller and more economical, the LTD II fell sale moderate very seriously behind, so that its production in the summer of 1979 has been set. Specifically, the production is divided as follows:
Derivations
- A parallel model of the LTD II was the third generation of the Mercury Cougar. It differed from the LTD II alone by a modified design of the front and rear fascias, as well as stand-alone equipment lines.
- On the chassis of the LTD II, the seventh generation of the Ford Thunderbird, which is often referred to as " Torino Birds" based. Derived from this is the Mercury version called Mercury Cougar XR- seventh
- A pick-up version of the LTD II was finally sold from 1977 to 1979 as a Ford Ranchero.
Successor
The Ford LTD II had no direct successor. With the cessation of its production was originally designed as a compact car and below the Torino / LTD II positioned Ford Granada behind the LTD 's second largest model of the Ford brand, he and his to 1982 produced successor took over in this way from 1980, the position of the middle-class model, and thus followed indirectly the LTD II