1976 Ford Elite Junkyard Find

[@monsterstereos1836]

A moment of silence for this one. I remember these cars way back when. They were quite common and easily affordable.

[@bruceblumhagen2878]

I remember when i was around 8 our neighbors had one of these. Loved it!

[@julios1968]

We had a 74 Gran Torino Brougham,man that car used to float down the road.

[@richroj]

Benny I love that Ford Elite. it was a beautiful car!

[@HectorRivera-mf6ng]

I just bought a 1976 Torino Elite. 86,000 original. 351 Windsor. Nice ride

[@maryrafuse3851]

I feel sad about the crushing of this car. It brings me back to my driver education class. We were driving in down town Antigonish, Nova Scotia when the truck arrived with LTD's and 3 Elite's heading for the dealership at the end of main street. In 1976 this was one lovely car for the dollars. I hope you can see this car and imagine the joy it brought some family as their new car and middle class status symbol. I also remember the new car smell in the 1970's, much nicer than today. I hope some folks are saving and restoring these cars. It helps to think of the Elite as its own car within the Ford line. I'd love to hear from some folks who worked on the line building these late 70's Fords. Happy memories.

[@crossarmkid42]

Basically just the body of a Torino with the front clip of an LTD II.

[@dannycasler4959]

They are based on the Mercury Montego /Cougar body

[@googleusergp]

An Elite-rino.

[@rickloera9468]

@@googleusergp You are not far off. When the Elite was introduced in February 1974 it was called Gran Torino Elite. In 1975/6 it was just Elite. Built in the Thunderbird tradition as the commercial back then said.

[@googleusergp]

@@rickloera9468 That's correct. Unfortunately, it had the same sloppy carburetion, emission controls, rotten fuel economy and general "Ford problems" of other models of that era. Ford was really bad news back then. However, all Big 4 made their share of heaps back then.

[@bruceborneman]

My favorite car from my past! My dad had a black one and a white one of which i wound up with later and i dont understand the hate! Nothing but hood and a mean looking front end begging for a 460 big block with the hemi heads and a stout cam! Plus you could travel cross country on one of the most comfortable bench seats you have ever sat it! I drove 18 hours from Texas to Minnesota straight through and felt just as good as when i started! Both had 351Ms but they werent horrible. I raced a guy in a 72 primered Camaro and i found out you dont mess with a primered car! I passed him on the highway and something told me to punch it! I got up to 130 and all of the sudden the primered Camaro was side by side with me. I looked over and the Camaro went sideways at around 135 miles an hour, i suspect nitrous, and all i saw were tailights in around 4 seconds or so about a mile up the road! But that was one of many memories in those cars that is forever part of me and i still love the look and style today! A lot sexyier than people admit

[@CowboyCarCrushing]

Glad you came out and did your thing on this car. I can't believe you found the trunk key. That don't happen too often

[@klwthe3rd]

That's kewl that you took time to leave a comment! TY.

[@vijayantgovender2045]

Thank you Benny I think you was in the 🐝 bee,s home lol thank you for sharing your wonderful videos I am from South Africa

[@erikturner8687]

Always liked those cars....I have a Bronco 2. In the process of a V8 conversion...

[@brucegwynn8509]

This has nothing to do with anything but it reminded me of my grandparents Granada back in the 70s

[@Onteo1]

If you think you’re ever getting one grab the good parts now. Drove many as a lot guy back in the day. Favorite color of mine was jade green with white half vinyl roof and white leather interior. Great riding car.

[@harrisonhunter7512]

Wow what a shame I like these old Fords, she's on the chopping block. I'm surprised on how many parts are still on her. Soon they'll be all gone. Great video Man plus howdy to cowboy and you from Australia 🇦🇺👍

[@jerryabram7400]

elites were great cars

[@MichaelDubroc]

My deceased wife's first car, she bought it new in June '76 . I had it restored & has been moth balled since approx '91 . Approx 115k mi. Saddle bronze metallic paint, spanish odess half vinyl top. Beautiful. 351W. C4 auto trans . On & on I can extensively write about it. Sentimental value. Same as this car featured. These are classics mfg'rd '74 thru '76 . Shame to destroy this

[@crushingvanessa3277]

First time I saw an Elite, think in Canada they were LTD IIs or something close to that. Cowboy's always saying to check you out. Been here a couple of times before. Glad that you preserve these cars in video.

[@ClassicRideSociety]

👍

[@davidjohnmiller4849]

LTD 2’s were 1977-79 .

[@gtpcruiser02]

Crushing Vanessa 3.... Ford Elite's were only built 3 years 74, 75, 76. The 74 was called a Gran Torino Elite and the 75, 76 were just called Elite. LTD ll were built in 77, 78, 79. I was always a Ford man.

[@bobbymckinney1264]

My dad had one these blue with white top,he gave it to my older brother when he turned 16,it would bark the tires when the passing gear kick in

[@jeffreybaker100]

My late Grandma had a green 1974 Elite

[@gtpcruiser02]

Jeffrey Baker....I can relate! Had a friend who had one of these in dark green metallic with a white interior, full power floor shifter brand new. I remember as a young man being mesmerized at what a beautiful, quiet, smooth luxurious automobile it was.

[@angrycatowner]

I see the Cowboy Crusher in the background, rolling around in his forklift. He is excited to crush this fine example of a Ford LTD / Torino.

[@ClassicRideSociety]

Yep he's a cool dude. Loves his work

[@brenyz5013]

Oh man that’s sad they’re going to crush it .

[@SpecialAgentZephyr]

i own one took a long time to find again after losing mine to fire these cars are highly slept on and need more attention

[@ClassicRideSociety]

I've been looking for a nice one at a good price. Missed one that went cheap at a local auction

[@consciouscool]

All I hear is that funky 70's Starsky and Hutch music.

[@moparnut6286]

I agree with Monster Stereos RIP you already know how I feel about these Ford's what a waste.......its a great car that rode very well I miss them.

[@T-RavisComics]

1st car I ever had was a 1975 Grand Torino Elite. I drove the hell out of that car

[@peterdaniel66]

jaysus... look at those bumpers..damn...

[@3713msg]

Hey Benny! How's the beezels on this one? (-: Tell Cowboy that Rick from Fort Wayne said hi!

[@CowboyCarCrushing]

Howdy Rick 👍

[@The07gt]

This pissed me off!! My dad had one he bought new with the console shift. I’ve been trying to find one for years like it! Seeing this really upsets me.

[@rickloera9468]

This was a very basic Elite with few options. Base interior. The blue seats are out of a Mercury Cougar from 74/76.

[@googleusergp]

Whoa Nelley, it's an Elite, and it's a heap. Its' days are few, it's over for you. But, we got the VIN, we win: 6 for 1976 model year, G for Chicago, IL assembly, 21 for Ford Elite two door hard top, H for 351 V8 with two barrel and the rest is the production sequence. Yes, the 400 V8 two barrel and 460 V8 four barrel were options. We got the tag, we can brag: 65H for Ford Elite two door hardtop body style, looks like paint of 2M which is Dark Red (some sort of top color and style follows it, can't make that out), can't read the interior trim, possible CD for red interior trim, transmission of W should be C-4 automatic, axle of 2 should be 2.75:1 rear end ratio, non-locking, DSO of 26 is New Orleans, Louisiana sales district. Seems like the owner didn't make bingo in more ways than one, and was more concerned with the rubber in the glove box than the rubber on the car (front tire was obviously bad for a long time to shred like that). That's it, time to quit. It was once Elite, now it's a model of defeat.. Time to go, don't you know? Has a 351, but it's done. It's going to get squished and we're not really pissed. The man with the cowboy hat is going to make it flat.....

[@kennethsouthard6042]

Does the tag have a code if the engine is a Windsor or a Cleveland?

[@garymckee8857]

As usual I never knew there was a factory in Chicago. Thanks

[@kennethsouthard6042]

@@garymckee8857 One of Ford's oldest and biggest plants.

[@googleusergp]

@@garymckee8857 Yup, still operating today, located at 12600 S Torrence Ave, Chicago, IL 60633. It produces the Aviator and Explorer. More here: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chicago_Assembly

[@googleusergp]

@@kennethsouthard6042 You'd have to go to the emission decal affixed to the left valve cover for those types of details.

[@CR7659]

This is so weird, I watched Cowboy's video first and there he is loading from that video in the back of this one. I like how you put stuff back and all that on a car literally minutes from being squished, though.

[@ClassicRideSociety]

I think he actually crushed it the day after I made my video

[@CR7659]

@@ClassicRideSociety I'm not sure how much later but the video it's crushed in he's filming as he loads the truck in the background of this video.

[@Gljin40509]

The Elite was marketed as a smaller version of the Thunderbird...in 1977..the Thunderbird was downsized and took the place of the Elite...same frame,and all.

[@ptpdub]

Around here that would get snapped up to make a great dirt track car.

[@austind6546]

Sad to see this one go

[@edmccandlish520]

Would love to salvage some parts. Only made these for 3 short years. As much metal as a small battkeship 👍🏻

[@doug9066]

I was thinking the side view mirrors were chrome & designed the same as the LTD but I could be wrong without Google a car like this.

[@briang4470]

Alot of the mid 70s ford trucks and cars got junked because those 351 and 400 modified engines were notorious for being junk and hard to find a good used one.

[@dowen1511]

Its days are done 4 sure She's crispy fried from that Texas Sun.

[@UsefulEntertainment]

I think its a good looking car and thats coming from me...lol

[@doug9066]

I remember you did a car like this. I'm at the point I want a an older car vs the new modern car (computer on wheela) if I can help it. A few days ago I saw a Ford LTD sedan from the late 70's & today I saw Oldsmobile Cutlass similar to the ones you recently did Videos on.

[@toms5oh]

There's a guy in northern Mississippi on facebook marketplace

[@vinfromdauphin9422]

Reminds me of starky and hutch

[@tyebirchsr1058]

Long ride somebody can restore this one sad to see her in the yard

[@derbymankg]

Was that header panel on the elite the same as a Granada?

[@ClassicRideSociety]

The elite header panel is bigger

[@johnarntz1677]

It's a solid car. Needs a new friend.

[@oldradioguy65]

The back tires look like they have some tread left

[@tonyfriend7413]

why can't they save it and sell it? it could still be a daily driver for a person like you. benny and the jets.. turning 15 in march of that year and taking drivers education.. 3/6/1976

[@kyboy5]

why do people scrap old cars like this rust free 1976 ford elite are you kidding me those rusted out decades ago here in kentucky

[@justsumguy2u]

I wonder if they'll pull the 351W and trans first? It's either got a C4 or FMX, and there's still a market for those engines/trans

[@googleusergp]

Originally a C-4 going by the tag in the driver's door jamb.

[@CowboyCarCrushing]

It's all going in the crusher 😥

[@OfficialR.O.Y]

What state do u Guys Live In

[@googleusergp]

They are in TX.

[@dowen1511]

Idk . I like the ltd2 when it comes to that body & chassis. This front end is just not it really with the single lights

[@davidjohnmiller4849]

I believe it’s actually called a GrandTorino Elite

[@Polemic-2525]

Gran Torino Elite was 1974 Elite is 1975-1976. I do remember these cars because I was driving a regular Ford Gran Torino. The Elite was related to the Mercury Cougar XR7. People bought the Elite when they couldn't afford the more pricer Ford Thunderbird.

[@davidbarror1899]

What yard is that ? I need parts.

[@ClassicRideSociety]

Unfortunately that car was crushed soon after I made this video. Also That yard isn't open to the public.

[@davidbarror1899]

I need to get some stuff for a 76 like that if you ever come across another

[@The_R-n-I_Guy]

I don't understand why people keep crashing these old cars. Our history is literally being crushed for a few dollars

[@robertlyman9789]

And...'there's a dead body!

[@marioncobaretti2280]

Gran torino elite

[@sneakerfreak2002]

When I was 7, my moms weird friend had one, red with cocaine white interior. He smoked a pipe and had an annoying dog in the back. I felted creeped out riding in it

[@mikeh5950]

That car is no more

[@Mark-iy4no]

Always hated those fortress looking bumpers

[@stevejohnson2066]

Hated to see cowboy crush it

[@ClassicRideSociety]

Can't save them all unfortunately

[@backpi]

That car got a big booty! 🤣

[@josefrancisco8715]

hey i got a question im trying to buy a chevy nova 70 but i dont know the specs i look onine for the specs i put the vin number but it doesnt ahow anything here is the vin number 114271w266214 if any of u guys can help me with that info thank u guys and nice videos too bro i love ur videos

[@ClassicRideSociety]

Google novasource.org they have a vin decoder The 6th digit comes back as being a 1971 model

[@googleusergp]

That VIN breaks down as 1 for Chevrolet, 1 for Nova, 4 for V8 equipped (originally), 27 for two door notchback pillar coupe, 1 for 1971 model year, W for Willow Run, MI assembly, and the last six is the production sequence. So, it was a V8 car originally, but that doesn't mean it was anything special per se. You'd have to find the build sheet or original paperwork for that.

[@marcosmarcao8234]

👏👏🤜🤛🇧🇷🇧🇷🇧🇷🇧🇷

[@jbb8382]

Not so "Elite" anymore

[@geegee8380]

Nice video on this one. I saw one on Vice Grip Garage- he did a fix and drive on one of these not too long ago: kzbin.info/www/bejne/fqa6m5x_l5t5kM0

[@dowen1511]

75 only 460

[@googleusergp]

That is not correct. The 1976 brochure shows the 400 two barrel and 460 four barrel V8s as options.

[@josephrenna7986]

You don't bay

[@D4x4Bronc]

Crush it quick; that's one ugly malaise era car.