1985 Ford LTD LX | Retro Review

[@christopher88719]

I remember being a really little kid and thinking "COP" whenever I saw one of these LTDs, just like how for a long time everyone thought anyone in a Crown Vic were cops, these cars had that same presence.

[@christopherconard2831]

When I first started driving the Jacksonville Sheriff's Department used the Caprice as their default car. Day or night I knew that headlight profile as soon as I saw it in my mirror. Sometime in the late 80's they started the shift to Crown Vics.

[@jeffreyrigged]

@@christopherconard2831 kentucky sp only used the big crown vic ltd so i never saw alot of these growing up.

[@fantom5894]

Personally never seen a cop fox body. Crown Vics on the other hand …

[@jeffreyrigged]

@@fantom5894 ive seen them just never had them in ky well state wise anyway. the local depts have had everything in the world as police cars. dodge rams jeeps olds cutlass salon 4 doors. intreptids etc....

[@zadman49]

Now it’s white explorers

[@bikingD]

Brings me back to highschool. Had one of these back in the day. Even the silver. Memories bigtime!

[@RivieraByBuick]

you lucky american school kids.

[@austinkinser]

Hard to believe these existed at the same time as the groundbreaking, stylish and modern Taurus.

[@andyinlv1975]

They kept these on in case the Taurus flopped. Remember, the Taurus was a big gamble for Ford.

[@mattmaverick703]

Taurus was way better! I loved the 85 to 91 body style as well as the 96-07s. My Dad had a loaded silver 96 GL with grey marble cloth buckets with floor shift, duratec 3.0 and dual exhausts was a slick looking pretty fast car. Also later got an 2001 Mercury Sable LS Premium with every option equivalent to the Taurus SHO. Then later which is now my car and its still in perfect condition a 2010 Fusion Sport loaded all were "silver bullets" btw!

[@austinkinser]

@@andyinlv1975 ahh, yes. I see, which makes sense.

[@lvsqcsl]

This was essentially a Ford Fairmont with a facelifted nose and tail. The LTD was the best selling car in the U.S. in 1984 and 1985. Bob Bondurant used these for his driving school. I had one of these when it was new. 1986 was the last year when they discontinued it and brought out the Taurus. Great video!

[@jamesslick4790]

@@andyinlv1975 And it COULD have flopped. The Taurus seems so modern for an '86 car because it was a success and influenced US car styling for years after. So, today it seems to be a "natural". However those of us who were car buying age in 1986 remember that it's styling was polarizing at the time. I was 24 (prime car buying market demo) at the time and 86 was the year I went shopping for my first NEW car, And I thought the Taurus was, if not "ugly" ,then damned weird looking (I thought the Mercury Sable was even WEIRDER). I ended up buying a car that also all new for 1986: A Buick LeSabre coupe. Not EVERY buyer of a new Buick then was a senior citizen! The LeSabre looked (to me..) like a car, And the Taurus wasn't even available as a 2 door. a big negative to me then. (There is an '86 LeSabre review on this channel, Mine was the same but mine was blue instead of red.)

[@jasonroberts9357]

Great 80's sleeper! Thanks for highlighting this awesome classic!

[@LaytonKnightt]

I JUST saw an immaculately maintained one on the road on Tuesday night. I haven’t seen one in years.

[@MrTaxiRob]

I saw one on LA craigslist about 4 years ago, I didn't even know they existed so I thought maybe it was a dealer package like the old California Special Mustangs.

[@ksigurdsen034482]

I owned a 1984 LTD Brougham with the 3.8L central fuel injection V-6, AOD transmission for over 20 years. Mine was like the Energizer Bunny, 305,000 miles on the original drive train and going strong. If it had been the LX, I would still have it.

[@Viper81766]

Solid dependable cars

[@b-genspinster7895]

Did you take immaculate care of it?

[@ksigurdsen034482]

The oil was changed every 3000 miles.

[@markmorris3579]

Kevin Sigurdsen-I had one like yours for 12 years.But because I live in the snow belt the road salt ate it for lunch.I wish I could have kept it.

[@drewgus6769]

I had an 85 marquis, same engine. Leaked oil like crazy but never broke down.

[@ltdscott]

Finally! Ever since MW started the Retro Reviews I've been waiting for the LTD LX. These cars were relatively unknown for a long time, but the surge of popularity in Fox Body Mustangs has now put the spotlight on some of the other "odd" Fox cars and given them the credit they deserve. I've owned three of them total since 1998 and am currently in the process of dropping in a 347 stroker in the one I have now, backed up by a manual trans and 4-wheel discs.

[@OnTheRocks71]

aaaaaay I wouldn't mind seeing a little video of that sometime in the future...maybe? **wink wink nudge nudge**

[@zadman49]

Sounds like an amazing sleeper

[@ggj1987]

I just realised that Rockstar used this as the cop cars and taxis in GTA Vice City

[@fastEdCanuck]

Back in the early 90s I owned a Canadian-only Marquis LTS which was the Mercury brother to these. Fun, super rare car.

[@1983jblack]

It's a shame they didn't offer disc brakes all around, a 5 speed manual, the instrument cluster from the newer T-Bird and also Mustang's 4 bbl carb 5.0 from '85 (That had 210 hp). This would have eaten many new performance cars' lunches for the period with that engine

[@stevend3753]

I don’t think even the Mustang GT got 4 wheel disc brakes until 88? 89? Sometime around there from what I remember. I know the SVO had them much earlier.

[@LOGICNREALITY]

@@stevend3753 94 was the first year of discs in the back, other than the cobra

[@m6780]

If you could find one of these, all your wishes could come true. Being a fox body based car there's a lot of options for bolt ons available.

[@1983jblack]

@@m6780 Absolutely - just wondering why Ford didn't go all the way with these from the factory. Only reason I have is "Nothing should beat the Mustang" which was Ford's thinking just like GM's thinking with the Corvette

[@reallyrandomrides1296]

One thought in the back of my mind has been to find a decent LTD LX (if that's even possible 36 years later), or a base model fox body Ford LTD or Mercury Marquis sedan, or for ultimate sleeper appeal, a wagon, and do all of those upgrades. Maybe get a wrecked Mustang and Thunderbird for a parts car and do all of those upgrades you suggested to make the ultimate LTD LX clone. Maybe for something really interesting, swap in a 2.3 turbo from a Thunderbird Turbo coupe, make an LTD SVO! But it would be for nostalgic reasons, as modern cars are safer, more reliable and handle better. Many mainstream everyday cars and minivans would make waste to an LTD LX, but for the mid 1980s, coming out of the Malaise Era, this car really stood out. Too bad it didn't catch on, and Ford didn't seem to promote it much. I guess because they knew the Taurus was about to be released.

[@reallyrandomrides1296]

Thank you so much for uploading this!!! In 1985, my father had a Ford LTD LX as a rental car. He, and 12 year old me loved that car. My father was in the market for a new car, but could not find an LTD LX for sale. He should have asked the rental car company if he could buy theirs. Instead, he settled for a 1986 Mercury Marquis with a 3.8 liter V6. It was a huge disappointment. He traded it in soon after for a 1987 Mustang LX notchback 5.0 V8 with a 5 speed. A better mid-life crisis car, lol! Now that I'm middle aged, I wouldn't mind an LTD LX, but I imagine finding one now is even harder, especially one that is stock and roadworthy. I see the LTD LX as a precursor to the Ford Taurus SHO a few years later... a mild mannered looking sedan with subtle styling cues and a sleeper powertrain.

[@MrTaxiRob]

find an LTD and do the engine swap from a Mustang. You could even do it with a wagon and keep the family happy, lol

[@reallyrandomrides1296]

@@MrTaxiRob Yeah, that too! I just like wagons, always have, even before they became cool. Also adds to the sleeper element!

[@markw208]

These retro reviews are great. All of the forgotten cars in the evolution from early 80’s to what we drive now. So many incremental steps in the process. American cars certainly are much more drivable now. Just as John stated about the early LTD’s light as a feather, numb steering and soft, floaty suspension were 2 of the reasons my dad rushed out and bought a 1965 LTD as soon as they hit the showroom floor in September of 1964. A living room coach on wheels and it was still in good condition 20 years and over 100,000 (can’t remember how many) miles later. Everything still worked.

[@rootsmanuva82]

0-60 in 8.7, 16.5 at 85 mph was impressive in 1985 for a midsize sedan. The BMW 533i did it in 8.3, 16.4 at 85 mph, the 528e in 10.3, 17.5 at 79 mph. Granted the LTD LX's chassis was made of linguine compared to the BMW's but they didn't really compete (I'm sure Ford ads stated otherwise though 😁)

[@mkshffr4936]

And it is not difficult to increase the power of this engine substantially.

[@Raptor3388]

And the BMW cost probably double the LTD. But it looked heaps better too.

[@MrCarguy2]

And granted that 533i probably meant a manual, euro spec, no emissions equipment version. In reality both would be neck-to-neck if not for a small edge to the LTD

[@Aforementioned]

@@MrCarguy2 Nah, those figures are both for US-spec 5-series models (from R&T tests), the 528e was called the 525e in Europe.

[@ohioalphornmusicalsawman2474]

This was fast for that era. The 302 was a great motor. Had an '88 Grand Marquis with this motor. 25 mpg on the highway, 0-60 right about 9 seconds, still didn't burn or leak oil at 160K miles. The most comfortable vehicle I've ever owned to this day, smooth, easy cruising.

[@melrose9252]

After years of no performance from Detroit, this was a welcome sight. Although it’s numbers were slow compared to today, in 1985 they were great. I looked at a .LTD LX at a Ford dealer back 1985 and really wanted it but my need for a pickup was greater.

[@Deepblue744]

I remember as a kid my family had the mercury marquis brougham or as some called it “baby marquis” version of that car with the 3.8 liter V6. Brings back memories.

[@pete84101]

Had one also, until the 'cash for clunker' program

[@davidp8627]

I had a gold 1984 "baby Marquis" although it was column shift and had the 3.8L EFI. I loved the car and eventually rust and steering gearbox went so I got a Grand Marquis in 1997. Still own that one.

[@ml9867]

I love the cornering lights, rubber wheel covers, & blood pressure cuff style lumbar inflator bulb. I was thinking this looks like a 4 door Mustang, then John says it's the same platform.

[@michaelsimko7694]

A common nickname for the this car is "4 Door Mustang"

[@JackVegetables18]

4 door foxbody

[@mattdavis9601]

Pretty much every early '80s American Ford bigger than an Escort and smaller than a Crown Vic was on this platform. The nut job living in my brain thinks building a Lincoln Continental "LX" out of the Mustang parts catalog is a good idea. Edit: Left out the word "early". Don't want Tempo and Taurus fans to roast me.

[@aehmerchant]

My 1st car was Dad's passed down 1983 Ford LTD station wagon. I had a love/hate relation with the car. It was sloppy on turns and slow but started fine everyday. I had no idea they had a V8 LTD! Love Motorweek, been watching for 25 years.

[@ryansease7066]

Love these retro reviews. It is so fun to dive into the cars of yesteryear to see how far things have come, in particularly how much smaller cars were in the 80s and 90s compared to today.

[@firebird890]

Hell yeah dude! Haven’t seen one of these in forever, and the rare LX version with the 5.0! Thank you Motorweek!👍😊

[@ENDTIMEsVideoLibrary]

Gotta love how John slaps that Cop Car Light on the roof cause that's EXACTLY what it looks like!! Ford should have tricked this out a little more including some decent Sport Wheels and better seats and a Gauge Cluster worthy of a sportier car..

[@culcune]

True, considering they were going after BMW and/or Mercedes at the time. The magazines, which fawned over BMW back then, actually were impressed with these, but did give them a little flack for the trim and whatnot.

[@mattdavis9601]

@@culcune If they were chasing after the Germans then Ford should've made a Lincoln Continental LX. If nothing else it would've given the Mark VII LSC some company in the showroom.

[@culcune]

@@mattdavis9601 Lincoln was still going after the geriatric set, which was the same demographic as Cadillac. A performance Lincoln was not really on the agenda until the 90s. Even the Mark VII was not going for younger drivers at that time. I guess I made it seem like Ford was targeting BMW and/or Mercedes, but what I meant was they were trying to insinuate their car could keep up or beat the German competition, not so much that they were trying to lure buyers from the BMW showroom to a Ford dealership. This car was the first performance sedan that Ford had in the US, and the magazines took note. I do recall the magazines actually giving the Mustang decent reviews as far as interior being kind of 'German-like'. Remember, the magazines were fawning over German cars, so with the magazines always comparing American cars to German cars, and actually hinting that they liked certain American cars in a German-car kind of way, then Ford would latch onto that.

[@tresgriffin8242]

The SHO before there was an SHO.

[@ironinquisitor3656]

Pretty much in a way.

[@RoadCone411]

Four years later, Ford was producing the Taurus SHO with power and sophistication this LTD could have only dreamed of!

[@randomrahul5221]

Serious performance for 80s..

[@JDMHaze]

the original mustang sedan lol. a foxbody sedan lol

[@howardkerr8174]

My parents had a 79 Zephyr with the carburated 5 liter and an 84 Marquis (the small one). Even though the (slightly) older V8 produced the exact same power as the 3.8, it sure felt faster. It was also a more fun car to drive than the newer car. Where the Marquis had an edge over the Zephyr was in assembly quality. Even new, the Zephyr looked " thrown together ".

[@ericbritton9346]

Ford really did their homework on this 85 LTD LX with the 5.0L V8 under the hood. It's just like driving a four-door Ford Mustang GT. Next to the last 2017 Twin Turbo V6 Ford Fusion, This was my ultimate favorite car back in the 80s, even my next door neighbor had a Brougham version with the 3.8 liter V6. If this car was in my possession now, it would be a 5-speed manual, Mustang type rims from 1993, much firmer suspension, and quad exhaust spaced out from the rear, overall the car looks sinister.

[@alb12345672]

Would be nice with the latest '01 RWD 5.0 Explorer drivetrain. Should be a dropin.

[@culcune]

@@alb12345672 Did the Explorer use what were up to that time aftermarket Mustang heads, the GT40 heads?

[@alb12345672]

@@culcune Yep, I think 97+ had the GT40 heads.

[@dragon81heart]

Absolutely loved these back in the day! Only ever seen 3 of these in person, but left an impression Was one hell of a sleeper!

[@culcune]

I pulled up to one of these at a stoplight, probably circa 1988. I was driving my dad's former company car, which he was able to purchase when it had ran its course, for a low price, a 1979 Fairmont. It was actually a 'sleeper' for its time since it had a 140hp 5.0 engine. It pulled on me like I was towing a trailer (albeit a small trailer because it wasn't exactly blowing me away like the Mustang GTs were able to do). I lived in the L.A. area at the time, so that was probably the only time I saw one in the wild, although the LA Sheriff's Dept. did use LTD cop cars (not sure how they were spec'd), among the several different cars and brands they had on their fleet.

[@joshuac4772]

I'm over all of the LS swap in these and old fox body's. The winsor is more than capable of making great power. They sound awesome too. Not everything needs an LS.

[@LOGICNREALITY]

ford dont ever need a gm engine

[@TeeroyHammermill]

@Joshua C: Anyone who LS swaps this should be crucified.

[@DFX4509B]

Coyote or 5.4 4-valve swap > LS swap for this kinda thing anyways if one must swap the 302 out for a modern engine. Even a 2.3 EB or 3.5 EB would be really good to swap into one of these as far as making it lighter on its feet while making similar or better power than the 302.

[@jeffreyrigged]

@@DFX4509B coyote is so expensive is why you dont see it. me i think a stroked windsor would be just as good at a much cheaper price.

[@DFX4509B]

@@jeffreyrigged I'm pretty sure you could pull a 5.4 4-valve out of a wrecked first-gen Navigator though, or even just pick up the engine by itself at a scrapyard, if you wanted to go that route, a whole lot of 5.4s in 2-valve, 3-valve (don't recommend unless you're swapping in some hot cams that require a VCT delete, look up about the cam phaser problems the 5.4 3-valve had as to why), and 4-valve configurations were made, but building it up for high performance might be a bit on the pricy side as is true with Modular engines in general though. I guess maybe a stroker 302 or 351 might be as good as a 5.4 4-valve or a Coyote for less then.

[@joec1774]

Wow, and just one year later they'd debut the ground-breaking Taurus!

[@donaldwilson2620]

Everytime I see this generation Ford LTD/Mercury Marquis, I imagine Eddie Murphy stuffing bananas in the tailpipe.😆😆😆

[@LrulestheworldM8]

I have honestly never seen a single one of these anywhere. not even in museums. a rare car for sure.

[@olikat8]

Last one I saw was an ex-cop model that was in an impound lot with "Evidence" & tamper tape on it, probably 5-6 years ago

[@mrHoppedupford]

How many cars from 1985 do you see anywhere?

[@olikat8]

@@mrHoppedupford I lived in Washington State for years. Owned an '85 Gran Fury cop car I dailied to work (14 miles RT) for years. Have a "76 Travco. Got a '76 Valiant V8 a couple years back (both are NC vehicles now) that is solid & the interior isn't baked out of it.

[@ngtflyer]

First car I ever drove was the Murcury version of this with the 3.8 V6, the Marquis. I don't remember much about how it drove, mainly because it was the very first thing I ever drove, but I still remember the car. My father, normally a Chevy man, actually liked it for the most part.

[@DizzyMan24]

Wow, much quicker than I thought. You could surprise a few with this bad boy. A 5 speed swap, and a few upgrade that the Mustangs 5.0L got, and this would be a real sleeper.

[@cec3]

I owned a 1985 LTD LX for a few years. I had big plans on updating it, but sold it when we moved. I still have other sleeper fox bodies though.

[@williamegler8771]

My grandparents owned the wagon version. The only thing I remember about it clearly was how much better the air conditioning in it was better than the air conditioning in my father's BMW. It was a boring car but it was relentlessly reliable and easily went 200,000 miles before my grandparents finally replaced it.

[@MrTaxiRob]

I've seen wagon versions with the 5.0 H.O engine dropped in, and the full Mustang dash bolts right in, too.

[@yamajammer76]

At 5:39 he says “it’s a 6 passenger bargain.” That’s a mistake because it’s clearly a 5 passenger model.

[@fordmuscleluis9710]

Awesome power from that 5.0 liter Ford LTD LX Car

[@gmlover82]

Several family members had these. Brings back memories

[@TahitiMaster]

This remember to me the taxi and police cruiser from Grand Theft Auto Vice City.

[@CamoShirt]

i had an identical one in 1998. i thought someone had welded up the rearend but evidently the LTD LX came with a posi track. mine had air shocks and twist in coil spring helpers that gave it a little lift in the back and solid centerline aluminum rims and tinted windows. looked pretty good for a 4-door

[@agntbaz]

Very cool sleepers. One of my high school classmates in 1994 had one, easy to do burnouts. My mom had the 1985 station wagon with the 3.8 V6, and even that had some good torque...now put this 5.0 engine in that car and you'd have quite the unique sleeper wagon.

[@pdennis93]

Lol love the blues brothers reference. Cop engine, cop suspension and cop tires

[@rmp5s]

8.5 to 60 is pretty not bad!

[@MustangsTrainsMowers]

Another one of the millions of Ford cars built on the Fox platform, and every one of them should have had a panhard bar laterally locating the rear axle. I had a 5.0 4 speed 1979 Mustang Indy Pace Car and I discovered that when cornering hard the rear axle moves at least one inch in either direction and it also yaws.

[@ltdscott]

You're not wrong, the addition of a panhard bar to my LTD LX greatly improved handling.

[@ClassicTVMan1981X]

Total production figures for 1984 and 1985 were 5,287 units combined: 1,920 for MY1984 (between March-August 1984) and 3,367 for MY1985 (September 1984-August 1985).

[@Spennyman10]

5:39 Six passenger? Who's sitting on the floor shifter?

[@Guy-qq5nq]

And a few months later the 5.0 got a rerate to 180 hp when it picked up the Mustangs tubular exhaust system. Wonder if that made any 0-60 difference.

[@jeffe4297]

0-60 in 8.7 secs for a mid-80s full-sized sedan is pretty darn good.

[@ramoncarter6585]

Hadn't seen these cars in years love those LTDs and Marquis Brougham twin version.

[@chip599XX_VGRLeader]

The Ford LTD Fourth Generation was used by Nathan PAPD, James CBCPD, and Julio Hermendez for Coliras Aurora.

[@gxdjoeybaby07]

the charcoal one in the studio is a 1985 model....the silver one on the banked track is a 1984...the lower exterior door trim is the giveaway

[@ltdscott]

Good eye! Although it does have the 1985/86 grille and tail lights, so I'm sure this was a pre-production model using leftover '84 body side moldings.

[@johnbehneman1546]

I LOVE IT!!!! THE PERFECT FAMILY AUTO CROSSER!!!!! THIS LTD CAN BE UPGRADED USING MUSTANG COMPONENTS!!! THIS WOULD MAKE A GREAT PROJECT CAR TODAY!!!!!! THANKS FOR SHARING!!!!

[@cmdarb141]

This thing is sexy. Also the preffered choice of the VCPD and the VC Cabs

[@AntonSander]

Awesome! Rubber wheel caps...different. at least they wouldn't shatter!

[@ericouellette5293]

My parents had a 85 ltd but with the 3.8 v6. My parents had it until 93 when they gave it to my sister and it got totaled. Didn't have 100,000 miles on it and still ran great. Ford should of had the option to get a 5 speed in the ltd lx.

[@Porsche996driver]

I remember reading about this in R&T back in the day! It’s like oh ok 165hp V8 and blackout trim alright!

[@mbd501]

This was basically a 4-door, LWB Mustang. It actually had very good performance for 1985.

[@JoeyP322]

I loved this car !! We drive these when I was in the Air Force… I can’t find these anywhere

[@robertbaker4460]

This brings back memories. I had one of these with a complete 90 Mustang GT 5.0 5-speed drivetrain w/ the Turbo Coupe rear disc brakes that was swapped in. It was a perfect sleeper. I embarrassed a Porsche 968 cabriolet so bad that the driver's girlfriend couldn't stop laughing. The police package LTD was an even better car as it had the following: 1. Heavy-duty K-member with additional braces. 2. Stiffer front coil springs 3. Front and rear control arms with stiffer bushings. 4. Mustang SVO upper strut mounts 5. Oil, transmission, and power steering coolers with a larger radiator. The minute you drove the police package for a mile, you felt the satisfying difference.

[@JuanGarcia-vb3du]

I'm in love that is NICE! Have a 4 cylinder 85 LTD, great 2nd/weekend car.

[@Mikes84Corvette]

Loved the Blues Brother's "cop car" reference!

[@eddiemunster4094]

That would be a 1974 Dodge Monaco Sedan 👍

[@GoonSquadLifeMember]

"Fix the cigarette lighter!!"

[@Mikes84Corvette]

@@GoonSquadLifeMember Jake: What's this? Elwood: What? Jake: This car. This stupid car! Where's the Cadillac? [Elwood doesn't answer] Jake: The Caddy! Where's the Caddy? Elwood: The what? Jake: The Cadillac we used to have. The Bluesmobile! Elwood: I traded it. Jake: You traded the Bluesmobile for this? Elwood: No, for a microphone. Jake: A microphone? [pause] Jake: Okay I can see that. What the hell is this? Elwood: This was a bargain. I picked it up at the Mount Prospect city police auction last spring. It's an old Mount Prospect police car. They were practically giving 'em away. Jake: Well thank you, pal. The day I get outta prison, my own brother picks me up in a *police* car!

[@bulldawg7232]

I had a white one, jacked up the rear with air shocks, nice looking car

[@RJLightning68]

Love these old LTD's despite being a updated Fairmont, but that's what makes them cool to me.

[@crankychris2]

The same chassis made it all the way to 2011 with very few changes.

[@sutherlandA1]

@@crankychris2 your thinking of the larger Panther platform

[@crankychris2]

@@sutherlandA1 Your right Fox was the smaller Mustang chassis, the Panther was the larger Vic/Merc/TC car. Ford got 26 years out of the Fox (I owned a '90 5.0 5 spd) the funky '95 was the last redesign. Ford went 33 years on the big Panther frame on body car.

[@crankychris2]

@@sutherlandA1 Yes, the Fox platform ended with the '96 Mustang.

[@ltdscott]

@@crankychris2 No, the Fox platform lasted in modified form under the Mustang until 2004. 1996 was the first year of the Modular V8 but there were no significant changes made to the platform that year.

[@suttonssuperstars7679]

My brother had the mercury version as a company car back in the day. 80’s were a bad time unless your ride was a Regal.

[@darnellrobeson4761]

Wowwww what a cool car. This was the car the Taurus eventually replaced. But the RWD V8 and angular styling of this LTD is so cool to me. This was like a smaller Crown Vic and I love Crown Vics lol. This LX was a low-key sports sedan.

[@mattmaverick703]

The new 85 Taurus was a way better car compared to this old heap of crap. Rwd is awful for one and same with carbureted engines. Taurus was fwd and had fuel injection engines and to top it all off a Way modern design which matched the Thunderbirds of same era vintage

[@darnellrobeson4761]

@@mattmaverick703 yes we are all entitled to our opinion. I never said the '86 Taurus was better or inferior I just said that the LTD was very cool. And I love real-wheel drive cars that's all I ever drove personally.

[@philipthomas6808]

These were very good cars:; I drove an 83 model LTD with the straight six engine and it lasted 275,000 miles before I go turned it in only cos the AC compressor locked up!

[@GeeEm1313]

I never knew this trim line existed. It turns a dowdy, old-fashioned humdrummobile into something worthwhile.

[@fordxbgtfalcon]

I’ve always liked this model. Hard to find nowadays.

[@TheKiltedYaksman1]

Given the relative light weight of the early Fox chassis cars, the 81mph trap speed suggests that this thing was probably only making about 140hp, not the rated 165.

[@Guy-qq5nq]

4 wheel drive Magazine used to give rear wheel Dyno figures when they tested vehicles. A 88 Bronco with the multi port 5.0, factory rated at 185 hp, put 103 to the ground. Took 10.5 seconds to 60. I've seen Dyno tests on stock 200's used in Mustangs and Mavericks, factory rated in the old system at 120 hp, they put 65 horses to the ground. A 70 Maverick with three on the tree did 0-60 in 12.3 and with automatic it took 14.5.

[@stevee8318]

The manual squeeze thing to control seat support is absolutely bizarre, I don't think I've ever seen that in a car before.

[@hoover2501]

It was in many cars including some Toyotas. If my recollection serves me check out the Toyota Supra of the '80s as well. Looks like a blood pressure pump

[@FrontDesk-bk4rg]

The Dodge daytona Turbo Z from 1984-1988 had these pumps for lumbar support as standard eqipment.

[@MustangsTrainsMowers]

About 20 years ago a guy I know offered to give me a running 1984 LTD LX. I had 9 vehicles at the time and stupid me I turned down his offer.

[@chicagoui9299]

This was a cool car for sure. The 5.0 model with the tiger paw tires. Was a nice car

[@MultiSpencerc]

I want one of these. Love the LTD LX.

[@DUNEATV]

Love to own this car today. Have not seen one in a long time!

[@TheHelado36]

Love this design !

[@mikeyveloster7615]

In an alternate universe Ford never made the Taurus and the LTD was produced for the remainder of the 80s with only a V8 engine and it easily beat the Accord and Camry in sales

[@fantom5894]

Um, no

[@new2000car]

Since this was faster, cheaper and had super high reliability (for an American car), I would have picked this over camry/accord. Then when Taurus came out reliability dropped to just average, making camry/accord no brainer choices.

[@lvsqcsl]

In 1984-85 these were the third best-selling cars in the U.S.

[@lvsqcsl]

At the time the Accord had been made for 6 years and was on a 93 inch wheelbase and weighed less than 2,000 lbs. The Camry started in the 1983 model year and was about the same size. Has anyone looked at the size of the current Accord and Camry? The current Accord is 3,600 lbs and the wheelbase is 110 inches. My Grand Marquis has a 114 inch wheelbase. Again, these were the third best-selling cars at this time. Looks like Honda and Toyota just keep making them bigger and bigger. I had customers with Tauruses (Tauri?) That 3.0 Vulcan was cast-iron and it held up, the transmission was another story. I think they kept that engine until they dropped it in 2007.

[@jdmjimmy]

The four door mustang.

[@mattfarahsmillionmilelexus]

I've always liked these, almost impossible to find a nice one today.

[@landyachtfan79]

I'd love to see the regular '83 LTD you tested soon.

[@chicagoui9299]

It was a brake torque monster back in the day!!!

[@albear972]

3:32 " *neck snapping* 3.6 seconds" You can also take your blood pressure with that lumbar support ball. And an automatic slushbox? I thought that those were always manual ones.

[@red.5475]

I'd buy one of these, in a hot second.

[@bradnimbus4836]

Good find, Ben!

[@sdjrinc.6921]

This is crazy my little brother had one of these growing his was 2 toned black with gray color on the doors I remember helping him change the alternator on it and I also remember when he brought it from that old guy it had eldebrock heads and a intake and dual exhaust pipes I remembered it felt quick back then memories.

[@youtoobe169]

Can you post your retro review on the 300D 2.5 Turbo Mercedes (1990-1993)?

[@ronhoover5516]

Holy overhang batman! This really was the time before the tires all got pushed out to the corners of the vehicle, wasn't it?

[@sterlinsilver]

That inflatable lumbar pump is insane- its like checking your blood pressure!

[@larsupreme]

The only thing that could have made these better is if they offered these as wagons. Probably one of the top 5 most underrated Fords of the 80's.

[@303nitzubishi4]

There was a Granada wagon available in 82 or 83 that was similar to this car mechanically but definitely not LX spec with the suspension and fuel injection, etc

[@larsupreme]

@@303nitzubishi4 Was the Granada ever available with the 302 tho? The Fairmont was but, well, all of what? 129-34hp tho.

[@paulsheehan5010]

A detuned Police package.

[@boss12]

The Ford Taurus SHO’s wayward older brother.

[@camlife6930]

I actually rode in the back seat of this model as a kid 😀

[@steveespinola7652]

I saw one these 3 months and it looked liked it came off the dealership cause it was in beautiful condition.

[@RaymondHaley-lv2mo]

The baby Ford LTD, the police interceptor,wise investment.

[@jasonz7788]

Great work Sir thank you

[@NFSMAN50]

This car has largely been forgotten, and was overshadowed by the Crown Victoria, and the Ford Taurus. The Ford LTD was the police car and taxi for GTA Vice City. You don't hear much about Ford LTDs nowadays or see them around much. This car was bascially a muscle car disguised as an ordinary sedan. A 5.0 V8 RWD behemoth of a vehicle. Was a precursor to the SHO and the future Mercury Marauder. The original 4 door mustang sedan. Imagine if Ford were to bring back a V8 RWD sedan competitor to the Dodge Charger, it would have been great!! Car was surprisingly very ahead of it's time. Truly a underappreciated car.

[@eaglewi]

Probably one of the best sedans of the 80s, but six people in it?

[@Dankcatvacs]

i know right?

[@lvsqcsl]

It has bucket seats in the front, so I would say 5.

[@curtcollett2893]

Six passengers. This model had the Trunk Monkey option.

[@mrbean022387]

Geddy up Kramer!

[@joshthemediocre7824]

I had an 85 lx with a 5.0 that i traded for an 84 v6 mustang L as a teenager...I loved the deal at the time but looking back it was a huge mistake. That LX with flowmaster 40's sounded awesome.

[@Dankcatvacs]

why would you do that?

[@eth39232]

Ford strongly continued discontinuing Panthers in early 80's because of fuel prices and severe recession, and this car was a stopgap until Taurus was ready. Ford did good job updating Fairmont to make LTD competitive with GM's A and G bodies of the era. I wish Ford had stuck with RWD mid-size cars, but understand the trend of the time was FWD.

[@6ec6YRFPTcC]

How about the rubber wheel covers. I never knew that was a thing 🤔