Ford Elite 1974-1976 (Luxury in HD)

Here is a Facebook Elite's group for anyone who wants to join.. www.facebook.co...
This classic car is one of the largest two doors coupe ever made with almost 19 feet long. This video shows 1974 Gran Torino Elite and 1975 1976 Elite. In '75, the word Elite became a brand on its own. These giant personal luxury cars were once sailing highways and now became relics of a past where size mixed with style was a must. This bodystyle was the same one as the Mercury Cougar and the Thunderbird of the same year. The only difference was the front end and the shape of the opera window. This model was mainly competing against the Chevrolet Monte Carlo of its time.

[@unabonger777]

my aunt had a blue one, I think it was her graduation present, she used to drive me around in it when I was small enough to sit on the armrest, listening to old disco like this and rock tunes like zz top. she was beautiful, the most popular girl at her school, and looked great in this car, let me tell you. good times, I miss her a lot.

[@1969pontiac1]

My aunt had a 1976 Elite, I think it was Candy Apple Red. Had leather, and the dash looked like my 77 Cougar XR-7. Those were back in the days when they made a good looking car not made out of plastic, where you barely bump something now and you got a 1000.00 bill. The bumpers were big, but save me some money.. in so minor bumps, could not tell you even hit something. Thanks or sharing the pictures all beautiful cars.

[@DenoMcThrash]

My first car!

[@dechew72]

I had both a 74 & 75 Elite way back in those years. A drunk driver put the 74 in the scrap yard and a farmer put the 75 in the body shop and it was never right after that. A few years ago I wanted a car to enjoy and I looked and found an Elite way out in LA and had it shipped to Indiana. I changed it some and now I have that daily driver I wanted. Just need to get the MPG up a little.

[@MrDaylow]

OMG !!!! I HAD THE EXACT SAME ONE AS THE YELLOW ONE!!! GOT IT IN 1979 WHEN I WAS 18. MAN THOSE WERE THE DAYS !!! THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS VIDEO !!!

[@manoman0]

Car's right, music's right. It's just right!

[@Roadsurfergo]

I remember my dad had a light blue one. that thing rode sooooooooo smooth. Thanks for such a great video of this Machine.

[@TheLizardKing1967]

I remember these when I was a kid. Great looking cars.

[@eolafan100]

In my opinion these were the best looking Ford branded cars of all time.

[@cougstang]

Glad to hear your friend is doing well. I also have a '75 Cougar, so I know what you mean. My Cougar has the 460 engine in it too and all original. Nice that there are other people out there that appreciate a quality vintage car. You have good taste in cars.

[@MAHGlie]

I had a '76 Elite in the early '80s. Great car, enough with the modern info-tainment centers on wheels today, I want another Elite.

[@203207ab]

When I was a kid, I saw these still on the road in California back in the 1980s and even up into the 1990s. I was amazed at the style of the large side moldings. It also made me thing these cars were a pretty high class safe family car or cruiser. You could really ride in style in these. Last time I saw one, was on the side of the road. It was just purchased and left to rot outside. It was like new. All green and well optioned. Sell these to a collector if you ever decide to part with it.

[@wayneoneal7952]

Beautiful cars..i had a silver 76

[@jpatt1000]

This was my first car! A yellow 75 with a brown vinyl top and interior with about 300,000 miles on it. Bought it for $75 and had a blast with it! I have a bunch of Alfas an MG, Datsun 260Z and a Fiero. I think it's time to start looking for one of these, 'cause I do miss it so much!

[@tiffanycurtis4794]

LOOK HOW LONG CARS WERE BACK THEN I WANNA GO BACK TO THE 70’s 😡

[@ebwholesaler]

Thanks for one of the greatest car videos ever made. You did catch the spirit of the car with a great choice for the soundtrack/music. I did own a 1975 Ford Elite. Color was named "Bronze Fauve Metallic" with a Brown full length vinyl top. Engine was a 400 CID or 6.6 liter Big block Cleveland V8 (only 168 Net BHP) but with lot of torque. (Transmission Highest Gear ratio was 3.0 to 1) 1975 Last year because 1976 was 2.75 to 1 (more fuel economy at high speed) But less torque for the red light get-go! 3 speed transmission (no overdrive in these years!) The big C6 transmission (same as the big pick-up trucks) Paid the car used 400$ from friends. Was the 3 rd owner. Miles were 46900 ! Kept the cars 10 years ! from May 88 to summer 98 Still, mileage was around 66000 miles only. Interior was cloth brown. Electric windows. Power steering, Power brakes. I didn't had the A/C option nor the moonroof. I loved the car, I was very very sad (biggest mistake I ever did) when I did GIVE it for free to some people my father knew. They rip us off for parts, because car went to a junkyard I guess. Car was in MINT CONDITION inside and out and CHROME front and rear was SPOTLESS and PERFECT. Did look pretty much like some of those in your video. 17 years later I still think about my mistake and when I am nostalgic, I come visit this video. Once or twice a year. Please keep this video in here for the next 100 years please. They will NEVER EVER BUILD CARS LIKE THESE. (unless you buy a 560,000.00 $ Rolls Royce ! about same engine displacement, same car weight and behemoth size, lol :)

[@Pilot853]

Of all the retro cars, this has to be my favorite

[@Butchcub75]

Ive had 2 still have my second with a 460 BB

[@Adam19822000]

Love the cars of the 70s

[@365degrees]

@1SteedRunner I have not heard that in years about the odd/even numbers. They were doing it here in P.a and we would switch plates with our friends accordingly. I was going on a trip and there was a line of cars and the gas station attendant remember them?was looking at gas gauges and if he felt you had enough gas, you didn't get any. so I had to go home and disconnect the gauge to get gas for my trip. I never believed that crap. Look today we can buy all we want and moreat $3 a gallon.

[@wstansutton1]

I had a 1976 Ford Elite, man.....I loved that car. It handled better than you'd think it should have. One of the things you had to get used to was almost sitting over the rear wheels (notice how far back the front seat is located). You really had to make sure you didn't mess up on the turns. I wish I had taken better care of mine and wish I still had it.

[@mpaxton8991]

My driving teacher was a mean s.o.b. and made me so nervous so my brother took me out in his Elite and taught me to drive in the cemetary. If you can maneuver a Torino Elite in Thornrose Cemetery in Staunton, Virginia, YOU CAN DRIVE! LOL Love the video, and I loved this good old car!

[@jesseatwater393]

The good news is if you hit someone, they're probably already dead. ;-)

[@robertbenoit4816]

M Paxton learned to drive in my mother's 75 baby blue

[@nowitsabadtime]

Ha! 0:25, I remember a Saturday night, many years ago, some teens were in an Elite exactly like that, with mags and 'hi-jack' leaf springs, and must've tried to see 'how fast' they could travel up a local side street, maybe 1/8 mile long. They ended up smashing into a parked Pinto near the top of the street, sending it around a power pole like an aluminum soda can. The Elite landed in a nearby front yard, with wide tire marks dug deep into the lawn. I'm sure the property owner was thrilled ;)

[@TheSpritz0]

These cars must have been AWESOME for getting road head!!!!!!!!!

[@dbcoll1957]

I owned the exact model and color scheme shown at the :25 mark... loved that ride!

[@vischerphoto]

My 2nd favorite car was my 76 Elite. Carpet was almost like shag!

[@my74elite351]

@moparmaniac21 It's good. It's still garaged now. I'm trying to get the money to insure it, and then it'll be on the road.

[@alloutoftime]

Nice video. I LOVE these cars. I missed out on a 74 Elite.Lt. blue, with dark blue interior, V8, AT, A/C, AM/FM Stereo tape, back in 81, for use as my first car, but I"ll have one eventually.

[@ClassicTVMan1981X]

The Mercury Cougar XR7 in the years 1974-76 was essentially a twin to this upmarket Ford Torino (this Elite) since because Lincoln-Mercury had already been selling the German-made Capri (which ran from 1970 through 1977), they did not sell a Mustang II (Ford's then new ponycar for 1974) derivative under the Mercury name. So they essentially put the Cougar XR7 label on the pre-existing Mercury Montego coupe to pass as such, and, marketed this as a personal-luxury coupe.

[@cmmolthr]

I was probably in my later years of elementary school when these things were on the highways...the 70's were an awesome time for the automobile.....even cars that were considered economy cars that were American made were luxurious if you ask me

[@Hot80s]

back in 1986 my friend had one 74 dark blue with white leather & semi top. we were always pitching in for ga$ money & playing Miami Vice soundtrack on cassette :)

[@patbridgers5030]

My parents bought a brand new 74 , white with tan cloth int. Nice car but that hood seemed like it went on forever.

[@SuGaRxxRuSh1]

My grandma had one of these in the 70s. It was in relatively good shape but steered horribly. The interior was mint!

[@gregghanson6095]

no interior photos...what a shame.

[@Jgeneraledger23]

"There is no Elite...just take your place in the drivers seat" (1979)

[@TGBrockw]

I had a brand new 76 "Executive Silver" Elite with white leather interior! My first new car. What a beauty it was to drive around like a big shot. It had a fire under the hood in 1979 and was totalled by the insurance company. I was both sad and elated at the time because of the gas crisis, It was quite a gas guzzler. I still think about that car sometimes. Sporty and luxurious.

[@MrCrosstownbus]

I was working at a Baltimore City high school in 76 and a shop teacher purchased a brand new 76 Elite. It was "white, on white, in white" as they used to say, and it was a beauty. He bought it thru the credit union but he needed a co-signer. He got another worker at the school to co-sign for him. After taking possession of the vehicle, the guy disappeared, left the state. The co-signer, who became a good buddy of mine had car payments deducted from his check for three years until the payments were complete. It was a shame.

[@rayinpau.s.a.6351]

my dad bought one of these in 1975 in black . my mom did not like driving it because it had a powerful motor in it . she traded it in for a 1978 Volare station wagon , one of the mechanics bought the car right then and there . Ray in Pa .

[@mpaxton8991]

Yes, I had to be quite mindful of it learning to drive around all the tombstones when my big brother was helping me learn to drive. He had the patience of JOB and the nerves of Dirty Harry!

[@michaelwilliams4410]

The Elite was Ford's answer to Chevrolet's Monte Carlo.

[@ruwithlee1970]

Most large SUV's of today only get 12 - 16 MPG but 145 HP in a car that wieghs 4500pounds is a Joke ! I'd like to build one using an new style panther frame like in the 2000 - 2010 crown vics with the new 5.0 engine and trans with 3.72 rear gearing ! It should work because there both similar frames but the 2000 has a rackcompinion & better brakes.

[@moparmaniac21]

@my74elite351 Not to bad man, what about you? Hows the Torino doing??

[@gregghanson6095]

Either add a soundtrack or don't.

[@cougstang]

That's when cars were made out of metal. I drive nothing newer than a '79 and I have 6 cars on the road. :)

[@dirtyedna]

LOVE HANGOVER !!!!!!! 1976 DISCO !

[@my74elite351]

@moparmaniac21 Hey evan! How are you man?

[@rok4p]

@Pilot853 I have one for sale new york area

[@jpatt1000]

A clone of my first ever car 1:57. (Can't tell if it has the brown vinyl interior though.) I miss it very much!@TheSpritz0, I know what you mean. All the way from Ski Brule to Neenah Wi!

[@jesseatwater393]

Makes me want to get out my polyester leisure suit. :-)

[@noahgaray7923]

What is a good price for an elite? I know of one in pretty good shape for 1976. He says it has all the options except for power windows/locks. Has the 351w an he wants $2500

[@TheLizardKing1967]

Ford's Grand Prix Want-A-Be

[@moparmaniac21]

My buddy has one. I've riden in it and its a nice car, he has vids of it on KZbin, his username is my74elite351.

[@derrickjackson6737]

Personal lURUXY

[@ward6226]

Elites were not the same size as the 74-76 Thunderbirds. Tbirds were on the same frame as the Mark 4. Elites were on the Gran Torino frame. Elites were too heavy, gas hogs, and the only reasonable performance was with the 460. I had a 75 with a 351m. About 14mpg so it needed the 26 gallon tank. It do slow a 2012 Fiesta would smoke it. My family are Ford people butyl the Elite about took me to the Bow Tie.

[@FordV8viktor]

The poor, poor car at 1:24, what an defacement :(

[@FordV8viktor]

UGLY Rims at 2:46

[@georgewilson1184]

Ford was desperate at the time they needed something to compete with GM intermediates and Dodge Mirada

So

[@ezsteev63]

A Torino with an ugly front end

[@moparmaniac21]

@my74elite351 Not to bad man, what about you? Hows the Torino doing??