8 1976 Ford Elite Commercials [Worth Checking Out]

The 1976 Ford Elite is a personal luxury car produced by Ford and marketed in North American from February 1974 to 1976, with the name Gran Torino Elite used in the first year. Based on the Torino, the mid-size two-door coupe was intended to be a less expensive Thunderbird alternative to compete with the increasingly popular intermediate personal luxury class of vehicles such as the Chevrolet Monte Carlo, Pontiac Grand Prix, Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme, Buick Regal, Dodge Charger and Chrysler Cordoba. It was essentially the concurrent Mercury Cougar XR-7 with a mild front end restyling to resemble the Thunderbird, different taillamps with a center reflector, unique twin opera windows, and large color-keyed vinyl moldings placed higher on the bodysides. The interiors were identical save for upholstery styles and minor trim.
Introduced February 18th, 1974 as the Gran Torino Elite, it was initially the top-of-the-line model of the Torino series. Although advertised separately, it was titled and registered as a Gran Torino. For 1975 and 1976, the Gran Torino prefix was dropped and Elite became a stand-alone model nameplate. Early pre-production publicity photos for the 1974 model show the use of Gran Torino XL nameplates.[1]
The Elite name was dropped after 1976 because the Ford mid-size range was restructured for the 1977 model year. The Thunderbird was dramatically reduced in size and price for 1977 by moving the nameplate to the Torino-based LTD II platform which replaced the Torino. In effect, the Elite continued restyled and marketed under the more-recognized Thunderbird name, and the previous full-sized Thunderbird was discontinued. (Take From Wiki)
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[@christopherkraft1327]

Wow, the mid size cars back then are bigger than the large cars of today!! The Elite was a very quiet comfortable car 🙂

[@ronaldnorris2179]

I owned one it was a very good car … smooth ride and comfortable.

[@mikesamra9126]

@@ronaldnorris2179 I had the 1976 Cougar XR7 and it was my very first car and I was a senior in HS in 1976. It was the same chassis as the Elite other than a couple chassis tweaks. I drove Cougars up until 1997 when they discontinued them. I love the ride of my first car.

[@ohioalphornmusicalsawman2474]

Nova/Hornet/Maverick/Dart/Valiant were compact cars back then, that is correct. They were full size by the 80's.

[@daviddixon6408]

The large cars of that era Ford Thunderbird, Lincoln Continental, Chrysler Imperial were true land yachts. Big 440-460 V8 engines that were lucky to get 8 mpg city driving. Of course gas only ran 35 to 60 cents a gallon during that era so it wasn't too bad.

[@ohioalphornmusicalsawman2474]

@@daviddixon6408 That was certainly true. Had a '73 FuryIII with the 360 motor. Got 15 on open road cruising at 65 to 70, and 9 in town. Gas was cheap, though, so I didn't care

[@franktiseo9316]

The Ford Elite, Torino, Thunderbird etc. Great looking cars. I miss the days when car companies made stylish 2 door vehicles.

[@kenworcester4387]

Pretty cool seeing Tom Selleck before he was well known in these ads.

[@atomic32205489]

my grandma bought one of these and I prayed it would go to me when and if she got tired of it.

[@stevewilliams3850]

The Elite started out in 1974 as the Gran Torino Elite, but dropped the Gran Torino for 1975. And OMG, in that last Elite, is that Tom Selleck driving?

[@chadakoin1]

Only Ford had the twindow. This car was so elite it had an opera window for each eye.

[@jayjay-bz3rr]

Frank Cannon would love this car

[@mercoid]

A bit smaller than his usual ride, but yeah.

[@snodgresswilim4817]

Cannon required the extra roominess of the Mark IV. He often made use of the big 460 to foil his villains.

[@Mike14G]

Only people that lived in the 70’s will get your “Cannon” reference. He could pick up Barnaby Jones for lunch.

[@kbtube8125]

"try that again friend and i'll break your neck" . . . .still one of my favorite shows. that and Harry-O. he had the beat to hell MG midget that wouldn't run for more than a couple of hours so he would take the bus.

[@enerrivers4392]

Not Magnum doing commercials. Quite a leap from Ford to Ferrari.

[@galiffrey1]

Unless you are talking about Le Mans.

[@kenworcester4387]

I loved both of my Elites - had the '75 and '76. Miss them both!

[@richardashwood5771]

I was never a Ford guy, but I did buy a 1974 Grand Torino white with a burgundy vinyl top and interior and a 1976 Grand Torino yellow with a yellow vinyl top and a beige interior. I thought they both drove like a Lincoln and had very classy looks. I drove the wheels off of both of them and never had a bit of problems with either of them.

[@mikepapillo5728]

IF YOUR NOT A FORD GY WHY DO YOU HAVE A SMILE ON YOU FACE

[@erikajennings9055]

The problem with most cars/sedans today is their trunks are so small they are useless. Sedans and coupes back in 76 had as much trunk/ storage capacity as a mid sized SUV today.

[@craig0769]

As a former owner of a 1979 Thunderbird....that car was huge on the outside and extremely cramped on the inside...including the trunk. Ford mounted their spare tires in a way that made the trunk space nearly useless. The huge 27 gallon gas tank was mounted directly under the trunk so the space was shallow.

[@barnabyjones6995]

@@craig0769 The trunks were deep though, at least on the 1975 Grand Marquis I once owned.

[@pjimmbojimmbo1990]

@@craig0769 Even when the Thunderchicken was on the Platform as the Continental Mark III/IV/V, the inside was still cramped.

[@tp5776]

I like looking down the hood of these cars when driving.

[@DK-bk1vq]

Man, I still love this car. I bought two, a '74 Gran Torino Elite, and a '76 Elite. I traded my '71 VW Bug in for this car cuz I started dating a very classy girl, my first year in college. She loved it cuz she was riding in style, and I loved it cuz the Elite was big, smooth, and quiet. The cars even had a seven pod dash layout and no stupid idiot lights. Yeah, that was a good three year run for the Elite.

[@adamsmith9636]

My first car I bought was a 76 Elite in 1980 . My friends said why ? cause everyone drove Cutlass , Montes and Novas back then and I wanted something different and it was ... It was a great car

[@tollie266]

I had a Ford elite back in 77 9000 miles and got it for 5995.00. I was 22 then those were tithe days

[@thefingerofgod1024]

At 22yrs? Did u buy with ur own money or dad bought it for u.

[@Cstoreri]

Our family had one, triple burgundy we got so many compliments about that car.

[@The07gt]

The first commercial has Tom Selleck as the gentleman who is driving.

[@hairylarry6167]

I always thought these cars were really cool looking. My sister in law bought a new one, ordered it blue with a dark blue vinyl top and blue interior. It was quite rare in appearance. I drove it, it drove like a dream.

[@paulausherman727]

I had 2 elites they were awesome You couldn't have wanted a better ride

[@ronaldnorris2179]

I had one also …it was a very comfortable quiet nice riding car.

[@liamobrien6151]

My dad owned a '75 Elite. These ads bring back some memories.

[@Polemic-2525]

I miss those days. 1975 was our year. We had blue with white half vinyl top with a 460 engine. It was very fast in it’s day.

[@jasonrock5220]

Before the changed to mostly eco boost small displacement engines. I wish the Taurus or Crown Vic or Thunderbird was still produced.

[@leonardgilbreath9004]

One of our drivers had a 76 elite her ordered fully loaded with a 460 and it drove like you were on air.

[@Imagezone61]

Oh yeah! I had a 76 Elite. Dark green with a green enterior, just like Tom Selleck drove in the ad. Had a 351 under the hood. Like riding on a cloud.

[@fasnuf]

1975 Elite was my first car.

[@cooperparts]

I had one light yellow 351 w great car from pa to talladega 12 hrs 85 all the way 14 mpg

[@barnabyjones6995]

I was able to get 14 mpg on the highway with my old 1975 Mercury Grand Marquis with a 460. My 1973 Olds Toronado would get up to 16 mpg on the highway with a 455. I usually did not take them over 75 mph though, that is when they would start to really guzzle. It would have been nice if they had an overdrive transmission as an option.

[@daniellaubach7544]

Sounds about right fuel mileage 4 one of these cars back then.

[@1spunkymonkey2]

Even though I love classic American cars, especially 70s cars, I honestly didn't know this car existed until I watched this video

[@ciron28trains]

That car is a boat

[@michaelj7069]

My dad almost bought a white one with dark blue interior. I was so disappointed when he didn’t. Then he ended up with an F150 instead. Quite the 180.

[@davidfrania8990]

What a coincidence...In 1975 I bought a white Elite with a dark blue interior. I even ordered it with a moonroof and the deep dish aluminum wheels. Man, that was one sweet ride! I really enjoyed that car until I traded it in for one of the newly restyled '77 Thunderbirds.

[@michaelj7069]

@@davidfrania8990 that’s awesome!

[@derricknvegas7028]

My neighbor had one these in white and red when i was in high school back in las vegas...always thought it was a beautiful quite car well preserved at the time.

[@allenbenz209]

I had a white '76 Ford Elite with tan interior. It had the 460 V8 with (factory only availability) Motorcraft 4 barrel carb, dual exhausts, all gauge dashboard (not an idiot light to be seen), heavy duty 3 speed automatic transmission, heavy duty suspension, G70x15 tires, American Racing (REAL) magnesium wheels, heavy duty brakes, bucket seats, console, floor shift. The car weighed 4600 lbs. (EMPTY) as measured on a public scale. With two people and luggage it would easily top 5000 lbs. It would get about 8 - 10 mpg in town, unless you turned the A/C on, then it would drop to 4 mpg. On the open road, though, it would get 17-19 mpg at highway speeds.

[@maryrafuse3851]

The Elite was a nice looking car. It prepared the way for the very successful 77-79 Ford Thunderbird. The T-Bird sold very well in Canada offering the lowest price and most beautiful styling. In Canada it was the moving on up car for the middle class. In those days Canadian dealerships would have special promotions and cars already on the lot to sell. My parents had ordered their cars until the T-Bird promotion at our local Ford dealer in Antigonish, Nova Scotia. Dad's dove grey T-Bird was a strong well built car that only needed regular oil changes + gas. Even the 302 V-8 delivered good economy for the era.

[@clemsonbloke]

No, the Elite prepared to the 1977-1979 Ford LTD II. The LTD II replaced the Elite.

[@chrisarthur3577]

Tom Sellick - a Ford man

[@tomayres4237]

Tom is from Detroit!

[@socalltd]

he was in ads for the Continental Mark V also

[@SpockvsMcCoy]

Tom Selleck also appeared in a magazine ad at the same time for the 1976 Dodge Charger.

[@SpockvsMcCoy]

@@socalltd and Mark IV

[@socalltd]

@@SpockvsMcCoy I was thinking He only did Ford ads till Magnum.

[@thomasfeinstein3771]

A friend of mine had one of these. In California, these cars were the kings of "gutless wonders". I think the starter had more power than the engine. You knew you were in trouble when a Volkswagen out ran you going up hill.

[@ohioalphornmusicalsawman2474]

You must have had a 302 in yours. Had a '76 Monarch Ghia with factory 351 Windsor. 0-60 in 8.9 seconds, would leave Mom/Dad's '87 Buick Century in the dust on hills. In the 80's/90's, these old 70's bruisers blew the doors off of newer cars in the power department. The Monarch would also leave a '97 3.1 v6 Lumina in the dust.

[@eddstarr2185]

By 1976 the Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme Brougham Coupe was stomping the competition, becoming the best selling car in America. Ford was stunned by the success of the Cutlass Supreme and the 1976 Thunderbird was waay too big and expensive to compete. In fact, Thunderbird sales were declining! Enter the Torino-based Elite. While the Elite sold well, the Cutlass Supreme Coupe made sales record history for 1977, the last time Oldsmobile made history for all the right reasons.

[@funkjoebrandon4246]

I had a 77 cutlass. It was great.

[@ohioalphornmusicalsawman2474]

Used to love the AMC Matador Coupes. Give me a Brougham or Barcelona trim package, 360 4 barrel, yeah buddy!!! More trailer towing capability than any of these smaller SUVs made today, and so much more personality

[@eddstarr2185]

@@ohioalphornmusicalsawman2474 Yes - that's the car that caused a sensation. I saw a 1975 Matador Coupe, Oleg Cassini Edition, parked at the local cinema and a crowd gathered to have a look - so did I.

[@daniellaubach7544]

Yeah I remember the Olds Cutlass Supreme was the best selling nameplate in the GM stable in '77.

[@longbeardschopshop6655]

I was 6 in 1976. My parents had a medium blue elite. Loved that car. They had it till I was 13.

[@scottemmer3301]

My Pa had 1976 Mercury Cougar. Almost the same. Very nice car.

[@tonychavez2083]

When society and people were Normal

[@bbo40]

My best friend in High school was born and raised in England till he was 14. when we got to driving age in the early 80s ; he loved big, American cars. He had one of these in the mid 80s when he was in college. Drove it till the engine 'gave way'.

[@Pisti846]

The Elite used the Montego/Cougar 2 dr body.

[@artdeboer4096]

I had a lime green one with spoked wheel caps - 1976 used but rode great and no issues!! Sold it w over 100,000 miles

[@joserafaelgrangefuenmayor7744]

Me gusta el carro un Ford Gran Torino Elite 1976; me gusta mucho; le hizo competencia al Chevrolet Monte Carlo y Caprice; me gusta mucho; saludos y buenas tardes.

[@1949LA-ARCH]

I owned a blue with white interior 1976 Ford Elite.

[@CJColvin]

Hey its Tom Selleck

[@kellysweetman6070]

I preferred the look of the Gran Torino I f the same era. I owned a 1974 model. A very nice looking gold metallic, with a vinyl top and cloth interior. I drove it until I had an unfortunate accident one night and totalled it. I'd like to restore one someday.

[@clemsonbloke]

These had to be the best Commercials for Thunderbirds! That was all they said "Rides like Thunderbird", blah, blah.....well then why would anyone want to buy a Elite? Just buy the damn Thunderbird!

[@jinglejazz7537]

did you hear that? she said "MID SIZE!!! bigger than today's big cars.

[@mr.v8194]

Nice car .you ordered the options. 2 of my friends owned them.

[@rosemaryeytchison5194]

My little princess

[@coolbreeze5561]

I always liked the Elite alot didn't get one though had Ford over anything else

[@gclarkbloomfield8848]

...I always thought that the Elite was the best looking of the mid-sized personal luxury group which, by 1976 was is hyper-drive as buyers who had driven Mustangs, Camaros and 'Cudas during their high school and college years had married, moved up to mid-level corporate or professional jobs, and were looking for that mixture of sporty good looks, attractive styling and a back seat and trunk that could accommodate the 2 kids, the wife and all the luggage and paraphernalia that accompanied them... ...and it didn't hurt one darned bit that a young, handsome, mustached man named Tom Selleck beckoned you from the driver's seat...

[@StangQuest94]

These are great! "Mid-size" Elite?! Haha. That's a Land Yacht!

[@daniellaubach7544]

Big & Heavy was the in thing durin the mid 70's! It took the 2nd gas crunch to force the big 3 to offer lighter shorter wheel based autos for fuel economy!

[@mattkramer4132]

He ended up trading the Elite in for a Ferrari.

[@linwoodouellette6132]

Yes. I know. Its. To. Bad. That. Ford. Made. Ownly. Four. Two. Yrs. 1974. 1976. Then. It. Was. Replace. With. The. LTD two. But. Still. On. The platform . Was. Not. Old enuff. To. Drive. One. Im a Die-cast. Car. Colecter. Shour. Itke find. One. But. Did. Thay. Stop. Making. Them I dont. See. Why. Thay. Just. Did. Not. Keep. The. Same. Name. O. Well life. Gose. On

[@JRobert111111]

@@linwoodouellette6132 You'd best get back to school and put an emphasis on English class.

[@mikeatv]

mid size? its as long as an escalade today

[@FarmerDrew]

"Special wheel covers"

[@chryslerelectronicleanburn1676]

They looked like the full wheel covers that were on the LTD.

[@DozensOfViewers]

They keep comparing it with their own car - why not just get a Thunderbird then?

[@davidfrania8990]

Because the Elite was a little smaller and was much cheaper than the Thunderbird. But the reputation of the Thunderbird helped in marketing the totally new nameplate of the Elite. Thunderbirds of that time were huge and one rung below the Lincoln and cost almost as much. It wasn't until 1977 that the Thunderbird was downsized and reduced in price, and then the Elite was discontinued. Thunderbird sales shot through the roof after that, because they became more affordable and were also a styling home run!

[@socalltd]

@@davidfrania8990 over 300,000 77 T-birds were made in 77. 320,000 in 78 and just under 300k in 79. a sales hit by lowering its price and a new look.

[@pl5624]

With suspension like thunderbird....but the 80 thunderbird had suspension like fairmont...

[@MichaelOKeefe2009]

Monte Carro will always be the car to drive.

[@CrestwoodRocks]

The Elite & Torino in 1977 became LTD II. You probably noticed the Elite already looked like an LTD II. The Torino slowly worked on turning into an LTD II.

[@SpockvsMcCoy]

The Torino was replaced by the LTD II, but the Elite was replaced by the smaller 1977 Thunderbird.

[@CrestwoodRocks]

@@SpockvsMcCoy alot of similarities

[@kentyson4570]

I wonder if Tom Selleck was born with that stache

[@vassa1972]

awesome

[@eebradley1]

4:12 looks like Tom Selleck. Correct me if I'm wrong.

[@jimoconnor6382]

They forgot the Matador Coupe

[@Lovejazz01]

Styling? Like a Mark 4, which wasn't a bad thing ...

[@jared7263]

Tom Selleck?

[@CJColvin]

Thats one midsized landyatch.

[@scottenser464]

Mid side ?

[@Whiteboytripping]

If your compression ain’t over ten to one, baby you and me ain’t gonna have no fun.

[@johnmaki3046]

Back in 1990, i almost bought a '78 from a buddy, THEN I CAME TO MY SENSES AFTER DRIVING THIS BUCKET!

[@ericcindycrowder7482]

Jeezz why not just go buy a dang thunderbird then lol!

[@cantwell161]

Is that Tom Seleck?

[@buick1955]

Yep

[@stevemehan7276]

I’m wondering how it was different from a T Bird

[@allenbenz209]

Weighed less. Cost less.

[@sneakyquick]

Mid size the size of todays rvs

[@pjimmbojimmbo1990]

"the 76 Fords are the most Corrosion Resistant Cars Ford has ever built" Just 3 yrs Earlier, Ford was making the Most Biodegradable Cars, Anyone had Ever Built.

[@hwy9571]

Well might as well bought a Thunderbird.

[@tskraj3190]

I had a 76' Mercury Cougar XR7 with a 351M-400B, C6 Transmission, and a 4:11 rear end. It was a comfortable ride in the front seat and drive but it was a tiny in the back seat, bitch to start in the winter time and it's stopping distance was horrible.

[@daviddixon6408]

The Elite was a gas pig. 351 V8 engine, 9 or 10 mpg city driving.

[@allenbenz209]

Try it with the 460 V8 , factory only Motorcraft carb, dual exhausts - 4 to 8 mpg city driving. On the other hand, 17 to 19 mpg on the open road at highway speeds!

[@martintaper7997]

They were way too small and so modestly styled.

[@pjimmbojimmbo1990]

I always Hated this Body Style. And that was when I drove a Ford.

[@trentbdog]

I liked the Torino a little better than the Elite version.

[@69eddieD]

It's a tarted up Torino. I don't think they fooled anyone with it.

[@geoben1810]

This is when American car manufacturers started to lose any sense of styling, cars looked like crap and then quality standards started to go to hell later in the 70s and into the 80s.

[@billthompson5644]

Maybe 150 hp? NO THANKS.

[@JClark-34695]

Nobody could "decorate" a car like Ford in the 70's. Granada, Elite, LTD etc... all relied on decorative features to make them attractive. Not much in the way of good, "organic" styling.

[@Jay-vr9ir]

One of my first jobs , was at a Ford Dealer selling in the used car dept , we had a lot of these pieces of junk on the lot , that we had to try and sell .

[@datsun210]

Styling like a Thunderbird. Ride System like a Thunderbird. Why not just buy a Thunderbird?! o_0

[@kevinpatrickmacnutt]

If we say Thunderbird enough times, you'll forget this is a dressed up Torino. About as dumb of a car as Lincoln Versallies. After truly great cars in the 1960s, the big three were all producing some shitty cars in the mid 1970s.

[@donkinzett3961]

That is one ugly car

[@laurencethornblade8357]

Total BS at 1:36 70s Ford would rot to the frame in just a few years, in New England anyway.

[@5610winston]

I had forgotten how hideous the luxury cars of that period really were.

[@Pisti846]

The Elite used the Montego/Cougar 2 dr body.