RARE RESCUE: 1971 Ford LTD Convertible!

[@gosportjamie]

Clint Eastwood drove a similar car in one of the Dirty Harry movies, it was Harry's own car and the unmarked police cars were Custom 500 4-doors, so the Ford product placement team were big in that one. There is a scene where he parks it in the car park at his apartment and has a run-in with the bad motorbike cops. His had the bench seat and column shift, though. The bucket seats, centre console and floor shift has got to be a super rare option on a convertible. And the story attached to the car and the pink bear is just wonderful...

[@titanictinker2832]

Hoping the pink bear and the car find a great home. Jay, that is a heck of a find❤️

[@HowardLeVert]

Lovely story about the bear - can't say any more than Titanic Tinker has said, really!

[@craigjones2878]

I’ve got one of these, 36,000 miles on it, beautiful car to drive.

[@Rav_4_Guy]

When the LTD was built like a tank. Cute story with the bear

[@scottkrafft6830]

Before it got wimpy in 1979 and even wimpier in, what? 1983? When did the midsize one come out again?

[@troysmith6568]

Back in the early 1970s, when I was a small child, my grandfather had one exactly like that one...same color. Brings back so many memories.

[@ChristopherHayniedd980]

That shifter is super rare.

[@PapiDoesIt]

Yes it is! Mine was column shift and split bench.

[@frankdenardo8684]

A friend I know has a 1971 Ford LTD 2-door with bucket seats and center console. His is built in Canada and 1971 was the last year for bucket seats.

[@Wildstar40]

Staple Shifter

[@taunuslunatic404]

Boat Shifter.

[@morgansword]

I had the actual unicorn then.... 71 sedan delivery two door with the 400, an a console shift... get this, the old guy on haggerty has this car as a four door wagon with a 429 and .... AND.... a four speed from factory with the build sheet and the original owner lives near you there. He drives it all over the usa. Mine had the buckets and haggerty one is tool... It was one of one only built so it is a treasure. I owned way too many fords in my day as they were the cheapest to buy and bad ass cars. Yours is exceptional

[@Newtruck99]

My dad had a 4 door sedan in the 70s, same color. He called it his yellow bird

[@yogisfriend7869]

I've always been a fan of that particular floor shift. You'll also find those in the Mercury Marauder (even more difficult to find). A rare gem. I bet the radio may be a victim of a blown fuse. What is really impressive is the condition of the dash pad. Not blemish anywhere.

[@mountainman7782]

Yogis Friend my grandma had a 1970 marauder with ac and a 427. Off white and a leather top. Talk about a beast, it was in almost showroom condition. Unfortunately, when my grandma passed on, my grandpa sold it, and I don’t know what happened to it. I’d love to find it, but I doubt I’d be able to afford it anytime soon.

[@nunnya-biz32]

I will have to always kick my own ass for not buying a '71 Marauder with this shifter when I could have a couple of years ago. The 429/C6 were gone but the car was very solid & complete. Either white or light blue with a blue interior. Then someone else in another town was selling a '71 429/C6 from a Marauder. I'm a goddamned idiot.

[@tomadkins2866]

@@nunnya-biz32 The Marauder was 69-70 only. Very cool cars, I had a 69.

[@nunnya-biz32]

@@tomadkins2866 must have been a '70 then. Perhaps the seller labeled it incorrectly. This was a year or two ago so it's foggy. I try to forget how I dragged my feet.

[@jeffaulik3980]

Those are the correct buckets, too--not often seen, particularly in nice shape.

[@rosshemming1347]

I drove a Ltd cab great car for deluxe taxy Reno sparks in the 80s best ride ever

[@AaronSmith-kr5yf]

Man that is NICE!!! The body is super straight, no dents, no wavy panel bs. Never was a big fan of that "nose", its kind of goofy looking but hey you won't mistake it for anything else(except maybe a big Pontiac lol)

[@2003cobramustang]

Wow incredible this old ford is in such great shape! Awesome find!

[@paulhoulihan315]

I used to have the identical car. Same color, along with the bucket seats and the floor mounted console shifter. Had a lot of fun with that car.

[@johnnyjohnson5361]

I'm not a Ford guy but that's a pretty cool old car.

[@jourrapide8298]

That there is a beauty, took me a while to love my ‘71 squire considering I was trying to sell it and no one wanted it. Now I’m glad I didn’t get rid of it

[@98-SR5]

I didn't even realize they came with a floor shifter. I notice Mr. Bear is developing a pretty noticeable bald spot.

[@hawaiisurfski3602]

Bucket seats and a center console....I think the convertibles all came that way. I went to college in New England in the ‘80’s and a buddy had one. The trunk floor was completely rotted and gone. Needless to say we had a blast with it ,for a summer and then it was scrap. The one you got there is fair but worth saving. Cool car!

[@mexicanspec]

No they didn't. The console had to be ordered.

[@robis40]

y buddy in high school had a 72 Cougar in 1978. It had bucket seats and a console but I think it was a column shift. 72 was the last year for almost every American convertible except for the El Dorado I think.

[@erikturner8687]

2V means 2 venturi Jay. For 2 bbl

[@bansheemania1692]

It's gotta be Gator-ized. Full McCluskey.

[@bansheemania1692]

Take that 2bbl off Put on a Big 4bbl. Wake Her Up

[@Scrapy-ih7ob]

Nothing more beautiful than Full Size Convertible,, Mine was 72 Buick Centurion.. was Same exact color, repainted Bright Yellow.. Sold it when I went into the NAVY sad happy days

[@allenschmitz9644]

Kojack car..lol'

[@kwshilts]

If I could I would. A very nice car from 1971. Someone is going to be very happy.

[@johnwhitley2898]

Wow! What a find!! I remember these as a kid...... great road trip cars, convertible or hardtop. She really took care of that LTD! What a ride!!

[@Expatriate1977]

dude keep all the old cars. Hoard them like hell man. Old american steel is just awesome.

[@jimaagenes8445]

Sweet ride. I have the same car! 71 conv, 400 2V, same shifter with AC except it needs resto! I bought in 1982 (my 1st car). Also have 2dr hdtp. Yellow with brown interior. Bought for parts, but to good to part out! So rebuilding 400M now. Yes, I’m sick!

[@ricksidenstricker2144]

Very rare option. I have loved the styling of these since I first saw one while watching "The FBI" tv series. Efram Zimbalist drove off in one at the end of the episodes. My father saw it as well and we had one in about 2 weeks. At first I thought it was the new Thunderbird, because the styling was very different from the former Galaxie/LTD series. and dad thought it was the new Mercury. Very rare car. Collectible Automobile did a story on these. It's available in their back-issues section.

[@koncretesurfer]

Your fuel pump statement sounding like the witch in the bobby bear song , gold , made me laugh so good ,cheers man for a smile

[@brentboswell1294]

LOL...my first car ('84 T-Bird) had the same radio. I used the money from my first summer job to buy a Harman Cardon cassette head unit with a 1/8" auxiliary input for my Sony Discman (that I had to put on a pillow to prevent skipping) 🤣

[@sail235aeh]

My parents bought one new in 1971. 71 2dr LTD Brougham, 429 2bbl maroon with black vinyl top. Damn thing was powerful, never would let me drive when I got my license in 1974

[@seanmcgivney7631]

You know when I was 8, a man down the street brought home a new 71 LTD 4 door hardtop in that wonderful midnight blue. I remember to this day those wall to wall taillights. Perfection!

[@sail235aeh]

@@seanmcgivney7631 Yeah, They were beauties !

[@terrycummings7239]

Beautiful boat, lets sail away.

[@jamesjames3525]

Straight out of the 1970s private detective TV shows man. The coolest. Love your job and what it sometimes bring you.

[@JuniorFan08]

I believe Ford offered bucket seats, console and floor shift on the LTD convertible and 2 door hardtop through the 1972 model year. It was the last of what used to be the XL.

[@brentboswell1294]

Joined a car club a couple of years ago...lots of stories of cars like this and the Pink Bear...we put on an All-Ford show where I live. We're on the opposite side of the country, though. Some of our club members might have some interest in something like this...

[@PapiDoesIt]

My neighbor has a yellow LTD convert just like this. I had a maroon 72. I really miss that car.

[@dianeadkins-diorio1783]

Still has the old-school NC inspection sticker on the windshield (last inspected in Sept. 1995)

[@davida.p.9911]

I was almost going to buy a 72 country squire wagon once as my first car. I regret that so much! Looks very similar except imagine this car as a big brown wagon. And it only had 50,000 something miles on it. Bringing back memories! Whoever buys this car is going to get a GEM! 💎

[@djstangerdude]

Those 71's with buckets and console are rare cars! It was an option in 71 and maybe 72 but the option was gone in 73. Not too many made that way!

[@thomasbradley4868]

Hi I'm tom b. You ford my father had 3 ford LTD'S I learned to drive in a ford Ltd 1973 and 1970 both were 4dr. Thank you for letting me remember the best time in my life

[@DieseltheWhiteTailedBuck]

Just by him singing "A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood" in the intro, I can tell it's gonna be a great video like always!

[@datboyfredie656]

Amazing automobile as well as the story to that car is a beautiful one. I really hope it and the bear go to someone that will love them just as much if not more as that "little ol lady from Pasadena"💜 haha. Great video Jay. Thanks.

[@justsumguy2u]

That's a cool car, and I love the buckets/console. I imagine you guys aren't selling that one for cheap, and nor would I. Years ago I went and looked at a rusty '71 LTD 2 door coupe sitting in a guy's front yard--wouldn't turn over, so I passed. The next day I drove by, and this fool was underneath of it replacing the starter with only the bumper jack holding the car up...and that front bumper was rusty, too

[@jamesjames3525]

Proud USA History rite there son.!

[@avenger1888]

Awesome car. Very well kept car. Not many of those vintage cars left that have NOT been modified. I say only sell the car to someone that will not tear it apart. I think the pink bear accompanying the car it neat. It gives the car more character with its history. This car could be at least a 3 figure vehicle especially that it is all original.

[@jamesryan5181]

Amazing car. Thanks for the tour.

[@torythefanman]

That's one nice LTD. The only time iv seen a shifter like that was in a early 90s Oldsmobile Tronado. Definitely a neat story about the bear.

[@chadcarlsen8242]

Those bumper jacks work good as bead breakers also

[@MatHelm]

BTW, somewhere around here (NC) I've got a original AC compressor off a 1970 LTD. That my dad use to own and had bought new. He solded the 390 and trans out of it, and I tore a lot of parts out of it before it was scrapped.

[@earnielovern9044]

Have no idea how you come across all these great vehicles. Love it!

[@DirtyDanMunicipalMan]

Beautiful car! I love those old 70’s convertibles! I’d love to own an LTD or Pontiac Bonneville convertible someday.

[@rclamb04]

Absolutely Beautiful!

[@michaelbustillo9583]

Thanks for keeping me entertained, I’m actually watching this is us I’m going on a road trip to help my sister move 45 minutes for me.

[@rickbledsoe5064]

This car almost makes me not want to drive my 79 Ford. Awesome car. Love the shifter and am/fm radio.

[@dan4behr]

yep, that's a rare one, alright. By '72, the bucket seat/console option isn't even mentioned in the brochures, so it looks like this was the last year for that option. Too bad there's no a/c though! The 'stirrup' style shifter was a thing from about '68-72 and you'll find them in various Buicks (Rivieras and Skylark/GS models) and Chevys (Monte Carlos, Chevelle, Malibu, etc.) as an option about that time. Loved them!

[@nonelost1]

2:46...Love them wall to wall taillights on the 1971 LTD's. The Galaxies did not have that large taillight in the middle.

[@markjovanovic9110]

My Dad still has 72 Brougham color metallic green/gold . 429 cci 4bbl holly . Interior dark green. Drove it in high school ,seats 6 +.

[@natterman2037]

I live in Charlotte, NC. Im not sure where the lady lived but I wish I could've been her neighbor. This LTD is just beautiful and would've loved to have heard her stories and possibly accompanied her to some car shows. I hope the 71' LTD and the pink bear live on forever!👍❤✌🇺🇸

[@trentcaldwell6573]

Beautiful find!

[@michaelglover2871]

Jay, I know you're a young one, talking about that bumper jack in awe. I barely remember those as a kid. But then, my dad always bought old cars.

[@mattshafer8082]

My parents used to have 1971 LTD 2 door back in the early 80s always wondered where it went after we out grew it

[@B0xlife1]

What a awesome car with a awesome story. Please make sure the new owners that buy it know that the bear HAS to stay with it, even if it's in the trunk, it is not to LEAVE the car in anyway shape or form! (besides to clean it or clean the car, something of that nature, etc! Great find, wish you could tell us what you paid for it and what your selling it for... Maybe update us after that happens? That's always my FIRST question and it KILLS me not knowing! Lol even a "close" estimate would work! Why the job change? Surprised you didn't talk about it... If it's something personal, no reason to indulge anymore, but we care about you and your choices, etc we would love to know! Would make a great video with lots of views if you told us about that, how the mobile home is coming, what else is new, etc perhaps a "complete update on car fleet, mobile home progress and what's new in life!" what do you think?!? Lol you can use the title boss.. Just checked and wow 94k subscribers! Awesome I remember when you were at 15k! Keep on going up my friend, add more ads to the videos, normally I'm not surprised to see atleast 6 in a video this length, get that money bro I have no problem watching them, not skipping to support you in any way possible my friend!

[@ronbrock6153]

I think if you do a bit of research the bucket/floor shift had a higher take rate than you expect. I have seen 5 of them in last few years.

[@alfaromeo1971]

That thing has the floor shiftier r..a rare find....I want that car

[@willcartershaves]

Beautiful car. U know u better keep this car jay. Classics like these don’t come around much

[@seanmcgivney7631]

I drove a 71 LTD country squire as my first car. The thing drove like a champ, had a 351, air conditioning and power windows. I miss it.

[@tomadkins2866]

A close friend of my father had the coolest 71 Country Squire I've ever seen. It was Red with Black interior and woodgrain, with some sort of factory mag/rally wheels. I think the color and the wheels made it look kinda badass, lol.

[@Jcegeland]

Nice car. I hope the new owner honors the old lady`s wish by keeping the bear in the car.

[@01trsmar]

THE "V" IS FOR THE CARBURETOR... NOT A 2 VALVE BUT A 2 BARREL! 400 2 BARREL..... FORD DID THIS WITH THEIR CARS/TRUCKS...IT'S A FORD THING.. 2V IS 2 BARREL 4V IS 4 BARREL

[@bradnewberry8004]

Really great find!!

[@mikekelly9129]

Absolutely gorgeous car 👍

[@erikturner8687]

I had a ‘68 Ford XLGT with the same console. That car is clean! Would polish up nice too! You need to polish it Jay!

[@rtking1969]

Beautiful,beautiful car very nice.

[@bobbyshell8563]

That set up was in my 1970 Ford XL . That's a nice car . I'd bring it to Tennessee .

[@Danzilly]

Waxer! up! Jay! We need a cruise vid after the tune up!

[@robert57chev1]

My 05 Impala fuel pump been screaming off and on for years lol when it starts screaming I hit the gas tank, it's good for a few months lol.

[@briteidea08]

My dad had one of those B&D vacuums in the 80’s They worked ok.

[@NickHudson2]

That is one lovely car and what a cool story to go with it, Great video Jay!! 👌

[@nathonics]

Beautiful car! My 77 Cadillac is about the same color! A little darker. I was born in 1971!

[@MrZzz877]

Oh and i did replace the top eith one i got from JCWhitney catalog . Had 35 pages of instructions with it. Came out good but that was the first and last time for me.

[@joeykliniski3336]

She's all there nice ford looks perfect

[@paulwillson907]

Love the truck aswell as the convertible mate 👌 both beauty’s

[@tommyhall350]

Love that car I use to have a 72 now at patrol car had a 500 police intersepter it would fly

[@johndavidw]

Love this car!

[@michaeld2799md]

You called it on the fuel pump bro! And damn 8.1L? I’ve personally never come across one of those 2500 suburbans. And of course the Ford convertible is gorgeous.

[@jeremyricketts3868]

I’d love to own this

[@JackVegetables18]

That ltd is awesome man

[@tobyrocks3]

I believe that was called the “Torino bucket seat option”

[@BggstHm]

Had a 72 Nova with the same type of Jack. A very nice clean find

[@geraldcoe1123]

Wonderful story and a beautiful survivor! I'm a purest and think this car would look better with it's original hubcaps. If you clean it up and detail the interior, please consider showing it again.

[@LakeNipissing]

EXCELLENT CAR!! I never knew there was a floor shift option! I have a 1972 Ford LTD Country Squire for 15 years. Original olive green paint with woodgrain. Also 400-2V // C6. No console, but same AM/FM radio. ;) There isn't even surface rust on the frame, suspension or brake lines. Looks like off the assembly line. Interior still smells new and R-12 AC blows cold. Full size wagons are awesome, but I always liked the taillights Ford used on the LTD sedans / convertible. Did you check out how long the factory radio antenna can extend on these cars, and also instead of the mast being circular, it is a "streamlined" teardrop shape?

[@robert1975031]

that is one righteous find man. that car would fit well in a barret-jackson auction.

[@steveb1430]

That is a rare interior, and car. 1970 last yr for XL option that interior is the same as the XL, I had a 70 XL my self back then. I bought 1972 LTD conv. from Ford dlr. in Hawaii. shipped it to Ca. had it for years, 1972 last yr for full size Conv. They said no buckets seats avail. with that horse shoe floor shifter. The Conv. is a great road car. reinforced frame, glass window in back window. I believe 47k and a survivor, its got good $$ value. I think they called the seats hound tooth style I let it go in 99 to a guy in Texas for 5k back then, could not afford to insure a 1967 Cougar XR7G and the Conv. I thought about buying your LTD to reminisce my younger days. I have bought a few cars from the south east, shipped to Oregon. Is it still available. Thanks for the video and story.

[@BggstHm]

Great find

[@joeundercoffer2567]

Wow that’s awesome you should keep it man that’s super rare👍👍. I know kind of off topic but I was at a junkyard back in the 90’s for parts for my two old Monte Carlos and found a 73 with three on the tree (an extreme oddball) impossible to tell how many were actually made because they grouped the numbers with the Malibu. I kick myself for not grabbing it (even though the body was rotted - New York). Wish I could grab that LTD. was that a gray 77 Ltd or merc grand marquis in the background?

[@gregfoster4541]

Keep on singing Jay 👏👏👏

[@gaddmeister]

Beautiful!!!! 😍😍🥰

[@jaimeterry627]

Perfect car everthing in this car the color,the option for bucket seat and console only came in the Ford XL model !!!!! a good cleaning make this a gem,and i prefer to keep the original tires caps !!!! this are all time my dreaming car !!! and the Ford Thuntherbird cnv 1966!!! and i had to content myself whit a Buick Le Sabre 1975 convertible'!!!!!!

[@toyoscio]

Use too much fuel

[@RickyB-jm9sy]

My first car was a 1971 Ford LTD, my dad paid $400.00 for it, it had the same motor the 400. It would haul ass! I got it up to 110 mph when I was 16, I would love to have it again.

[@millerkiller6496]

I’d love to own that. Any LTD really. That’s so satisfying seeing rare finds like this. I’d be okay with a column shift on this, but a floor shift is also fine. It would be a plus to get a convertible, but it doesn’t have to be. If I didn’t live in the rust belt, there’s a better chance I would buy it.

[@john242ti]

@Jay Smart Hope whoever gets it does not drive it during the winter at all. Anyway, if you've a set of the H4/H1 5.75" round conversion headlamps, I'd pop those in there. Better beam patten than the old sealed beam units. I'd also get a set for your Cavalier in the 4"x6" format. It'll help a lot on the backroads in your area.

[@69Dartman]

I put a Hella set I found at a garage sale for 10 bucks in my Dart. So much better all around than original style headlights. I also put 80/100 bulbs in them. Nobody flashes you, they don't blind people on low beam because of the cutoff and your can see so much better. On newer cars find a set of decent aftermarket projector headlights and you get basically the same beam pattern. I put a set in my 95 Neon and they are also so much better than the fogged out originals in every way.

[@ericouellette5293]

Nice ride love the ltd's. Saw one for sale had a 429 bucket seats and the same shifter.

[@koolkev75]

Cars getting better 👍