Ford LTD II

Infobox Automobile


name=Ford LTD II
manufacturer=Ford Motor Company
production=1977–1979
class=Mid-size
body_style=2-door coupe
4-door sedan
4-door wagon
predecessor=Ford Torino
assembly=Lorain, Ohio
Atlanta, Georgia
similar=AMC Matador
Dodge Diplomat
Pontiac LeMans
engine=302 CID "Windsor" V8
351 CID "351M" V8
351 CID "Windsor" V8
400 CID "Cleveland" V8
related=Mercury Cougar
layout=FR layout
transmission=3-speed "C4" automatic
3-speed "C6" automaticThe Ford LTD II was a mid-size car built by the Ford Motor Company between 1977 and 1979 for the North American market. It was based on the Ford Torino, which it replaced, and used the same platform as the concurrent Ford Thunderbird, which was downsized and dramatically reduced in price for 1977 to occupy the market position of the 1974-76 Ford Elite, which was a Ford Torino derivative designed to compete with the popular Chevrolet Monte Carlo.

When Ford redesigned its mid-sized models for 1977, the Torino name was replaced by "LTD II" in an attempt to convince consumers that this was really a downsized full-size car, much like the new Chevrolet Impala and Caprice. While 1977 sales were reasonably strong, they dropped dramatically for 1978 and 1979 in the face of newly downsized intermediate models from General Motors, as well as Chrysler's new Dodge Diplomat and Chrysler LeBaron, and Ford's own Fairmont, which took over the mid-size wagon slot for 1978. A two-door coupe and four-door sedan were available in all three model years, and a four-door station wagon was offered for 1977 only. It was also the platform for the final Ford Rancheros.

The LTD II was not directly replaced in the Ford lineup. Ford downsized its full-size Ford LTD for 1979, with dimensions very similar to the mid-size LTD II. In 1980, the Granada effectively took its place as the mid-size offering, until 1983 when Ford re-named its full-size cars Crown Victoria and a new mid-size LTD was introduced on the Fox platform.

Engine choices were all V8s; the 5.0 L 302 Windsor, the 5.8 L 351M, the 5.8 L 351 Windsor, or the 6.6 L 400 Cleveland. The 400 was not available in 1979. The 302 was not available in California.