Big Block: 1973 Ford LTD Brougham 29K Survivor – SOLD!
(To stop the slideshow and expand the pictures, click on the current photograph below)
January 15, 2023, Update – We confirmed the seller of this “Classifind” deleted their listing, so we’re now able to call this one “SOLD!” While this one got away, please reach out either by email or call us directly if you’d like to be informed when we come across something similar.
December 30, 2022 Update – The private seller replaced their expiring Craigslist ad with a fresh listing. The pictures, description, and $10,500 asking price remain the same.
Ford launched the “LTD” brand in 1965 as the top-of-the-line, luxury-oriented version of the full-size Galaxie 500. While some enthusiasts speculate the LTD designation to be an abbreviation of “Luxury Trim Decor” and by others as a “Limited” trim designation for the Galaxie, the original Car Life review at the launch of the first Galaxie 500 LTD suggests it stood for nothing and was ambiguous in meaning.
Regardless of what LTD means, this 1973 Ford LTD Brougham, originally listed in November 2022 on Craigslist in Stoughton, Wisconsin, with only 29,000 original miles, might be one of the lowest-mileage survivor examples. Equipped with factory air conditioning and the desirable 429 cubic inch big block V8, this survivor appears to have a dual exhaust upgrade as the only noticeable change from what came from the factory. No harm, no foul, in our humble opinion.
Once offered for $10,500, Classic.com, the analytics and search engine for the collector car market, confirms the ask is slightly below the one-year rolling average of this guide’s summary for Ford LTDs of all body styles produced between 1970 and 1978. By clicking on the green dots in the graph below, you can navigate to each comparable car sold as a way to help you evaluate the price of the LTD featured here:
As a second data point, the Collector Car Market Review Online Tool reveals the seller’s ask falls between this guide’s #2 Very Good” estimate of $8,200 and its #1 “Excellent” appraisal of $12,400 before factoring in a ten percent premium for the desirable 429 cubic inch V8.
Ford offered an LTD across seven generations spanning from 1965 through 1986. In 1973, in order to comply with federal regulations, the LTD was given a major redesign for the model year. The requirements for 5-mph front bumpers had taken effect, with larger rear bumpers to be added in 1974. While the redesign slightly decreased the weight of the LTD, it still was far in excess of two tons, making agility and fuel economy both key weak points. The new styling was bulkier, making the car look significantly larger and heavier than previous models. Four-door models (sharing rooflines with Mercury) were given thin B-pillars for roof reinforcement and branded as “pillared hardtops” (frameless door glass remained on all Ford LTD models).
The MemoryMuseum YouTube Channel features this 1973 Ford LTD Brougham commercial comparing Ford’s Top-of-the-line car to a $9,000 Jaguar:
The private seller lets their ad’s pictures do the talking as their description is very brief. Cars are original only once, so as long as you like the color combination, you’ll likely love the quiet, smooth-riding luxury this 1973 Ford LTD Brougham for sale provides.
Here’s the seller’s very brief description:
Show or go: What would you do with this 1973 Ford LTD Brougham for sale? Please comment below and let us know!
When I was a kid, we all joked that “LTD” stood for “latest trash from Detroit” .. lol. But I love these cars. What an amazing example! Wish it was closer.