1973 Ford LTD Brougham Coupe: Everything’s So Green!
Lately I’ve been watching the classic TV show The Streets of San Francisco after work. I lucked out about a year ago when I saw a collection of the first three seasons on DVD at Big Lots for a mere $14.99. Such a deal! Since then I’ve been metering them out as free time permits. It’s quite enjoyable.
The series immediately transported me to early 1970’s California, and I was smitten by all the car spotting. I’m not sure how often I paused or ran an episode back to confirm I had seen an Opel GT, Continental Mark IV, or Kingswood Estate in the background.
And Lieutenant Stone and Inspector Keller’s car changed like clockwork from 1971 to ’72, ’73, then ’74 Ford Galaxie 500 four-doors. And why not? They were the bread and butter of many police forces at the time, along with models from Chevrolet and Plymouth—though usually the black and white patrol cars were one step lower, as Custom 500s. Being a detective had its perks.
By the third season they got their nicest car yet, not just the usual Galaxie 500 four door sedan, but the four-door hardtop, even with the optional Luxury wheel covers! It was painted era-appropriate metallic copper.
But even Mike Stone didn’t have the clout to obtain the top-of-the-line big Ford, the LTD Brougham. As you’d expect, it had even more standard features, fancier interior, and more sound insulation than the Galaxie 500s. And if it was 1973 and you were shopping full-size Fords, there was another oh-so-’70s color besides burnt orange or copper or gold—you might have been smitten with one painted Ivy Glow, as our featured coupe flaunts.
There were three different full-size Ford coupes on offer for 1973: $3,778 Galaxie 500, $3,950 LTD, and $4,107 LTD Brougham. The base big Ford, the Custom 500, was only available as a $3,606 sedan or $4,050 station wagon.
In addition to Ivy Glow, Blue Glow, Ginger Glow and Gold Glow were available as extra-cost colors, available on the full-size Ford, Torino, Mustang, Maverick, Pinto and Ranchero. They were much like the Firemist paints available on Cadillacs and Moondust/Diamond Fire options on Lincolns in that they were brighter and had higher metallic content.
Our featured car was spied on eBay by your author back in July, 2014. I regularly haunted eBay and Craigslist (and still do today) for interesting and compelling survivors of The Brougham Age. And this one was gorgeous in triple green and sporting most every option, including the power sunroof and power 6-way passenger seat!
One interesting tidbit: At the time I assumed it was a remarkably well-preserved original car. But recently I found out from my friend Jeff Reynolds that he had seen the car before it was painted its current hue.
As he told me, “I’ve seen that very car. It was at Lincoln Land in Clearwater Florida. The first time I saw it, it was still wearing it’s original paint, which was a Key Lime yellow green. The repaint really suits it far better. It has nearly, if not every possible option available. It was originally ordered by a Canadian Ford dealer for his wife. It has a 429.”
I have to agree. While the pastel lime color is also very ’70s, that lustrous dark green with matching top and interior is just spectacular! I love it. And I miss LTDs. Maybe some day the crossover/SUV fad will finally fade and we can shop new LTD Broughams with all the mod-cons!
Green was big in the early 70’s. Glad it stayed there.
No offense to green fans just my mother did everything green and I had my fill growing up.
Money is green, have you had your fill of that?
I use credit cards and pay pal. Get with the 21st century bud.
Hey my mom even had a green crock pot that still haunts me.
I use cash and skip the interest bud .
Pay it off at the end of the month no interest.
Might also not many places don’t take cash anymore.
I remember watching reruns of the TV show Barnaby Jones. His car was a Ford LTD Brougham Brougham coupe. I also saw a car like this on other TV shows such as The FBI, Cannon, and The Streets of San Francisco. Quinn Martin QM Productions produced the shows and Ford Motor Company was the sponsor and corporate tie-in. I remember seeing a car like this in the end credits of The FBI with Efrem Zimbalist Jr. He would drive a new Ford car through the streets of Washington DC passing The White House, Washington Monument, Lincoln Memorial, Jefferson Memorial, and the Capital building.
Personally I love this car, oversized bumpers and all. Wish I could afford it. Just the car to let environmentalists know what you think of them.
And of course, Jim Croce told the world that ‘Bad, bad Leroy Brown’ had a “custom Continental…..and an Eldorado too……a 32 gun in his pocket for fun and a razor in his shoe.”
I’d always keep Dormans door pins at the ready.
The very first Ford I ever drove was a 1974 Galaxie 4 door model . It was new at the time and so quiet !! It handled beautifully and gave a smooth ride . Those Ford Galaxies were wonderful road cars and had plenty of room !
I love watching all the old shows from the ’70s love it it’s fun looking at all the old vehicles I love the vehicles that were produced between mid-60s throughout the 80s it blows my mind that a car that cost $3,000 in 1971 say could be worth anywhere between 50 to 100,000 now depending on vehicle
We had a 77 LTD (not a II). Not sure if it being Canadian made any difference to that changeover they did –it was a refresh of the featured car.
Forest green on green on green vinyl roof. The all-green was a bit much, but then again I didn’t like the green.
It had sat on grass behind the original-owners house for 20 years when we took it on (in the late 90s). Doors, hood, fenders, most of interior were mint. Vinyl roof and area above the truck rotted away, rear bumper full of holes, underside pretty crusty from sitting in grass.
We got a few good years out of it (it was low mileage after all) and then it crumbled to the point of “not worth it”. Sat for another 20 years before someone finally wanted it (it had been offered for sale pretty cheap several times in the last decade of sitting). Trick was… didn’t matter that it had still-mint panels, it was too gone to reasonably restore and nobody was restoring a better one that needed doors and a hood it seems.
Person that finally bought it when the property was being sold wanted the engine…
My parents owned a 1969 LTD 2 door. Red with a Black vinyl top and interior. 351 V8 with a 3 speed auto. They bought it new in Covina, CA. I was with them. I eventually got to drive it when I was a teenager. It was a boat 🙂
Love the History of the World Part I reference.
Bring back the color keyed interiors! From the carpet/floor mats to the head liner and everything in between. During the 60’s-90’s model proliferation/badge engineering the domestics had this as standard equipment even on low-line standard cars. Most vehicles offered at least 4 different interior color choices Vinyl cloth leather or a combination of those. And the interior color matched or complimented the the exterior color. I once saw a mid 70s Seville in Cotillion Yellow and the interior was the same shade including safety belts!
Oh my a total emulation of Barnaby Jones’s car just a different color sunroof and all!!
OMG This car is fabulous
Is it for sale and how much?