1981 Ford LTD Crown Victoria Coupe: Last of the Tudors
For a long time, cars were cars, not trucks, and those cars typically came in three versions: a two-door sedan or coupe, a four-door sedan, and a station wagon. And right up to the early to mid-1980s, that was still largely the case. But by 1990, full-size American two-door sedans were basically extinct, with the exception of personal luxury cars like the Eldorado and Mark VII and sporty midsizers like the Grand Prix and Lumina Z34.
For most of the ’70s, the Ford was unapologetically large. Some wags remarked at the time that LTD stood for “Light Tank Division.” In 1979, the full-size Fords were finally downsized on the new corporate “Panther” full-size chassis. But as before, a variety of sedans, coupes, and wagons were offered in trim levels from plain to lavish.
However, by this time sales of the full-size coupes and two-door sedans were beginning to wane. Sure, the personal luxury coupes like the Cutlass Supreme were still going gangbusters, but models like the LTD, Caprice, LeSabre, and others were starting to favor four-door models.
While the initial downsized ’79 LTDs retained the previous trim levels of the final biggie 1975–78 models, starting in 1980 the top-of-the-line LTD Landau was renamed LTD Crown Victoria. It also lost the nifty illuminated C-pillar decor of the ’79. A shame.
And so it was in 1980 that the LTD Crown Victoria came—LTD and Country Squire wagons aside—in either a $7628 coupe or $7763 sedan (today that’s $28,083 and $28,580). Production was 21,962 four-doors and 7,725 two-doors. For 1981, the LTD Crown Victoria sold to the tune of 11,061 two-doors and 39,139 four-doors. Clearly the sedans were handily outselling the two-doors.
The easiest way to tell a 1981 LTD from a 1979–80 model is the front bumper. In 1979–80, there were slots in the bumper with matching grille pattern inserts. Starting in 1981, these were eliminated and the bumper was solid metal.
Starting in 1982, the blue oval Ford emblem was reintroduced, so the grille on LTDs lost the “FORD” capital letters in the grille header in favor of the new corporate logo on the grille pattern itself. So now you know how to positively ID a 1981 Ford LTD. You’re welcome.
The 1982 LTD Crown Victoria prices rose once again, thanks to early ’80s inflation that saw the price of an LTD Crown Victoria two-door go from $7628 in 1980 to $9149 for a 1982 version.
Starting in 1983, all LTDs were renamed LTD Crown Victoria—not just the fanciest models—in order for the new smaller LTD to be introduced. This smaller LTD was essentially a higher-trimmed, restyled Fairmont. At the time, it was intended that the full-size Fords would be retired, and these new smaller versions would ultimately replace them.
But then a funny thing happened: Around 1983–84, big-car sales started picking up again, so the Panther chassis LTDs were kept and actually outlived the midsize LTD, which disappeared after 1986, replaced by the all-new Taurus.
At any rate, the LTD Crown Victorias carried on throughout the ’80s, but with two-door sales continuing to dwindle. In 1987, the last year the Crown Victoria, two-doors (and corporate sibling Grand Marquis) were offered, and in ’88 the LTD Crown Victoria was given a new aero-styled facelift and only the sedan and wagon returned.
The old, standard Ford coupe and sedan, designated “Tudor” and “Fordor” decades before, had changed. The “Tudor” was gone, thanks to changing tastes. Fortunately, two-door lovers still had many choices in a Ford showroom in 1988: Escort, Tempo, Mustang, and Thunderbird were all still there waiting for you and your wallet. Not so much today, except for the Mustang … but I digress! Now, where was I?
I first spotted this nicely preserved ’81 LTD Crown Victoria at the weekly cruise-in held on the Davenport (Iowa) riverfront in June 2021. I was immediately smitten. I’ve seen a few 1979–87 two-doors at shows, but not many—and never one this nice. The owner and his wife were very nice too and opened up the doors and hood so I could get a closer look. At the time, it had about 73,500 original miles.
It was in excellent, largely original condition, with factory applied paint and pinstripes. I really liked the colors too. I’m not 100 percent sure, but I think the color is Dark Cordovan. The matching top and upholstery were just the icing on the cake. I don’t remember if it had the 255-cubic-inch V-8—the new standard engine for ’81 LTDs—or the optional 302 V-8 or 351 V-8.
I spotted the car at another cruise night a bit later that year, but I haven’t seen it since. I hope the owners are still enjoying it, as I sure enjoyed seeing it! While it’s not the official designation, I’ve always felt that LTD stood for, or should have stood for, Love To Drive. Friends of mine who have LTDs of this vintage largely agree.
Until next time folks, Brougham on, and always tip your bartender!
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If not for reviews of cars like this, (I don’t care about 1-of-3 Land Rovers ordered with birch vs. walnut trim, or flashlight reviews) there would be little point in staying on the Hagerty web platform.
I like the 300ZX and GTO in the background of various pictures here. This was not a strong era of Ford product for me.
Wow, a 1981 Crown Vic!! In coupe form to boot!! Check out those beautifully formed rectangular headlights framing that strong truck-like grill. Contrasting with the slimmest of hood ornaments and delicately curving chrome wheel arches. Then the slab like sides leading you back to…omg can it be?.. a Vinyl Landau roof!! Perfectly complimented by those just slightly oversized rear quarter windows that almost match the wonderful rectangular rear lights! Please can everyone just admit that the ’80’s were a low mark in automotive styling and move on? These are not and never will be “classic” cars.
As they say beauty is in the eye of the beer holder, or maybe it was beholder. I like you find some of these cars difficult to label as classic, but fortunately we all have different tastes so there will always be people that think someone else’s “classic “ is beautiful. As a wise old sales manager told me , after I told him how ugly a combination on a car he had ordered was, there a butt made for every seat. Sure enough it sold and the buyer thought it was the best combination he could find. What a dull world it would be if we all only like 1932 Fords or 1968 Mustangs. Fortunately we all have our own opinions and tastes and there are enough choices for everyone or maybe almost everyone to be happy. It’s a great world we live in and I for one am grateful to live in a country where we can express ourselves with our choices in cars. Cheers
Al, your comments are well-taken! Just as some of my commentary was definitely tongue-in-cheek!
Yes, some people love this era of cars, but luckily not that many lol! Any GM/Chrysler/Ford product from the mid-Fifties up until the early 70’s are great looking cars. After that the legislators started with their air pollution controls and safety requirements, and manufacturers were spending their budgets for that instead. Now our choices are down to SUV or pickup truck, and would you like yours in hearse black, default grey, firetruck red or ambulance white? And do you prefer it styled retrorocketship(egHonda), Butt Ugly(eg Toyota) or plain ol’ bland(virtually everything else)? It’s a crazy world we live in, imo. Who knows, maybe someday my ’09 Nissan Sentra winter beater will be a classic. Cheers
Love your reply and it is so true. I don’t think I will be around long enough to see my wife’s 2002 thunderbird fit the true classic category but it sure is a fun summer car.
Boy was I suprised it’s our car in the article. Erin and I remember how interested you were in our car. Here is a little story on how we got ther car. We got it in Feb of 2018 when a family friend (Arnie was the best man at my wife’s parents wedding) had to stop driving and go into senior living center. A neighbor of his wanted the car the and offered Arnie about $800. It had been sitting for months and ran a little rough from not being driven. He was going to put 22″ wheels on it, black out all the chrome and make it into a Goth car. Arnie said “I don’t want that to happen to my car will you and Erin take good care of it for me” We told him yes. He said give me $1.00 and it’s yours. Drove it out of the garage, it idled rough for about 10 minutes and then it cleared up. We drove it home changed the oil, gave it a tune up and changed the AC compressor. Last year We took it on a 1000 road trip and it performed flawlessly. This weekend had it to 2 car shows. You’re right the color is Dark Cordovan Metallic (Ours is the only one that color I have ever seen) and It does have the 302 in it. We have been and plan to keep Miss Vicki as original as possible. I would love to have an autographed copy of this article if possible
I love those panther platform vehicles. I have a 79 LTD with 51k miles and runs smooth as silk. Thanks for showing love to these LTD/Crown Vic’s!
Looking for a 79 Oldsmobile regency
I have almost that exact LTD Crown Victoria in 4-door flavor, Cordovan brown and all (the top is “clove brown). I daily drive it.
Some time ago, I owned a 300ZX much like the blue one in the background (mine was a red 1988), that brought back some memories.
The Big reason for that mid 80s sales increase was GM ( esp starting in 85) Downsizing the Electra and Ninety Eight , followed by the LeSabre and Delta 88 ! The longtime Olds and Buick customers filled Ford and especially Lincoln Mercury dealerships! If you were a GM loyalist and wanted Big, you either had to trade down to a Caprice Classic or up to a Fleetwood Brougham! The Grand Marquis became the defacto NICE car! Basically a car in the middle of the pack, thus earning it a sales champion! By the late eighties almost 100,000 Marquis were rolling off the lots!!