1985 Ford LTD (Reaction) Motorweek Retro 

I am happy that I was able to recommend this Retro Review to you. I still would love to have a 1985 Ford LTD LX sedan eventually. I would put a 225hp 4.9 liter V8 from the Mustang(1987-1992) in it, though.

I watched Beverly hills cop yesterday so this is really on time, no banana's in the tail pipe ok

Growing up I had a neighbor with the Mercury Marquis version. I have to agree that the car looked awkward then, and time hasn’t really changed my mind. While I can appreciate the premise of this LX as a “4-door Mustang”, I think this platform overall is little more than a reworked Granada/Fairmont. The Taurus that succeeded it was such a drastic upgrade.

I own a '79 Zephyr 2 door sedan. I know the LTD was kind of a stopgap between the Fairmont and the Taurus. It probably was just cobbled together like you say. The dash was lifted straight out of the Thunderbird. But regardless, I think the LTD styling is an improvement over the Fairmont/Zephyr. I tend to regard the LTD interior above the F/Z too. They usually had cloth seats, at least. And more amenities. Looks best as a wagon.

I remember small inside compared to regular ltd

Those are on the rare side and worth a few bucks if you can find a nice one.

It was indeed thrown together. Corporate focus was very much on the 86 Taurus.

My town in New England had these 85 Ford LTDs for Police cars.They we're modified 302 blocks with 4 barrel carbs,msd ignition,they were pretty fast though the Transmissions just couldn't hold up to the torque the motor made.They junked them all within 3 years.I often wondered where those 302 motors went.😢

Ford knew exactly what it wanted to do; build the Taurus. This allowed it to just get a little more use out of the Fairmont.

Love your channel Jon. That was a true sleeper in its day. When my mother was driving the family around in a ‘78 Fairmont wagon, we rented an ‘83 Marquis on the same platform. That car seemed so modern to a 12 year old boy used to the Fairmont. Also all that overhang made for better low speed maneuvering in the city

I watch these and have a greater appreciation for modern day vehicles. Love the new AVI, slick and modern.

Also, I drove one of these in 85, was my friends car. The ride was so smooth and unbelievable. I own a 96 Lexus LS 400 and the ride smoothness and handling of that LTD comes very close to that of my Lexus. Ford did some things right.

I use to go to school in San Diego in 1985 Ford LTD as taxi 🚕 it was yellow taxi 🚖 through the airport shuttle company

The 1980-82 Fox body Thunderbird is very similar to the LTD. Unfortunately, many of the Thunderbirds were equipped with the atrocious 255 ci v-8 and 3 speed automatic, although a 302 and AOD was available as an option. The one I have also was equipped with 2.27 rear axle gears making 0-60 best timed with a calendar. The 255 is getting replaced with a modified 302, AOD transmission with a wide ratio gearset from a 4R70W and 3.27 ratio traction lock rear axle gears. It will be the car Ford should have built if it wasnt for the miserable EPA.

These do have good seating (from experience with the 3.8). The release date of the Eurosport Celebrity in 1983 would indicate the similar trim choices to be coincidental (because they're easy from a manufacturing standpoint). The v8 in the Fairmont and Zephyr had no specific pretense at sportiness, you could order a sporty package with any engine. The 4th gear and TBI improved acceleration and economy significantly compared to the Fairmont v8 tested by Car and Driver in 1977 too.

It was a hedge car in case the Taurus was a flop. The Edsel is still in Fords collective memory LOL I think the styling is okay and the idea of a sleeper sedan with a V8 engine is pretty attractive

My grandparents had an '84 LTD for many years back in the early 90's. I got to ride in it many times. I remember it being ok. It was just generic "car" to me. The story they told me of what happened to it was the winter of 1995, they slid on some ice and hit a ditch and broke something and they retired it to "The back 40" like they did with everything for 40 years, instead of fixing it or selling it.

They were a thrown togethor product as the tauras was coming. Otherwise another Fairmont with a different body.

I usually don't like "boring" looking cars, but this one always had my eye. I could never really afford one at the time, but I really kinda dig the Lego front end and definitely like the rear tail lights. I would be proud to drive one today to compliment my old police Crown Vic('98), but for comfort sake I am sure the more base would be better.

Those are good cars, based off the Fox platform, and many MANY parts interchange with the Mustang

Back in 1984 & 85, the county police used the LTD. Ford decided to end production of the rear wheel drive LTD, the country had vehicles on order. I think Ford offered the county the 1986 Crown Vic in replacement for the Fox body LTD. The country sued Ford. I don't remember what the outcome was.

It looks like an extended Ford 1985 Ford Tempo with Quad headlights with rear wheel drive 😂

My parents had one of these. It was reliable but otherwise unremarkable.

Great, re-review, again, Jon. This thing seemed to just be a stop gap for the Taurus that would come out later in '85...which made this thing look like a dinosaur.

At the time, I found this car interesting. I so wished that Dodge could have done something like this with the Diplomat or Chevy with the box style Caprice.

A few subtle styling mods would have made it attractive. I completely agree the rear pillar/window is an absolute mess. The front grill and the way it's integrated to the side markers just doesnt look right. The car looks disjointed like a cut and paste from other Ford models. But even with all of this, I still find myself liking the car.

My parents bought the Mercury Marquis version of this sedan in a horrid coffee ice cream tan with the fake convertible top. That crosshatch brown vinyl literally disintegrated within like 3 years, so we had its fiberglass shell removed and just repainted the metal top. Although the 6 cylinder engine was fairly reliable, the gas mileage sucked, and my father insisted on using premium grade gasoline, at way too high a co$t. The alternator went, as did the driver's side power window motor, both truly expen$ive to replace. He eventually wound up buying a new 2000 Hyundai Accent, his first foreign car... 🚗

My first car was a 84 for ltd brougham. It lasted til summer 2004. It still drove but wasn't reliable and had a leaky carburetor....not safe to drive. So sold to a junkyard for about 800$

Just subscribed to your channel, nice work on the LTD.

Grandfather had an LTD with the v8. Ugly? I didn't think so. I liked fox body cars. Some people just don't. But yeah if you're used to seeing mostly Mustangs a 4 door Mustang looks odd.

Funny. Ford of Europe had the Sierra and was rear wheel drive. We had it here as the Merkur. This might be ugly but if Ford would have put the mustang front clip on this and a supercharger. Would it be better. Who knows. Great video. I like this car. 😊

Jon, your discussions are interesting, democratic, balanced, and inviting. Talk about the slope nose Chrysler 4 cylinder turbos. Be interesting what you come up with.

This was really a stop-gap car before the introduction of the 1986 Ford Taurus/Mercury Sable.

Great review Jon!

My Aunt got a new 86 Marquis Wagon with the 3.8 V6, "wood" side panes, etc... It was an excellent car and so neat back then for us to ride in. She drove to 100,000 miles with no issues.. These were very well built cars imo...The Sable wagon was out, but she though the Sable/Taurus was "so ugly", so the old "square" baby LTD/Marquis kept customers buying Ford products that were turned off by the all new "ugly" Jelly-bean Taurus/Sable.... Her next vehicle was a new 1992 Aerostar....

The Dodge Daytona is an automobile which was produced by the Chrysler Corporation under their Dodge division from 1984 until 1993. It was a front-wheel drive hatchback based on the Chrysler G platform, which was derived from the Chrysler K platform. The Chrysler Laser was an upsebadged version of the Daytona....DO THAT ONE.

With the exception of the seats the inside and outside seem to be styled by government committee

Similar styling to Dodge 600 and Chrysler E Class.

A friend of mine bought a former LTD cop car for about $500 back around 1990. With that V8 engine, RWD and good handling, it was a fun car to ride in. The ability to do amazing burnouts and drifting were this car’s strong points. Interior quality was terrible, but the driveline was excellent!

I was 13 when this car came out, and at that time I thought it was pretty cool: extremely boring looking, rwd, and a V8? Based on the Fox platform, everything that works with the Mustang fits this car? Perfect! I don't want cars that stand out. My cars have mostly blended-in over the years and probably saved me a lot of tickets.

Cheers Jon, for a change this is half the size of AU LTDs [just luxury Fairlanes in the 70-90s]. _Agreed, it looks like it was designed by a committee of schoolkids doodling._

Jon. I completely agree. The styling is terrible. Some early 80s small boxy sedans worked well, ie Maxima, Mazda 626. This was probably an attempt at that? Performance is why people bought it, and happy for them. Pretty obvious Ford was trying squeeze out a few more sales from these sad designs before releasing the Taurus

We had those as our police cars when I was in the Air Force in the mid/late-80s. It doesn't take much time behind the wheel to realize that they really were 4-door fox bodies. The only real advantage the Mustang had was lighter weight. The LTD had better suspension than the Mustang and our Police Interceptors did have the column shift.

Rumors were going around that Ford was going to put the BMW turbo diesel(the same one used in Lincolns of this time) in these as an option, but they never did....

When I look at this all I see is a Ford Fairmont. I’d say the equivalent GM bomb as far as styling goes would be the Cutlas and Regal fastback twins. Great review.

Remember that the Big 3 (Ford, GM & Chryslre) don't follow the quality philosophy that the Japanese automakers do. They are more focused on increasing profits and cost cutting

Cool car. Cops had them.

Had an 84 LTD LX. Best 4 door sedan of the 80's . 5.0 V8. Foxbody platform. Good suspension. Comfortable, great seats. Good looking even though you don't think so. My silver one looked awesome. You keep bringing up Audi. The Audi 5000 was garbage of the era and almost ruined Audi. As for the Regal you mentioned. The 2 G Body looked good but 4 doors. You want to talk bland and ugly. Will say one of my favorite cars I ever owned. Trully a 4 door Mustang!

Would love it if you could do the 1984 pontiac Sunbird SE Turbo. I had a 1985 with a 4 speed and loved it other than a few problems early on and bad experience with dealer service.

In the 1980s, we had boxy ugly cars

Yeah, you do appear more of a Buick kind of person….😂

I can see your point on the styling of the LTD. Don't think I agree though about your video on the Dodge 600. My dad had a new at the time 84 and I think that beak looking nose made the car, just my opinion.

our local county sheriffs had these - pure sleepers for creeping up on hooligan camaros & mustangs - I gotta say, I think they had something spicier than a stock 5.0 under the hood. Pure Blues Mobile fodder

15:15 How is it a six seater with the gear shifter in the center console 🤷‍♂️? The LTD is just a rounded off Ford Fairmount that costs a lot more.

That German comparison was a holdover from the big advertising push Ford did comparing the Granada to the Mercedes, I think. You mentioned the proportions of the car, but when you consider that the chassis was bolt-for-bolt Mustang, all they appear to have done is stretch the trunk of the Mustang and add a couple doors to build the car. So, yeah, a Mustang wearing old man pants.

That car wad a police package Ford just wanted to sell to the public. The LTD Brougham wad the luxury version.

This was a performance bargain back in the day. 165 hp was nothing to sneeze at in 1985 - Buicks 231 V6 which was standard in almost everything pre-3800, wheezed out 110 hp. A BMW 535 (admittedly much sportier, and with a nice 5 speed - we had one) was putting out 182 hp. Naturally there was no market for - this was not what people walked into the showroom for. We bought an 85 Marquis Brougham for one of the guys as his company car; ok, but a totally different vehicle - and not really what one expected from a traditional Marquis (which by now was a 'Grand Marquis') The 6000 STE and Dodge 600 ES were domestic rivals; the 600 forgettable (worse in almost every way), but the STE more sophisticated, if considerably slower.

My very first car was a 1979 Mercury Grand Marquis, but I totally do not remember this LTD model year at all. I did like the redesign they did in the early 90s. Lord, the lumbar support inflator is hilarious!!

My Dad owned a 84 LTD wagon. It was a tank with a terrible straight 6 engine.

VENT WINDOWS! Can we talk about vent windows, at least as an option for a minute? Awesome feature on this car, and available as options, at least on pickups, well into the 90s. I hate these new cars that have the separate pane of glass there, but it doesn't open, missing a true opportunity. I don't know why they exist... there is almost always room in the door for the entire window to roll down, so why this annoying little immovable pane of glass in your peripheral visions all the time? And if it does have to be there, then why not disguise it by putting the mirror mount there (which some cars do). Far more often then not, these little panes of glass are just there, serving no purpose. I had a volkswagen, where this static pane of glass was so big enough, that half the time I rolled down the window at a drive thru or bank, I slammed my hand against its frane as I moved my arm out of the window. Can someone please explain? I can think of no reasonable engineering reason for this, it's not for aero (like on the late 90s GM full sizers, that had a slim piece of glass there to "wrap around" the windshield), it's not for noise, it would be HARDER and more expensive and harder to manufacture and incorporate this little pane of separate glass and it's own frame then just having the whole window roll down, so why does it exist? And if it is GOING to exist, let it open! (I particularly liked the vent windows on my Mark IV, which rolled down instead of pivoted, when you rolled down either side window, the little one went down first, then the big main window went after.) Vent windows are great for a number of reasons. I understand most were eliminated due to A/C becoming standard, so that begs the question again, then WHY these little separate windows?

Agree that it looks very cobbled together and cheap. I thought so about the Fairmont/Zephyr twins in comparison to Volaré/Aspen twins; and when it transformed into a name traditionally associated with a luxury boat, details of the styling were changed but it still looked cobbled together and cheap. The same could be said for the interior. Its plywood flat door panels and cheap looking/feeling plastic everywhere did not have a desirable effect no matter how much extra fake wood or flat black trim they used to dress it up. Having said all this, they drove great for their time, were very comfortable, and were actually a fun sedan especially in comparison to American sedans from GM and Chrysler.

I have always been a fan of the big LTDs, as well as the big Mercurys and Lincolns. I am not a fan of this car. Not only is it ugly, but it is based on the Fox platform, BY FAR the WORST platform Ford has ever had. The chassis, what little there is, is made of very thin sheet metal. Even the short abbreviated "frame rails" are made of super thin metal. These cars flex like a wet noodle, and there is no place underneath to lift of jack them without causing damage. Like I said, I have always liked the big Ford cars, and I am currently driving a 2006 and a 2007 Mercury Grand Marquis. The 2006 has 387,000 miles on it, the 2007 has 46,000 miles. These cars are big, V8 engine, rear wheel drive, solid rear axle, and use body on frame construction. Solid as a rock. Completely opposite to the Fox cars.

The car was state of the art for it's time. The styling was attractive compared to the cars of that era.

Jon, I have to disagree with you on the LX looks. Have you seen one in black? Agree on the name error through. LTD GT would have been more fitting. Thanks for another well thought out episode.

I agree "visual train wreck" but seems like it was a pretty good car. Disagree with the GM being a better product.

My dad's old friend sold him a 72" LTD with the 400 motor, which I thought we were going to fix up together but he ended up doing a partial cash trade for some rusted POS Chevy truck. Never even got my money back for the gas tanks and other new parts I ordered for it. Now that same friend wants to sell his 68" LTD with a 427 Cobra which I'm trying to get lol

LTD == Lincoln Trim Down

I had a black 85 with alloy wheels from the T-Bird that looked better, the power locks operated by lifting up the door button, it was quite low in weight, the fuel injection could have been better @ idle, acceleration was surprising , with a very attractive engine compartment with retro valve covers

The LTD/Marquis from this period as well as the Fairmount/Zephyr always seemed to me like the most dull styling ever imaginable. The LTD in particular looks like something a 7 year old would've drawn up with his crayons. Like the '78-'83 Malibu it was a sad way for the RWD mid-size American sedans to go out. At least you could give unsuspecting early '80s Z28s a run for their money at the stoplights.

An interesting review. No offense to the people who like these but I never cared for the styling. I don't know if it had something to do with the fox body itself or if it was just the styling people they had but a lot of the fox body cars just didn't look good to me. I can't put my finger on one thing because it was like they didn't do anything right styling-wise. They just look strange. With the decision to make this a sports sedan, I could see the idea with LX because back in that era there was a 5.0 LX version of the Mustang. Part of the problem is with car manufacturers they tend to create a trim level that is special then over time it becomes the base level which has never made sense to me. At one point RT was the best Dodge you could get performance-wise in recent history it's the second level up. The part that I do have a problem with is looking at this This was supposed to compete against BMW and Mercedes? Why? Why not offer this engine as an option in the merkur? Why does Ford have this strange idea that Ford is meant to compete against European luxury brands? It cannot command similar prices (It's an appliance division), it doesn't have an interior that comes anywhere close to the European luxury brands (It has appliance division interior), It doesn't have any prestige to it (because it's an appliance division), It doesn't have the styling (It has gasp appliance division styling). I'm almost convinced that Ford didn't want to have any other divisions other than Ford but the fact is people don't want to accept Ford as a luxury or a performance brand because that's not what it is It's an appliance division. I wish they would accepted it and used one of their own divisions to compete correctly. The other part that highlights the problem with their strategy was Ford, Mercury, and Lincoln were all competing following a very similar strategy just at different price points. Given the capabilities of the platform, they could have uncrowded the market by making a choice on a division say Mercury to focus on performance as a whole which could command a higher price than Ford and focus on making it the whole package by giving it the proper interior it would need to compete, giving it the proper suspension, giving it the proper powertrain, and giving it proper styling. The other part looking back that I found confusing was usually whenever people referred to LTDs my childhood with a meant was the LTD Crown Victoria. It wasn't until I was an adult and was researching the stuff that I understood the distinction. My view the name really doesn't make sense for this model. I don't think the car knew what it was supposed to be. It's not prestigious for Ford standards, It neither was limited or Lincoln type design, and it wasn't sporty. It was just an appliance.

LX => LUXERY ??

Jon, the LTD LX is so ugly, it looks like the Fairmont with more goodies.

My grandfather had a 1986 Ford LTD (the last year for that body style, I believe) and my brother had a 1981 Buick Regal. You are absolutely correct. The Buick Regal was a much better car in terms of looks and ride. The LTD was merely okay, in my book. Definitely more road feel than the old land yacht LTDs (I owned a 1971 model), but it felt sluggish and not very maneuverable given the smaller size. I especially hated the breaks which would grab quickly at first, then sorta sink before grabbing completely. It was a scary feeling, like the breaks were giving out before they would finally grab. My brother had his share of issues with the Buick, but it was a great, comfortable car to drive around in.

It is a really ugly sad, lol!! A Fairmount rear end with a noise pasted on the front. Lazy!

I was selling them at that time. This was a total waste of a car.

I have a neighbor who still uses it as a daily in 2024. A 1985 car incredible.

Henry Ford II could be a TERROR. So could Lee Iococa. The first Mustang had great styling and per Henry, FALCON MECHANICALS. The Thunderbird ended up being A LAND YACHT. SEE 9th Gen Thunderbird under Ford Thunderbird Wikipedia. Generations well outlined. Having interned in Body Engineering. Often ground up engineering did NOT occur. Enough English. better ideas Were NOT ALWAYS ground up. Many times it was something borrowed, something blue, something old, and something new....

A clearly misunderstood car but I'm used to that from this channel. This LTD line was merely a bridge from the Fairmont/Granada to the Taurus of the time - and one must remember that this was in a period of time when oil shocks were more normal than they are today. This car was to take over for the larger Panther if needed. It was not unusual for Ford at this time to build a hedge vehicle by taking the older model and trying to get more years out of the investment. Most of the development dollars available were banked into the Taurus budget and Ford was not still on good footing. Thanks to the 1983 T-Bird, things were pointing in the direction that the company was heading and it was a good time coming.

Off topic but why aren't you covering EV startup brand news anymore? I'm surprised you didn't say anything about Fisker going under.

Good video, Jon! This generation of LTD was a very weak offering from Ford. The car was basically a poorly revamped Fremont. Ugh as in Ugly. The butt kissing Motor Week commentary is facetious.

Look Americans you guys n Europe got granada chassis what should have got is the Ford Australia continued with large RWD chassis was Australian Ford Falcon Fairmont. In 85 was XF but model before is better looking, my brother XE had 6 seater, front bench with fold down middle arm rest 3 speed column automatic hook to big 4.1lt six which you have got 3.9lt or 3.3lt six. Ford made some bad decisions, they should have export Australian car globally.

You bought a Buick Regal and you call this ugly? All I see is a Ford Fairmont with a front end that tries to look a little more sporting.

This car was bug ugly. The Chrysler Eagle Audi ripoff was cool.

WOW. How did this car even exist in the same showroom as the swoopy, modern Taurus? (And worse, the superior Mercur XR4TI and Sierra)? Like 2 decades out of date. I don't think it's "ugly", just so generic, like K cars, like something that would have been GREAT... in 1979. But in the 80s? SO far out of date. I hope it was cheap. Or, those few people who still wanted that 302 in a family sedan when everyone else ws moving on. What a misstep. Ford could have pushed the "real wheel, V8" option to have an alternative to the Taurus.. but wow. SO OUT OF TIME. But they didn't... made it a grandpa car instead of a BMW 5 Series competitor, which it could have been (with better styling). Ford... what is yer problem.

Not the car my father loved from the seventies! Ugly and bland as sin!

You're not wrong about the styling. It's really unattractive and awkward. Short wheelbase, long overhangs, the cab is too far back. It really makes me wonder who would sign off on this. I also tell myself to put it in context and that ot was the 80s, but still. There's a number of Fords from this era using the corporate design language of the day that I think are pretty homely.

Jon, Now that the Supreme Court has struck down Chevron doctrine, and soon the dissolvement and elimination of the EPA, vehicle manufacturers can go back to building these babies at an affordable price and the power we need. They would be best sellers overnight. Your thoughts? Cheers.

Ford had the Taurus coming, why bother with this relic. They did the bare minimum to try and sell this ugly thing till the real looker was on showrooms.