zzdcar
Home
/
Reviews
/
Buying
/
Would You Go $2,300 For This 1985 Ford LTD LX 5.0?
Would You Go $2,300 For This 1985 Ford LTD LX 5.0?-November 2024
2024-02-19 EST 22:10:01

The seller of today’s LTD describes it as a “four-door Mustang GT” and that’s pretty much what it is. You’ll have to decide if its price makes it a four-door deal as well.

Red Green offered to the ages this sage snippet of wisdom: “If the women don’t find you handsome, they should at least find you handy.” Words to live by, I’m sure you will agree.

Yesterday’s was undeniably handsome and while not running, it probably could be brought back to life by someone who was at least modestly handy. Those facts helped its price win a huge 83% Nice Price win.

That bike had two wheels, while today’s candidate has four doors. Coincidence? I think not. That portal count isn’t that big a deal until you note that it’s essentially a four-door Mustang GT. That’s because this was bequeathed a bunch of hot Mustang hardware before it left the factory.

What made that all possible was the the shared DNA that the ‘80s LTD and Mustang possessed. Both are Fox body platform mates, and that means that much of what fits one will fit the other, and that includes the 165-horsepower EFI-equipped H.O. 302 which was what all the cool kids at Ford had back then.

The Fox platform was in fact originally intended to house a V8. The front suspension is a Macpherson strut arrangement but it keeps its coil springs separate, mounted in the A-arm down below rather than the standard practice of up top, circling the strut. That allows for plenty of elbow room in the engine bay up above. Nice work, Ford.

Of course, it’s hard to say that when Ford introduced the Fox under the plebeian Fairmont and slighter high-zootier Mercury Zephyr if the company had a clue just how many cars would eventually spin off of the platform.

The LTD was an evolution of that founding Fairmont, sharing the windshield, doors, and pretty much everything under the skin with it. The impetus for the 5.0-powered LX edition is said to have come from Bob Bondurant who was using Mustangs for his driving school, but needed a four passenger car for demo rides. Bondurant went to then-Ford Pres Don Peterson - he himself a graduate of the driving school - and asked for a “four-door Mustang.”

Peterson liked the idea so much that the Bondurant one-off LTD became the production LTD LX 5.0. The only difference between the track car and the one offered for the street was that Bob’s car came with a five-speed stick, and the ones that made it to the dealers could only be had with Ford’s 4-speed AOD automatic. Shizzle McBizzle!

This one, in burgundy over grey, is a two-owner car and rocks four-lug Mustang GT turbines. The bodywork seems clean in the few pics provided - hey LTD seller dude, more pics of the car, and less of the oil change receipts in the future, m’kay? For you kids; yes, those flat up and down things in the grille just above the bumper are the headlights. The LTD came about before composite lights were legal here, so old school rectangular units it is.

Inside, things get a little funkier as the driver’s seat comes with a chunk taken out of its modest side bolster. The seller says he has factory seat covers (huh?) which are mint. Hopefully that description refers to their condition and not their color.

There’s 139,000 miles on the clock and new tires under the arches. Koni shocks and larger sway bars, plus aftermarket camber plates mean giving the suspension a once over before purchase to make sure there’s nothing M.Mouse about the install. The ad says the car runs and drives excellent, and to be honest, there’s not a lot that can go wrong with these.

All this - including that autotragic transmission - could be had for $2,300. Yep, that’s less than yesterday’s BMW motorcycle and this one’s even running. Plus, it’s a four-door Mustang GT!

What’s your take on this LTD for that kind of cash? Deal? Or, is this a four-door Mustang that’s only worthy of a three-digit price?

You decide!

Los Angeles , or go if the ad disappears.

H/T to Nap Kinface for the hookup!

Help me out with NPOCP. Click to send a me a fixed-price tip, and remember to include your Kinja handle.

Comments
Welcome to zzdcar comments! Please keep conversations courteous and on-topic. To fosterproductive and respectful conversations, you may see comments from our Community Managers.
Sign up to post
Sort by
Show More Comments
Buying
This Saab 99 Turbo Is $37,000? There Must Be A Story!
This Saab 99 Turbo Is $37,000? There Must Be A Story!
There have been Saabs numbered 99 and 900, but today's Swede is specifically number 934. You'll need to decide if that number's import means its price is worth all its numbers. You're not listening to me people. I schooled you on close calls yesterday and what do you go and...
Nov 7, 2025
Could This 1966 Continental 4X4 Pull $9,000?
Could This 1966 Continental 4X4 Pull $9,000?
The seller of today' candidate describes it as alternatively a Continental masquerading as a Ford F250, or vice-versa. You ned to determine if its price isn't some sort of bamboozling switcheroo. Some of you lamented that yesterday's (Good ol' #934) belonged in a museum, one of you went so far...
Nov 7, 2025
Could This 1970.5 Ford Falcon bring $16,500?
Could This 1970.5 Ford Falcon bring $16,500?
Oh well oh well everybody's heard, about the bird... You haven't yet heard about today's bird, but you will, and then you'll have to decide if its price might make you want to flip it the bird. Lincoln's '60s Continental, with its low-slung looks and suicide rear doors, was once...
Nov 7, 2025
This 1987 SHO-Equipped Mercury Sable Is Asking $5,000
This 1987 SHO-Equipped Mercury Sable Is Asking $5,000
Today's candidate is a mythical beast, a Mercury Sable wagon that was long ago SHO-ified. You know you want it, but for five thousand bucks, you'll have to decide if the SHO must go on. Why can't you people make things easy for me? Case in point, yesterday's was neck...
Nov 7, 2025
A Topless 2000 Jeep Cherokee for $6,500?
A Topless 2000 Jeep Cherokee for $6,500?
The Jeep Wrangler offers what is presently this country's only 4-door 4x4 convertible. If even that's just too common for you, then today's custom Cherokee might just top your heap, that is if its price doesn't make you blow your top. There are two trails associated with the name Cherokee,...
Nov 7, 2025
AWD Title Fight: 2015 Subaru WRX STI VS. 2015 Audi S3
AWD Title Fight: 2015 Subaru WRX STI VS. 2015 Audi S3
Around 300 turbocharged ponies. Four doors. All-wheel drive. A legacy of rally racing that can only be described as legendary. The and are, at heart, remarkably similar cars. But they go about their missions very differently. There’s a night and day difference in character between the two. The WRX STI...
Nov 7, 2025
Copyright 2023-2025 - www.zzdcar.com All Rights Reserved