Most every 1972 Ford advertisement failed to mention big V8 engines or pictures of the LTD convertible LTD. Government mandates on safety and emission controls were changing the industry while gas guzzlers, like the 429-inch V8 powered LTD models, along with muscle cars, were looked down on as gas prices rose and the fuel shortage crisis was just ahead. (Ad compliments Ford Motor Company).
Q: Greg I have a 1972 Ford LTD convertible that I bought new in 1972. I’ve had it in storage for many years but put it back on the road a few years ago. It is original and has only 64,166 miles on it.
I had it painted and touched up twice and it’s in real good shape. I called Ford motor Company but couldn’t get much information on the car. Per the sticker, it was built in April of 1972 as per my order and I received it in May of that year.
If I remember correct, 1972 was the year that the government came out and said that convertibles were not safe and automobile companies then stopped building them. As far as I can tell, there were only 4,000 LTD convertibles built that year. Other than mine, I haven’t seen one around here for many years.
In checking with the repair shops, no one seems to know where to go to get parts as I had the brake master cylinder replaced and had some fun trying to find the part. I am hoping you can give me some information on my car, availability, and numbers built and so on. The sticker on the door says body 76H and color 3B. I would appreciate any information you can give. I read your column in the Wayne County Times and enjoy it. Thank you, Frank Clark, Williamson, N.Y.
A: Frank, you are correct that back in the early 1970s, the government did get involved in the safety issues of cars and they did say that convertibles were dangerous. Many manufacturers thus ceased production quickly.
As for information on your very nice looking 1972 Ford LTD convertible, you are correct that few were produced as according to my records, only 4,234 convertibles were built that year by Ford, and all of them were of the LTD designation. The base price was $4,057and the curb weight came in at 4,165 lbs. There were several V8 engines available for the bigger Ford line, including a 302, 351, 400 and a 429. Many LTDs came with the bigger V8s, as the 351 was standard and the 400 and 429 were options. When you consider Ford built 580,000 little Pintos in 1972 and 825,000 full size 121-inch wheelbase Fords, which include Galaxie, Custom and LTD cars and wagons, you begin to realize just how rare your’72 LTD convertible really is.
Currently, your ‘72 LTD Convertible is listed by NADA with a high retail of $15,000, to mid-retail of $8,300 while a ’72 Convertible in a low retail state still brings $4,000. In comparison, a ’72 LTD Sedan high retail is just $3,125, mid-retail is $2,200 and low retail just $1,125. According to these price guides, your LTD convertible is indeed special although sadly will never be an in-demand collectible in a general “car collecting” sense. However, to a real Ford collector and the few ’72 LTD convertibles left out there, parting with $15,000 would be no problem.
I’m sure your LTD ragtop attracts lots of attention at the car shows as 1970-decade full-size convertibles are few and far between. Matter of fact, even in 1971 the convertible was no longer available in the American Motors or Chrysler lines, while GM still had a few and lasted through 1975 with the Chevy Caprice Classic convertible. Replacing the convertible were those early sun and moon roofs (that leaked) and T-Tops, the latter introduced on the 1968 Corvette before appearing on other cars in later decades. (My 1994 Trans-Am is a T-Top).
Thanks for sending the photos of your LTD convertible and best wishes in the future.
(Greg Zyla is a syndicated auto columnist who welcomes reader questions on collector cars, auto nostalgia or old-time racing at 303 Roosevelt St., Sayre, Pa. 18840 or email at greg@gregzyla.com)
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