Ford Elite

Ford Elite

1975 Ford Elite
Overview
Manufacturer Ford
Production 1974-1976
Assembly Lorain, Ohio
Pico Rivera, California
Body and chassis
Class Personal luxury car
Body style 2-door coupe
Layout FR layout
Related Ford Torino
Mercury Cougar
Mercury Montego
Powertrain
Engine

351 cu in (5.8 L) Windsor V8

351 cu in (5.8 L) Modified V8
400 cu in (6.6 L) Cleveland V8
460 cu in (7.5 L) 385 V8
Transmission 3-speed automatic
Dimensions
Wheelbase 114 in (2,896 mm)
Chronology
Successor Ford LTD II

The Ford Elite is an automobile which was produced by Ford for the North American market from mid-1974 to 1976. The Elite was based on the Ford Torino, and was a two-door coupe intended to be, in the words of Ford's advertising, a "mid-size car in the Thunderbird tradition"—a more affordable personal luxury car than the Thunderbird, intended to compete with such cars as the Chevrolet Monte Carlo and the Chrysler Cordoba. It was essentially the concurrent Mercury Cougar XR-7 with a mild front end restyling to resemble the Thunderbird, different taillamps with a center reflector, unique twin opera windows and large color-keyed vinyl moldings placed higher on the bodysides. The interiors were essentially identical save for upholstery styles and minor trim.

Introduced in mid-1974 as the Grand Torino Elite, it was initially the top of the line model of the Torino series. Although advertised separately, it was titled and registered as a Gran Torino. For 1975 and 1976, the Grand Torino name was dropped and Elite became a stand-alone model nameplate. In all three years, the car sold well.

The Elite name was dropped after 1976 because the Ford mid-size range was restructured for the 1977 model year. The Thunderbird was dramatically reduced in size and price for 1977 by moving the nameplate to the Torino-based LTD II platform which replaced the Torino. In effect, the Elite continued restyled and marketed under the more-recognized Thunderbird name, as the previous full-sized Thunderbird was discontinued.

1976 Ford Elite

Standard equipment

As standard, the Elite came with:

Options

Among the options that could be specified on the Elite were:

Ford Elites of Mexico

The Elite name was also used in Mexico. The Ford Fairmont was introduced in Mexico in late 1977 as a 1978 model, replacing the Ford Maverick that was produced there locally. The Futura coupe with its distinctive Thunderbird-styled roofline was never offered in Mexico. Instead there was an uplevel 2-door sedan called the Fairmont Elite. It was distinguished from other Fairmonts by its higher level of equipment and vinyl roof. It used the four headlight grille from the Fairmont Futura along with Mercury Zephyr taillamps and rear quarter window louvers. For 1981, the Fairmont Elite switched to the Mercury Zephyr grille.

In 1982, the Fairmont Elite disappeared and was replaced by the new Ford Elite II, which was now offered in two and four door sedans. It continued to use the body of the Fairmont with the entire front end of the American Ford Granada installed as well as the matching rear bumper. The rear continued to use Mercury Zephyr taillamps. For 1983, The Ford Elite II swapped its Granada grille for the one used on the Mercury Cougar sedan.

References

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