Ford Elite

Ford Elite
File:'74 Ford Elite Cobra (Auto classique Salaberry-De-Valleyfield '11).JPG 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 and 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, the Elite was considered a sub-model of the Torino. Although advertised separately, the side script said "Gran Torino Elite" and the car would be titled and registered as a Gran Torino. For 1975 and 1976, the Grand Torino name was dropped and the Elite became its own model using only the "Elite" script nameplates. In all three years, the car sold well.

The Elite name was dropped after 1976 because the Ford mid-size range was being restructured. The Thunderbird was dramatically reduced in size and price for 1977 by moving the nameplate to the LTD II platform that 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.

File:1976 Ford Gran Torino Crop.jpg

1976 Ford Elite

Standard equipment

As standard, the Elite came with:

• 351W 351M V8 engine of 351 CID (5.8 L)
• 3-speed automatic transmission
• Power brakes (front disc brakes, rear drum brakes).
• Power steering
• Cloth bench seats
• Vinyl roof with twin opera windows, Landau (partial) vinyl top for 1976 model year.
• Protective padded body side moldings

Options

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

• 400M V8 engine of 402 CID (6.6 L)
• 460 V8 engine of 460 CID (7.5 L)
• Power glass moonroof
• Power steel sunroof
• Air conditioning with standard manual control or optional Automatic Temperature Control
• Metallic Glow paint
• Cruise (speed) control
• Gauge package with tachometer, oil pressure gauge, coolant temperature gauge, and ammeter gauge
• Fuel Sentry Vacuum Gauge - monitors intake manifold vacuum to give an indication of how hard the engine is working, and thus economy (not available with gauge package).
• Fuel Monitor Warning Light - as above, but an on/off light instead of a gauge.
• Bucket seats and center console (1976 only).

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

• The Ford Torino Page. Ford Elite. Retrieved on April 24, 2005.
• Ford Motor Company. 1975 Ford Elite advertising.