autoevolution
 

Forgotten 1967 Ford LTD Spent 40 Years in a Barn, Gets First Wash

Cars that spend decades in barns tend to come into the light with loads of rust and rat nests under a thick layer of dust. But some classics take improper storage better than others and this 1967 Ford LTD is proof that not all barn finds are of the junkyard variety.
1967 Ford LTD barn find 8 photos
Photo: Throttle Junkies/YouTube
1967 Ford LTD barn find1967 Ford LTD barn find1967 Ford LTD barn find1967 Ford LTD barn find1967 Ford LTD barn find1967 Ford LTD barn find1967 Ford LTD barn find
This massive four-door sedan was retired from road use sometime in 1983. While it wasn't stored in the barn, it was found for all these years, but it was never revived until 2022. And this means it spent a whopping 39 years behind closed doors.

Found on an estate that had to be sold, the LTD was saved by "Throttle Junkies." The new owner thinks that the four-door deserves a second chance at life so he gave the car its first wash in almost four decades in preparation for a revival.

Surprisingly enough, the LTD is still in good shape after all those years off the road. Yes, the paint has seen better days and there's a bit of rust here and there, but I've seen cars that looked far worse after only 20 years in storage. We can definitely call this LTD an unmolested survivor.

But will this 1960s classic still run? Well, the owner has yet to attempt that, but the engine bay also appears to be in good shape apart from 39 years' worth of dust. And since the car ran when it was parked in 1983, there's a good chance that the V8 will fire up without a rebuild.

But here's the cool thing about this LTD. While most four-door sedans from this era left the factory with small-block V8 engines, this rig packs a big-block powerplant under the hood. In the form of a 390-cubic-inch (6.4-liter) V8. Now I'm not saying it's rare because I don't have specific production figures to run by, but it's definitely a hard-to-find gem compared to an LTD coupe in the same configuration.

But it wasn't the meanest LTD four-door in 1967, because Ford also offered a 427-cubic-inch (7.0-liter) "Cobra" and a 428-cubic-inch "Thunderbird" engine. While the latter was good for 345 horsepower, the former delivered a whopping 425 horses.

The 390 "Thunderbird Special" mill in this specific model came with 315 horsepower on tap, which placed it between the slightly more powerful 425 and the base 289-cubic-inch (4.7-liter) small-block rated at only 200 horses.

The 1967 sedan is part of the first-generation LTD, which was produced from 1965 until 1968. The then-new LTD range was an extension of the flagship Galaxie 500 series with luxury-oriented features. Like the Lincolns and Mercurys of the era, the LTD came with a plush cloth interior with woodgrain accents, contoured seats, and door panels, and was available with power windows and a power driver's seat (among others).

Until we can see this LTD take its first drive in almost 40 years, hit the play button below to watch it shed a thick layer of barn dust.

If you liked the article, please follow us:  Google News icon Google News Youtube Instagram X (Twitter)
About the author: Ciprian Florea
Ciprian Florea profile photo

Ask Ciprian about cars and he'll reveal an obsession with classics and an annoyance with modern design cues. Read his articles and you'll understand why his ideal SUV is the 1969 Chevrolet K5 Blazer.
Full profile

 

Would you like AUTOEVOLUTION to send you notifications?

You will only receive our top stories