With only 400 made, this Ford LTD P6 Town Car is a rare and luxurious barn find

It’s amazing what you can find when you’re not really looking.

Ford LTD enthusiast Ian Moerman Snr was chatting to his neighbour the other week, when she remembered her late husband’s car which was parked in one of the sheds on their 250 acre property.

As a young bloke, Ian’s first real car was a 1975 Ford P5 LTD that he modified with twin 650cfm Holley double pumpers which sat six-inches above the bonnet, with 12-inch wide rubber on the back. Needless to say, the car didn’t get very good fuel economy. “God, I miss the ‘70s and ‘80s. They were the days when you could light up your tyres out the front and the neighbours would come out to watch… not call the Police like today!” says Ian with a cheeky grin. 

This was the beginning of Ian’s love affair with the Aussie Ford LTD, a land yacht luxury car that told the world that you had arrived. Over the years, Ian has collected a few LTDs which are in different stages of being resurrected. During his conversation with Bev, his neighbour in Carapooee rural Victoria, she  remembered her late husband’s LTD which was parked up in one of the sheds decades ago. 

Following Bev up to the shed, Ian was greeted by a fully optioned ‘Rolls Royce’ front P6 LTD Town Car. “It had been put away on the farm many years ago, and after the owner passed away, it was since forgotten about by the family,” says Ian with delight, “it’s the wickedest barn find!” The LTD still had all its original running gear including the 351cid V8 Cleveland, FMX automatic transmission and heavy duty nine-inch limited-slip diff with disc brakes. Soon, a deal was done and the LTD was off to a new home, “The next biggest challenge was telling the missus about it,” says Ian who slept on the couch that night!

“After getting it home, I topped up the fluids and began spinning the motor over to check that it had oil pressure,” tells Ian, “and bugger me dead, she started up on LPG!” The luxury Town Car seemed to be in perfect running order, “Five minutes later, I was driving the bloody thing up and down the driveway!” The brakes were a bit rusty, the tyres were badly flat spotted but the engine had no knocks, rattles or fluid leaks. 

Town Cars were optioned up with leather trim, which appears in ‘not bad’ nick for its age on this one. “Amazingly all the electrics still work!” tells Ian. Ford Australia released the Town Car in the never ending battle to stay in the public’s eye. Only 400 Town Cars were built, available in two colours: burgundy or grey. This model had a variety of exterior and interior dress-ups included in the package and each car was equipped with a folding umbrella, a leather key ring and even a driver’s wallet. At $16,825 new ($223 over the base LTD price) it wasn’t cheap. To put this in perspective, the median price for a house in Melbourne in 1979 was $38,000.   

“If I hear of any future LTDs, I dare not purchase anymore as this couch is getting bloody lumpy!” winks Ian. 

Source: Survivor Car Australia

Can you think of a more luxurious barn find? Let us know in the comments.