Ford Elite

ford
elite
Production period:	1974-1976
Class :	upper middle class
Body versions :	Coupe
Engines:	Petrol engines : 5.8–7.5 liters (107–163 kW)
Length:	5489 mm
Width:	1994 mm
Height:	1349 mm
Wheelbase :	2896 mm
Empty weight :	1854-1889 kg
successor	Ford Thunderbird 1977

Ford Elite 1976

The Ford Elite (initially Gran Torino Elite ) was an upper mid-range coupé produced by the US car manufacturer Ford and offered from 1974 to 1976. His parallel model with the Mercury Division was the Cougar XR-7 .

Market positioning

Since the mid-1950s, Ford offered the Thunderbird , a large, exclusive and expensive coupé, in the luxury class . The Thunderbird had become a full-size model in the course of model development, hardly smaller than the company's largest sedans. In the so-called intermediate class (middle class) below , the company did not have any independent coupés on offer. As with other American automobile manufacturers, there were two-door versions of the regular mid-range models such as the Torino , but stylistically they closely followed the sedans and were not perceived as independent models. It was similar in the 1960s with competitors General Motors and Chrysler .

In 1970 General Motors brought out the Chevrolet Monte Carlo , a mid-range coupé that had an independent design and was well equipped. The model, which was redesigned in 1973, quickly proved to be a market success that neither Ford nor Chrysler could match. Both companies reacted to the success of the Monte Carlo: Chrysler developed the Cordoba presented in the summer of 1974 , while Ford derived the Gran Torino Elite from its mid-range series.

A Torino offshoot

The Gran Torino Elite was basically based on the technology of the third series of the Ford Torino , but was essentially a slightly modified version of the Mercury Cougar presented in 1973. This is explained by the platform strategy that was already common in the USA at the time .

The Ford brand was represented in the middle class with the Torino model. The Mercury Division offered its own version of this model under the name Montego , which was stylistically independent. The Montego and the Torino shared all the technical components and also parts of the glazing; The Montego, however, had smoother body lines, which stood out from the often pompous forms of the Torino. The Montego was available as a four-door and a two-door sedan. A luxury version of the two-door Montego was sold under the name Cougar from the summer of 1973. The only external difference between the two-door Montego and the Cougar was a modified front section. The Cougar was supposed to compete against the Chevrolet Monte Carlo, among other things.

When Ford developed its own mid-range Coupé Elite, the company resorted to the Cougar and modified its exterior. Instead of the four round headlights of the Cougar, the Ford version received two large individual headlights that framed a wide grille and were intended to be reminiscent of the Ford Thunderbird. Doors, side panels and roof section were unchanged from the Cougar, so there was no stylistic similarity to the Torino. Regardless, the car was referred to as the Gran Torino Elite when it was launched in 1974. It was not until model year 1975 that the additional name Torino was dropped.

technology

From a technical point of view, the Gran Torino Elite or Elite was completely identical to the Mercury Cougar. V8 engines with a displacement of 5.8 to 7.5 liters and 121 to 160 kW (165–218 hp) served as drive sources; In 1975 the engine output changed to 107 or 163 kW (145–221 hp). In 1976, a longer rear axle ratio was used, which should reduce fuel consumption.

successor

From the 1977 model year, the Elite was dispensable, as the Ford Thunderbird was based on the platform of the Ford LTD II from then on and was now positioned in the mid-range segment.

production

Ford produced a total of 366,500 copies of the Elite in three years. In the individual model years, 96,604 (1974), 123,372 (1975) and 146,475 vehicles (1976) were built.

literature

• Albert R. Bochroch: American Cars of the Seventies . Warne's Transport Library, London 1982. ISBN 0-7232-2870-1 .
• Flammang, James M./Kowalke, Ron: Standard Catalog of American Cars 1976–1999 , Krause Publications, Iola 1999. ISBN 0-87341-755-0
• Gunnell, John: Standard Catalog of American Cars 1946-1975 , Krause Publications, Iola 2002. ISBN 0-87349-461-X
• Richard M. Langworth: Encyclopedia of American Cars 1930-1980 . New York (Beekman House) 1984. ISBN 0-517-42462-2 .

Web links

Commons : Ford Elite  - Collection of pictures, videos and audio files

• Sales brochure Ford Elite from 1976

Individual evidence

1. ↑ ^{a b} Hemmings Motor News, 5/2011.
2. ^ Langworth: Encyclopedia of American Cars 1930-1980, pp. 332 f.