Alright, let’s talk about the 1979 Ford LTD II Sport, a car that’s kind of like that cool, slightly quirky uncle who shows up to the family reunion in a loud shirt and tells wild stories from the ’70s. This car was a bit of an oddball in Ford’s lineup, but it’s got a charm that makes it stand out, especially for folks who love classic American iron.
So, picture the late 1970s. The American auto industry was at a crossroads. Gas prices were climbing, new emissions rules were tightening the screws, and people were starting to look at smaller, more fuel-efficient cars. But Ford? They were still pumping out big, bold machines, and the LTD II was one of them. The LTD II wasn’t a brand-new car by 1979—it was basically a restyled version of the Ford Torino, which had been around since the early ’70s. Ford slapped a new name on it in 1977, gave it a boxier, more formal look, and called it the LTD II to borrow some of the prestige from their full-size LTD. The “Sport” version, though, was the one that tried to add a little pizzazz to the mix.The 1979 Ford LTD II Sport was part of the last hurrah for this model, which only ran from 1977 to 1979. It came as a two-door coupe, four-door sedan, or even a station wagon, but the Sport package was all about giving the coupe a bit more attitude. Think of it as Ford’s attempt to say, “Hey, this isn’t just your grandpa’s cruiser—this thing’s got some style!” The Sport package added cool touches like two-tone paint jobs, sporty stripes (sometimes in wild colors like red, yellow, and orange), and Magnum 500 wheels that gave it a muscle-car vibe. Some even came with T-tops, which were super rare and made it feel like a poor man’s Corvette. Inside, you might get bucket seats, a center console, and a floor shifter, which was a big deal for a car this size. It wasn’t a race car by any means, but it had a little more swagger than the standard LTD II.Under the hood, the LTD II Sport usually packed a 351 cubic-inch V8 engine—either the 351M or the Windsor version, depending on where it was sold. This wasn’t a fire-breathing monster, mind you. With emissions controls choking engines back then, you were looking at about 149 horsepower, enough to get moving but not exactly burn rubber. The standard engine was a 302 V8, and for a hot minute in earlier years, there was a bigger 400 V8 option, but by ’79, that one was gone. These engines were paired with a three-speed automatic transmission, and the whole setup was tuned more for cruising than corner-carving. The LTD II was a big, heavy car—longer and wider than some of Ford’s later full-size models—and it was built for comfort, with a soft ride that soaked up bumps like a La-Z-Boy on wheels.
What’s the story behind this car? Well, it was born in a weird time. Ford was trying to keep up with GM, who had already started downsizing their full-size cars in 1977. The LTD II was Ford’s answer, a sort of “trim-size” middle ground between their massive LTD and the new compact Fairmont. They marketed it as a downsized luxury car, but let’s be real—it was still a beast compared to what was coming down the pipeline. The Sport package was their way of making it appeal to younger buyers or folks who wanted something a bit flashier than a plain-Jane sedan. You could see it in the ads: Ford talking up the LTD II’s “sporty spirit” (they even compared it to the Mustang II, which, uh, wasn’t exactly a glowing endorsement).The LTD II Sport had its moment in pop culture, too. You might’ve seen it in TV shows or movies from the era, like First Blood, where ex-Royal Canadian Mounted Patrol LTD IIs played police cars. It wasn’t a star like the Mustang or the Thunderbird, but it had a certain retro coolness. The problem was, by 1979, the writing was on the wall. Ford introduced a truly downsized LTD that year, and it was smaller, lighter, and more modern than the LTD II. Sales of the LTD II tanked—under 50,000 were made in its final year—and Ford pulled the plug. The LTD II Sport was a casualty of an industry shifting gears fast.Today, the 1979 LTD II Sport is a rare bird. Not many were built, and even fewer survived, especially with the Sport package and T-tops. Collectors are starting to notice them because they’re affordable compared to, say, a Mustang or a Camaro from the same era. A decent one might run you $5,000 to $15,000, but a pristine example with all the bells and whistles could fetch more. Owners love them for their quirky style and the fact that they’re not just another cookie-cutter classic. You roll up to a car show in an LTD II Sport with those wild stripes and T-tops, and people are gonna ask questions.
The 1979 Ford LTD II Sport is a snapshot of a time when Detroit was grappling with change but still wanted to keep things big, bold, and a little bit brash. It’s not the fastest or the fanciest, but it’s got a personality that’s hard to ignore. For those who own one, it’s a reminder of a bygone era when cars were as much about making a statement as getting you from point A to point B. If you ever spot one, take a second to appreciate it—it’s a survivor from a wild time in American car history
