Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
Yeah, I think the Ford Elite was the personal luxury answer for those that did not want to opt all the way for a Thunderbird and was probably more of a competitor of the Monte Carlo, but it seems like some of the "nicer optioned" Elites were almost as luxurious as the "base" Thunderbirds. My grandma had two 1977 Thunderbirds... one was light green with dark green vinyl top and interior and one was white with white leather interior, red carpeting and red vinyl top. It also had like a rare sport option with rally gauges.
Speaking of Elites... here are a couple... I think in a way, they were more luxurious than the Monte Carlo in top level trim...
Wow, check out that green carpeting!!! This is what color my grandmas '77 T-Bird was on the inside, but it was this color all inside.
http://www.oldcarbrochures.com/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=45659 &g2_serialNumber=3 (broken link)
http://www.oldcarbrochures.com/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=45657 &g2_serialNumber=3 (broken link)
http://www.oldcarbrochures.com/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=45663 &g2_serialNumber=3 (broken link)
There was also the Gran Torino Brougham in 74-76 which was quite a luxury car, especially with the optional fender skirts. I think the Elite is basically a Torino Brougham, but with the different grille and those little vertical back windows. See the Gran Torino Broughams in the upper part of this ad... the sedan has the optional fender skirts.... something never offered on Monte Carlo or Malibu.
http://www.oldcarbrochures.com/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=45638 &g2_serialNumber=4 (broken link)
the Elite and Gran Torino look like very solid cars indeed, luxurious too, love the green color. I preferred these to the LTD II that came out for the 77 model year, which was supposed to be a leaner alternative to the Torino
I used to have a 1978 Cougar which was like a 1978 T bird. Same body style. I remember that looooonnnggg expansive hood it had. Inside it looked every little bit like the T bird.
If you notice, it looks like the Elite uses the same body style as the Gran Torino but it has a longer nose on it.
And look how far the bumpers protrude on those cars! Man I tell ya....that's one of the saddest thing about post 1973 cars....those huge "step" bumpers.....you could actually sit on.....looks like it was a last minute quick change decision by automakers to please the US government's crash standards. It wasn't until later they finally figured out how to make the 5 mph crash bumpers blend in with the body lines.
Yeah, I used to work with a lady when I was in high school that had a green on green on green 1978 Mercury Cougar. It was basically the same color as my grandmothers 1977 Thunderbird, which ironically she had at the same time.... this was in the early 1990s mind you.
Sounds like my old car. It was jade green outside and jade green inside. Best thing was the a/c still worked after 19 years. Worst was the engine leaked oil out the rear main seal VERY badly.
4 people here actually had 73-77 Monte carlos here in the late 80's! One night about 8 or 9 of us and a couple of bird dogs got in a freind's Monte Carlo and cut doughnuts in a field. There was alcohol involved BTW.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
This is what color my grandmas '77 T-Bird was on the inside, but it was this color all inside. 
zzzzzzzzzz
I have to admit
.....looks like it was a last minute quick change decision by automakers to please the US government's crash standards. It wasn't until later they finally figured out how to make the 5 mph crash bumpers blend in with the body lines.
