| Ford Gran Torino Elite Ford Elite | |
|---|---|
 1976 Ford Elite 2-Door Hardtop | |
| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | Ford |
| Production | 1974–1976 |
| Model years | 1974 (Gran Torino Elite) 1975–1976 (Elite) |
| Assembly | Chicago, Illinois (Chicago Assembly) Lorain, Ohio (Lorain Assembly) Pico Rivera, California (Los Angeles Assembly) |
| Body and chassis | |
| Class | Personal luxury car |
| Body style | 2-doorcoupe |
| Layout | FR layout |
| Related | Ford Torino Mercury Cougar Mercury Montego |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine | 351 cu in (5.8 L)WindsorV8 351 cu in (5.8 L)Cleveland V8 351 cu in (5.8 L)Modified V8 400 cu in (6.6 L)Modified V8 460 cu in (7.5 L)385 V8 |
| Transmission | 3-speedautomatic |
| Dimensions | |
| Wheelbase | 114 in (2,896 mm) |
| Chronology | |
| Successor | Ford Thunderbird (seventh generation) Ford LTD II |
TheFord Elite is apersonal luxury car produced byFord and marketed in North America from February 1974 to 1976, using the nameGran Torino Elite for its first model year only then simplified to justElite for the following two model years.
Introduced on February 18, 1974, as the Gran Torino Elite, it was initially the top-of-the-line model of the Torino series. Although advertised separately, it was titled and registered as a Gran Torino. For 1975 and 1976, the Gran Torino prefix was dropped and Elite became a stand-alone model nameplate. Early pre-production publicity photos for the 1974 model show the use ofGran Torino XL nameplates.[1]
Based on theTorino, themid-size two-doorcoupe was intended to be a junior model to theThunderbird designed to compete with the increasingly popular intermediate personal luxury class of vehicles such as theChevrolet Monte Carlo,Pontiac Grand Prix,Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme,Buick Regal,Dodge Charger,Chrysler Cordoba andMercury Cougar. While the Elite was a newcomer on the market for only three model years, sales performance placed it solidly in third for each of those years (respective to the other personal luxury vehicles) with a combined sales of approximately 366,000.[2]
The Elite was a low investment design derived from the concurrentMercury Cougar XR-7 (both based on Mercury Montego two-door bodies which originated for 1972) with a mild front end restyling to resemble the Thunderbird with single round headlamps, eggcrate grille, different taillamps with a center reflector, unique twin opera windows, and large color-keyed vinyl moldings placed higher on the bodysides. The interiors were identical save for upholstery styles and minor trim variations.
The Elite name was dropped after 1976 as the Ford mid-size range was restructured for the 1977 model year. The Thunderbird was dramatically reduced in size and price for 1977 by moving its nameplate to the Torino-basedLTD II platform which was the restyled replacement for the Torino. In effect, the Elite continued restyled and marketed under the more-recognized Thunderbird name, and the previous full-sized Thunderbird was discontinued.
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The Elite name was also used in Mexico. TheFord Fairmont was introduced in Mexico in late 1977 as a 1978 model, replacing the Ford Maverick that was produced there locally. The Futura coupe with its distinctive Thunderbird-styled roofline was never offered in Mexico. Instead there was an uplevel 2-door sedan called theFairmont Elite. It was distinguished from other Fairmonts by its higher level of equipment and vinyl roof. It used the four headlight grille from the Fairmont Futura along with Mercury Zephyr taillamps and rear quarter window louvers. For 1981, the Fairmont Elite switched to the Mercury Zephyr grille.[4]
For 1982, the Fairmont Elite was renamedFord Elite II, which was now offered in two- and four-door sedans. It continued to use the body of the Fairmont with the front end of the North American 1982Ford Granada and matching rear bumper. The rear continued to use Mercury Zephyr taillamps.[5]
From 1983 to 1985, a version of the North American Fox platformFord LTD was manufactured in Venezuela and marketed as theFord Granada Elite in uplevel trim.[6]
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