Ford Elite

The Ford Elite was an automobile produced by the Ford Motor Company for the North American market for the 1974-1976 model years. The Elite was based on the Ford Torino, and was a two-door coupe intended to be, in the words of Ford's advertising, a "mid-size car in the Thunderbird tradition"—a more affordable personal luxury car than the Thunderbird, intended to compete with such cars as the Chevrolet Monte Carlo and the Chrysler Cordoba.

Related Topics:
Automobile - Ford Motor Company - North America - 1974 - 1976 - Model year - Ford Torino - Coupe - Personal luxury car - Thunderbird - Chevrolet Monte Carlo - Chrysler Cordoba

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In the 1974 model year, the Elite was considered a sub-model of the Torino; although advertised separately, the side script said "Gran Torino Elite" and the car would be titled and registered as a Gran Torino. In 1975 and 1976, the Elite was fully its own model. In all three years, the car sold well.

Related Topics:
1974 - Model year - 1975 - 1976

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The Elite vanished from the Ford range after 1976 because the Ford range was being restructured and downsized. The Thunderbird was reduced in size for 1977, being based on the old Torino platform; the Torino was discontinued, being replaced by the LTD II. In a sense, then, the Elite survived, but under the more-recognised Thunderbird name, the larger car being discontinued.

Related Topics:
1977 - LTD II

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