How many Ford LTDs were made?
The Ford LTD name was used across several generations and market variants from the mid-1960s through the early 1990s, and there is no single, officially published lifetime production total for all LTDs combined. To answer precisely, one must specify which LTDs (generation, region, and variant) are included and then sum production figures from those periods.
To understand what counts as an LTD and how production might be tallied, it helps to know that the nameplate evolved over time. Ford used the LTD designation on multiple full-size cars, adapted the lineup with downsized or renamed variants, and later paired the LTD with Crown Victoria branding in certain years. Different sources may define the eras slightly differently, so any total depends on the scope you choose.
Scope and eras of the LTD lineage
Below is a high-level guide to the main eras commonly treated by enthusiasts and fossilized in production records. The exact years can vary by source and market, but these are the broad phases often used when discussing the LTD name.
- Original full-size LTD era: The mid-1960s through roughly the late 1970s, when the LTD was Ford’s top-trim full-size model in the U.S. market.
- LTD II era: A downsized or reconfigured LTD lineage that appeared in the late 1970s and continued through the mid-1980s, representing a distinct model line from the earlier full-size cars.
- LTD/Crown Victoria era: The late-1980s into the early-1990s period when the LTD name was often paired with Crown Victoria branding or otherwise overlapped with the evolving full-size lineup.
These periods illustrate how the LTD name moved through different design philosophies and market positioning. Because production numbers were tracked year by year and sometimes split by trim level or regional market, a single lifetime figure isn’t typically published for all LTD variants combined.
Where to find production numbers
To assemble a more precise figure for a chosen scope, consult official and enthusiast sources that publish yearly production data. The following are commonly used reference points for LTD-era figures.
- Ford Motor Company historical production data and archival materials.
- Hemmings Motor News and Hemmings Classic Car features that summarize production by generation and year.
- Classic car registries and databases (such as Old Cars Weekly, FordAuthority, and related archival articles) that break out LTD production by year and variant.
When using these sources, clearly note which LTD variants are included (e.g., original full-size LTD, LTD II, LTD with Crown Victoria branding) and whether you are counting U.S. production only or including Canada and other markets.
How to estimate a lifetime total for your purposes
If you want to estimate a total for a defined scope (for example, U.S.-market LTDs of the original full-size era), follow these steps:
- Define the scope precisely: which generations, years, and markets (U.S., Canada, etc.) are included.
- Collect year-by-year production figures from the chosen sources for each variant in the scope.
- Sum the annual production numbers across all years and variants in your scope, noting any overlaps or rebrandings.
- Document any assumptions or exclusions (such as convertibles vs. sedans, or regional differences) so the total is reproducible.
Keep in mind that even with careful scoping, numbers can differ slightly between sources due to differences in counting methods or regional production definitions. The most reliable figure for a precise inquiry will come from a defined, source-verified dataset.
Summary
In short, there is no single, universally official total for how many Ford LTDs were made. The LTD name spans multiple generations and variants, with production data published year by year rather than as a single lifetime figure. To obtain a precise total, specify the era and markets you want to include, gather year-by-year data from credible sources, and sum the figures while noting any assumptions.
For those seeking a deeper dive, consult Ford’s archival data and reputable enthusiast publications, which provide detailed year-by-year production figures and context for the LTD’s evolution over time.
Bottom line
The exact count depends on what you count as an LTD. With careful definitions and sourced data, you can arrive at a precise total for a chosen scope, but there isn’t one universal figure that covers all LTD variants across all markets.
Summary note: The Ford LTD lineage is complex enough that a definitive lifetime total requires explicit scope, reliable data, and careful aggregation. This article outlines how to approach that task and where to look for production figures.
