It’s 1973 – a half century ago – and Ford is launching a bold new luxury car line: the P4/P5 Landau and LTD. It’s a more ‘Australianised’ entry into the sector. We’re talking of a time when the locally-assembled Galaxie was being retired.
The inclusion of the Landau was perhaps the biggest surprise. It was done at the insistence of legendary Ford exec Bill Bourke, who had moved from Australia to an international post by the time the car was released.
In the excellent reference book, Ford Australia – The Cars and the People Who Built Them, authors Michele Cook and Douglas Wallace wrote:
“Bourke’s influence had prevailed. He had always hankered after a luxury two-door, with the XB/ZG range he got it. Ford went upmarket again with not only the Custom and Fairlane 500, but now with the LTD; the four-door P5 LTD and on Bourke’s insistence, a two-door P4 Landau.
“The P4/P5 LTDs were designed as though they were bespoke vehicles. “Leather, carpet and woodgrain was everywhere…” However the series was built on more than emotion – this was after all a business. David Ford, who was in the company’s product planning department and became its Chief Engineer, was interviewed for Shannons’ Design to Driveway series (Vol 3, by David Burrell): “There were impending changes to local vehicle content rules and import tariff regulations and when combined with exchange rate fluctuations it was clear production of the Galaxie was in question.
“I calculated we should be able to create a long wheelbase car with a huge rear seat package and replace the Galaxie.
This story is from the Issue 477 edition of Unique Cars.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the Issue 477 edition of Unique Cars.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
V8 MATES
THIS HOLDEN SL/R 5000 BUILD WAS THE CATALYST FOR A GREAT FRIENDSHIP
ICE ICE BABY
TAKE ONE VOLKSY FASTY AND ADD A SUBY FLAT FOUR ... SIMPLE
LOST & FOUND!
THEY THINK THEY MIGHT HAVE FOUND AMELIA EARHART'S PLANE...WE ALREADY HAVE HER CAR!
CAB CHARGE
WHEN IS AN EX-TAXI NOT AN EX-TAXI? WHEN IT'S A FORMER WEDDING-CAR. THIS RARE EBONY BLACK VG VALIANT WAS FOUND BY SHEER LUCK
CBX1000
HONDA'S BIG-SIX TOURER IS A COMPELLING RIDE
1967 FORD MUSTANG FLASHBACK
THIS 1967 MUSTANG MIGHT LOOK LIKE ANOTHER BULLITT TRIBUTE, BUT WHAT LIES UNDERNEATH IS NO ORDINARY MUSTANG
HONDA S2000 SPORTS
THERE ARE numerous contenders for the title of 'World's Best Four Cylinder Engine' and Honda's F20C, twin overhead cam powerhouse must be right near the top of the list.
FORD ESCORT 1970-80
FORD VERY nearly turned the Japanese small-car tide with its conservative but groundbreaking Escort.
ROLLING BACK THE FEARS
HYBRIDS AND EVS ARE BECOMMING MORE POPULAR, BUT A RECENT RETHINK SEES ICE ENGINES, THEREFORE CLASSIC CARS, SET TO ROLL ON FOR MANY YEARS TO COME
SUPERCAT ON THE PROWL
TWR HAS revealed its limited edition Supercat, with a price tag of $428,000 plus taxes, with deliveries to commence late 2024.