Take a 1980s 4th-gen Ford LTD sedan, swap whatever it had under the hood with a turbocharged LS engine, and you get a sub-10-second drag race killing machine. We're about to witness an absolute beast put to shame an old F-150 SVT Lightning truck, a modern Mustang S550, a couple of Camaros, and a Cadillac CTS-V.
The first race was between the souped-up Ford LDT and the famous 2nd-gen Ford F-150 SVT Lightning. The sedan finished in 10.17 seconds at 133.46 mph or 214.78 kilometers per hour, while the pickup did it in 12.39 seconds, going 130.60 mph or 210.18 kph.
In the second race, the mighty turbocharged LTD faced off against the astounding second-gen Cadillac CTS-V (2008-2015). As soon as the lights turned green, the Ford left the Caddy behind, and although the CTS-V almost caught up by the end, it was too late. The Ford finished in 10.55 seconds and its opponent in 10.46, which isn't too shabby.
Next, it went against an S550 Mustang with a 5.0-liter Coyote engine. The muscle car tried its best, and while it finished in just above the 10-second mark, at 10.13, the LTD was quicker at 10.06.
The following victim was a Chevrolet Camaro. The Ford crossed the quarter-mile line after 10.35 seconds, with the Camaro in 10.47 seconds. Another Camaro LT1 tried its luck, but all it did was unleash the full potential of the souped-up Ford.
Photo: Drag Racing and Car Stuff
After a proper warmup from both cars, they were both off to the races, but by the time the dust and rubber particles had settled on the hot tarmac, the Ford LTD had pulled off a sub-10-second time at 9.94 seconds, going 136.29 mph or 219.33 kilometers per hour. The Camaro was way behind, with 11.97 seconds on the clock going at 118.67 miles per hour or 191 kph.
This race might have struck a cord for some of you, given that it was filmed a while ago at the now-defunct Atlanta Dragway in Georgia. This dragstrip was home to the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series, Southern Nationals, for 40 years before closing down in 2021. Luckily, from time to time, videographers like the ones from the "Drag Racing and Car Stuff" YouTube channel surface with nostalgia-filled races like these.
While this hood-scooped 4th-gen Ford LTD is far removed from its original form, which donned 2.3L, 3.3L, 3.8L, and 4.9-liter engines, you should totally check out the commercials for it from back in the day if you get the chance.
One TV ad compared the $7,300 1980 Ford LTD with a $65,000 Rolls-Royce and said they were both quiet to drive, no matter the surface. Both were allegedly tested under identical conditions over smooth or rough roads at 20, 40, or 55 mph. It turns out that the decibels from the Ford's cabin matched the results from the Rolls-Royce. The marketing motto was "Ford LTD, as quiet as a Rolls-Royce." The best part is that the further back in time you go with these ads, the funnier they get.
Codrin just loves American classics, from the 1940s and ‘50s, all the way to the muscle cars of the '60s and '70s. In his perfect world, we'll still see Hudsons and Road Runners roaming the streets for years to come (even in EV form, if that's what it takes to keep the aesthetic alive). Full profile
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