Faults:

Where do I begin?

Trying to drive off the lot, it would not start. Severe electrical problems later arose. Kept draining the battery, one even exploded in my face.

Speedometer broke in the first year.

Kept over heating.

Brakes kept failing.

Kept breaking shock mounts.

Alignment would not keep tight.

After the electrical problems arose the dash (electric) went out.

Power steering pump went out.

This was all before the car had 50,000 miles.

General Comments:

Every time someone mentions the Elite, I cringe.

My brother had a '76 Elite at the same time, he never had any troubles with his.

In the first year I owned it (bought it at three years with 30,000 miles) the electrical problems came up, kept draining the battery, killed my dash panel and had trouble starting. There was a short someplace, and while jumping the car one cold November day, the battery exploded in my face.

The speedometer cable broke.

The brakes would fail with no notice and drain all the brake fluid. Master cylinder was bad.

Power steering pump went bad.

Could not keep the alignment straight.

Kept breaking the upper shock mount on the right front.

All signs of a major crash I guess.

Even though it had all these problems before the 90 day warranty expired, the local Ford dealer refused to fix anything after that. And only did a botch job before the warranty expired.

I screamed at the Service and sales managers and they offered to give me half what I paid for the car on trade. Needless to say, I told them I would consider a Datsun first.

I bought the car in November of 78, went into the Navy in January of 81. The car sat in the driveway for 18 months before I left for boot camp. When I came home 5 months later, it was, thankfully gone.

It was a real nice looking car, never rusted, just couldn't keep it on the road.

I should have kept my '71 Mach I.

When I got to my duty station in San Diego, I bought a Coupe DeVille.

General Comments:

I bought this car in 1988 from a Guy who couldn't get the car started. He was so mad at the car he sold it to me for 200.00 I was 20 years old. The car had oxidized black paint with a dirty, but immaculate interior. It needed a rear floor pan and the full vinyl roof was shot. I dropped a gallon of gas in it and it started right up. The gas gauge had broken and the guy had apparently not checked the fuel. The engine was an after market 351c with a 4bbl and c6 transmission. I compounded the paint and found a nice shiny paint hiding underneath. I installed a set of headers, Changed the floorpan and rear carpet, Put some Cragers with 60's all around. Beefed the suspension with Lincoln Springs and Air Shocks to tighten the suspension a bit. I changed the vinyl top to match the red interior and installed a Alpine stereo in it. The car was immaculate and had all the power and Muscle you could ever ask for. It rode on the highway like a Lincoln and had the performance and style of a Mustang. I have kicked myself a million times since I got rid of the car. Truth be told it was the perfect mix of style and muscle and probably one of the nicest cars I ever had the privilege of owning. Drkstr22@aol.com

Faults:

Dash panel started squeaking in the 80's for some reason. Later (1990) we had to replace the dash gauge assembly because it literally fell apart. The plastic was super brittle and it just crumbled in my hands.

This past summer I had to replace the fuel tank because it rusted out.

The usual things, plugs, tuneups etc. had to replace the oil pressure sensor unit twice now.

It also leaks oil from the main bearing ends.

General Comments:

The car has been in the family since 1976 and we have had a good experience with it. We used to drive from Lincoln, NE to Cheyenne, WY ever summer, and it was great on the highways. Best cruises at 75 or 80 mph.

Compared to todays cars, it's very floaty on its large tires and the long hood is very intimidating to those new to long hooded 70's yachts.