Last of the Full Size Sports Models: 1970 Ford XL
The sixties were over, and so were full-size sports cars, but the Ford XL held on one more year as even Chevrolet had abandoned the full-size Super Sport after 1969. For the seventies, full size two door cars were going to be all about luxury, so move over XL, LTD can handle that job. Here is a 1970 Ford XL 2 door hardtop SportsRoof for sale here on Craigslist in Austin, Texas. Thanks to Barnfinds reader Phil J for bringing this car to our attention.
The exterior is finished in Dark Aqua Metallic with Wimbledon White top. The finish looks good in the pictures, but the seller does say it has nice original patina. Up front, the XL shared the grille and concealed headlights with the LTD; 1970 would be the last year concealed headlights would be offered on the full-size Ford until 1975. The simulated mag style wheel covers were optional. From the pictures, it appears this car has the GT option, but research showed that the GT option disappeared in 1969. Therefore, I don’t know if this was something added by an owner or if some research information is not entirely correct.
While the exterior looks in great condition, the interior needs some work. The instrument panel top has some wrinkles in it, and the front bench seat is in very poor condition. I always thought the 1969/1970 full-size Ford had a really odd dash design with the radio, this one an AM/FM Stereo, on the left side of the steering wheel. We all know who was in control of the music of one of these cars. The XL does have air conditioning and will need a conversion to R134A, so that essentially means it doesn’t work.
The engine is the 351 cubic inch V-8 that produced 250 horsepower and was standard. It is paired with a three-speed SelectShift Cruise-O-Matic transmission. The original heads have been rebuilt to stock with all new parts. The suspension was rebuilt with new springs, ball joints, and bushings. The car also has a rebuilt steering gearbox with NOS Ford parts, as well as rebuilt brakes, master cylinder, new three core radiator, and new tires. All original parts that were replaced have been saved.
The seller is asking $8,500 or best offer and also says it’s a low mileage car, but does not tell us what the mileage is. Low mileage means different things to different people. There were only 27,251 1970 XL two-door hardtops made, so it’s not one you’ll be seeing many of. Would you like to be one of the few to have one of the last full-size sports models?
Auctions Ending Soon
1969 Ford MustangBid Now1 days$800
1965 Ford Falcon Station WagonBid Now4 days$2,300
2002 Jaguar XK8 ConvertibleBid Now5 days$3,500
1979 Chevrolet Camaro Z/28Bid Now6 days$1,500
1960 Dodge D300Bid Now6 days$100
Comments
What a nice car. I’d recover the seat, and enjoy it just the way it is. I don’t know about that price, though. Maybe.
Beautiful colour combination… but either the photos are poor quality, or there are random hue inconsistencies that resemble rattle can touch ups.
Love the headline for this article; “Last of the full size sports models..”
Reminds me of 50+ years ago when we were flying the Ho Chi Minh Trail doing our thing. My aircraft commander had been a fighter jock in Korea. He had an old patch on his flight suit that said: “F-86 Last of the Sport Models”…………makes me smile all over again.
hello Uncle Bob how are you tonight hey I’m wondering your commander was he trying to say that the choppers you guys were using were the last of the full size sport models.
Thanks Herbee. No, we weren’t in choppers………….a guy could get killed in one of those things. We were doing recon (spy work in the back end) in obsolete, but repurposed aircraft. Not particularly sporty, but functional. One of the most beautiful airplanes ever built….
Thanks for lining me out on the planes you guys were using Uncle Bob nice picture you put on there thanks have you seen t what they’re calling the Macho Trans Am that’s on here search that one out
Connie!! Those looked fast even standing still.
Bob that pic u posted, is that a modified constellation? One of the coolest airplanes ever. Thanks for posting!! BTW, thanks for your excellent service.
Cheers
GPC
Yes Chas, they had been Navy birds originally, then moth balled, then our guys got them out, stripped the ray domes top and bottom, filled with the “high tech” (at the time) gear, spray on a little jungle camo, and we were on our way. AF designation was EC121-R.
cool I like the fast back style and the white vinyl Roof interior real sets off the aqua colored paint I always get slammed on here when I say I like white interior guys say it’s too hard to keep clean man if that’s original interior sure can’t complain about having to work too hard to keep it clean. white interior rules when you’re willing to spend time keeping it clean however I could do without the vinyl top I’m not a fan of vinyl tops but it does really set off the color of the aqua. Yes I know black would too but I like white
I agree with you on the vinyl roof. I think a good paint job in white( not bright white) would be as nice or nicer than the roof rusting vinyl.
No doubt by the way I like the handle you go by on here.
I had a 78 Chrysler Cordoba in dark green, with a white landau vinyl top and a white leather interior. In those days I would clean the seats with Westley’s Bleach white, then apply armour-all to the surfaces. If there was any residual dirt, it would smear with the armour-all. It looked great when first done, but it was tough to keep clean. Nowadays, you can only get tan, gray, or black interiors, unless you go for a higher end car.
And when it comes to convertibles, if you have to have all vinyl, white is the way to go. I used to have a 72 Pontiac Grandville convertible with dark green vinyl interior. With 100+ degree summers, I’ve burned my legs more than once!
As a dyed -in- the -wool Chevrolet fan, and a 1970 Chevrolet Impala owner, I really like the looks of this Fah…Fah….Ford. There. I said it. Just like when Fonzi had to admit when he was Wrah…wrah…wrong.
Is there a jacket included?
you saw the sporty Macho t a also
Usually I’m all for the four door models, but this XL is a thing of beauty! I’d reupholster the seats and drive it proudly (and often too!).
Like it……and a …Connie – what’s not to love….thanks Bob !
Welcome..
My last comment on this Ford I have to believe that this is the first one I’ve seen without shock Towers I’m not a Ford guy however I had a 67 cougar GT back in the day and of course it had shock Towers but I didn’t know Ford made a car without shock Towers course I know their pickups don’t have them at least I don’t think I could be wrong I’m not a Ford guy. However there are some models of Fords I really liked.
Full frame, not unibodied is why.
Think of the tail you can get in the back of that baby?
The plane or the car?
I’ve been trying to buy an 68 XL convertible from my uncle for a few years. It’s got the 390 4V and he’s the original owner. Hasn’t been driven since the late 80’s.
Holy hell, the dashboard came warped like that on these cars??
I had a 1969 SL with the 320HP 429 2BBL.
I loved it.
This is such a pretty car in those colors.
My grandfather had the ’69 version of this when I was growing up, which he bought new. His was also aqua with white vinyl top and interior, but I think his had buckets with console shift. I always wanted that car but he got rid of it less than a year before I managed to get my license in 1985. I was heartbroken, but he said not only was the engine going but that all those years of Omaha winters had basically eaten away the underside of the car to the point where it was beyond saving. :-( He got a new white Mustang LX hatch, but not with the V8. Grandma sold that car after Grandpa died in 1987, preferring to keep her ’66 Mustang instead, which I would inherit from her in 1994.
I have a 1969 XL 500 with the 429. I love the size, style and lines.
They also made a 2-door hardtop with bucket seats, console and 429 engine in 1971. I know because my father had one and I used to drive it once and a while. It was a nice car and fairly quick for a 4,500 lb. car.
I recently inherited this from my Dad. It’s a 70 XL Convertible. Now I’m normally a GM guy when it comes to classic cars, but this thing is a blast!! It was fully restored about 4-5 years ago. The 390 was rebuilt top to bottom, as was the tranny. My Dad replaced the carb with EFI, and replaced the distributor with an HEI. New a/c system was installed, and has bucket seats w/ a center console. Everything new or rebuilt. The dual exhaust puts out a great rumble! I already have two 1962 GM convertibles I’ve been slowly restoring so not sure if I’ll keep it. But these cars are wicked-fun!
Nice ride! Regarding what to keep, that is of course a personal decision, but only this one belonged to your Dad. Do the others have sentimental value to you?
Long story, but yeah, they do have sentimental value. I got both from the original owner’s widow (62 Pontiac LeMans convertible and 62 Buick Skylark convertible), after they had a decade or two nap. I’ve done all the work to get them back on the road and reliable drivers, and just need paint on both, and a top for the Pontiac. It’s been a labor of love for sure, as I’ve basically put more money into them than they’re worth. The widow passed them on to me because I had stopped at her house and chatted with her so often over the years, while walking my dogs, and she wanted them to go to someone who’d appreciate them like her husband, and bring them back to life. So I almost feel an obligation to her, but I can’t keep three classics. We just don’t drive them enough. But like you said, the Ford was my Dad’s car, and that supersedes anything else. Plus that Ford is fast as hell and a ton of fun to drive.
My Father sold cars for my sister’s in-laws from 1972-75. Not Ford’s best years but he brought a lot of sixties iron home. One of them was one of these in go fast red with a big motor and convertible to boot. It was fully loaded and he was in love with it and tried his best to get my Mom to feel the same way. I was sold immediately being ten years old, and my Mom really liked it. But my Dad played it smart and we didn’t get it. I have always liked these cars.
Bucket seats and console would improve the “sport” model image greatly. I’m not sure they were available by 1970. I had a 68 with the bucket/console option, 390ci with automatic. Also loved the hide away headlamps on the 68. Looks like a paint job and some seat covers are all that’s needed here. Nice car.
Takes me back to a simpler time when I was a kid all of 7 years old
When I was young I loved hot rods I drove crazy I’m lucky to be alive. now that I’m older I can really appreciate cars that were seen everywhere but you never see them anymore
Hey uncle Bob. My dad was out of Otis. 551st AEW. In flight Comm Nav tech. EC121 H. They had the “Bat Cats” at Otis also. I remember one belly landing at Otis 67/68?
Wow….good recollection Chris. Yeah, we put the Bat Cat squadron together at Otis in ’67 with TDY training missions in Panama and out of Eglin, Fl. All our aircraft were flown over the pond in Sept/Oct of ’67. After the tour quite a few of the guys rotated back and were assigned to the 551st. Some of us were scattered in other directions. Thanks for the memory.
White vinyl interiors are okay, IF, you get the air conditioning to work! Otherwise, ones sweaty clothes redye them to a different color. :) Had it happen in my sister’s Lincoln Navigator even with air. I had a 71 Galaxie convert with a white vinyl bucket seat interior and console but no AC. Like the Mustang from the same period, the center of the seats had a basketweave pattern which cooled a little better than a massively huge swath of white vinyl like this bench seat.