Undercover Car: 1970 Ford Custom 500
OK, readers seemed to like this 1968 Ford Custom two-door sedan, featured a few days ago, so let’s review a four-door version today. Our subject is actually a ’70, but it’s pretty similar – an example of the model that was frequently not saved. Larry D found this seemingly less than a collectible sedan, here on eBay, where it calls Rockford, Illinois its home and is available for a current bid of $2,568, reserve not yet met. There is a BIN price of $7,500 available too.
So, who drove a Ford Custom/Custom 500 in this era? Perhaps Bill Gannon (of Dragnet fame) was suggested by a reader in the ’68 Custom post? Actually, by ’70, Ford had undertaken some pruning and the two-door sedan version of the Custom and Custom 500 was kaput. That left the four-door sedan and station wagon (Ranch Wagon) as the only body styles. Potential buyers? Fleet sales and retail buyers who were budget conscious would be the most likely recipients – and that demand surpassed 40K units.
Externally, this Custom 500 shows pretty well, a bit boring maybe, but it looks sound. The seller adds, “The only rust in this car is in front and behind the rear wheels and it’s MINIMAL! The underneath is rust-free”. The C-pillar trim looks like it once edged either a contrasting roof color or a vinyl top covering but that’s not the case, all Custom 500s were so adorned. The bland color and doggie-bowl hubcaps do give off the perfect cop-car vibe.
Like the two-door custom, this sedan is equipped with a 302 CI V8 engine but now sporting 220 gross HP. Unlike the ’68, however, it has the typically found three-speed automatic gearbox. The seller opines, “The car drives absolutely perfect. Shifts strong and leaks nothing… I would go from Alaska to Florida tomorrow if I wanted in this car“. The mileage recording is 82K but there’s no claim to that accumulation.
The interior is described as “mint” but the split in the driver’s side front bench will probably take it out of contention – and the seller admits as much. But, beyond that, it shows well. It’s definitely a plain-jane affair with a whole lot of tan going on. The instrument panel possesses the wrap-around design that Ford introduced the previous year, the one with the radio located left of the steering column as opposed to the right or center mounted. Noted is a fuel gauge stuck on full and a steering wheel that’s not centered.
OK, so this one’s not as cool as the ’68 and its two fewer doors and three-on-the-tree gear shifting arrangement but it’s still a nice find as it’s not the usually discovered XL or Galaxie. Years ago, no one would have given this Ford sedan a second look but today, it’s become a curiosity item that will generate a lot of, “Yeah, I remember these”. The seller suggests, “This would be a great movie car, old cop car, detective car“. Perhaps, assuming this Custom 500 held your interest, what would you do with it?
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Comments
2 am stakeout at Wofat’s beachside lair. A light leeward breeze. Vending machine ham sandwiches and lousy coffee…
It was the worst dive on the waterfront. It was worse than Detroit.
Doremus Ave in Elizabeth NJ…minus the lot lizards …flipping coffee lids on the dash…
This car was not a barn find,i owned this car from 2006 to 2022,it originally belonged ti Rockford il.police officer,he purchased it as a travel car.the mileage is original.
I agree, not as cool as the similarly-themed two-door three-on-the-tree 1968 from a couple days ago. But this has its charms too. Want something reliable for not much money? Something out of the ordinary for Cars & Coffee or even the local Mustang/Ford show? Something for which you wouldn’t freak out if the grandkids’ ice cream cone dripped on the upholstery? Here you go.
” Book’em Danno”
No Jack Lord only drove Mercurys. When the Marauder came out Car & Driver did their whole review based on a Hawaii 5-0 theme
But Danno usually drove Fords like this one.
That was a `68 Mercury?
Ya, Dan-o wasn’t cool enough and had to settle for the more pedestrian Ford offerings. And McGarret was too cool to do any stakeouts – that’s why there was Dan-o and his street team.
After seeing an ocean of gassers with fat tires at this past weekend’s auto shows, I’m hankering for some of wholesome plain Jane Americana. I’d clean it up but leave it 90% as-is.
I want to start a ride-share company that uses antique cars. This would be the police special driven by a Dirty Harry lookalike.
I am speechless
Looks like something Jerry Brown would drive to & from
his trips to Sacramento.
Yes, plain old non-descript cars. But he drove Valiants.
I remember when they sold his old car –
it was a mid ’70’s MID Sized 4 door Plymouth,
which did look like an undercover police car.
Reminds me of the car (albeit in gray) in “Apollo 13” that rushes Ken Mattingly (played by Gary Sinise) to Mission Control with the precise re-entry power up procedures that are crucial to the crew. It’s been a while since I’ve watched that scene, so I may be wrong (although I recall a short screech of tires braking and A LOT of nose dive!).
“Streets”, man, ( Streets of San Francisco) Michael Douglas drove Karl Malden around in early 70s Ford sedans, kind of a later day Dragnet, but more realistic.
https://www.imcdb.org/v227902.html
“A Quinn Martin production”
For a while pretty well all the police shows they produced used Fomoco products.
In their show, ‘Dan August’ starring Burt Reynolds, which aired in 1970, had this very car type in it, a clip:
https://youtube.com/clip/Ugkx0LcnY7RKopbSYi2gXcQ4wyhYwmxnzmk_
My company car when I was a rep for RJR. White Ford custom with an AM radio and no air. Dog dishes and black wall tires. When we needed tires, usually the tire dealer only sold white walls, so we had to have them reversed. Trunk and back seat loaded with product and advertising. They rode low. Traded them in at 45k miles, pretty worn out.
The FBI. A Quinn Martin production.
Nice looking car. Although I was too young at the time to drive a car, I remember cars like this. My grandparents drove Fords and they loved driving them. My favourite cars were always police pursuit cars or taxicabs. Given the condition of this Custom 500, I’d pay either asking price. If everything works and there are no rust holes in the bodywork, I might pay the higher price.
I love the 69-72 Galaxie sedans. They look so clean compared to the luxo-barge LTDs. Unfortunately this one is saddled with the 302 and appears to have a lot of rust pimples popping out in random areas.
Great interior though!
I would leave it just the way it is…get the front seat fixed. Then drive it up to some of my friends from high school…Yup, some of them rode in the back seats of these types of cars. Not too many of them left…the cars and the friends.
Something Lou Erskine would drive
Reserve met at 3500
A school friend’s father had the same ’70 Custom 500 sedan in this color. His dad was an executive at one of the larger aviation companies [Martin-Marietta] and headed up their Military division in Washington DC.
Due to an austerity program in place, corporate policy was all employee-provided cars were tan or white Ford Custom sedans; 6-cyl, Auto trans & P/S. My friend’s dad asked if he could order additional options if he paid for them, and the company said yes, but it had to look like the regular Custom 500 sedan on the outside.
It was the only Ford Custom 500 sedan I’ve ever seen or heard of that was fully loaded, including 390 V8, P/S, P/D/B, A/C, P/windows and seat, AM/FM stereo, and full carpets. He tried to order bucket seats or split front seat, but was told they were not available. I rode in the back seat many times, It’s the only Custom 500 I’ve seen with power windows & stereo, always tuned to a FM classical station!
The car was totaled in the rear when a big truck hit it while parked outside their home. Before it was towed away I was allowed to quickly remove the original Philco Ford AM/FM stereo radio, and I still have it packed away in a box. Anyone need a 1970 Ford Am/Fm stereo radio?
“the streets of San Francisco” with Karl Malden and Michael
Douglas. They had a LTD or something like this one used?
That was the decade of entertaining american TV series.
The only Police or Govt. Cars that interest me are those equipped with H/D suspension and a Big Block.
A small police department, I know in Fl, got some of these AFTER having had some REAL police cars, 1968 Fury I’s with the high performance 383 4 bbl. That 4 bbl could be heard moaning 2 miles away. These Fords they bought were totally showroom floor models. Pitiful excuse for a patrol car. Definitely not performance, better as your grandparents drive to store and church variant.
Perfect for a Gator McCloski and Ned Beaty film…
A municipal car first, by mid decade I could see it loaded with bad guys, at night, prowling the worst neighborhood in town…slow and deliberately.
In my youth I loved the cop detective shows. So I was graciously given an opportunity to salivate over my dream cars when watching The Streets of San Francisco. Mannix. The Rookies. Etc. And in every one it had one of these “dick” vehicle’s. Fast forward years. I can’t work anymore.Ive tried but ptsd is a real thing. My mind won’t let me do what I need to make a living. So I’m truly disabled upstairs. I will never be able to have the one car in my life that would make it whole. After all is said and done at the end of months. I’m always in the red. But my bills and rent are paid. And we have a pretty good food bank. I don’t use my h. I’m alone. And I try and give back the best I can. So all I can do is dream until my dreams come true. ( STEVEN TYLER ). God bless you guys here at barn funds. You are the highlight of most of my days.
Hang in there, Haughton!