Triple-Black 1-Of-1! 1976 Ford Elite 460
Something I regularly meet with skepticism is when a seller claims their car is a 1-Of-1 example, as it’s often simply not the case or sometimes difficult to verify. But the seller of this 1976 Ford Elite here on Craigslist has made me a believer, and while the circumstances may not be all that significant it really is a nicely-preserved car and has resided in California since new, presently in Pioneer roughly 50 miles away from Sacramento. With a $10,000 asking price, I’m guessing this one may exchange hands fairly quickly, and we’d like to thank Barn Finds reader Tony Primo for spotting it and sending us the tip!
Triple-black is always a fun choice, and that’s how the car came from the factory. Ford called this offering a Gran Torino Elite back when it was introduced back in ’74, but for the next two years shortened it to just Elite before production wrapped up at the end of the 1976 run. This one’s stated to be a one-owner vehicle that’s been garaged and still wearing the original paint, even though there are said to be a few scratches and chips on the finish. If you’re not a fan of those aftermarket chrome wheels, the original wire hubcaps are included in the sale.
Inside, things are still looking decent for their age, and to have been occupied for more than 100,000 miles the seats still appear to be pretty good, with a power motor on the driver’s side. Everything in there is stated as functioning, with only the clock and A/C noted as exceptions. We don’t get a wide-angle shot from down below, but a couple of photos that are provided seem to show a solid undercarriage, and it also appears good and dry on the bottom side.
The 460 under the hood is not the original motor, but rather a newer engine that’s been driven 13,000 miles since it was installed. The C6 automatic isn’t the factory component either, but it’s said to have been gone through plus the car has also recently had some brake work. So what about that one-of-one claim? It’s detailed, but here’s the breakdown. Only a sole car was produced with the triple-black colors, a 460 engine and C6 transmission, an AM/FM search radio, and the factory trailer towing package. Maybe that’s not as exciting as some other exclusives you’ve heard about in the past, but it should be a fun conversation starter at your next car gathering plus there’s also a Marti report included you can dangle that’s said to offer proof! Even if this was one of many, I’ve always liked the Elite’s styling and this one seems to have plenty of good miles left for the next driver. What are your thoughts here?
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Comments
It’s not the original mtr.or trans so how is it 1 of 1 ??
Maybe that’s what makes it 1 of 1? It’s got the wrong motor?
Where is the marti report?
I might be wrong but I thought you could only get up to a 400 in those and the Thunderbird was the 460???
My 76 came with a 460. C6 and a full vynl top with a power moonroof.
If you read the write up itself, it tells you why. Not the original engine but the same size, same model of the transmission but the triple black and the only one ever sold with that , that’s impressive…
I ain’t no Ford guy but I’m an ice guy no matter what manufacture and for 10k if all looks as good in the pics and this is your kinda car a good deal.Obviouslly gotta check it out first and see how the work was done.Glwts nice car.
Always wondered why Ford made this car, The Cougar and the T-Bird at the same time?
Virtually all the same.
That would be called brilliant marketing. If you had the bucks you bought the Thunderbird. If you wanted to save a little you bought the elite. Mercury got the cougar for their fans. Don’t forget the Torino!!!! Best bang for the buck.
Ford made so many variations because people wanted them, and I don’t think the Torino platform gets enough credit. It was a sales success through its run, it’s bigger variant had [rear] ABS and 4-wheel disks, it ran the gamut from stripper econo car to luxo-boat, it could be a decent handler when equipped, and was the last platform to get what remained of the 351 Cobra Jet, giving it a power-to-weight ratio that wouldn’t be matched for a decade or so.
The Thunderbird was a completely different car until 1977. Until 77 the Thunderbird was based on the Lincoln Mark series.
Not completely different. The ‘72-76 Thunderbird and Mark IV (and V) use a stretched Torino platform.
The Thunderbird for 1976 did look alot like the Elite, but was much larger, built along with the Lincoln Mark IV. And yes, the Cougar did look alot like the Mark, but much cheaper to buy and both it and the Elite sold pretty well. I owned both a 76 Elite and a 78 Cougar XR7. Glad gas was reasonably cheap.
I like it but here we go again the A/C doesn’t work or is the gas mileage so bad why make it worse? I say in for a penny , in for a pound turn that A/C on!
Had a red one. Inside and out. Man what a smooth ride and very comfortable. Nice car to own
I think being triple black it would look better with period-correct whitewalls and the wire wheel covers. To me that would make it better match its personal luxury coupe persona. I particularly like the Sport Instrumentation Group which this Elite does have. Overall looks like it is in reasonable condition.
Cheesy steering wheel cover.
Many of us used those wrap on steering wheel covers back in the day because the steering wheels were made very thin back then. The covers gave you a better grip. Now all vehicles come with thicker steering wheels so I guess we were ahead of the times.
I owned a ’76 in Silver with a cranberry Landau roof and Interior. Loved it. Was a great cruising car. Also had the biggest gas tank, 28 gallons, I have ever had on a car. Wish I lived close enough to check it out.
Nice Ford a fair price. I like to know what year the 460 is from. Early 460 had more horsepower than the 76 engine. Also what is wrong with the AC? It is hook up. I don’t remember seeing this model with a 460 for a very long time. Won’t be surprised if it gone by Monday. Good luck to the next owner.🐻🇺🇸
Every time I see a Ford of this vintage I can hear it like it was yesterday, they had such a distinctive sound.
🎸 🎶 Cruising down the road in my V8 Ford …I got the shine on my boots, I have my side burns lowered, with my New York brim and a gold tooth display,
nobody give me trouble cuz they know I Got It Made,
I’m bad I’m Nationwide 🥁
Ha ha bad joke.
In stock form, the ’76 460 in this application wheezed out a measly 202 horses, and 0-60 took nearly 11 seconds. So in stock form, it was juice that was not worth the squeeze over the more economical and lighter 351 or even 400, which weren’t much slower. Probably why it’s 1 of 1!
These were fairly popular with 146,500 sold, so it’s definitely very rare in the world of Ford Elites. Of course, Ford, in perhaps the best automotive branding move of all time, rebadged this car as the Thunderbird for ’77, and sales more the doubled to over 318,000 units.
I currently have a 76 Elite in Blue daily driver. Love the ride and the compliments. With the 351M and a FX transmission, it will pass anything but a gas station.
Was the Elite the replacement for the Torino??
No. The Elite was originally a sub-model of the Torino designed to capitalize on the exploding personal luxury segment. It was called the Gran Torino Elite for ’74-75 and then became just the Elite for ’76.
For ’77, Ford rebadged its mid-sized personal luxury entry as the Thunderbird, adding a few new styling ques like concealed headlights and a revised roof treatment. Ford then cancelled the Torino and used the Elite’s front end (with stacked square headlights) on the LTD II, which was the Torino replacement.
As I said, this was a great marketing move. In 1977, there were 318,000 Thunderbirds and 232,000 LTD IIs sold. Comparatively, there were 146,500 Elites and 193,000 Torinos sold in ’76. So Ford increased midsize production by nearly 40%. Of course, it did not last too long as production dropped pretty rapidly after ’77, but it definitely bought Ford some time until the Fox body cars appeared.
LTD II sales dropped off quickly, but Thunderbird didn’t. The next year was 350,000, then just under 300,000 in ‘79. And the Cougar variant also sold well.
The party stopped in ‘80 though, as consumers clearly didn’t like the new downsized versions.
The Grand Torino Elite was one year, 1974
Yeah, the 1980 T-Bird looked like a little stubby baby bird! I don’t think it has aged well either. Sales tanked to just over half of ’79 and dropped by half in ’81 and by half again in ’82 before the next generation mercifully came out for ’83.
Yeah, the other Fox cars looked good, but the poor ‘80-‘82 Thunderbird and Cougar just looked awkward. The ‘83 was really a breath of fresh air!
Thanks a great deal for the information you have provided for me Much appreciated! The 77-79 Thunderbird and Mercury Cougar were great, popular, well designed cars and indeed brought The Ford Motor Company a lot of money in sales.
@Fran – Yes, my bad. Looks like it was only badged as a Torino for one model year. For 1975-76 it was stand alone. But it’s exact same car under the skin.
Speaking of 1974, this car’s sister ship, the Mercury Cougar XR-7, was offered with the Q-Code 255 horsepower 351 Cobra Jet for that one year. Very rare. One was featured on Hemmings in 2017 with 53,000 miles for $8,000 OBO. Talk about times changing, LOL!
Automobile Catalog does not list that engine as available on the Elite. But it does for the Torino, and a 351-4v is in the 1974 Ford Torino brochure as optional on all Torino 2-door models, including the Brougham. The brochure states it was N/A in California and was only available with 3.25 gears. The specs do not call it a Cobra Jet or list the horsepower, but they do rattle off several performance goodies, including special intake manifold, special valve springs, 4300-D carburetor (which is 715 cfm), a modified camshaft, and 4-bolt main bearings. So I’m pretty sure that’s the CJ.
Now that’d be a 1 of 1 Elite I’d like to find if one exists!
I was a more “elite” model to the Torino for one year, 1974.
I forgot the “LTD II” another “same car”.
Here in FL, that’s what we call a “Mobile Pizza Oven.”
You’re right Steve.. Definitely don’t want an all black car (no matter how nice it looks) here in Florida.. Especially with this heat wave we’re having.. A/C is a must have..
1 of 1? What ever.
My brother had an Elite in ’74 and ’76.
In ’76 he let me take my driver’s test with this beautiful car.
A 460 no less and the fuel gauge was on empty!!
On top of that this was Alabama and I had a smokey in the passenger seat.
And my brother leans in to the window and tells me “if I wreck it don’t come back”
Well, me being from NYC I put my best southern accent on and proceeded to pass the test. We drove home so I could change my pants…
Great story! Similar for me up in Binghamton ny I used my brothers 74 for my test after using my parents LTD 76. The guy said I did not control it well, failed. Second attempt took the 74 mustang II failed because there was not front plate! Yeah like all of NY it was full of A holes as garp says. The Grand Torino Elite came through for me!!! Lol
Opps out of order. Is was the LTD then the Mustang II and the passing car was the Elite!!!
I’m born n raised in New York City and I am NOT an “A hole” and you need to refrain from posting stereotypical comments on this and any other site. Keep it civil…Not everyone is from Tolupa Kansas
Great story. A friend of mine and myself played hooky from school and got an older friend who already graduated to take us for drivers test. I had my learners permit two weeks and the Pennsylvania trooper said you must have been driving for years and I said yea a little. But we smoked three joints before going but he passed us both. Nowadays you have to have something like 6 months before taking test.
Oh yea took test in a 67’ Caprice Classic 4-door and long as the Mississippi River. Try doing a k-turn in that.
I am from Binghamton and saw the decline. Its just the way it was and is…You need to relax a little, get some pizza before it is outlawed. (do you know that latest story?)
LOL
Binghamton?…Really! @ fran
Does anyone know what the”(Pioneer)” in the CL ad means?
Here is an interesting article about Elite model cars.
Pioneer is the name of the California town the Elite is located.
Thanks…
To add, Mercury also had the Montego. With the Cougar…..Ford had a good game going back then.
here is the link…
https://www.hemmings.com/stories/2020/12/16/hemmings-find-of-the-day-fords-1976-elite-was-the-short-lived-personal-luxury-car-thousands-purchased-but-few-remember
my late brother had a white Elite with maroon interior. Always thought it was a sharp looking ride.
Almost bought one way back. Trade-in just broke in. I wasn’t sure. I was thinking something else but wife wanted it and it was NICE. Signed a contract but the next day when we came to pick it up it was gone. Son of dealership’s owner wanted it, so it was gone. Couldn’t afford to fight AND buy a car so I went elsewhere and bought a Grand Prix that I wish I still had. Don’t have that wife anymore either.
My first car was a 1974 Ford Torino Elite in triple-red. I paid $200 for it and that was for the new tires it had.
That color combo was beautiful!