The Ford LTD II is an automobile produced and marketed by Ford Motor Company between 1977 and 1979 in the United States and Canada. Deriving its name from the full-sized Ford LTD model line, the intermediate LTD II consolidated the Ford Torino and Gran Torino model lines, with the Ford Elite replaced by the Ford Thunderbird. Offered in a two-door sedan, four-door sedan, and station wagon, the LTD II also served as a basis for the final generation of the Ford Ranchero coupe utility. During its production, the Lincoln-Mercury Division sold the LTD II under the Mercury Cougar badge, replacing the Mercury Montego. The design of the Ford LTD II is notable as one of the largest vehicles ever produced as an intermediate, released just as the entire American auto industry began a period of downsizing. In terms of exterior footprint compared to full-sized sedans, the LTD II is longer in length and wheelbase and wider than the later Ford LTD Crown Victoria, Ford Crown Victoria, Ford Five Hundred, and the Ford Taurus (fifth, sixth, and seventh-generation versions). Background For the 1977 model year, Ford Motor Company made substantial revisions to its intermediate-segment product lines involving both the Ford and Mercury brands to help boost sales. As part of the model changes, several product lines were given midcycle updates. To further revive interest, other model lines were consolidated to reduce internal competition and overlap. Central to the model revision was the discontinuation of the Ford Torino, Gran Torino and Elite. While the Torino chassis and body were given an extensive updates to extend the lifespan, the Torino became the Ford LTD II ("II" to distinguish the intermediate model line from the full-sized LTD). In effect, LTD II served as a placeholder downsized LTD model offering to help compete against GM's 1977 downsized full size car lines until an all new downsized full size LTD was ready for 1979. A similar practice used by Chrysler moved full size nameplates Dodge Monaco and Plymouth Fury to restyled versions of their intermediate models replacing the Dodge Coronet and Plymouth Satellite. Alongside a massive exterior update, the Ford Elite became the downsized Ford Thunderbird with a reduced price allowing Ford to better compete against the Chevrolet Monte Carlo (and its various General Motors counterparts) and the Chrysler Cordoba, reducing product overlap between the Thunderbird and the Continental Mark V. As Ford discontinued the Torino,