Sleeper potential: zero! A Competition Orange Torino is not for the meek. Embrace the flashy paint, stripes, and get that “shaker” hood vibrating with the engine, and cast aside any thoughts of stealth. This 1970 Ford Torino GT outside of Omaha, Nebraska comes to market here on Craigslist. Offered as a “believed to be” all original GT with 351 cid (5.8L) V8, four-speed manual transmission, and the engine-mounted “shaker” hood scoop. Ford’s sales literature said the Laser Stripes were so wild that “some people think they should have a switch to turn them off.” If your idea of the perfect muscle car screams “Look at me, world!” this one can be yours for $8999.
The two-tone black and white interior makes the perfect compliment to the high-impact orange paint. Ford called the GT “the Cobra’s luxury-lovin’ cousin,” Thanks to lov2xlr8 for some details.
The GT sits an inch lower than standard Torino models and sports a cool GT-only tail light panel. Additional trim and other features differentiate the GT from other models. We would surmise this Torino has been repainted at least once, but it doesn’t look too bad. Why not get the safety items and minimal items like upholstery replaced then enjoy it like this for a while?
Though no documentation graces the listing, this could be the original 351 “Cleveland,” V8, known for its high-flowing cylinder heads. A friend of mine mounted a stock 351C to his dynomometer for kicks before giving it a high-performance rebuild, and it made every one of the advertised horsepower even with a stock 2bbl and cast iron manifolds. If stock is not fiery enough for this orange beast, a hot Cleveland will make as much horsepower as your wallet can afford. The description makes no mention of this car’s running or driving condition, but the el-cheapo battery and number of connected hoses, wires, etc. seem to suggest it either runs or at least turns over. I can’t help thinking that a similarly equipped Mopar would have sold for double this one’s asking price about 23 seconds after the ad posted. How would you refurbish this Competition Orange classic?
If this is what it’s purported to be I hope like hell someone saves it!! Yes, a lot of work is needed here but this is iconic of the era IMHO-the legendary Cleveland motor in a (then) swoopy big car body reflecting images of Holman Moody/Lee Roy Yarborough Junior Johnson/ A J Foyt etc. with their screamin’ 428’s.
Good times, even for us Mopar fans.
Someone save this car! GLWTS.
If you look at the engine picture you can see that the fan is a blur, so i would guess it may be running in the picture, or at least turning over really fast.
Good eye, Adam1966. A simple “runs and drives” would be a good addition to any listing. Thanks for spotting that encouraging tidbit!
I’ll add that a co-worker in my home town had the 429 Cobra Jet version of this car in blue over black. This was in the mid ’80s and the car was rarely driven and somewhat legendary around town. He’d bring it to work once in a while and it didn’t sound like any of the anemic newer V8s in those days. The crazy orange isn’t my style but my dream garage definitely includes a ’70 Torino.
What made the Cleveland-built engines better performing versus the Windsor-built engines? Didn’t the parts all come from the same bins?
I believe heads and internals . Others will surely correct me if I’m incorrect . I’ve had a few strong running Windsors in my time though.
Completely different engines. Parts are mostly not interchangeable.
As our very learned editor noted above, the “Cleveland” (built in Cleveland,Ohio) had free-flowing heads from large ports and bigger valves that were canted at an angle for air flow. It was based on the Ford 335 series small blocks.
The “Windsor” (generally made in Windsor, Ontario, Canada) had smaller heads and ports with inline valves..
IIRC the Windsor used bigger spark plugs too.
Canted valves on the 351 Cleveland gave it more horsepower. I owned a 1970 Mach 1 with the Cleveland supposedly rated at 300 hp. The hp was for insurance purposes because it ran like it was 350-400hp at the local strip and it was a 3 speed manual with 3:25 gears. I also owned a 1972 Mustang Sports roof 351 Windsor , 4 speed with 4:11 gears and worked heads that ran well and was my designated race car that ran well with moderate engine work and a 2 barrel carb. However, the stock 1970 was just as quick if not quicker.
Oversize ports, canted valves, different thermostat location, etc. Essentially the same block. Never drove anything with a Cleveland, but it had to be a beast , as my 351W equipped Torino would really haul.
Not the same block, entirely different engine. The 351W is based on the 302 block with same basic dimensions and share many parts. The 351 Cleveland is an entirely different engine and is dimensionally larger. The 351C is not as easy of a fit into smaller engine bays such as the early Mustangs.
351 C heads can be “adapted” to fit 302 and 351 W, which is where the 302 Boss came from but again, lots of modifications and special intake manifold. Widens the overall engine 3 to 4 inches when done.
Nice ride, maybe a little bit bigger tires would make it really pop. Not the killa street machine like its 429 CJ or SCJ big brothers but that 351 Cleveland will move pretty good…and there’s a lot more potential here if wanted.
I’m on the fence with the “I’m right here right now “orange paint and laser stripes…,it’s a bit much, the interior color contrast is fine or maybe more like it was.
There’s much information, too much for comments,for explaining the confusion that was Ford Motor Company and the trio of 351 engines it had, although two were both part of the 335 series. Best way to put it is this 351 Cleveland made big block like power in a smaller package. Not the same as the 351 Windsor outside of bore and stroke.
The only 2 things that the 351C and the 351W share are the 351 displacement size and the bell housing bolt pattern.
they also share a firing order as well
I think the asking price isn’t horrible. Those interested may be worth a look. It running and driving depending how far the seller went with getting it woke up is a plus. The split bench is a let down but these could be optioned any number of different ways. Would like to see the Marti and the seller would have been wise to spend the $50 to get one. I could live with the color. The manual trans is a big plus.
The shop my father hung out in built many race and street machines. Very busy place in the early 70’s. Kind of guy who could build anything. Hanging out with the old man remember a conversation between the owner of the shop and a guy who owned a Cobra Jet Torino. Seems the guy was disappointed with how the Ford ran. Obviously the shop did a lot of work on it. More words were spoken. The owner getting mad told him it would never run. It was too damn heavy.
If I remember correctly the heads were stamped DO0E for the higher flow
The color is actually called. Calypso Coral.
The 351 C us know as a mid side block.
The 351 W is a standard small block and traces it origins bask to the 289 / 302.
The Cleveland was great for racing but not so much on the street the heads flowed too well and required high RPMs to take full advantage of the power.
Teams like Bob Glidden and Gapp and Roush ruled pro stock with Cleveland based engines in the early 70s.
Once upon a time I had a pos 73 Ranchero with a 351c. Even with a lousy motor rebuild it was still very fast. I can only imagine how much better with a rebuild to racing specs. Not just a clean up parts replacement,
The Cleveland had two different sets of heads 2v and 4v.,2v had big valves and 4v had even bigger valves. The 2v were just right so guys would install a aftermarket intake with 4 barrel flange on the 2v heads and they ran great, the 4barrel heads were just too big for the street but great for racing. I hade a 70 Torino GT just like this except it was automatic and no shaker hood, Great car bought it in early 80s for 700$, man do I wish I still had it, oh well that’s another one that got away…
The 351 Cleveland came in either a 2V or a 4V version. The 4V version had 4 bolt main bearings, forged pistons, heavier rods, and a hotter cam than the 2V version. It also had a different firing order than the 289/302 engine. A stock 4V version with a 3.25 rear axle would bury the speedo without any trouble. Until you got the engine RPM’s up, it was a dog, but it loved the high RPM range. It would cruise all day long at 120 MPH+ with no problems. With factory dress, the 4V was rated 300 HP. This was my first new car!
I just happen to have a 429 I believe would fit in that engine compartment. Bench seat would be out buckets in.
The 4v heads actually had 62 cc combustion chamber vs 66 cc on 2v heads. This gave the 4 v engine an 11 to 1 compression ratio and required premium fuel also upped the horsepower to 300 plus some cj blocks did have 4 bolt mains.
Absolutely will fit. I own a 1970 Torino GT convertible with a factory original 429 and a C6. Same color as this but with white buckets and console. One things for sure you would see many at any shows.
I had a ’70 Ranchero with the 4V 351 Cleveland, C6, posi rear, buckets/console and factory A/C. I can tell you that car was a potent performer. True, it liked the high RPMs but keep ’em up there and you could run with a lot of big blocks. Tough getting traction off the line in a Ranchero, though; it was really light out back. It was a beautiful car, one of the nicest I’ve ever had but I sold it back in the ’90s and moved on. Shoulda kept that one.
Once upon a time I had a pos 73 Ranchero with a 351c. Even with a lousy motor rebuild it was still very fast. I can only imagine how much better with a rebuild to racing specs.
Posting has expired. Does that mean it was sold? However; though it obviously needs work, it appears to be a decent car for the $9k asking, especially if it runs. Which is a third to half the price of a similar a GM or Mopar. I think this is what Steve R is talking about when he says if you’re realistic you can find a decent car at a reasonable price.
I have a 71 torino GT. Kind of a barn find. My friend had it since earky 80’s and it hasnt been driven in 30 years. Its been inside sitting. Real solid, just needs some TLC. Which im giving it. It has a 351c 4v auto. VIN says it supposed to have a 2v. But i know its been this way since he bought it cuz i went with him when we were 16 to buy it, im 55 now and i told him if he ever sells it, I want first chance to buy it. I finally bought it after all these years. BTW i still have my high school car (1975 mustang ii with a 351w) and now his high school car 71 torino. Love those cars..so NASCAR esqu. looking.
If you have the M code you have the undisputed, underated 351C 4V. You will know when you take the intake off the engine as the intake ports are huge. Easy 400 HP when carb and header mods, and a little timing adjustment performed. Intake cam and larger carb and 500 is within reason from the Stock Block.
1970 GT, Big Heavy Car that needed gear to get the fataz rolling. Then get the rpm up to 2700 and the charge was on. Loved my Buds Blue GT without the graphics as first they were retarded and second no-one wanted to tangle on the hiway but the MoPowers. That BIG PORT 4V would get it done for a mid cube engine that could run down and pass 383 cars and chase lower gear 440’s. If we ran into a 3.23 or lower geared car they were gone if the MoPar had front air dam to keep the front end planted. Ford has some Top cars in the mid cube heavy car range that had big aspirations in stock form.