In the late 1960s, the Torino would be introduced as the eventual successor to the Ford Fairlane (sexier sounding name, too). The second generation was only built for two years (1970-71) and had a more slippery shape than those that came before or after. The Torino GT was the sportier model and the convertible version saw far less production than the hardtop. This ’70 GT drop-top looks as though it’s been restored and is offered here on eBay by a dealer, so no background information is known. Located in Bee Spring, Kentucky, this cool find has been bid to $21,400 without triggering the reserve.
Ford executives chose to name the Torino automobile in honor of the City of Turin in Italy. By many, it’s considered the Detroit of Italy. It began as a topline version of Fairlane in 1968 and replaced that brand altogether in the 1970s. Ford moved on from the nameplate after the 1976 model year (remember the bright Red Torino with the big white stripes on the TV show Starsky & Hutch?). All new in 1970, the Fairlane/Torino dropped the boxier styling of the 1968-69 editions with the prominent use of the long hood/short deck proportions inspired by the Mustang a few years earlier.
In 1970, Ford produced fewer than 4,000 Torino GT convertibles (and only 1,600 the following year when the cars were little changed). The seller of this ’70 GT is a dealer who will provide a complete Marti Report on the car to the buyer. That will help in determining how the vehicle was built 53 years ago but will offer little in the way of history for this particular auto which has 96,000 miles. Given the condition of the car as presented, it looks to have been treated to a restoration, but that’s just an assumption.
Though the GT was sportier than the standard Torino, it wasn’t necessarily a powerhouse. This edition has an H-code 351 “Cleveland” V8 with a 2-barrel carburetor and a column-shifted automatic transmission (no bucket seats, thus no console). We assume the Ford drives as nice as it looks, and no mention is made of any issues or problems. The car sports a set of Magnum 500 wheels, which further add to the good looks of the machine. Oddly, the Torino has factory A/C, but no power steering and drum brakes. This may be a turnkey car that the buyer will be happy to show off!
This drop top is very nice, but I could never warm up to this body style; my preferences are the ’69, followed by the ’72; after which things went downhill.
GLWTA!! :-)
These have always been on my short list though I’d prefer one in grabber blue. The convertibles are exceptionally rare but I still see a surprising number of them for sale (last year there was a red one a few miles from me but it was a dealer asking $30k, so no). We had a ‘69 Torino GT notchback when I was a kid and I’d take one of those too.
Went to $23,800, reserve not met.
The fit of the hood and grille is off a bit, and without the grille emblem, it looks like one of those anonymous, insurance ad cars.
I noticed that too. And just being picky, I think the interiors of these are retrograde to the ‘68 and ‘69, which had four round instrument pods poking out of the dash. Much sportier even though one was just for the gas gauge and idiot lights and one of the others was a clock if so equipped (just a stainless disc if not).
I never was a fan of the cop attractor screaming yellow paint. But, any big Ford convertible from the early 70’s, is sweet!
The best looking Torino of the run, imo. I bought a rough a rangy rag top long ago but once I got into it, it was too much in the rust department. I bought another with the hopes of making one good one but lost interest. One had a 460 with tons of options the other was this cars twin. Both now rust in piece. When I clean out in the next go round the metal munched will get mine. A real beauty here. Love it.
Looks like a nice car. Add power steering and power disc brakes and it woukd be a great cruiser. If it was mine I think I’d have to add the shaker hood and the hideaway headlamps. I believe the ’70-’71 Torino and Ranchero were the only vehicles to offer both those features together.
Both shaker and hide away headlights were rare options. I believe the baker was only available with the 429. There were 3 levels of 429- 360HP Thunder Jet, 429 CJ & 375 HP 429 SCJ with drag pack option/oil cooler
Not sure if Ram Air(shaker) was available with the Thunder Jet, but it was definitely optional with the 351 Cleveland 4 barrel as well as the 429 CJ/SCJ.
Whenever a vehicle is posted on BF that is located in “Bee Spring”, KY. 99.99999% of the time it means it belongs to S & S Classic Cars.
Why is there only 3 pictures of driver’s side and rather bad pictures about 50 feet away from car and nothing of inside car
If you click on the “view full sized photos” there are many interior, engine and underside photos.
Nice V8 Ford to go cruisin 😎 down the road 🎸
Russ,
You say that it looks to have been treated to a restoration, but that is just an assumption. If you look at the supplied Marti report you will see that the car was originally red with a red interior and white top. So it has definitely been redone.