One of the challenges many enthusiasts face searching for a classic to park in their garage is finding one that fits their budget. It often involves compromise unless that person throws caution to the wind and applies for a mortgage on the family home. The seller indicates that although this 1968 Ford Torino GT Convertible isn’t perfect, the winning bidder shouldn’t need to go to such extremes to become its new owner. It is a solid classic with no urgent needs, providing immediate enjoyment and scope for future restoration. The Torino is listed here on eBay in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Bidding sits below the reserve at $4,850, with plenty of time for interested parties to stake their claim.
Ford introduced the Torino to a waiting public in 1968 as a premium subseries of its Fairlane range. Sales proved relatively strong, with 172,083 buyers giving a Torino a home during the first year. Our feature car is one of the rarer examples, with only 5,310 buyers selecting the GT Convertible. It presents well for a driver-grade vehicle in Wimbledon White with a matching top. The seller describes the body’s overall condition as good, noting a substandard repair in the lower passenger side front fender as the only significant flaw. Addressing this would be straightforward, and it seems that will be the only time when the new owner will break out the grinder and welder. The remaining panels are clean, with the floors, rails, and trunk pan rock solid. The top is in good order, operating correctly, and without signs of rips or other problems. The trim and glass are impressively clean, and the Cragar wheels add an aggressive finishing touch.
Lifting the hood reveals this Torino’s 302ci V8 that would have delivered 210hp when it rolled off the line. The original owner backed the V8 with a three-speed automatic transmission, adding power steering to lighten the driver’s load. The combination would have produced competent, but not startling, performance. However, that may have changed because the seller states the previous owner swapped out the original 2-barrel carburetor for a 4-barrel and an adaptor. They describe it as a “backyard job,” suggesting it might have shortcomings. If things are too bad, the new owner could purchase a better intake, or they might swap an original carburetor back onto the 302. There will be tinkering involved regardless because the throttle linkage requires adjustment or replacement to make the gas pedal work better. That is a minor inconvenience because the seller states the Torino runs and drives well.
I’ve talked in previous articles about how owning a classic convertible means interior inadequacies are difficult to hide. There aren’t many with this Torino, and the best news is that the “big ticket” item is in good order. Dash pads are renowned for cracking and splitting, and with reproduction replacements priced perilously close to $1,000, that single flaw can add a significant amount to any interior restoration. This car has avoided that fate, and I would invest $80 in a cover to protect it and minimize the risk of it happening if I owned this classic. The seats look presentable for a driver-grade classic, as does the dash. Some upholstered surfaces are wrinkled, but I think the new owner could stretch these into place. The front armrests are nearly due for replacement, and the carpet requires a deep clean to present at its best. None of these tasks require buckets of money, and all could be completed in a home workshop to produce a satisfying result.
I like this 1968 Torino GT Convertible, and I wouldn’t shed a tear if I found it parked in my garage. It isn’t perfect, but nor is it beset by major problems. Its shortcomings seem to be pretty insignificant and could be addressed as time and circumstances allow. It is the type of vehicle that could be ideal for an enthusiast considering a first classic purchase because the initial outlay is unlikely to be high. If you seek a classic but not a mortgage, this Torino is worth a close look.
Nice Torino!
On the 4 barrel issue: the cost for an legit 4v intake, the edelbrock performer aluminum intake is reasonable and works well across stock engine rpm range in my experience.
No pulling distributor like on the BB Ford. I installed these back in mid-80′ s on friends ’83 – 85 Mustang GTs 5.0 for little effort and time for noticeably improved throttle response.
This Torinos interior looks good, Needs a stock steering wheel!
These drive well and ideally this one will go to caring Home.
Good Luck!
For the most part, this looks like a nice Torino drop top. I had a ’69 Torino GT convertible with the same 302 but mine had the 3-on-the-tree manual. The 302 was more than adequate for top-down cruising and it was a smooth riding car. The GT convertibles are pretty rare, my GT was one of 2,552 made in 1969. I haven’t seen another since I sold mine. Of course, now I wish I had kept it, but hindsight is 20/20. At least I can say I had one.
That string wheel makes it go faster .😁🔧
Beautiful car. But then I’m prejudiced as my first car was a ’68 Fairlane. Still have the dash pad and grill and other parts sitting in my garage because I couldn’t bear to haul everything off to the junkyard 30 years ago.
Cheerful cruiser. 302 provides ample juice, and a great purr to motor about.
Nice Torino. I wonder what his reserve is? Probably close to $20k.
Great bang for the buck where it sits. Others can chime in, but I think the 302 2 bbl had lower compression than the 4 barrel. A good set of performance heads, intake, carb and cam would make this more than on par with a stock 351 windsor.
Not a convertible fan by nature, this is a good looking car tho. Gonna be the odd one, and like the steering wheel lol.
Nice car
Nice car with great looks. I know this sounds like a broken record, but if I had the money and space, I’d love to park it next to my Fairlane.
Nothing nicer than a Torino, although I prefer a fastback. I believe a convertible like this paced the Indy 500 that year. I like Cragars, but the original GT wheels look good on these too. Those old spoke steering wheels are ok, but they have their place, and this ain’t the place.
Have you figured out what a fastback is now?
Always did know
I was talking first gen camaros, they weren’t fastbacks. So go take your meds, and get on with life
Dang, all this hostility over a fastback debate. I certainly hope you never have to endeavor any worse turmoil than this, lord only knows what you might resort to lol
So now I got another picking on me, I’m starting to get a complex lol
You got some real issues buddy, go away now, your shenanigans are getting old
Stock steering wheels are $200. I would investigate the intake adapter as this engine may be using more gas than it is burning, very nice car all the 68-69 Fords were nice body designs. The LTD’s and Mercury’s were beasts back then and loved to drink.
liken the FB model much beddah but this vert fits for some, no matter. Nice straight lines (of early 60s – after the bulge-m0biles of 50s, B4 the ‘humps over the wheels” of the late 60s). All very nice, nicer w/the 429 SCJ, no?
428, no 429 in 68.
The Klingons have checked in !
1968 was the late 60s
The 302 came with the 2-barrel only in ’68. Then you could jump to the 390, 427 and the 428. Yes they did put the 427 in the Torino in ’68. hydraulic cam with 390 HP. This one is very nice, no matter what motor…..
I agree with the 427 in a 68 Torino, or a Galaxie, or a Mustang. I’ve had many arguments with guys who said it never happened, they say Mr Marti says it never happened, except for the Cougar GTE. But I don’t agree with that. I have a pair of NOS 427 engine badges, still new in the boxes, casting #C8OZ, which decodes to 68 Fairlane. 68 was the last year for the 427, but still an option, and yes, it was detuned to a mere 390hp.
Looking closely at the left hand door, is it loaded with bondo around the bottom edge, I do like the car but a bit sus on what it is like under the paint. When looking at the photo of the left side inside the trunk looks like it may be dented and perhaps the outside would be loaded as well
I like this……
Nice Torino. Put that original 302 drivetrain on moth balls and slip a roller version into it with a small turbo and go have some fun at the Friday night cruise-ins.
looks like a leaky brake on the left rear.
Sold. Price? 17,322.00 American Dollars. No 2nd mortgage needed. Looks like a nice weekend cruiser that someone will get to enjoy.
347 stroker perhaps?? GT 40 heads?? Old school build.