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No Reserve Cobra Jet! 1970 Ford Torino GT

The Marti Report on this 1970 Ford Torino GT tells part of the car’s story because it reveals a vehicle that was ordered with a view to creating something that was both eye-catching and potent. However, a piece of paper can only tell you so much because you need to lay your eyes on a classic like this to gain the full impact of what Ford created. Not only do you have the chance to do that, but there’s also the opportunity to park the GT in your garage. Located in Alberta, Canada, you will find the Torino listed for sale here on eBay. Bidding has reached $47,540 in what is a No Reserve auction. The seller notes that while the GT is currently located in Canada, they do ship cars across the border weekly.

The Torino is finished in stunning Grabber Blue, and the Marti Report indicates that it is 1-of-39 to wear this combination of paint and interior trim. The car presents superbly, with a shine that catches your eye. The panels appear to be as straight as an arrow, and there isn’t a spot of rust to be seen anywhere. The seller makes no mention of any rust on the Torino’s underside, and the lack of even the smallest amount of surface corrosion on any of the car’s components gives us cause to be optimistic on that front. The trim and chrome present as nicely as every other aspect of the GT, and the hideaway headlamps are a classy touch that makes the Ford stand out in a crowd. The glass is spotlessly clean, with no evidence of cracks or scratches. The vehicle rolls on a set of 15″ Magnum 500 wheels, and these are free from any faults or problems. One dealer option that is included with the Ford is a set of louvers. These have never been installed and are in as-new condition.

For buyers in 1970, the Torino GT offered an interesting alternative to the Mustang. Its performance didn’t lag markedly behind the pony car, but it provided slightly more space and luxury. Of course, it could also be made to go hard if the buyer wanted, and this GT is a perfect example of that philosophy. Under the hood, we find a numbers-matching 429 Cobra Jet Ram-Air V8 that was claimed to produce a conservative 370hp. In this case, all of that power finds its way to the rear wheels via a 4-speed close-ratio manual transmission. Power steering and power front disc brakes mean that the driver isn’t going to raise a sweat behind the wheel. Performance figures are all that you might expect from this car, with the trip down the ¼ mile taking a mere 14.7 seconds. Point it at a straight piece of road, and it will eventually run out of breath at 134mph. Surprisingly, the seller doesn’t indicate how well the Torino runs or drives, but with the engine bay’s presentation being so impressive, you would have to think that the news would be positive on that front.

White upholstery in older cars can be such a pain. As time passes, it becomes prone to stains and yellowing, and it isn’t unusual to see classics of this age with significant issues on that front. That isn’t a problem with the GT because the White vinyl on the seats and door trims looks clean and crisp, with no evidence of any wear or damage. It also provides a striking contrast to the predominantly Black interior and prevents it from feeling oppressive. The dash looks to be in excellent condition, as does the carpet and the headliner. The distinctive and original Hurst shifter sticks out of the floor, while the gauge cluster features the cool ribbon tachometer. There have been one or two changes made to the interior. The addition of some aftermarket gauges mounted under the dash is probably a smart move because it allows the driver to monitor the health of that incredible V8 accurately. We don’t get a clear look at it, but it appears as though an aftermarket stereo has been slotted into the dash in place of the original AM radio. I can’t tell whether the dash has been cut to accommodate this, but you’d have to hope not. If I were to buy the Torino, I would probably source a genuine radio to refit and would ditch the stereo.

This 1970 Torino GT is a stunning car, and with its mechanical configuration, it has the power to burn. The fact that it is being offered for sale with No Reserve makes it a tempting proposition. There is another factor to consider here, and it’s an important one. Some classic cars took a significant value hit during 2020, and the Torino GT was one of them. We’re talking about a drop of more than 20% across the board, regardless of condition. There are some indications that this trend is beginning to reverse, which means that they are heading back in the right direction. As always, I would suggest that potential buyers investigate the market thoroughly themselves to verify this. If what I have seen is accurate, now might be a great time to think about parking a Torino GT in your garage. If you do go down that path, this one would have to be a strong candidate.

Comments

  1. Avatar Moparman Member

    This is a really nice car, but I could never warm up to the changes from the ’69 (my favorite) to this one. Someone is going to get a real beauty in thhisone!! GLWTA!! :-)

    Like 13
  2. bobhess bobhess Member

    If you like the color of this car you will understand why we have ’69 Grabber Blue on our race car. We love it! Great looking car.

    Like 11
  3. Avatar KKW

    Seems like every GT I saw back in the day had lazer stripes, but maybe they were optional

    Like 6
    • Avatar Dirk

      Laser stripes were optional. We had a ’70 GT in the family back in ’70 and it was a non-stripe car as well.

      Like 0
  4. Avatar AwHeck

    I am partial to ’70 Torino’s. This one is beautiful. But I have to be faithful to mine that I have had for 27 years. Granted, she only has a 351 Cleveland and 67,000 miles, but she’s been a great date.

    Like 36
    • Avatar JoeNYWF64

      Never seen a torino with those “wheels”(red car above).
      Are those the Ford wheel covers with the phony lug nuts?
      Have you experienced the “white” letters on these
      you-know-what-brand tires wanting to turn brownish to no avail? Lot of people complain about that.
      Looks like it above, but maybe could be just the lighting.

      Like 1
      • Avatar AwHeck

        Joe – Yes, those are Ford’s “Sporty Wheel Covers”, a $32 option. And yes, those are BF G’s. I can get them presentable with a lot of effort.

        Like 4
  5. Avatar Vance

    The one thing that really makes this car is the hidden headlights, without them the car loses its sleekness and looks more like a big Maverick. I am a big fan of the pre-70’s Torinos but this one is special. Great colors and motor, good looking car.

    Like 4
  6. Avatar Charles Sawka

    Hold my beer.

    Like 3
  7. Avatar gbvette62

    I’ve always been a GM guy, owning mostly Chevy’s and Pontiac’s (though my daily driver now is a Sierra Denali). If I had a list of favorite non GM cars, the 70 Torino would be near the top. As a car crazy teenager in 1970, I fell in love with the look and shape of the 70 Torino. This one looks like a super nice car, with a killer powertrain, the perfect wheels and great color combination.

    Like 12
  8. Avatar Skorzeny

    I would rather have this than a ‘70 Mustang. Gorgeous. Especially with that blue.

    Like 5
  9. Avatar Lance G Nord

    I’m a huge fan of the 68-69 Torinos and Mercury Cyclones, but this is a beautiful car.

    Like 2
  10. Avatar Bigbird

    Great looking car, and fast. The only rub on these body styles is you can not see out the back, but who cares you will be moving forward most of time. Nice…….

    Like 2
  11. Avatar don harris

    i special ordered a 1971 torino. it was a blue-grey color. i ordered the 429 4-speed with bench seats(since i was in my dating stage). it had no markings of a gt except the black hood, with no scoop.i also had air conditioning. i raced it one time. i ran against a 375 horse chevyII. wasnt even a race. beat him back 10 carlinks. i also got on the turnpike one time and let it loose. at about 130, since it was way past the 120, the front end started to lift off the ground. i wasnt ready to fly with it and lifted. it was still revving for more. the only problem i had with the car was the hood latches. they were new and were two round circular latches that would become loose and spin when you tried to latch them down. a nut on the inside would become loose. one of the best cars ever had. it got about 19mpg on the road. i now own a 2016 mustang gt convertible, gray in color. i would trade the mustang for the torino. wish i could find that car but i have been told that with the special order modifications, it would be priceless today, because probably no other person wanted bench seats and a no gt markings

    Like 5
  12. Avatar gaspumpchas

    Stunning in the pics, but hate to sound like a wet blanket- Its from Canada—look the underside over good, Eh. But it goes without saying that anyone serious about plunking down the coin would look it over Would love to rip thru the gears one time. Stay safe and good luck!
    Cheers
    GPC

    Like 3
    • Avatar Jack M.

      I’m pretty sure that this is being sold by Legendary Motorcars out of Milton, Ontario. They don’t deal with junk. They did the restoration on Carol Shelby‘a Cobra that was on the site last week.

      Like 4
      • Avatar Gus Fring

        Exactly, Jack…I’m sure it’s a REAL rust bucket, lol!!! Geez.

        Like 1
  13. Avatar Bigbird

    Here is one that was sold, but gives you and idea of the power of a stock 429 Cobra 4-speed. He really goes thru the gears.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uhct8rM8EAw

    Like 3
  14. Avatar Jcs

    Great looking Torino. Not many of thee around Atlanta at the time, I always liked them. Just wondering, those tailpipes just don’t look right to me, did they look like that stock? If not, as nice as this car is I’d want to fix that.

    Like 1
    • Avatar Bigbird

      The pipes look correct for the Cobra models, I had a ’69 same pipes out the back. Not sure with the GT, but Ford could have installed when you get the 429. Good question……

      Like 1
    • Avatar Gus Fring

      Yes, they are 100% correct. Funny, too, because they were made in Atlanta and tons of them were sold down south so the facct that you didn’t see many is odd to me. There were more down that way than anywhere else in the country.

      Like 1
      • Avatar Jcs

        Surprises me as well. Not sure why, oddly enough the first car that I ever wrecked was our preacher’s (I know, right?) Torino with the sport roof, he was afraid of our driveway so parked up on the street. I was 7 years old and already a car freak, got inside and knocked it out of park and rolled down the hill – right through the White’s mailbox and into their tree.

        Seems I would have noticed them on the roads cause I was so into cars my whole life, but I never did see many. Strange indeed.

        Like 3
  15. Avatar Keith

    Yes great looking car and I would not have one without the hideaway lights and the 429 engine. I had a friend that had the 1970 Falcon 429SCJ and with the 4:30 gear and a 4-sp it was a scary fast car. I am sure it was a 1 of 1 car built by Ford.

    Like 2
    • Avatar Gus Fring

      They built a few of the 70 1/2 Falcon Drag Pack cars.

      Like 2
    • Avatar KKW

      Actually they were marketed as 701/2 Falcons, Ford decided to revive the name one last time for half a model year, in the form of a stripped down Torin. Your friend had a rare bird indeed, I’ve only seen one in my life so equipped, and that was in a magazine.

      Like 1
      • Avatar JoeNYWF64

        I seen just 1 ’68 caprice coupe with hidden headlites in my life, even tho Chevy made 2!! tv commercials with the car so equipped!! & i NEVER seen a ’69 camaro!! RS with a 230 or 250 6 cyl in real life OR a magazine, which would have been ez as pie to order!
        I seen more ’60s shelby stangs than all of the above put together.

        Like 0
      • Avatar Bigbird

        Off the subject but the Impala SS (62-64) could be had with the 230 CI 6 cylinder, this included converibles. I have seen 2 at car shows, both had the 3-speed manual…..very odd.

        Like 0
    • Avatar Glen Riddle

      I believe they made 135 drag pack(429 SCJ) 1970 1/2 Falcons, 85 of which had the 4.30 No-Spin Detroit Locker. I don’t have the 4-speed vs. auto. trans. numbers.

      Like 0
  16. Avatar Mike

    GT is and always will be, a way better looking car than the Cobra. The hid-aways and the rear tail light panel. And the smart guys back in the day, ordered the Cobra up grade, for the drive train….GREAT CAR!!!

    Like 0
  17. Avatar Doug

    You speak of 69 Camaros with a 250ci. I owned a convertible one paired with a power glide. Just a base model. I was 16yo and it needed a rebuild so dropped a 327 in it pushing around 300hp. That was 1985. Traded it in 86 for a 76 Vette and regretted it the next day.
    Later read they made very few 6cyl convertibles that year. I should of kept her stock maybe.

    Like 0
  18. Avatar Troy s

    A rare car for me to see, at any stage of my life. The big bore/short stroke 429 with it’s high 11.3 to 1 compression will turn it on no doubt. Beautiful ride! Big too.

    Like 1
  19. Avatar zipy

    Little story from 1970. I had a 68 Camaro 327 4 speed and was racing a yellow 429 CJ Torino. I had him thru 1st gear by half fender hit 2nd and both motor mounts broke distributor cap hit firewall and shattered and end of race luckily service station was near by and coasted in and replaced cap and on my way and fixed mounts later. fyi had not got recall on motor mounts for the cable wrap lol

    Like 0
    • Avatar KKW

      You might have made a presence in 1st, but by the time 4th gear came along, you would have been but a memory, with or without motor mounts. Btw, real motors have the distributor up front, no chance of hitting the firewall lol

      Like 1
  20. Avatar james hardin

    I Had this same Car and here is a Tip,..The Oil Pressure Sender sits on the Back of the Block at the Top Above the Bell housing,..It Can spring a Leak and Oil will Run into the Bell Housing
    and Wreck the Clutch,..(Mine did this)

    Like 0

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