The owner of this 1971 Ford Torino GT appears to have inherited the vehicle from his father. It had been sitting idle in a garage for around 6-years, but it has now been revived. It is a classic that appears to be ready to be driven and enjoyed, although its new owner might choose to treat it to a cosmetic refresh. Barn Finder Jay L spotted the Torino for us, so I have to say thank you for that, Jay. It is located in Woodbridge, Virginia, and has been listed for sale here on Craigslist. The sale price for the classic Ford is $19,900.
The Torino is finished in Candy Apple Red, and it does have a few cosmetic issues. The most obvious is this spot on the rear quarter panel. At first glance, this looks like the paint is peeling away from some form of repair work. However, it is also possible that this is nothing more than an issue with the original paint, as paint peeling was a common problem with Torinos from this era. The owner makes no mention of prior problems, so I suspect this could be due to the latter scenario. The rest of the vehicle looks pretty straight, with no apparent dings or dents. What this GT does lack are rust problems. There is apparently a small spot in the floor on the driver’s side, but this is so minor that it isn’t visible in the photos of the car’s underside. The rest of the vehicle looks impressively clean, meaning that the buyer will not be spending a bundle on steel replacement. The tinted glass appears to be free from significant issues, while the chrome is very presentable for a driver-quality car.
After sitting unused for 6-years, there was a bit of work required to coax the Torino back to life. The fuel system was flushed, as were the rest of the vehicle’s fluids. It received new oil and filters, along with new plugs and wires. It isn’t clear whether the GT is now roadworthy, but it does run and drive. It isn’t a car that would be found wanting when the right foot is buried. What resides under the hood is a 351ci Cleveland V8, while the buyer will also receive a 3-speed automatic transmission, power steering, and power brakes. This package should be enough to propel the Torino through the ¼ mile in 15.9 seconds. Keep the right foot welded to the floor, and it should be able to work its way to 129mph. As well as running and driving, there is some further good news to consider with this car. It is said to be a numbers-matching vehicle, which is an important consideration when we reach the point of discussing values.
For me, one of the highlights of this Torino is the state of the interior. The trim is claimed to be original, and if this is true, it has survived remarkably well. It isn’t perfect, but the cloth on the seats is way above average for what is a 50-year-old car. There is some slight stretching and a mark on the driver’s seat, but that’s about the only flaw you will find. The rest of the upholstery and trim look great, while the dash is unmolested. The pad is free from cracks, the carpet is in excellent condition, while the console and wheel are flawless. There have been no aftermarket additions, which would have to rate as a rarity in a car from this era.
The 1971 Torino GT is a bit of a sleeper in the classic car market. Values haven’t soared into the stratosphere like some other vehicles from this time, so they remain very affordable. Survival rates for the Torino have not been good, because apart from the paint issues, they were extremely prone to rust problems. The fact that this one has survived as well as it has would suggest that it is a real beauty. It might not have quite the cachet of a Mustang, but it does offer the versatility of more interior and luggage space than a classic pony car. If you have growing teenagers that need to fit into your next classic purchase, this could be an alternative well worth considering.
20 grand? I don’t think so.
20K? A little pricey – its not like it’s a rusted/stripped ’69 Charger.
Hahahaha
Good lines on these, inside is nice in black although not the most exciting dash. MSD ignition, aluminium intake, different carb, not seeing much in the way of belt driven accessories, yeah it’ll go alright. I don’t really know if these will ever catch on with collectors like other similar cars from back then. If not, buy and drive.
Its that taxicab dashboard that gets me every time.. Such a nice looking car and they totally drop the ball on the instrument cluster .What was Ford thinking ?
Non OEM Front bumper overriders. Mismatched rim/tire. Non OEM Engine harness. Paint issues on rear valiance and quarter which I don’t think is original. Fan shroud oem?. Newish “muffler system” without Tail pipes?
Asking 19,9 for 351 fastback isn’t too far fetched however. He’d probably let it got for 16k. Looks like its got power steering.
I’m not a Torino or Ford fan, but I maintain my daughters ’71 Torino. Biggest surprise to me was how much horsepower/torque was left on the table while Ford detuned the timing and fuel in order to reduce emissions. I set her stock 302v2 up with 1969 timing, removed vacuum retard and I jetted 5 sizes higher and still trying bigger jets. Such a huge improvement across the board. The engine idle is lower, off idle response improved and temperature is dropped significantly. These Torino’s are good entry into the hobby.
Isn’t this car supposed to have GT emblems on behind the doors on the quarters?
The 70 Torinos had the gt with small gills behind the doors on the quarter panels, in 71 they moved down to the front of rocker panels.
Worth about half the asking price best I could do!
Always like the lines on these. My cousin had one that had been set up for racing; 429 balanced and blue printed with matching tranny, suspension.
Paint and tune-up what’s not to like,I’ve seen them rotting from the cowl area to the back wheels. I like these Fords!
These are nice cars. A good Ford design.
Way overpriced!!!
20gs and it’s not a burnt crushed Camaro?
It did have factory A/C. It may have started off life as an H code 351 2V car. No way to know without knowing the VIN.
Hmmm. $20k for this Torino or the Pulse Autocycle. What a tough decision.
Well it runs and moves. Beats the rusted beat up GM and Chrysler products of that erra and all around beats their price range. My friend had 3 of these,but all of his had 4 speed ,shaker hoods and big block. One was green one was red and one was yellow. I think he sold all three and drives a little car now. They were great cars.
This Torino could have been used for weekend quarter-mile good times,paint from behind the rear wheels didn’t hold up to hot tire hole shots,fan shroud was fabricated. The front bumper guards might be original on GT? I have a brother still in possession of a nice ‘70 Cobra 429 “shaker-hood” car.
Can you substantiate this claim? Thanks
“paint peeling was a common problem with Torinos from this era.”
Can you substantiate this claim, Adam? Thanks