The seller of this 1969 Ford Cobra doesn’t really jump on the 428 Cobra moniker until some distance into the listing, instead referring to it as a Torino – how unusual! There’s not a lot of description but what is known is that this Ford has been in the same family since 1988 and it appears to be the authentic object. It has been sitting since 1994 and it’s not really a “barn find” per se, more of a, “It’s in the barn but I know all about it” kind of an arrangement. Regardless of its previous history, this is a great subject for review. It’s located in Rockford, Illinois and is available, here on eBay for a current bid of $10,000 with the reserve not yet met.
I remember when Ford’s Fairlane got the big redo for ’68 with both a two-door hardtop and a two-door fastback, known in Ford parlance as a “SportsRoof”. I liked them both and the ’68/’69 are my favorite version of Ford’s mid-size. The old saw “Win on Sunday, sell on Monday” was very much in force in the late ’60s and the SportsRoof edition of the Torino/Fairlane helped put Ford in NASCAR’s winner’s circle. Even die-hard Plymouth racer Richard Petty, after getting into a disagreement with Mopar, briefly made the SportRoof switch.
The story is that the seller’s father bought this Cobra in ’88 and parked it in ’94. At some point, he passed and the car has been sitting for twenty-nine years – and it looks it. It was originally finished in code “I” which is Lime Gold Metallic but it’s now wearing a dull shade of brown. The exterior is so covered in dust and dirt that it’s hard to get a thorough look at the body. I see signs of surface rust but nothing more invasive than that. That said, the owner adds, “As far as rust, it has it in the normal places and although I wouldn’t describe it as clean, it is certainly not the worst I have seen“. Originality abounds with this car as it is still in possession of its standard Cobra hood pins and at least one “428” fender badge though both of the Cobra emblems have gone missing. No hood scoop for this car as it is not a “Cobra-Jet Ram-Air” model.
Rated at 335 gross HP, the 428 CI Cobra engine is still under the hood though this one is a non-runner. The seller does mention that he was able to turn the engine by hand. Backing up the big FE engine is a C6, three-speed automatic transmission. From what can be seen, it looks complete.
The interior shows about how you would expect, it too is filthy. It is a bucket seat/center console arrangement but the black vinyl upholstery has problems. As to what’s sitting in the front footwells, I’m not sure – it looks like dirt dumped over top of floor mats unless that’s the steel floor pan that I’m spying. One bit of good news and that’s the dash pad – it looks intact and not split.
So only one bid of $10,000 has been submitted and that was five days ago. Assuming that this ’69 Ford Cobra is the genuine article, I’d expect more bidding action, wouldn’t you?
Money pit imo but does have some good attributes like a solid trunk and body looks decent.For Pete’s sake pressure wash the thing and do a spit shine on the interior.Get the darn thing running off a gas can at least and do a video.You want big $ so put a little effort into it and burn a little midnight oil or throw someone a few bucks to to so if you’re not able to and if you get what you want throw them a few more bones It’s a special car with the 428 that at least deserves a little tlc. Glwts.
Pressure washing? That would be a big mistake. If I buy this vehicle, I am going to clear coat over the dust. It’s only original once…
It’s not original. It has been repainted and the color has been changed. Says so in the article. Would be worth more to redo and restore to factory color.
The above comment was a (apparently, not easily understood) satirical remark…
I agree completely. I wouldn’t bid 5 grand on it in that condition.
I think you have the sports roof model and the fastback model confused.
OMG
some of you folks are just squalking gulls waiting for free food..
a 68/69 Torino fast back is plenty worth more than 5k, then factor its a 428 Cobra.
id said this before, if you cant afford 5k for a car like this, there are used Kias you can afford, some Kias are more than 5k, AND they have your precious manual transmission. Just put and American flag sticker and a Harley Davidson sticker and all your like minded onlookers wont question your integrity.
As for me,
WOW
amazing find !, solid and straight with a 428 and buckets
i bet it sells fast ;)
29 years of Patina Dust from a real barn is the selling feature
that lets everyone know that it’s an unmolested original that not
even the seller has molested.
Unmolested finds are great because we know that everything
is there and we’re not dealing with a bent frame or different
doors from another doner car slapped together to make a
complete car offered for sale.
Nobody has attempted to fire it up yet, but the engine is
said to be turning by hand and that’s a plus, too.
I like the display and the car.
Bob
Uhhhh how do you know you’re dealing with an unmiolested car ….just because it has decades of filth on it? Car was repainted how do you know the doors are original? Something bent or not …how could you tell by the pics because it’s dirty? Who knows who did what to it in it’s lifetime until you examine it in person.
I have superpowers when it comes to detection of
misaligned body panels. My superhuman ability allows
me to see through low carbon steel beyond the dirt & dust.
The interior hasn’t be touched and neither has the original
engine. The car was likely purchased as a project car and
then placed in the barn 29 years ago until the old guy that
bought it [RIP] decided to get a ’roundtoit’ which is the exact
tool one needs to complete a project.
No dust or dirt was removed to best indicate to buyers that
nobody has even touched the car in 29 years since it was
parked.
Being superhuman with superhuman abilities is not for
everyone.
Bob
Looks like a brake and under hood restore for 3 K would start the process, another 2 K for interior and 4 K for engine work then body and paint 6 K, good investment
Then name the car KRYPTONITE, LOL
Believe the owner is seeking ready to role retail price for a major project car! Time, money and effort for buyer. Isn’t worth any more than 9 grand.
NONE of these cars that need a complete nut and bolt restoration is worth more than 3k to 5k. Yeah it’s nice to say “I have a ….. ” But in the end it’s a MINIMUM 50k to restore a car. And that’s if you can do 80% of the work yourself. So anyone starting 10k or more in the hole is a fool. The market has been out of control and people need a reality check.
Well said! The only off-frame I ever did was back in 96 on a relatively simple vehicle. Still took me 2 years and $30k, paint alone was over $5k! The hobby has lost sight of reality…
thats may be so, IF your into it for money/profit
if for the love of the car, a father / son project , a dream machine
It wouldnt take much to get it going, and for some lower middle class folks its a tangable dream come true !!
a sweeet find
for many of us im sure
that lower rear quarter pic is an eyebrow raiser,
it possibly being originally another color
but still, i bet i could get that road ready for around 3k
with all new quality tires
and get to cruize a legend
another to consider, these look different in person than in pictures
In person theyre almost stunning
and when running, just an all out American muscle/race car
with buckets and console , nearly better than the Talladega
or ya, ‘ its not new, its not clean, its not tuned, its not a 4 spd, its not ‘ .. .
it IS my fellow BFers, a BARN FIND .
I had one of these many years back, mine had Ram Air and a 4 speed. It was the fastest car I ever owned, even faster than the SS396 Chevelle and the 427 Corvette I also had. Did a lot of early style street racing with it and only got beat once. The other guy had a 340, 4 speed Duster with a line lock. He jumped me about 3 three car lengths out of the hole, I sat and smoked the G-70s. I caught his rear bumper at the end of the quarter, but he still crossed the line before me.
Great post. I had a 428 Mustang, 1968. Those F70 14 bias tires were no help off the line! A Vega could get me
Oh yes, those tires… Got called into the office at work at my summer job because the boss said I was “hot rodding into the parking lot and squealing my tires the entire way” in my (lime gold) ’68 Fairlane – So I asked him to go around the block, and he then heard the (original 13 year old) tires squeal again as I went to the parking lot at 15 mph. Lol!
I will always have a soft spot for this era Fairlane/Torino, but he definitely seems to be asking all the money.
.. well, the cars already got over 10,500 bid, so, i guess someone didnt ask the god of car values before they foolishly commited to over 9
buuut im probably ‘missing your point’
I never could figure out the trend of folks parking their classics in a barn, or even out under that shady tree, for 30 years, and leaving the window(s) down. You couldn’t take 30 seconds and wind her up? Back before you were 90 years old, and couldn’t?
then WHY the heck are you trolling a sight called Barn Finds ?!?
your either a buyer, an enthusiast or a troll
I only see one troll on this thread and not a very bright one either. Missed the point on every single comment you’ve replied to lmfao good job champ
Here’s the guy who leaves the windows down. Thanks for checking in.
I can imagine a lot of fun cruising in that over the years!
One of my favorite cars, but this one ain’t worth 10 grand.
If it’s a 69….how was it purchased in 88?
Are you really serious with that question?
JO
Time travel.
I’m with J.O.; best Torino. My preference would be for the convertible. This car looks like a huge project though. I suppose it’s potential value could justify some extravagance in restoration, but I hope it doesn’t beckon to the ratrod crowd.
You’d never stop that rust from creeping back after a total restoration. This is a great parts car, assuming the engine and transmission are ok. It’s been beat up for sure.
“…seller of this 1969 Ford Cobra doesn’t really jump on the 428 Cobra moniker until some distance into the listing, instead referring to it as a Torino – how unusua l …”
cobra? never heard these cars called that.
5 bodies (notch, FB, sedan, coup, wagon); 4, 5 motors; 3, 4 transmis…
This Torino hasa cobra motor (not cobra jet or super cobra jet).
I hope alota folks geta chance to stand beside the rear tire on these cars. The FB seems so darn long now (not in the day) as we’re used to the modern version. Seein one up close recently I was amazed & began schemin how to reinforce above the rear glass’n around sides/floor to have the current-style hatch modded in. No rear seat, plenty carry space there (my bet, 116 inch WB). Standard for a larger ford back then (not ‘largest’ probably add 10 for that). But that’s lincoln v fairlane (what this is, not cobra) and Torino model named.
Note the attached, it’s referred to, by Ford, as a Cobra, not a Torino.
That Cobra logo is one of the greatest of all time.
Gotta tell ya something…during my years of buying and loving my older vehicles the price expectations really makes me shake my head. Sorry I’m NOT buying a house with unexpected costs…Reality has to prevail..??
I agree Albert.. The demand for these cars is slowly softening, so when it stops, many owners will be stuck with high priced collectables that they cannot get their money back on.. I’m not seeing many of the younger generation interested in them as much as we are.. I also believe the big auction houses are driving prices up beyond true market value..
Well, I was this many days old when I learned that Ford Torino’s were marketed and sold as a ‘Ford Cobra’. I always thought that they were Torino’s with the Cobra package (engine, handling, etc)…
I guess you learn something new every day.
Look closely at the door jam area on driver’s side in photo where the latch is on the rear quarter panel. It’s all smashed in. This thing was in a very bad accident long time ago. And not properly fixed. I wonder if the door even stays latched\closed because that is serious damage in a very hard to fix area.
These giant Ford’s don’t bring big money. They were underpowered for their size.
Q code vin it’s a 428 car. Maybe a swapped 390. The money is in the Q code. You evidently never drove a properly sorted 428 in one these cars. I have they are by no means underpowered.
This very well could be a 390 car,it does have the chrome valve covers,which are typically 390 4v,and the lack of cobra badging.
i knew a Gary that owned a big ‘T’
its maroon and headers ..
ya, the no so giant Fords were under rated actually
and further
all these years of a debate or basis of power and value on a simple factor:
many of us are spectators and hipsters,,
while some of us are builders and customizers
so
the power is relative
in this instance, fellow Barn Find-ers
the car in question is one of the fastest cars in history;
no, not a Tesla or McLaren but in its time, and even today, plenty powerful.
if i get to build my 428, im thinking roller, dura spark, and injection. Low buck but big power..
after all
there no replacement for displacement ;)