Automobile marketing strategies in the 1960s and 1970s were all about linking the image of a car to your image of yourself. Muscle cars were youthful, powerful, vibrant. As competition intensified, marketing contortions reached ridiculous proportions at times. Engine and interior options proliferated, blurring the lines between models. Badge engineering allowed a cheap car to borrow attributes of its expensive sibling. And while small imports were grabbing fistfuls of market share, American carmakers kept making longer, heavier vehicles, hoping to resonate with masculine buyers. Into this environment, Ford introduced the Torino, designed on the Fairlane chassis. Its first model year – 1968 – was met with modest sales success, but overall, Ford’s intermediate car division began to fade as the years passed. To muster excitement, Ford produced a “spring special” version of the Torino in 1971, the Halo. Run for only three months from March through May, the car’s basic distinguishing feature was a partial vinyl top. Just three colors were produced. Here on eBay is one of these 32,900 cars, a 1971 Ford Torino Halo in light metallic pewter with its original “black with red accent” interior. The asking price is $19,999 and this car is located in Tacoma, Washington.
Fourteen submodels of Torino were available in 1971; the Halo trim was applied to the Torino 500, the midrange model. Available engines ran from the 250 cu. in. six-cylinder on up to the monstrous 429 V8. This car is equipped with the Windsor 302 cu. in. V8. With its two-barrel carburetor, the car made about 210 bhp. Though two different manual transmissions were offered on Torinos in 1971, this one has a three-speed automatic. The car runs well even after extended storage and has a claimed 49,000 original miles. The seller mentions that the brakes are very soft.
The interior is in good shape considering the car’s age. The seller notes cracking in the dash. A photo of the brake pedal shows minimal wear and the rubber mats look serviceable. The accent stripe was different for each color combination: the brown metallic cars had a ginger interior with yellow accent and the Peppermint metallic cars came with a green interior and lime accent. We’re not told whether all the gauges and switches work, but at least the headliner is in good shape!
The Torino’s grille saw several changes over the years. In 1971 the grille received a divider in the center with badging. This car comes with original documents including the original bill of sale and owner’s manual. High production numbers for Torinos hamper the value of the mid-range cars. Convertibles and Cobra Jets command high prices, but the Halo with a 302 doesn’t command much respect. Here’s one outfitted with a 351 Cleveland that made it to $12,500 but didn’t sell, and a project car that managed to sell at $8400. What would you pay for this one?
Good job on the research Michelle. I had the same 302-2V in a 1972 Mercury Comet (Maverick). This thing weighs about 1000 lbs more. Keep the engine and add some basic modifications and that thing could scream ! As for early ’70s competition from Japan. Imagine if they took Datsun seriously ? The 240 Z should have been the direction of the Mustang.
Decent looking car, primer all over, especially the passenger side and that can hide all sorts of nasty. Close look with a fridge magnet might be the best path, but again looks like might be a nice builder.
I think it’s got a lot of virtues – I hope it finds a good home even if the price has to come down a little. I agree about inspection for rust – the tinworm can take the fun out of the whole experience.
Learned something new today with the Halo. Nice car. I had a ’71 Torino 4door, seafoam green with dark vinyl top. Perfect condition, but boy did it like to drink the gasoline. Wished I still had it.
That is a very tidy looking engine and bay – nice interior as well. Nice because someone took care of it over the last half century.
Needs to be priced lower I feel but this looks solid.
Hope this goes to a good home!
I had a 71 with a six in it. It was a fine car until it rusted and literally broke in half.
Looks like a bargin to me after being sticker shocked by others!
I like the back half of the Cobra Torino much more than I do the standard model. My parents had a 1970 Torino with the 302. I couldn’t wait to get my driver’s license and drive it. In what has become the way my typical luck goes, they sold it 6 months before I turned 16! 😡 In it’s place they purchased one of the largest cars I had ever seen, a 1975 Buick Lesabre….all 4400 pounds of it.
70 71, the best looking Torino of the entire run. I had a convertible version I bought but when I got it home and started poking I realized it was a goo box underneath. It had a 460 in it that had been swapped from a 429. With ac and power brakes, the engine bay was tight. The car had a really nice interior, white and black with lots of upgrades, I.E. power windows, tilt and so on. Sadly years back cars like that drew little to no attention and when I relocated rather than take the car I junked it at the local shredder. Nice copies of these rarely appear. Not sure of the pricing but everything this Era is insane right now but atleast it is complete and intact.
I had a 71 Torino with a 351 Cleveland it was a piece of junk
This has potential I had a 70 gt convertible dark green black interior and top 351 Cleveland mine had hideaway headlights, was fun but the cowl rotted so when it rained it just poured right in the car. Looking at the pics of this one you can see bubbling under the vinyl top that can be a big project to fix as well as all that primer on the quarter panels wondering what you will find under there. With a buy it now of $19995.00 I think that’s way too high. If it were completely rust free maybe but this one is hiding a lot of needed rust repair.
The $8400 Torino mentioned above is MUCH nicer than the this example.
Had a 1970 Sudan that had a 351 Cleveland. They came with 300 six or 302 in them that year. But the the owner placed a order from the local dealer for a 351. It was a true sleeper. I raced everything and only lost one time to a Corvette. Thing was a beast of a car.
Having frequented that part of the country alot in my younger days,cars from this area are generally pretty solid,unless they lived by the ocean
The primer spots do not help and a little pricey,beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I like the car,but once owned one
Favorite body for Torino. While the “halo” might be rare, I personally don’t like vinyl roofs now or back then – and yes I’m old enough to have lived through that era.
This would make a nice driver with some clean up. Body would need to be inspected closely. Barn finds are great if they were not on a dirt floor, full of mice, etc.
Price is a bit rich IMO. And, the 300 six was never offered in these. The 240 was in mid sixties Galaxies (Custom trim usually) but I would think it would be too large for this engine bay. The 250 six would have been standard as mentioned in the description.
I like it for the most part and watch these yr Torinos.