This “car port find” Torino GT has an interesting recent history. Sadly, the original rescuer of the car died before getting to the project and the current seller, his best friend, purchased the car. After completing some of the harder aspects of the restoration including replacing a damaged quarter panel, the friend is now selling the car on. The Ford is located in Crestwood, Kentucky, and is for sale here on eBay with a buy-it-now of $6,500 and bids being entertained below that figure. The car is impressively rust-free (after the quarter panel damage fix, which was physical) but given the large primer spot I think a repaint will be necessary.
Close examination of the pictures in the ad (and I wish there were some full-car pictures) shows that the interior is in pretty nice shape, although some re-stitching is needed of the seats, and there are numerous small dents in the trim, but the car as a whole looks pretty good. The seller lists some recent work done but calls the brakes soft and mentions a leaky transmission. I was surprised to see a GT non-fastback, but I don’t know a lot about this generation of Torinos. Anyone know the desirability of this hardtop versus the fastback models?
There were less hardtops built than fastbacks and although the fastbask may look sportier, the hardtop was actually a little lighter!
This was just like my first car. Mine had a factory 428 AT. Mine was rough, but I wanted mine to run good not look good.
Thanks, Jesse–I was pretty curious; I didn’t remember seeing any GT hardtops before.
This is often referred to as a “Formal Roof” vs. the Fastback style (a convertible was also available in GT trim). The 302 started off as the standard GT engine in ’68, but the revised version (12/67) of the brochure lists the 289 as standard, so there were apparently some supply issues for the 302 that year.
My second car was a ’69 Fairlane hard top like this; 302/C-4 column shift, power steering, AM radio, Wimbledon White with a black, vinyl top, dual sport mirrors and a blue cloth (sort of plaid design) and vinyl interior with a bench seat. It was a pretty nice little car to drive, and the 302 offered a decent amount of power.
I had a non fastback model like this in the early ’80’s….I t was in great cond. but had a non original 302. I bought it from a neighbor for only $40.00!!….He had parked in a parking lot and the starter went out on it it. He told he didn’t want to mess with it….so I payed him and went and put starter on it…..drove it several years and sold it for a $1,000!
I actually like these in plain hard top form rather than a fastback, sleeper look but a 390 or 428 would make that better. The 302 would be a decent gas cruiser. I’d offer 4K for it as is but no more.
I really like it. Clean. Could be a really nice car.
love it. almost done with the boat we are doing, wonder if I could do a project car and stay married…..wish it were closer but its on the wrong side of the country.
Had one around 1974, a ’68, kind of a seafoam green color, formal roof, 302/ AT/ AC, near mint. Wouldn’t mind having it now.