Tales of “that old 427 Torino” sitting behind a house with weeds growing up through the hood can become the stuff of legends. The story of this 1968 Ford Torino, however, appears to be less “Holy Grail” and more “Holy Cow!” or “Holy <something-else>.” Thanks to reader Ian C. who spotted this forlorn Ford comically listed under “1968 1968 dodge charger rt” here on Charlottesville, Virginia craigslist. With a great deal of luck, the asking price of “$00000” may let someone mechanically resuscitate this Torino for slightly less than the cost of a running, driving specimen, not counting labor of course.
The two-barrel carburetor indicates the base 289 or 302 V8, replete with air conditioning, though the system may need more than a R134a conversion kit before it blows ice cold again. A $10 blue tarp may have offered some protection from the elements at one time. That metal bracket on top is the fan shroud.
Photo tip: like magic, a backwards step or two will bring the entire subject of your photograph into the picture. Furthermore most cell phones let you rotate the device 90 degrees to offer a more car-shaped landscape image. The twisted wheels suggest a frozen steering box or perhaps missing keys to go along with the missing title. Nearly every panel shows signs of parking abuse.
Intimidating 427 badges look great in the high school parking lot, but true gear-heads know that no 1968 Torino left the factory with a 427. Thanks to hemmings.com for some details. With zero evidence suggesting this Torino is a GT or other special model, the new owner could rebuild the existing motor or choose an engine of his or her liking. Simply wanting this car will mark the buyer as an incurable optimist, something the world needs these days! If you were lucky enough to find this muscle car while brush-hogging the back 40, what would you ask for it?
Once had a 69 Torino GT Fastback with a 302 automatic. Definitely looked a lot better than this one.
Lots of Jim Beam…
Trade for Chevy?
No price, no title, what could go wrong.
It’s always a good sign when a majority of the pictures in an ad make the car look like it’s ready for a trip to the wrecking yard. This lazy seller deserves all of the lowball offers coming his way.
Steve R
Seeing the damaged metal, missing hood, missing title, rust, possible locked up engine along with everything else that goes along with an improperly stored vehicle I have my doubts BUT, with that new transmission seal thrown in the deal…. Well, I may have to rethink this car’s value.
$5?
junk!
Junk II
Missing keys wouldn’t matter on this as far as the turned wheel.
Herbee, if you dislike real cars so much, why are you posting here?
Parts car here,still I wonder why people leave classic American iron sit to rot in half,starting at the firewall and cowl,they just don’t last out in the open fields! The “427”badge on the fenders would bring a few dollars though.Sure do love these Torino’s !
I could be wrong, but i think he is trying to say tranny “Still” in car. Yay! A locked up engine AND Transmission! Cha-Ching!
Get (this car) off my lawn!!
Looks like a small block 302 to me. However, the toploader is worth about $600, the bellhousing, pedals and Z bar another $300, the 9 inch Rear about another $300 and lost of other sellable parts. I’m in for $800.
Just talked to guy. Your in luck asking 800 for it but talk down to 600 and its yours. I live too far away.. Good luck.
If it was local to me I’d give $600 for that all day long and be glad to get it and I’d take a dozen more just like it.
bring me….a shrubbery!
Well it does have the rare “Tranny Steal” in car. Which has to boost the price! Right?
Pat, Vanna, give me a j?, a u? K?.. I would like to solve…..BAT!
Does that have a tree oh two, and three on the tree? Lol
possibly Mexican ?
1000 dollars is my bid 🙃
Rusted and title missing and it’s junk ,
Who knows if a rod thrown parked this beast..,
I agree that this is most likely not a 427. But are we sure no 68 Torino’s left the factory with a 427 in them. There is a sales brochure on Ebay right now that shows it as an option for the Torino.
Hi John G. – I found a rather definitive comment in researching the article that said the 427 existed in literature (as you have found) but only on paper, and anyone suggestion otherwise made the incorrect assumption that if it was in the marketing brochures that they must have made at least one, but Ford’s production records show that they did not.
The ONLY Ford/Lincoln/Mercury car to receive a 427 engine in 1968 was the W code Cougar GTE’s available in only automatic. A well documented fact.
Looks like it was dragged over the side of the roll off bed. Wouldn’t have helped the underside at all.
Is he going to leave us in suspense over what digit he’ll put in front of that $00000 like we’re on a bad reality TV show?
We would see these cars 40 years ago with the undercarriage completely rotted away. Trying to restore one like this is definitely a fools errand.
That’s sure not a 427 in it. That’s either a 302 or 351W with 2bbl carb. I just don’t see much value here. Love the Torino spot roof though.
But, but, but…………..it clearly has the code A42 “environmentally compatible underhood area insulation package”. That HAS to be worth a bunch!
I just wonder, being a fifty year old car an all, if that two barrel small Ford has always been in this car. Could have had almost anything swapped in there at one time or another, just because the factory didn’t really build a 427 Torino doesn’t mean some gear head didn’t.
Maybe that gas sipper was installed at a later date due to several gas crisis, too many moving violations, expensive engine repairs? Who knows, with so little to go on no one will ever know.
These Torino’s never get any respect except from true hard core Ford guys, never have. This one is no exception judging by how it was taken care of.
Even if a 427 was installed for a period of time by a previous owner, does it really matter? There’s not one in there now and didn’t leave the factory with one. The car stands or falls on its own merits, as it currently sits.
Steve R
This car is about an hour from me. I called and talked to the seller. Typical ‘flipper’ and doesn’t know anything about the car and just brought it back to his shop.
He sent me a picture of the door tag. It is an original 302-2V car. The picture he sent me of the tag didn’t show the codes for the axle and transmission so I don’t know if it was a factory 4 speed or not. He was supposed to send me some pictures of the interior, he didn’t do that.
I tried to get him to give me a price. He wouldn’t, but then said he did have an offer of $1,500. That is when I lost interest in it.
I would sure think the 427 should be, OH YEA, ITS JUNK!