Ford built about 30% of its 1969 Torino GT specimens in this two-door hardtop roof line (17,951 of 79,265 according to TorinoCobra), yet it seems like we see 19 out of 20 Sportsroof (fastback) cars today. Though not especially rare, this 1969 Ford Torino GT two-door hardtop in Fairplay, California would make a fine conversation-starter at local car shows, especially restored to its original splendor in bright red with a white vinyl top. Only the neck-snapping 428 topped this car’s 390 V8. Combine that with air conditioning and power options and you’ve got one stylish, muscular mid-size. Check out more pictures and details here on Craigslist where $15,500 makes it yours.
Sunburn afflicts this Ford’s horizontal surfaces including the four-pod dashboard. Air conditioning vents and the center console add some bling to the sporty bucket seat interior. Power disc brakes and power steering ease the driving chores.
Large rear light modules framing a smooth trunk lid lent a family resemblance to the 1969 Fords from the compact Falcon to the full-sized Galaxie and LTD. GT badges and other details call out the sport model.
According to lov2xlr8, the GT came with the 302 cid (5.0L) V8. Buyers looking to win the occasional stop light gran prix or pull a trailer could order this FE-based 390 cid (6.5L) mill and dodge the conspicuous consumption and dubious street manners of the Cobra’s high-strung 428 (7.0L). A loaded brake master cylinder suggests recent attention to the stopping system.
Rust belt residents can only dream of an undercarriage this nice on an unrestored ’60s classic. The seller’s claim of “No cowrust” probably refers to cowl rust, a common problem especially when leaves or pine needles collect and rot into blobs of detritus that thwart factory drainage and hold moisture against the metal. When I revived a ’66 Ford Thunderbird for my late father, I pulled buckets of leaf and needle muck from the voids between the front wheels and the firewall. This GT does “start and run,” which answers some questions. After addressing safety items, you could probably drive and enjoy this one while refurbishing or replacing one area at a time. When was the last time you saw a non-fastback Torino GT?
Thanks Todd. I like the 68-69 Torino GT’s, they had a clean yet sporty look. With the formal roofline, this example kind of fits the “Muscle Car Era, Non-Fire-Breathing” category; more of a gentleman cruiser vibe. If it indeed has little rot, could be a good restoration candidate. “Cowrust”, that’s a good one.
Thanks, Bob_in_TN. I normally gravitate towards the next generation Torino fastback with the hidden headlights, etc. but I like this hardtop ’69. I had a summer job working with a single guy in his 20s who owned an immaculate ’70 Torino SCJ that I only saw two or three times. It was a beast. Most cars in the early ’80s made a congested “vroom” when you floored them from idle, but that SCJ would go from a burbling idle to WOT and back in a second or less… Wapp!
That’s a beaut, Todd. I’d like an even more notchback’ier body style, but that’s just me. I also like the black Ranchero out in their Ford graveyard, very cool. A 302 works for me in this car, but I’m having a hard time picturing a red car with a white vinyl top and red interior without the owner wearing white shoes and a white belt.
Well now, Sanzabelt was pretty uptown back in the day!
Ha, I may or may not (may) have owned a pair of white shoes as a nerdy young teenager trying to act older than I really was.
And in a few more years, you would have traded in the white shoes and sansabelt for platform shoes, polyester tight fitting pants, silk shirt and gold chain.
That was the required “uniform” for some of the guys in my high school.
Hey Scotty – I was probably wearing red Keds when this car was three or four years old, so I would have fit right in. The closest we got to this was a ’71 or ’72 LTD convertible, red with black top and black vinyl interior. I may still have grill marks on the back of my thighs from jumping onto the sun-baked black seats once. Lesson learned.
Todd – good write up but the 428 was/is pretty well tempered and not peaky; non CJ 428s powered many T-Birds and passenger 4 doors.
Mine is a SCJ and is stock, and mild mannered in traffic.
Two 428s I had in the late 70’s were long-stroke, low-mid range powerful (ford police Custom and Cougar) and ready right off idle.
This one looks like a fair start – wish I had the floor shift + Buckets + formal roof (so I could see out the back window)!
If you check this out top to bottom and want to take the time and effort, I say consider it but with eyes open and a willing mechanic to assist for the big jobs.
Love the Torino and Galaxie models Fitch 👍
Curb weight just under 3650lbs.
320hp/420+ft/lbs, 3.00 gear ⚙️ open diff. This Ford was meant for the highway. 😎 and cruising 😌 as Bob said.
Wow, could be a good fixer. We much prefer the formal roof over the fastback. An IPI is essential, as is the case with any old car, but if that bears out the seller’s claims of little or no rust…
I was driving on a learners permit in ’69. We only had on car at that time. A Plymouth Belvedere station wagon, there was 6 of us. I honestly don’t remember if I owned white shoes and a white belt. In ’77 we were going out to an upscale restaurant and my dad came down stairs wearing a lime green leisure suit complete with the white shoes and belt. Mom made him change. Lol
I have the perfect car to make this a real beauty.
’69 Fairlane base, 6 cyl. bench seat, ps. am radio, sport mirrors, chrome strips/over tape strips. The only options.
Family owned since new. Yellow/Black vinyl top. My aunt loved the color.
35,000 miles, garaged its hole life. Runs & drives like new. Absolutely NO RUST !! Not perfect, but VERY CLOSE. Shines like new.
There’s a lot to be said for those base Fairlanes. Mine had the 302 with lime gold paint (and later I found out a lot of rust underneath) but otherwise, it sounds like the one you have! Loved that car.
I’m loving this Torino, but the Craigslist or BFs doesn’t say where it’s located.
1969 ford torino 390 GT coupe – $15,500 (Fairplay)
lifted right out of the cl ad
cali east of sacramento
With only Fairplay, listed and not the state, who would know where that is. Fairplay, CA would be helpful
Fairplay Ca. which is near Placerville. Sacramento for a general area
Tempting except on the wrong side of the country. Even have the relatively good dash pad from my old ’68 that would replace the poor sunbaked one in this car. Ditched my white polyester disco clothes back in ’81 though when I discovered ska and new wave. Great cars.
One of the guys I went to school with, his older brother was a mechanic at the local Ford dealership. He had a bright red Formal roof GT model similar to this one, only his had black interior with the 428 CJ or might have been an SCJ under the hood and a four speed. I saw him bring the front wheels off the ground on a 1-2 speed shift one evening. I lusted for that car for many years after that. The closest I came to it was a fastback ’69 Fairlane Cobra with the 428 CJ and also a four speed. I was about 19-20 years old and was unmerciful to that car.
I like it but not $15.5k worth in its current condition, I’d be closer to $9k
Fairplay Ca. which is near Placerville. Sacramento for a general area
One of my friends in high school picked up a ’68 Fairlane with a390 c6 and 3.88 posi it was stock knotch roof coupe 800 bucks and it had no badges on it , not a gt just Plain Jane nasty ! It was a streamer.
One of my friends in high school picked up a ’68 Fairlane with a 390 c6 and 3.88 posi it was stock notch roof coupe 800 bucks and he did get it from an older woman was he deceased husbands car and it had no badges on it except 390 wings on the front fenders , not a gt just Plain Jane nasty ! It was a screamer.
I love the FE 390s, but even though his listing says it’s a 390, this one is actually says a 302? And engine pics don’t look like an FE 390. Love the car, and glad it’s in the wrong coast. Loving, Luxury Muscle cars when done right.
Love this car with that roof line. Definitely a 390 or more under the hood. Personally though I’d prefer a 351w between the shock towers, a much better balanced car. I’d get it road ready and daily drive it as is. Then fix/upgrade as I go.
But price seems a bit stratospheric/ optimistic to me.