1968 Ford Torino GT

Description

Who would've thought that a Torino would make such an awesome resto-mod? Take a relatively rare 1968 Torino GT hardtop (not a fastback!), add a splash of Cobra red paint, a great-running 289, and a lowered suspension and you get a full-sized party on wheels. Ford fans, this is the car you've been waiting for.

This Torino originally wore a coat of 1960s Lime Gold, which was OK if you don't mind blending in, but when it was rebuilt and thoroughly updated a few years ago, it was drenched in spectacular Laser Red, which was the color used on the 2000 Cobra R models. The incredible finish shows off the long, clean flanks of the Torino, which turns out to be a great-looking car in bright red. Note the crisp crease running from nose to tail, the blacked-out hood with scoop, and the impressive attention to detail that keeps all the bright trim looking great and you have a car that's sure to attract a lot of attention. With that vivid red finish, you really can't hide bad bodywork, so the gaps are pretty tight, everything lines up well, and a good amount of time was invested in a cut-and-buff job to really make it shine. Most of the chrome was refinished, too, with shiny bumpers, beautiful taillights, and proud GT badges in the grille up front.

The interior is pretty stock, which in a Torino means lots of room for everyone and luxurious accommodations. The black vinyl seat covers were replaced, along with the carpets and it all has a very OEM look. It's likely that the door panels are original, especially since the car comes from 28 years of single ownership, so good maintenance shouldn't be a surprise. The dash of the early Torinos is one of its best features, with four instrument pods ahead of the driver for the major functions and a fat aluminum steering wheel that's a lot better than the original skinny plastic piece. An AM/FM/CD stereo head unit was installed under the dash so nothing had to be cut up and it powers a set of speakers on the rear package shelf. The Torino was full-sized, so that means it includes a mammoth trunk with correct mats and a full-sized spare tire with jack. And as long as you're looking back there, check out how thorough the paint job was; there's not a trace of Lime Gold anywhere!

The 289 cubic inch V8 was rebuilt in 2004, which was about 7000 miles ago, so it remains quite fresh. Always a favorite in the Mustang, it works equally well in the Torino where it makes all the right sounds and provides a torquey punch that makes it a lot of fun on the street. The engine itself was painted Laser Red to match the rest of the car, so it really stands out in the satin black engine bay and it's been topped by a set of chrome valve covers and an open-element air cleaner. The C4 3-speed automatic transmission behind it was rebuilt in November 2014 and includes a 2200 RPM stall torque converter, so it's punchy around town without being too aggressive. A custom Flowmaster exhaust system was created just for this car and it has the soundtrack of your favorite Fords of the past. With 3.00 gears out back, it's also an awesome highway cruiser whose ride is still pretty good despite the 3-inch lowering job with Eibach springs. Period perfect Torque Thrust wheels and 255/45/17 performance radials complement the modern resto-mod look.

Didn't think a Torino could be this cool, right? Guess again, because this one delivers big performance and lots of eyeball appeal, all at a very affordable price. Call now!