If you are a fan of muscle cars and want a vehicle that will perform when needed, the Ford Torino GT may be the car for you. At the same time, it was designed for performance and luxury, which helped it become a top seller in the mid-sized muscle car market.

  • 1968

The 1968 Ford Torino was a popular car with the average American family. The car came in many styles, including a two-door fastback, a two-door hardtop, a station wagon, and a two-door convertible. The car also had a wide range of options, allowing customers to customize the interior of their vehicle.

1968 Ranchero

One of the most famous versions of the car was a two-door Gran Torino that was featured on the television show, Starsky and Hutch. The TV car had a bright red paint job and a white vector stripe on the front. The TV car also had aluminum 5-slot mag wheels and larger rear tires that gave the car a much more aggressive look than the normal Gran Torino.

This 68-model Gran Torino was a special edition model that had been produced to celebrate the show’s popularity. Ford built 1,000 replicas of this car in the spring of 1976, and they are now extremely rare and collectible.

  • Dashboard and features

For this model year, the Ford Torino had a new dashboard that featured four round pods centered around the steering wheel. These pods housed an assortment of warning lights, including a fuel gauge and temperature indicator. These were located in the first pod, a 120 mph (190 km/h) speedometer was placed in the second, an alternator and oil pressure gauge was positioned in the third pod, and a clock occupied the fourth.

A solid-state ignition system was introduced in this model, which improved starting performance and fuel economy, while also reducing maintenance costs. Other improvements included radial tires, another fuel-saving feature, 17 inch off road rims, power steering, and power brakes.

Several engine combinations were available in this model, with the most powerful being the 428 Cobra Jet with a horsepower rating of 335 hp (250 kW). The Cobra Jet came equipped with a nodular-controlled cast iron crankshaft casting 1UA or 1UA B and a forged steel connecting rod. The Cobra Jet engine also included a Detroit Locker and an oil cooler, which were industry exclusives to Ford.

The Torino was a successful racing car, and Ford used it as the base for its NASCAR entrants. The car had a reputation for being one of the fastest cars on the race track and the dragstrip during the 1960s.

  • 1972

In 1972, the Ford Torino was a big success, with a total of 496,645 units sold. The Torino was also the best-selling intermediate model for the year, beating out the Chevrolet Chevelle for the first time.

1969 FORD TORINO TALLADEGA

A new perimeter frame and torque boxes were designed to isolate passengers from road shock. Adding to this effort was a tuned suspension system featuring coil springs, upper and lower control arms, drag struts (attached to the lower arms), hydraulic shocks, and an anti-roll bar up front. A four-link “Stabul” coil-sprung arrangement was also added to the rear end, complementing a rear anti-roll bar.

  • Besides the bodywork, the interior was completely redesigned. 

A new dashboard design was used with a linear speedometer centered in the driver’s field of view, while a new “ribbon” style tachometer was an option for V8 models. Oil pressure and electrics were also monitored with warning lights.

Other changes included an increased windshield rake to a faster 60 degrees, thinner A-pillars, and a smaller roofline. In addition, side vent windows were eliminated for all 2-door hardtop, SportsRoof, and convertible models.

This was also the first year for Ford to offer a Sport package with an automatic transmission and power steering. This was an improvement over the manual gearbox, as it allowed the car to be more spirited in high-speed corners.

The Gran Torino was also offered a special Rallye Equipment Package, including a 351 engine, a four-speed manual transmission, and hydraulic shocks in the rear. These features were available in a two-door fastback coupe and a two-door station wagon.

Another change to this model was adding the new “DirectAire” ventilation system, which was standard on all two-door hardtop and SportsRoof models. This removed the need for vent windows and also made the interior much more spacious.

  • 1974

The 1974 Ford Gran Torino was among the most popular mid-sized muscle cars. It combines the luxury and speed of a car like the Mustang with the handling of a Camaro. It is also quite a good deal cheaper than its counterparts, making it a great investment for those who are looking to buy one with some work on it.

During this period, Ford worked to create more upscale vehicles for the middle class. Their mid-sized Fairlane was a success, and the company decided to add an upscale subseries, the Torino.

  • Several improvements were made to the interiors for this year. 

For example, all Torino and Gran Torino were fitted with a new dashboard with a linear-style speedometer in the console’s center. The tachometers were changed to ribbon style, and a temperature gauge was available as an option.

All 2-door hardtop, SportsRoof, and convertible models had “DirectAire” ventilation systems that eliminated the need for side vent windows. All 4-door sedans and station wagons also had this feature.

 

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The rear window sash was also revised, and the roof line was more elongated, allowing for a larger cargo area. The front bumpers were redesigned and met the requirements of the federal government’s new regulations, which required that a car could take a 5 mph strike without damaging safety-related components.

  • Some other improvements

Another improvement of this model was a solid-state ignition system that improved fuel economy and started the engine faster. Power steering and power brakes were also standard.

For the enthusiast, Ford also introduced a high-performance engine for this model. The 429 Cobra Jet was a very capable muscle car that could go down the 1/4 mile track in under 14 seconds.

While it is not the most famous car from Ford, it was a popular model and had many fans around the country. You can find a 1974 Torino for sale anywhere from $3,000 to $25,000. It is not an expensive car to own, but it requires some work to be fully restored.

  • 1976

The Torino’s emergence from the factory floor in 1968 marked a shift in Ford. Philosophy to design and build automobiles that would be attractive in various markets. These cars would be designed for customers to choose from based on their lifestyle needs and preferences, including family transportation, personal luxury, and affordable high-performance vehicles.

The new 1968 Torino was constructed on the same unibody platform as the 1966-67 Fairlane/Torino and used a front suspension of short/long control arms and coil springs. The rear suspension was made up of long semi-elliptical leaf springs on a solid axle, with a heavy-duty suspension package available. A new recirculating ball steering system was available, and power brakes were an option.

Ford Mustang

Two-door hardtop and convertible models were restyled in 1970 with a more streamlined body appearance. The grille was redesigned and featured a fine mesh pattern with vertical parking lamps in the outer sections, with the emblem changed to reflect the new look.

All 2-door hardtops and SportsRoof models had a new feature called “DirectAire” that allowed the driver to control the airflow by opening or closing a large rectangular vent window in the center of the roof. This was a big improvement over the previous side vent windows.

Interiors were also completely redesigned for 1970. The dashboard had a linear-style speedometer centered on the driver, and a new “ribbon” style tachometer was an option. There was a temperature gauge, oil pressure gauge, and a warning light for each engine oil level.

Conclusion

Besides the restyled exterior, all cars were offered a new solid-state ignition system for improved starting performance and fuel economy. Radial tires, another fuel-saving feature, were added as standard equipment.

During 1976, the Gran Torino was still being produced, but production had dropped by about half to 193,096 units. 

FAQs

What is the History of the Ford Torino?

Originally introduced as a replacement for the Fairlane, the Torino was a spiffy sports sedan that became an icon of its time.

The car had a variety of body styles to choose from, including 2-door hardtops, SportsRoof, and convertibles. It also offered a variety of engines, including the Cobra V8 and GT.

What Year Was the First Ford Torino?

The first Ford Torino, produced in 1968, was a mid-sized car that was an upscale version of the Fairlane. It was offered in various styles, including a two-door fastback, a two/four-door hardtop, and a station wagon.

How Long is a Ford Torino?

During the 1970 model year, the Torino gained length and weight. All body styles were about 5″ longer and heavier, primarily due to new 5 mph energy-absorbing bumpers.

A special high-performance vehicle was also added to the intermediate lineup, the Torino Talladega. This model was made specifically with NASCAR racing in mind and was built to dominate the tracks.

What do You know About the 1970 Ford Torino?

The Torino received Motor Trend’s Car of the Year award.

The 1970 Torino’s fresh look was dubbed “coke bottle styling” because of the narrow center surrounded by flaring fenders.

The interiors were completely new, with a dashboard centered on the driver. The temperature gauge was the only available gauge, and oil pressure and electrics were monitored with warning lights.