Spotted outside a Conroe, Texas transmission shop, here’s a relic of those days when it seemed as though almost every domestic vehicle line featured one or more muscle-car versions. Not to mention a time when ‘Torino’ stood for something other than a synonym for brougham-y excess.
Throughout much of the ‘60s, Ford’s intermediate Fairlane series, although popular, came off as rather staid when compared with the contemporary offerings of GM and Chrysler. An extensive restyling job, in the longer-lower-wider idiom, was intended to rectify that for 1968. This update would also include a split in model designations: “Fairlane” and “Fairlane 500” would designate lower versions, and upscale models would henceforth be Torinos.
Oldcarbrochures.com
The Torino GT was promoted as a premium ‘sport’ model, although most of its drivetrain hardware was available in lesser versions. Four body styles were available in GT trim: notchback two-door, convertible, Ranchero and, as you see here, a heavily-raked fastback, dubbed ‘SportsRoof’ in sales literature. But that’s not all–the latter body style was perhaps best known in the form of some fairly successful NASCAR racers, of which street versions were sold under the Cobra and (with a modified, more aerodynamic front end) Talladega nameplates for 1969. And then, there was the Montego-based Mercury Cyclone, which made something of a splash as well; however, we’ll limit today’s discussion to the Torino GT.
Definitely pushing the Cobra, here the ’68 refresh produced decent sales and carried over, with some powertrain and trim changes, for the ’69 model year. All engine choices for ’69 Torino GTs were V8s, starting with a standard 302 two-barrel and continuing through two-and-four-barrel 351s (now newly available for Fairlane variants), the long-serving 390 and, at the top of the line, the 428 Cobra Jet.
The subject car is pretty much in the middle, equipment-wise. Assuming it retains its original drivetrain, the emblems on its fender flanks signal 351 Windsor power, and dual exhausts mark it as the four-barrel version, rated at 290 HP.
These were fairly popular vehicles in their day; of over 350,000 Fairlane/Torinos of all types built for 1969, more than 81,000 were Torino GTs. Nevertheless, it was the last gasp of the era before emissions controls and crashworthiness regulations sapped all the energy of the domestic industry, and competition was fierce. Thus did this particular body shell last only two years before its replacement in 1970 by a much more curvaceous shape atop essentially the same platform. While the 428 Cobra Jet-equipped versions of 1968-69 seem to have quite a following, lesser-motored examples seem to have pretty much gone the way of the dodo.
Back to the featured car. Judging from the windshield stickers…
… this one hasn’t been on the road for some time. However, it appears to be solid, the paint and striping look original, and it’s likely to have been garaged most of its life.
In my view there are no really bad angles on this car, but still the front aspect is probably the least interesting, featuring a rather nondescript, Oldsmobile-like grill flanked by modest fender extensions housing the parking lights. Apparently, standard GTs sported a non-functional hood scoop which could be deleted for credit, which is probably the case here. The hood pins might be aftermarket, apparently being standard on Cobra versions but not on GTs.
To me, the front ¾-view is the best one for this particular body style. I like the contrast between the top front and bottom rear curves of the side windows, the chrome ‘gills’ and the hunched rear fenders.
The tail’s not bad either. The concave rear panel is set off by lashings of shiny metal trim, the better to blind following drivers–and I can’t imagine being able to see much out through that backlight.
Sorry for the poor quality of the interior photo, but at least one can see that the original owner, perhaps wanting to save a few bucks or just make it easier to keep their Significant Other close during a Friday night cruise, opted for the standard front bench seat. This one looks to be an automatic–I was unable to determine whether this particular setup was a factory installation, but normally the floor-mounted shifter came with the optional front buckets and center console. The telltale presence of a panel atop the steering column suggests it may have started out with a column-mounted shifter.
Previous CC comments on these cars indicate that more folks seem to prefer the notchback two-door; while they are handsome indeed, I’m drawn to the SportsRoof just for its pure extravagance of line. Unfortunately, they were often deemed relatively clumsy handlers in either form. Some of this may be due to the 57/43 F/R weight ratio with the FE V8s. Maybe the 351 installation results in a better-balanced car, or maybe not. As with so many cars of its era, drum brakes were standard all around, but I would hope this one has the optional front discs.
Bottom line: I’m a sucker for ’60s ultra-fastbacks–and this one, I like.
Note: A rerun of an older post.
I strongly doubt there was a 70/30 weight bias on FE powered ones, maybe 60/40 but not 70.
I prefer the Cobra as a notchback hardtop and if I were a buyer in 1969 I’d go for that value performance option over the GT. However, I do like how the GT sportsroof looks with the side stripes reminiscent of the Mark IV GT40 racecars. I certainly don’t hate these Torinos but count me in as a mopar or GM guy in the intermediate muscle car market. I am very fond of the 70-71 sportsroof reskin of these however.
I agree and although they sold pretty well, most of them were the smallest engine choices. Fastbacks, except for the Mustang, were going away and the Torino styling, while not bad, wasn’t up to what GM and Mopar were putting out. If you were a die hard Ford guy and wanted a 428 Cobra Jet you were more likely to buy a Mustang or Cougar.
I strongly doubt there was a 70/30 weight bias on FE powered ones, maybe 60/40 but not 70.
That’s an absurd number and should have been caught. The 1969 Torino Cobra vintage review we had here just recently had a 56.9/43.1 F/R ratio.
I will amend the text.
Yeah I remember the split posted in one of those, but I couldn’t remember if it was the Torino or Mustang Mach 1, which I think was close to 60/40(it was 59.xx/39.xx as I recall, as it was kind of shocking to read). It makes more sense the heavier Torino would be a little better balanced, plus the FE being a sort of “mid block”isn’t THAT heavy.
The other thing with these 68-69s tha stands out to me is while I don’t dislike the styling it seems way out of step in its time with its boxier lines and various details. They actually remind me a lot of the 64-65 Chevelle in many respects, especially the sportsroof’s rear end treatment
Nice find! I always liked these, in any body style. Thanks for the good write-up, too!
I posted this on another article but I’ll post it here again once more: _please_ find some way to label these older articles with the date of original publication, or at least the year. Maybe adding a date and link to the old post parenthetically after the first or second paragraph would work? Every time I see one of these I am excited that the car in question is in such good shape, and then saddened when I get to the end, click through the link, and find out that the pictures are, in this case, at least twelve years old and that the car is probably long gone. I understand the value of reposting a new version of an old post for site traffic purposes, but I can’t help but think that some small bit of the site’s documentary value is diminished when some readers and commenters may not be aware they’re discussing pictures from 12 years ago.
Remarkable to see how Detroit took a staid intermediate and twist it through the pony-car era right through to personal luxury cars within a decade. Along the way their reason for being created disappeared. Efficient frugal design turned into long hood, barely four seater cars fill with tacky plastic and vinyl doo-dads bordellos. It got so bad, they lost scads of markets to boring Camry, Accord and Subaru. An entire generations of Americans wanted auto sanity that freaked out Detroit forgot how to build and market until the 1980s.
I Have a 71′ Torino500 with a 429/460, went blaze orange with black striping, black interior… Its my favorite car in my now growing collection
Of course, there had to be the usual comment about Mopar and gm, yady yada, the Torino was a sharper looking car, in any year. And by golly, even had a movie named for it. But, the basher’s will always bash