1968 Ford Torino – Classified of the Week

There’s just something about late ’60s American muscle cars like this Ford Torino that really strikes a chord with anyone with even a vague interest in the automotive world. Loud, brash and mean they appeal to our basest desires and will forever be coveted by petrol heads the world over. Monstrous engines strapped to a basic chassis providing bags of power to the rear wheels they are uncomplicated, unapologetic and incredibly fun.

Within this realm of larger-than-life machinery there are the big-hitters, the stand out tracks from a back catalogue of wonderfully brazen beasts; the Dodge Chargers, Ford Mustangs and Chevrolet Camaros, for example. All unique in their own way but still very much a part of that collective group of Americana from a time when everyone was trying to out-do each other in the horsepower stakes. And then there are the lesser known models. The ones that flew under the radar, living in the rather large and looming shadows of the likes of those mentioned above.

One such car is the Ford Torino. You’ll no doubt recognise the name from Starsky and Hutch, the famous US buddy cop TV show, but that didn’t come about until the mid-seventies. Featuring a ‘Gran’ Torino the car was onto its third generation by this point and had become a rather bloated, under-powered shadow of its former self, due in part to the US oil crisis and stricter safety legislation that had arrived, rather unwelcomely, in the earlier part of the decade. The model we have here, however, is the pick of the bunch; a first generation 1968 Ford Torino in two-door hard top guise. ’68 was the first year the Torino was produced, as a mid-sized successor to the Fairlane. Offered as a two-door hardtop, fastback and convertible as well as a four-door saloon and estate the Torino was available with a choice of engines ranging from a 3.3-litre six-cylinder all the way up to a 7.0-litre V8 with this particular car featuring a 390ci (6.4-litre) V8 under the bonnet and very much deserving of genuine muscle car status.

The 390, in stock form, produces around 265bhp and 390lb ft of torque which placed it squarely in line with the other big boys of the genre but this particular engine, rebuilt 1,000 miles ago with an overbore of .030 (each cylinder was bored 30 thousandths of an inch over stock size), along with custom FPA headers, mild performance RV cam and a brand new Holley 670 CFM Street Avenger carburettor, should be a little pokier still. As the vendor states, it has “loads of grunt”. Perfect. Getting all of that raw power to the rear wheels is taken care of via a heavy duty C6 ‘cruise-o-matic’ three-speed automatic transmission spinning brand new Magnum 500 wheels and tyres which really set the car off with their period white lettering.

Not only does the thing shift but it looks the part too with its black on grey paint job. It’s a purposeful looking machine and you know at first glance that it means business. New door handles, mirrors and wheel arch trims complete the exterior and the headlights have been upgraded to more modern LED ‘angel eyes’ units. Inside the car looks to be in top condition too and the contrasting red interior benefits from new carpets and mats and presents well throughout. With power steering, power brakes and air conditioning this Torino won’t be a pig to drive, delivering a certain level of comfort alongside all of its horses.

At £21,000 it’s a lot of metal for the money and a bit of a departure from the usual, more famous muscle car offerings. But that by no means diminishes it’s credentials or its appeal. It’s a spectacular looking classic American from that most wonderful of automotive eras so get your wallet out and set yourself apart while still laying down rubber at every opportunity.