In 1970, Ford gave the Mustang a styling update. Revisions included a so-called "less aggressive" look with single headlamps mounted inside the grille. Needless to say, some folks didn't like it, and Mustang sales dropped by a whopping 36%. But 1970 also brought a new Torino into showrooms. And unlike its smaller sibling, the midsize looked quite stunning.
A notable departure from its predecessor, the second-gen Torino got longer and wider while the styling cues became more aggressive. The hardtop version was particularly more muscular overall, but the lower roofline and the pointed front end found their way on all body styles, including the four-door sedan and the station wagon. The GT version also got a full-width taillight panel with a honeycomb layout.
The Torino was more successful than the Mustang that year. The nameplate moved 230,411 units, about 40,000 more than the pony car. The performance-oriented GT was the most popular trim, with 60,758 examples delivered. The convertible, on the other hand, found only 3,939 customers. For reference, Ford sold 7,673 Mustang drop-tops in 1970.
Since many of these rigs didn't survive in one piece, the Torino GT Convertible is a much rarer classic nowadays. It's unclear how many of them are still on the road, but this Grabber Blue example is one of the nicest I've seen in a very long time.
And if one of 3,939 units is not rare enough for you, this drop-top is so scarce you may not even see another one like it on the road. That's because it's one of only 37 examples finished in this color and equipped with the 351-cubic-inch (5.8-liter) Cleveland V8 engine.
Yup, this one doesn't pack a 375-horsepower 429-cubic-inch (7.0-liter) Cobra Jet V8, but the Cleveland is a much rarer mill in the Torino GT. It's not impressively powerful at 250 horsepower in this convertible, but that's more than enough for highway cruising with the top down on a warm day.
Performance numbers aside, this Torino is also a gorgeous classic. The body shows a few imperfections here and there, but the Grabber Blue paint looks stunning in direct sunlight, while the white soft top provides a nice contrast. A white interior would have made this Torino perfect to my eyes, but this kind of color combo isn't for everyone.
And here's the somewhat strange part. Even though 1970 GT Convertibles are quite rare, they're still affordable today—as in, they don't fetch six-figure sums just yet. While some Torino Cobras and Twister Specials can go for more than $100,000 at public auction, no GT drop-top changed hands for more than $85,000. And the said record (as of April 2024) belongs to a special factory show car.
This Torino is not for sale, but it's proof that not all well-maintained classics from the golden era go for crazy prices. Hit the play button below for a closer encounter with this Grabber Blue gem.
Ask Ciprian about cars and he'll reveal an obsession with classics and an annoyance with modern design cues. Read his articles and you'll understand why his ideal SUV is the 1969 Chevrolet K5 Blazer. Full profile
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