People generally think of the iconic Mustang when ‘Ford’ and ‘muscle car’ get together in the same sentence. Yes, the pony was just as much overshadowing its siblings as it was outselling its rivals, and in certain circumstances, it carried weapons-grade amounts of power. However, the proper muscle car from Ford at the closing of the Golden Era was the Torino, not the fabled pony car.
In 1971, Ford dropped the curtain on the second generation of the Torino while also shelving the Fairlane and Falcon nameplates. The former is particularly interesting in the Torino scheme because the Fairlane lineup introduced the ‘Torino’ version to the world in 1968. The second-gen FoMoCo muscle product saw a role switch in the nomenclature (1970 Torinos now had a Fairlane Sub-series, and 1971 did away with the Fairlane altogether).
Unlike the Mustang, which had a decade-long first-gen production (1964 - 1973), the Torino leaped from generation one to the second after just two years (1968-1969). The pattern was kept for the immediate successor, and it was only in the third generation of the car that the production ran for five years (1972-1976) before being sent to the archives.
1971 was that transitional year in which performance showed signs of trouble, with outputs beginning their downhill journey into Neverland. Still, Detroit wasn’t yes on its knees and produced some fine machines that year. The Ford Torino GT was one of them – sporty enough to run with the big boys and rich enough to please the above-average Joe.
Photo: YouTube/anti social Original
The Torino family consisted of fourteen siblings, ranging from two-doors to wagons and drop-tops to fastbacks. Well, SportsRoofs in Ford’s dialect, but call it what you will, the car’s the same, and the GT was the only one in the lineup offering a convertible body. As the lovechild of the Cobra and the Brougham – or at least it had genes from both – it did well in sales. Not spectacular, but ‘OK’ - Torino GT Fastback production dropped to 31,641 in 1971, down from the almost 57,000 units assembled in the previous year.
The standard GT came with hood scoops (fake), dual racing mirrors(color-keyed), and a 302 V8 (4.9 liters) with a three-speed manual (the three-speed automatic was optional). Other engine options were the 351 V8, the 429 Cobra Jet, and the Super Cobra Jet (with or without Ram Air Induction shaker hood scoops).
Today, the Torino GT isn’t making many waves, like other emblems of its era command (think about the Bosses, the Shelbys, or the bad guys from across the road, like the HEMIs or the big-block GMs). However, a survivor will certainly draw attention, no matter its condition. Take the following video as a reference – a mostly complete but rough-in appearance GT from 1971 is put for sale.
Photo: YouTube/anti social Original
The YouTuber who uploaded the video is by no means a car person, and he doesn’t own the car but simply does a friend service, hoping for a small reward if the Torino gets a new owner. When I say ‘small,’ think about the price of a pair of shoes (they don’t have to be new, just better than the ones the man is wearing now).
The ‘seller’ doesn’t tell us much about the car but gets his camera around it, and we can spot a few details. The engine lacks an air filter, and a zip-lock bag protects the carburetor from the elements. The front left upright reveals disc brakes, and the motor is probably a 302, mated to the console-shifted automatic. The odometer reads 27,180 miles (43,732 km), but it looks like it has rolled over, so add 100,000 miles (161,000 km) to that dowry.
We don’t learn anything about the car’s history, condition, location, or even price – the anti social Original YouTube channel host is not much of a talker and invites viewers to make offers. So, what would be the correct price for this patina-clad Ford Torino GT that is presumably original?
After nearly two decades in news television, Răzvan turned to a different medium. He’s been a field journalist, a TV producer, and a seafarer but found that he feels right at home among petrolheads. Full profile
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