conceptcarz.com

1970 Ford Torino

For 1970, the midsize Torino was given a major overhaul and restyling with a sleeker aerodynamic appearance that included a full-width grille and coke-bottle rear quarter panels. It was available with the 429 from Ford's new 385-series engine, which used cylinder heads with canted valves and large round ports. The base 429 was the Thunder Jet, but also available as the 429 Cobra Jet rated at 370 horsepower, including the J-Code version with functional Ram Air that added a through-the-hood scoop.

With the Fairlane becoming a sub-series of Torino in 1970, the Torino was promoted to the primary model, and its elegant styling created by stylists such as Ford stylist Bill Shenk was inspired by supersonic aircraft of the era. They had a prominent long hood, short deck, narrow waists, bulging forward and rear fuselages, and were lower, wider, and longer than the 1969 models. The pointed front end personified the more aerodynamic design theme, complemented by the raked windshield, and flatter fastback roofline of the SportsRoof. The full-width grilled contained quad headlights and was positioned above the chrome fender and below the protruding hood. The taillights were long rectangular units with rounded outer edges and resided in the rear panel above the bumper. The Torino name could be found on the driver's side of the hood and on the side of the front fenders. Body styles included a sedan, hardtop sedan, fastback coupe, hardtop coupe, and a station wagon. Trim levels included the Brougham, Torino GT, and Cobra.

The wheelbase measured 117 inches (114 inches for the wagon) with an overall length of 206.2 inches (209 inches for the wagon). The four-door body styles had a width of 76.4 inches, the two doors were slightly wider at 76.7 inches, and the wagons were 75.4 inches wide. All of the 1970 Ford Torinos were approximately five inches longer than the 1969 models. The suspension, however, remained unchanged from the 1969 models.

The interiors of the 1970 Torinos were new, featuring a column-mounted shifter clock on the steering wheel when the key was removed. The dashboard contained a new optional 'ribbon' style tachometer on V8 models, and a linear style speedometer centered within the driver's view. The two-door hardtop, convertible, and SportsRoof body styles had 'DirectAire' ventilation systems as standard equipment, which negated the need for the side vent windows. The vent windows were standard on the two-door sedan, four-doors and station wagon, while the 'DirectAire' system was optional. An optional console and high-back bucket seats were available for all two-door body styles.

The 'base' four-door Torino sedan with six-cylinder power was priced at $2,690, the hardtop coupe at $2,720, the hardtop sedan at $2,800, the fastback coupe at $2,810, and the six-passenger station wagon at $3,075. The addition of the base eight-cylinder engine boosted the price by approximately $100. The most popular was the hardtop coupe which had 49,826 sales, followed by 30,117 of the sedan, 14,312 of the hardtop sedan, 12,490 of the fastback coupe, and 10,613 of the station wagon.

The standard engine was the 250 cubic-inch inline six-cylinder unit with overhead valves, 9.0:1 compression, a Motorcraft one-barrel carburetor, seven main bearings, and developed 155 horsepower at 4,400 RPM. This engine, along with the 302-2V and the 351W-2V was carried over from 1969. Most buyers selected the standard six-cylinder engine.

The 302 CID with overhead valves, five main bearings, and a Motorcraft two-barrel carburetor was standard on the GT and Brougham models. The 351 CID V8 had a cast-iron block, overhead valves, five main bearings, a Motorcraft two-barrel carburetor, and delivered 250 horsepower at 4,600 RPM. With a four-barrel carburetor and 11.0:1 compression (boosted from 9.5:1), output rose to 300 horsepower at 5,400 RPM. The Thunder Jet 429 cubic-inch V8 had 10.5:1 compression, a two-barrel carburetor, and delivered 320 horsepower at 4,400 RPM. The four-barrel version was rated at 360 horsepower at 4,600 RPM. The 429 CJ (Cobra Jet) had a 2-bolt main block, hydraulic lifters, a 700 CFM Holley or 715 CFM Rochester Quadrajet carburetor, and was rated at 370 horsepower. The top-of-the-range option was the 429 SCJ (Super Cobra Jet) produced 375 horsepower and was part of the 'Drag Pack' option.

The 351C-4V, 429 CJ, and 429 SCJ were available with optional Ram Air induction. The addition of the Ram Air induction did not increase the advertised power ratings. With the Ram Air option, buyers received a 'shaker hood' where the scoop was fitted to the top of the air cleaner assembly and protruded through a hole in the hood.

The Drag Pack option transformed the 429 CJ into a 429 SCJ and required either the 3.91:1 or 4.30:1 axle ratio, and included forged pistons, an engine oil cooler, a solid lifter camshaft, a 4-bolt main engine block, and the 780 CFM Holley carburetor. When the 4.30:1 axle ratio was selected, the 'Detroit Locker' rear differential was included, while the 3.91:1 axle ratio came with the 'Traction-Lock' limited-slip differential.

A three-speed transmission was standard equipment on all trim levels except for the Cobra which came equipped with a four-speed as standard equipment. All engines were available with an optional Cruise-O-Matic while the four-speed transmission was available with all engines except for the six-cylinder unit and the 302-2V.

The Brougham was the top trim level and came with polished aluminum wheel well and rocker panel moldings. The base engine was the 302 cubic-inch V8 and body styles were limited to the station wagon, and hardtop coupe, and sedan. The Broughams also had retractable headlights and wheel covers. Body styles included a hardtop coupe ($3,005 with 16,911 examples built), the hardtop sedan ($3,080 with 14,543 examples built), and the Squire Station Wagon ($3,380 with 13,166 examples built).

The Torino GT had a hood scoop, GT emblems, carpeting, padded seats, and a 302 CID. The Cobra was the higher-performance version with the 429 CID V8 rated at 360 horsepower. The engine was mated to a four-speed manual transmission, and they had a competition suspension, black center hood, hood locking pins, Cobra emblems, and seven-inch wide wheels with hubcaps. 58,819 examples of the Torino GT Fastback (Sportsroof) were built at a base price of $3,100 and 3,939 were convertibles with a factory base price of $3,215. A total of 7,675 examples of the GT Cobra Fastback Coupe (2-door SportsRoof) were built, priced at $3,270.

The Ford Torino King Cobra was intended to homologate certain features for use in NASCAR. It wore a unique aerodynamic front end that was vastly different from a standard Torino nose. The sloped front end housed dual headlamps and parking lights located between the headlamps, molded into the front fascia. The large grille was located beneath the front bumper, the hoods had a blacked-out center portion, and there were side stripes with a similar design to the 1968 and 1969 Torino GTs, traveling from the front fender to the quarter panel. Although the design appeared aerodynamic, the design actually created significant downforce, and since there was no rear downforce, the car was unstable at speed through the turns. NASCAR also changed homologation requirements from 500 to 3,000 vehicles, prompting the new Ford president Lee Iaccoca to abandon the project. Three prototypes were built with one receiving a Boss 429 engine, one with a 429 SCJ, and one with a 429 CJ.

The Ford Torino Twister Special
When a Detroit developer and race promoter named Lawrence LoPatin and his American Raceways Inc. was spiraling quickly towards bankruptcy, Ford intervened late in 1969, approaching its Kansas City Sales District dealers to promote the sales of 100 Mach 1 Mustangs which had been ordered by Mr. LoPatin. The Kansas City dealers accepted Ford's request, but took it a step further, ordering an additional 90 Torinos to be sold through the same 'Twister Special' promotion as the Mustangs. As the 428 Cobra Jet engine was in short supply at the time, the Kansas City dealers specified the new 429 Cobra Jet big-block V-8 engine based on the new 'Lima' big-block engine introduced in 1958 as the replacement for the heavier FE.

The Mustangs were built and prepared in Detroit, while the Torinos were constructed at the Atlanta assembly plant. All of the Torino Twister Specials wore a Vermillion exterior (known as Calypso Coral in the Mustang catalog) with black interiors and steel wheels with trim rings and poverty hubcaps. Thirty examples received the close-ratio four-speed manual transmission with a 3.50:1 Traction-Lok differential. The Twister Specials had front and rear spoilers, color-keyed racing mirrors, rear-window Sport Slats, a Rochester four-barrel carburetor, a Shaker hood, and Firestone Wide Oval polyglas tires. The interiors had tinted glass, a Hurst T-handle shifter (manual cars), and a Philco pushbutton radio.


by Daniel Vaughan | Sep 2019

Related Reading : Ford Torino (Second Generation) History

In 1968 Ford introduced the mid-sized vehicle, the Torino, which stayed in production until 1976. The Torino replaced the Fairlane, although the name persisted on the base level models but given differnet trim than the Torino versions. The Torino was available as a two-door fastback or convertible, four-door sedan or station wagon, hardtop, and as a pickup, similar to the El Camino. The Torino....
Continue Reading >>

Related Reading : Ford Torino History

In 1968 Ford introduced the mid-sized vehicle, the Torino, which stayed in production until 1976. The Torino replaced the Fairlane, although the name persisted on the base level models but was given different trim than the Torino versions. The Torino was available as a two-door fastback or convertible, four-door sedan or station wagon, hardtop, and as a pickup, similar to the El Camino. The Torino....
Continue Reading >>

1970 Ford Torino Vehicle Profiles

Recent Vehicle Additions

Performance and Specification Comparison

Price Comparison

1970 Torino
$3,378-$28,120
1970 Ford Torino Price Range: $2,687 - $3,378

Compare: Lower | Higher | Similar

Other 1970 Ford Models
$2,460 - $2,765
$2,720 - $3,715
$3,300 - $3,910
$4,960 - $5,180

Torino (Second Generation)

Specification Comparison by Year

Year
Production
Wheelbase
Engine
Prices
230,413
114.00 in., 117.00 in.
6 cyl., 250.00 CID., 155.00hp
8 cyl., 302.00 CID., 220.00hp
8 cyl., 351.00 CID., 250.00hp
8 cyl., 302.00 CID., 290.00hp
8 cyl., 351.00 CID., 300.00hp
8 cyl., 429.00 CID., 320.00hp
8 cyl., 429.00 CID., 360.00hp
8 cyl., 429.00 CID., 370.00hp
$2,687 - $3,378
326,463
114.00 in., 117.00 in.
6 cyl., 240.00 CID., 140.00hp
6 cyl., 250.00 CID., 145.00hp
8 cyl., 302.00 CID., 210.00hp
8 cyl., 351.00 CID., 240.00hp
8 cyl., 351.00 CID., 285.00hp
8 cyl., 429.00 CID., 370.00hp
$2,670 - $3,561

Related Automotive News

15 Exciting Collector Automobiles to Watch During This January's Scottsdale, Arizona Car Week Auctions

15 Exciting Collector Automobiles to Watch During This January's Scottsdale, Arizona Car Week Auctions

Scottsdale, Arizona (January 13th, 2016) – Astute Collectors of the worlds most sought after and most valuable automobiles know that Scottsdale, Arizona in January is where the market values for collector cars are established each year. As such, they...
Thomas Scott Collection of Classic American Automobiles to be On Offer at No Reserve at Russo and Steele's 2015 Monterey Collector Automobile Auction Event

Thomas Scott Collection of Classic American Automobiles to be On Offer at No Reserve at Russo and Steele's 2015 Monterey Collector Automobile Auction Event

Scottsdale, Arizona (July 18th, 2015) – Thomas Scott is an accountant and entrepreneur from Athens, Georgia who has had a love for all things automotive for as long as he can remember. He possesses a lifetime of passion for buying, selling and...
Low Mileage Collectables offered at Fort Lauderdale Auction

Low Mileage Collectables offered at Fort Lauderdale Auction

Auctions America kicks off its 2014 collector car calendar March 14-16 in Fort Lauderdale Leading recent entries are fantastic low mileage examples including a 2005 Ford GT, a 2006 Ford GT Heritage Edition, a 1954 Chevrolet Corvette and a 1967 Ch...
Holden Celebrates 35 Years of Commodore

Holden Celebrates 35 Years of Commodore

Holden is celebrating the 35th anniversary of its most iconic nameplate, Commodore. For over three decades, the Holden Commodore has delivered significant advances in vehicle performance, safety and comfort on the way to becoming Holdens longest-standing...
TOPLINE COLLECTORS PLACE SPOTLIGHT on SPEED'S BARRETT-JACKSON BROADCAST FROM SCOTTSDALE

TOPLINE COLLECTORS PLACE SPOTLIGHT on SPEED'S BARRETT-JACKSON BROADCAST FROM SCOTTSDALE

TOPLINE COLLECTORS PLACE SPOTLIGHT on SPEEDS BARRETT-JACKSON BROADCAST FROM SCOTTSDALE LOST SHELBY DUAL PROTOTYPE, HAGERTY GIVEAWAY %26 SALON COLLECTION HIGHLIGHT 39 HOURS OF LIVE COVERAGE The 42nd annual Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale (Ar...