Barn Find 429 Cobra Jet! 1971 Ford Torino
In 1971, the Ford Torino was advertised as “…the lean, middle-size car with features larger cars offer, except a larger price.” Torinos have always been a little bit of a niche collectible. The didn’t see nearly the sales success of the Mustang, Chevelle or Camaro but have been coveted by some collectors for that very reason. The 2008 film Gran Torino starring Clint Eastwood certainly raised the profile of these cars and re-introduced them to a larger audience. This car is said to be a real barn find and can be found for sale here on Hemmings with an asking price of $30,000. Located in Ithaca, New York, what makes this specific car special is the fact that it features a 429 cubic inch Cobra Jet V8. You won’t believe the condition of the car, let’s check it out!
Here is the car after it was cleaned up. The condition looks amazing and the ad claims it only has 58,000 miles on the odometer.
Here is the famous 429 Cobra Jet! While there were tens of thousands of Torinos built in 1971, according to TorinoCobra.com, the production total for Torino Cobra’s was only 3054 units! The ad says the car comes with a Marti Report, which is a great thing. If you aren’t familiar with Kevin Marti and the work that he does, check out their website. He has a contract with Ford Motor Company, which allows him access to detailed production records from 1967 to 2014. Based on these records and your VIN, he can generate a report showing exactly what options and features a car was “born” with and how many others share the same options.
The interior is also in great shape. If this car is truly a “survivor” like the photos seem to indicate, I would think a Tornio enthusiast would snap this one up quickly. What do you think? Is this one too good to be true or do you think it’s a true survivor?
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Comments
Not to mention it has 3 pedals and a bent stick coming out of the floor.
Someone, somewhere will think $30,000 is a steal as finding a clean, unmolested version of these are getting very hard to find.
Next thought is that the owner had better purchase it bc they like it as future prices are a crap shoot.
Yes I’ve been noticing that all of you writers fail to mention what kind of tranny’s these cars have.
If you look closely at the int shot, there’s three pedals.
The car is probably priced at the top of the market, maybe beyond, based on its current condition. There is one picture with the drivers door open that shows signs of rust on the rocker where it meets the rear quarter panel. The seller omits information about whether the car runs or precious rust repair. It’s also located in an area notorious for rust and there are signs of overspray on the inner fenders and radiator support. Its heading into winter, the market usually slows down this time of year. With this cars current price point it will be interesting to see if it is still available come next spring.
Steve R
My story; I took one for a test drive in spring of 72, a 4 spd car, drove it a mile or two from the dealership, asked the Ups if it was ok to get on it, after a foot to the wood power shift into second, he told, not asked me to pull over and get out…Oh to be 17 again…
Some kid was test driving a Mustang GT 5.0 litre, 5 speed with a salesman buddy of mine. When the kid jumped on it my buddy told him to pull over. He got in the drivers seat and started lecturing the kid that he should not be test driving a car like that. Then he proceeded to bang off redline shifts all the way back to the dealership giving the kid a true white knuckle ride.
Found a 71 Torino, 4-speed, 429 about 4 years sitting in a building next to a 440-6 pac SuperBird I was picking up.
Zero rust Torino. Was for sale at $29,000.
When this body came out Ford said it was shaped by the wind. The wind messed it up. It was a slower body style and very rarely raced.
Pearson ran one at Riverside Raceway and punched Jim Cook into the boiler plate inturn 9. Cook was paralyzed.
69 Talladega was a better race body. Never drove a 70-71
I had a 71 torino cobra when I was younger and to this day I rue the fact that I got rid of it for a new ranger in 84. I remember going down rt. 60 to bush gardens and looking down at the speedometer and found I was doing 100 miles an hour. God I loved that car oh well to be young and stupid
I like the 70-71 Torinos. Don’t remember seeing a lot of 4 speeds.
We had a 70 Torino Cobra and be glad you didn’t go much faster. I opened it up on I-75 one night and realized that once you got north of 120 mph the front end started lifting. There’s not a whole lot worse than doing 120+ and realizing you can turn the steering wheel and nothing much happens. It’s interesting to note that as great as these cars were, in today’s world you can get a 4 cylinder Mustang that will out accelerate, corner, and brake one of these.
And there you said it…as the generation fades so will the crazy prices of 60-70’s muscle- personally I’d be hard pressed to hand over the money some of these kinds of cars have been selling for. The dealerships have some impressive new incarcerations that are simply put- better. I’m sitting on era same big block muscle-4speed, and just don’t think it competes with a new mustang challenger or camaro. Unless you gotta have an 8track
Interesting that it has an aftermarket steering wheel.
A Torino enthusiast should snap it up any way, survivor or not, the last of the high compression 429’s. Over eleven and a half to one, so good look finding gas for it now. Despite all the good news about the 385 series engine these really were no quicker than the previous years 428 CJ.
Great car, got the desirable 4 speed, a true Ford muscle car all for a whole bunch of money….dang.
429. 4 speed. Shaker hood. MMM mmmmmm
Damn millinials… it’s VARROOOOM!
and the millennials!.
Personally, back in the day, I thought these were bloated and ungainly but with a 429 and stick…..well you can pretend its GT500.
I find it funny, as Hemmings tries to establish their own auction site, after reading all the gripes we’ve written about the lack of details from sellers, that Hemmings would post this ad with almost zero details. Car’s condition listed as “good”; does that mean for a car that’s just been pulled from extensive storage, or does it mean you can drive it away? A/C is listed, is it working? With a/c, I believe that means it’s a Cobra Jet, not a Super Cobra Jet? Is the factory Quadra-Jet still in place? A New York car? How much rust? Original paint, or been redone? Misaligned hood, overspray on the license bracket, been hit in the front, frame bent, so it was parked?
It’s an ad, not an auction, so what’s the problem? Sounds like your issue is with the seller, not Hemmings.
No SCJ in 1971.
In 1970-71 these cars were far ahead of cars built 45-50 years before so comparing these cars to ones being built nowadays is ridiculous. If they hadn’t made great improvements in this time period would be a sad story for modern engineers. Makes me wonder what transportation will be like fifty years from now. I won’t be here to find out as that would put me at around 120 years old. As great as modern medicine is the economy could not sustain people living that long. Does Solvent green stir anyone’s memory?
God bless America
Soylent Green? Or are we indeed removing rusted bolts?
Pretty rare indeed.
Pretty nice shape.
Pretty good coin. before committing a buyer would want a full inspection
Very good price for a super nice classic Cobra 429,if what they say is true about this being a solid car,it’s worth the money! You rarely find them in this condition!
Beautiful car for sure. Although, looks like a 428 to me, not the big ‘ol 429. I’d still take it though.
I had a ‘71 Torino GT 351C-4v C6 auto and was an orig AZ Car with 70k miles in this exact shape. Great survivor! Also had our uncles’ Torino GT with 351w in great shape. These cars are very under-rated!
I had a 68 Ford LTD with a 429, original owner car and i bought it for $200. The only thing that car wouldn’t pass was a gas station. Awesome motors, and a lot of fun to punch. With a little work this car would make a nice sleeper, but not for that price, I have a $200 rule!
I don’t understand why the Gran Torino movie is being invoked when the vehicle portrayed in the flick is not this one on barn finds.
Issue is HUA syndrome
I just acquired my dads 1971 Torino 429 Cobra Jet he bought in Jan 1976 put 552 miles on it brought it home put it in the garage up on jack stands never saw the light of day till i had to see the house and put the car in car hauler for storage has 51542 miles on it i wanna do it as original as possible bench 4 speed single leaf spring rear suspension with only 14 inch tires crazy any one can point me in directions for parts considering not alot has to be done but u never know havent started it yet
Which model Torino is it?
Look up Troy Lemming and Marty Burke on Facebook.
it is a 429 Cobra Jet with the 5th letter a J
That’s an engine, not a car model.
What are the first 4 characters in the VIN?
My apologies…………………1H38
My apologies…………………1H38
It’s a 1971 Torino Cobra with 429 CJ and ram air.
Im looking for the trim on the grill you have any direction i can look ?
Im looking for the trim on the grill you have any direction i can look ?