BF Auction: 1970 Ford Torino GT Convertible
- Seller: Walt J
- Location: Calhoun, Georgia
- Mileage: 129,800 Shown
- Chassis #: OH37F161718
- Title Status: Clean
UPDATE – The seller has asked us to relist their Torino but with a much lower reserve this time! Be sure to take another look and cast your high bids below.
Occasionally, a classic will appear on my desk, leaving me in awe at what its owner has created. Such is the case with this 1970 Ford Torino GT Convertible. From its sparkling paint to its spotless interior and potent mechanical package, there is much to like about a car that has led a fascinating life. However, due to declining health, the owner faces the harsh and difficult decision to part with a classic that has been part of the same family for five decades. He wants the Torino to find a new home with a passionate enthusiast who will appreciate all it offers. Therefore, he has listed the GT exclusively with us at Barn Finds Auctions.
The story of this Torino is fascinating and deserves a brief summary. The current owner’s uncle purchased the Convertible from Hub Ford in Atlanta, Georgia, fifty years ago. He enjoyed the car until 1976, when he and the owner’s father had a few too many. The owner’s father owned a nice 1972 F100 Sport Custom, and under the influence, they swapped titles. Six months later, they found themselves in the same situation, repeating the process! The current owner purchased the Torino from his uncle when he turned eighteen, sold it back to him, and then purchased the car again years later. He held onto it this time, treating the GT to a restoration that recaptured its glory days. The history might be complicated, but the “back and forth” was worth the effort. The owner applied dazzling Dark Blue Metallic paint over panels that are remarkably straight for their age. The paint reflects its surroundings like a mirror, with no significant flaws or defects. The panel gaps are tight and consistent, with the owner admitting a close inspection will reveal the body shows its age. Rust is not an issue because this classic is as solid as the day the owner’s uncle took delivery. The owner replaced the floors around twenty years ago, and the repairs show no signs of problems or deterioration. The Black soft-top is as tight as a drum, and the back window is crystal clear. The remaining glass is spotless, and the sparkling trim perfectly contrasts the dark paint shade. One aspect of this Torino I find genuinely attractive is the owner’s wheel choice. He has avoided the temptation to shoehorn something inappropriate under the fenders, opting for wide steelies with beautiful hubcaps and trim rings. It adds a classy finishing touch to an exterior guaranteed to draw universal praise.
If this Torino’s exterior presents beautifully, the engine bay continues that trend. The owner confirms it rolled off the line equipped with a 302ci V8 that produced 220hp and 300 ft/lbs of torque. Hiding below the hood now is a 351ci Windsor V8, backed by a C6 three-speed automatic transmission and 3000. This GT might be a high-performance model, but the power assistance for the steering and front disc brakes ensures an effortless driving experience. The production 351, as offered by Ford, churned out 300hp and 380 ft/lbs of torque, but I suspect the winning bidder may have a few more ponies under their right foot. The engine upgrade isn’t the end of the story because the Torino features a new front suspension, including new springs. It is a similar story at the rear suspension, while a new fuel tank feeds gas through stainless steel lines to a shiny new Holley carburetor. The final piece of the puzzle is the new engine bay wiring harness that ensures a strong spark kicks the V8 into life. The presentation doesn’t flatter to deceive, with the Torino running and driving as it should. Potential bidders can consider it a turnkey proposition.
One of the challenges faced by owners of classic Convertibles is hiding a substandard interior when the top is down. That isn’t an issue with this Torino because its presentation should make the winning bidder proud. The GT featured a column shifter and a bench seat when the owner’s uncle took delivery, but only the original rear seat remains. Front seat occupants sink back into buckets that should be extremely comfortable while the shifter now protrudes through a factory console. The changes, including the shiny new OEM tach, are all of 1970 vintage. The retro-style stereo is the only exception. The system includes a trunk-mounted subwoofer, but the owner didn’t cut any additional holes during the update. Therefore, reversing the changes for a more “stock” appearance would be straightforward. The interior’s presentation matches the rest of the car, with no significant wear, evidence of abuse, or UV damage. Rocking up to a Cars & Coffee with the top down will surely gain attention for the right reasons.
This 1970 Ford Torino GT Convertible is a dazzling classic. It has hit the market just as warmer weather is on our doorstep, making now the ideal time to park this beauty in your garage. The owner is frank in his assessment, stating that this Ford isn’t an original survivor. However, the changes are all period-correct and are designed to enhance the ownership and driving experience. I hope we have irresistibly drawn readers because this Torino has so much to offer. It is worth scrolling through the image gallery because it might provide the first look at your next classic purchase! Be sure to leave any questions in the comments below.
Bid On This Auction
Pirate bid $21,250.00 2024-05-17 09:58:42
BigHead56 bid $21,000.00 2024-05-17 09:58:10- Pirate bid $20,000.00 2024-05-17 09:55:28
- BigHead56 bid $19,750.00 2024-05-17 09:53:29
- Pirate bid $19,500.00 2024-05-17 09:49:40
- BigHead56 bid $19,250.00 2024-05-17 09:48:35
- Pirate bid $19,000.00 2024-05-17 09:18:42
Johnny bid $15,500.00 2024-05-17 08:44:02- Pirate bid $15,000.00 2024-05-17 08:05:22
- Johnny bid $12,250.00 2024-05-17 08:03:37
- Pirate bid $12,000.00 2024-05-17 07:23:02
- Johnny bid $11,750.00 2024-05-17 06:28:23
- Pirate bid $11,500.00 2024-05-17 06:24:06
- Johnny bid $11,250.00 2024-05-17 05:18:34
- Pirate bid $11,000.00 2024-05-17 01:36:44
- Johnny bid $10,750.00 2024-05-16 13:21:39
Mailmn50 bid $10,500.00 2024-05-15 14:29:28- Johnny bid $10,250.00 2024-05-15 10:54:23
Czerwonka bid $10,000.00 2024-05-12 10:13:42
Loo56 bid $9,000.00 2024-05-11 18:09:56
ddh2153 bid $8,500.00 2024-05-11 17:56:50- Loo56 bid $7,500.00 2024-05-11 13:33:57
Mike & Sammie Shield bid $7,000.00 2024-05-11 09:26:28
psirotary bid $6,750.00 2024-05-11 09:14:18- Czerwonka bid $4,500.00 2024-05-11 08:59:37
chieftbird bid $4,000.00 2024-05-10 08:48:19
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Comments
I always loved this generation Torino. The blue color is outstanding with the black. It is one of the only cars I would leave the factory dog dish trim ring combo. Buy and drive.
Ford made a lot of Torino GTs with the yawn 302, nothing more than emblems on many. Never saw a convertible GT with anything but a small block. At least he upped the cubes some. Nice looking car but they never got the duck tail rear end treatment like the fastback, just the rounded decklid like the base Torino’s and Falcon.
Don’t get me wrong, I like the upgrade to the 351, be it a Cleveland or a Windsor, but a modern 302/5.0L can give you almost the same power as a 351 back in the day, with less weight in the nose. Not much less, to be sure, but less all the same. I’m sure that there’s no shortage of wrecked 1990’s Mustangs to choose from in junkyards all over the country, LOL! If you really want to go crazy, there’s always a Coyote crate motor available for your driving pleasure.
Beautiful. Just beautiful. Unfortunately I don’t have a gazillion dollars I can part with at the moment.
Ooo baby is this pretty. Easily my favorite Torinos and it’s a GT convertible! Just a great looking car. I’d be smiling all the way down the road.
Nice, just 45 miles north of Marietta here.
Great write up!
Nice Torino. Love the 351 Cleveland – best breathing heads – 2nd to the Boss 302 – on any Ford small block.
C6 is great if you just want to hang on- 3000 rpm would be the stall speed for the torque converter … I believe you were getting to.
Nice!
It’s a 351 Windsor. Not sure why they would not go with the Cleveland when they replaced the 302.
A real beauty. I don’t believe I’ve ever seen a Torino convertible.
There’s another Torino parked in front of it in one photo.
.. i think that might be the big T , like Talladega in that pic
this 70 Torino though is sO much car. So classy, yet muscle, and stealth bomber yet boombastic
380 ftlb torque !, thatd pull a 10,000 trailer easily.
i used to own a 70 GT hardtop, they look even more dramatically stealthy in person.
Someone lucky bidder is getting a rare chance to stewart an awesome car.
Gotta say, from the 70GT500 last week to the Omni, to the Hudson Hornet..
Barn Finds sure finds some treasure !
I’d bid on this and hopefully win if I had the money. Always preferred this generation to the Gran Torino (of which I owned 2), I thought it was sleeker looking. Love the color combination.
I agree, I like the styling on these better than the later (1972-76) examples. I like the blue color on the outside, but as the owner of three (3) convertibles, one (1) of which had a black interior, let me tell you, the black interior can be a problem on a hot summer day, especially if the car has been parked in the sun with top down for an extended period! If you’re wearing shorts, might I humbly suggest putting a towel on the seat before you sit down, LOL!
Very nice indeed and good luck to next owner.
God I’m dying here ! I want this car ! Mom had a 70 Torino that I grew up around . My brother bought it from her so he had it for a while . Later on my first car was a Gran Torino . Couple years down the road , my next car was , you guessed it , 1970 Torino . Was eventually T boned . What did I do ?
Found a donor Torino and made one out of the two . Fast forward 25 years . I have a 70 1/2 Falcon in my garage that needs restoration . To say Torino’s are in my blood would be an understatement .
I know every nut and bolt of these cars .
Waiting on a vaccine injury claim . I’ll be looking for a turn key Torino . Unfortunately this one came too soon .
I hope whoever buys this car enjoys it as much as I would .
The ’70’/’71 Torino GT’s were were the last car Ford built which was designed by just one man. When the suits saw the clay mockup they said, Don’t change a thing & lock the door. I owned a ’71, 302 auto. then a ’70, 351 auto. with AC & the factory aluminum slats on the rear window.
I can’t tell if it has factory air or not
That very big auto trans cooler looks like an ac condenser!
That high stall speed converter runs tranny heat up.
No AC on this one.
I live about 45 minutes from calhoun near Atlanta. I would like to be able to physically look at the vehicle
I had one of these, only better. Mine was a 429 with 4 speed. Bench seat and sidewinder tachometer. Drop the top and the pedal, it was a very rare blast. Wish I still had it.
Lots of love has been spent on this car! Reserve not met yet but…over….$20K would be asking too much….not 100% original car. We like the bucket seats. Any convertible or coupe should have buckets…not a single seat. Switch drivers and driver needs to move the seat closer to the steering wheel… passenger is taller and needs leg room and now is cramped because the seat has to be moved up. We’ve passed on buying many a classic convertible because of no buckets. This one….have to see how the bidding goes…
I’m a purist, so too many changes for me. I’m closer than anyone here as I live just up the road in Dalton, GA.
Beautiful color, but dump those stupid interior lights and big speaker
The nice thing about the interior lights and sub-woofer is they are completely removable without affecting the car’s integrity in any way. I kind of like the cool blue glow of the exterior color being brought indoors. And the best of 1970 radios in most American cars were an example of how cheap the manufacturers were in the day. Upgraded sound is inexpensive today and would not detract from the value of this heavily modified survivor from 54 years ago. The other alternative is to switch both of those mods off so you don’t have to see or hear them, until you want to.
Love this car!!!
Couple of Georgia boyz in this discussion.. Add one more from Athens. THE definition of classic car. What a well cared for absolute beauty. Torino was always my 2nd fave behind Stangs. 1970’s model was also awarded Motor Trend’s Car of the Year. What a time period for autos. Today’s offerings are use & discard imo.
I agree. None of today’s offerings are restorable. Not intended to be. Drive until it quits and recycle. This Torino was one of the last to be worthy of what us “old timers” called “fixing up”. By the ’80s it was almost all junk.IMO
I would like to see photos of the underside of the car showing the replaced floor and inside the rear fender area. Nice car and I could well be a buyer, nice upgrades to and well done as far as I can see.
I like the styling on these much better than the later models, but like the full frame they put under them starting in 1972 (like Clint Eastwood’s Gran Torino). The only way this car could be better would be with a white top and white interior! Those black seats will get awfully hot in the summer sun with the top down! Don’t wear shorts if it’s been sitting in the sun, LOL!
Looks like cleveland valve covers which are square and Windsor where rounded
That’s funny I owned a NASCAR 71 torino GT with the 429 CJ and factory four speed and owned IT from 76 until 2010 and had no problems with it and did regular hole shots from 4500rpm and dead stop and scared the hell out of other muscle car owners that built their car.. mine was stock with after market glass packs.. Yes there’s are many others that are better than this convertible and still great shape.. Plus lower than twenty thousand and a real motor..
Well, since the original motor is gone anyway, another engine upgrade, to a crate 427 or 572 is only a phone call away, if your bank balance can stand it! The other option would be a set of CJ or SCJ heads for that 351. Correct me if I’m wrong, but didn’t Ford make a 351 CJ or SCJ? Or was that the Cleveland instead of the Windsor that’s in this bad boy? If you can’t get CJ or SCJ heads for the Windsor, there’s always the aftermarket (Edelbrock, et al.). O.K., so it’s not a big block, but new heads won’t break the bank, either.
Ford did make a 351 Cleveland CJ. They had 4 bolt main caps, a windage tray and they all came with 4 barrel open chamber heads. They were topped off with a spread bore carb.
Robert is spot on. I know black interiors look great, but they’re a bear in the summer time making the convertible almost unusable….well, maybe not that bad :-) Ma had a black 57 Olds 88 convertible with a white interior. The 59 Catalina convert had an aqua marine tri-color. Frankly, any convertible top down out in the sun for a while is going to need towels to avoid 2nd degree burns to the buns.
Looks great I have a 71 gt conv sitting in garage for past 29 years 72000 orig. Miles needs restored all original 351 clev. 4 spd. A/c hideaway headlights triple white
A 1970 Torino convertible was never on my bucket list but this is irresistible. Unfortunately I’m on vacation and can’t get to Calhoun GA to check it out until after the auction ends. I wish the seller well but kinda hoping it’s still available.
Any chance to see some underside pics? Need to see floors, frame rails etc in order to decide how much to bid.