4-Speed Field Find: 1968 Ford Torino 390 GT
There’s nothing quite like finding an interesting car in an abandoned and neglected setting. The resounding thought always is, “How, or why, did it end up here in this condition? Well, let’s examine this 1968 Ford Torino GT and see if we can answer that question. This forlorn Ford is located in Bowden, Georgia and is available, here on eBay for a current bid of $430, reserve not yet met.
Torino was a new name for Ford in ’68, actually, their entire intermediate lineup, which was known the prior year as the Fairlane, was newly redesigned. Body styles now included a two-door hardtop fastback in addition to the more traditional notchback, convertible, four-door sedan, and station wagon versions. The Fairlane was still around, it had just gotten knocked downstairs in the line-up. Trim levels included, from the top, the Torino GT, Torino, Fairlane 500, and the Fairlane. The Torino GT, such as our subject car, came standard with a C side stripe (on the fastback body style), styled steel wheels, 70 series tires, blacked-out grille, bucket seats, and a 210 gross HP, 302 CI V8 engine.
The original purchaser of this GT spec’d a 265 gross HP 390 CI V8 engine and a four-speed manual transmission. The listing is a bit confusing as the seller claims, “The vehicle is drivable” but then adds, “All 4 wheels are locked up its been sitting for many years.” The engine appears as if it hasn’t turned a lick in many moons, so I’d say this one is a no-goer.
OK all of you Stooge fans, note the interior and the floor mat covering up the huge hole in the floor. It reminds me of the episode where Moe and the boys somehow become plumbers and cut a huge hole in a society matron’s bathroom floor (A Plumbing We Will Go) and then Curly covers it up with a bathmat so “no one will fall in it”. The seller does admit that this car will need a floor and trunk pan. But that’s not all…The interior is completely shot, the upholstery, dash pad, door panels, headliner and probably the instrument panel gauges will all need to be completely redone.
As for the exterior, it’s pretty rough too, Besides the very obvious surface rust, there is rot-through, dents, and misaligned panels. Of concern should be underside structural components. The seller adds, “I own a full restoration shop so I can go into detail what the body needs if you have questions. Hood needs work, missing the scoop“. The only thing really interesting noted are the five-spoke, old school Radir wheels positioned at three of the four corners.
This car was a looker in its day, but those days are long gone now. So, the question is, is this Torino GT salvageable or is it time to put a fork in it?
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Comments
It says in the EBay ad that it is drive-able, yet it also states that all four wheels are locked up.:). Good luck.
The engine looks to have a broken motor mount, the left front wheel shows the wheels ARE locked, the body has more holes in it than a politician’s promises.. wait-mom said if you can’t say anything good about something don’t say anything at all!
Hmmmm..
Well, the passenger door window crank is still there..
Still and all, it looks more complete than some of the other rust-buckets we’ve seen (the completely shot Charger we saw a few weeks ago comes to mind).
GLWTA
What a sad state this 68 Torino is in now. The 390 manual would have been no slouch in its day but damn! Poor thing isn’t even a rolling chassis. If you got the money, you’ve got the time I guess. Would be a challenge in a home shop.
Love Torinos but this one isn’t on my Torino list.
Agree with the wheels, probably the most valuable along with the transmission.
Just get it inside and pick away at it. It needs everything. The sale price will be determined by interest. These cars did hold their own on the street
A 390 Torino?…….what street would that be?
any street i. had a new one in 1968 a fast back 390 325hp 4 speed and it would eat a gto and a ss396 for lunch did many times i traded a 1967 327 300hp vette for it and it was much faster than the vette was the reason for trade we where expecting our first child and needed a back seat
the mill looks like a 390 to me. The guy owns a full restoration shop yet is wishy washy. These had a nasty habit of rotting in the firewall, creating a hinge like effect. Parts car anyway. Sorry to see this one in such shape, these were cool cars. Wonder what the reserve is? Good luck and happy motoring.
Cheers
GPC
any street i. had a new one in 1968 a fast back 390 325hp 4 speed and it would eat a gto and a ss396 for lunch did many times i traded a 1967 327 300hp vette for it and it was much faster than the vette was the reason for trade we where expecting our first child and needed a back seat
It ain’t beating a a 375 horse ss , probably not a 350 hp either but the would take a 325hp down from time to time.
Any honest ford guy will tell you the 390 was no great performance motor. You may very well have beaten a 396 or gto on the street, dont really mean much there. Go to a drag strip an race that 390 against others cars that are more likely in a proper state of tune and see what happens. 390’s were better suited for station wagons, LTDs an Tbirds…..Theres a reason Taska Ford in RI wanted Ford to do something with the s code mustangs, they were uncompetitive with small block camaros never mind L78 ones. Taska took it upon themselves to put the 428 with 427 heads in the 68 mustang and it cured the competition problem….the 428 cj was born and they went to be dominate in super stock….dont believe me? look it up
@sakingsbury.
+1
Very hard for me to believe a Ford 390 beat a very stout 396/375hp underrated, more like 425hp. Read up on it.
really not a ford guy more chevy had may 283 327 348 chevys only bought torino for looks i love looks of 66 67 ss396 and gto did not like new body in 68 and needed to sell vette because of growing family and like looks of torino better i. used to go to conn speedway earlly 60s remember taska ford there think they may have run a thunderbolt also there
A donor car at best
It,s at $3,202.. Looks like some one needs vin tags. This car needs alot of work and money. The body shop mans knows it. Is why he has it for sale on ebay. Theirs alot nicer cars in better shape you can buy for less. Reminds me of the time I went to look at a NICE looking 64 mustang. When I looked under it. Everything was rusted out. The owner lied and said the floors were solid. That him and his son-in -law put a new carpet in it. On the driverside. Their was a hole big enough to put a basket ball through. I passed his $3,500 offer,. The next day. I bought a 76 firebird in alot better shape and drove it home for $1,300. Oh and the mustang had a stuck-6 and the automatic was also stuck. About all the car would be worth is about $1,000–gotta figure your tow bill too,etc
http://hyperboleandahalf.blogspot.com/2010/04/alot-is-better-than-you-at-everything.html
I can’t hold back any longer. Please, people, absorb the humour in this link and learn once and for ever that “alot” is NOT a word!
No Johnny, $2,302🙄
It’s $2,302.00 at this time. When looking at a car like this you must have a vision of a finished car in your mind. Take into account of cost to get to that vision and desire to accomplish said vision. For the money it will take and the hours of work, you might be better off looking elsewhere. The 390 and 4 speed are worth saving, but I don’t know about the rest.
God bless America
Who orders a Torino gt with a 390 two barrel?!!!
If this was a 69 Mopar it would be 10000 dollars
True, but it would not yet meet the reserve.
you know taska ford i was at conn dragway in early 60 with then my sister and i both ran g stock me in a 58 impala ht 348 250 hp 3 speed stick she had a new 63 impala convertible 327 250hp 4speed
Who noticed the emeryville sitting in the background?
Owner needs to get down on the ground and take photos of the floor pans and frame. I’ll lay you 10/1 they are SHOT!!!
Ate many SS396? The Torino may have been eating the gas fumes from Rat,while the driver of the 396 hot rod ate his lunch at the finish line waiting on the ford. Glad folks still have a sense of humor today. 😎
Your sense of humor is obviously intact. I know its hard for some homers to admit that their precious favorite brand and model of car is not always the fastest.. or best looking.. or most desirable. When in high school.. my best friend had a 66 396 4spd Chevelle SS.. I had a 70 Torino GT 390 4spd. we raced all the time. one day I’d beat him.. the next day he beat me. So yeah.. the 396 was not invincible.. neither one ate each others lunch. two years later.. I bought his Chevelle for $600. That was the going rate in 1977.
Apparently, the farmer mistook it for a Massey Ferguson GT. That’s how it ended up.
IMO the present owner realizes even with his free labor he’ll be so underwater on this build that its time to let go.
I have a soft spot for 68 Fords, especially Fairlanes and Torinos, but this one… It needs absolutely everything. A hole in the passenger side floor is likely only the beginning of a whole lot of rust repair.
$200 tops! If it runs and drives