When you think of old-school Ford performance cars, it's the Ford Mustang that comes to mind first. Over the years, the pony car has cemented itself as an icon of the American automotive landscape and has continued to dominate even global sports car standings for the seventh year in a row. The new S650 Mustang looks like it'll be a hot seller too, and older Fox body 'Stangs are beginning to appreciate in value too. But what if you want some real muscle and not a pony car? Well, Ford once sold something called the Torino, and now the rarest Torino of them all can be yours if you have enough cash.
Next month's Indianapolis Mecum auction will see this one-of-one 1970 Ford Torino King Cobra cross the auction block. We saw one prototype version of the car (three were made in total) come up for sale about five years ago, but this here is the only production model ever made. It was created as an aero car project that Ford was working on in the Sixties to help it find more speed in its NASCAR battles with the Dodge Daytona and Plymouth Superbird, which are remembered for their enormous rear wings. Sadly, the Ford project never reached the racetrack, and that's what makes this singular production version all the more special.
Past owners include Bud Moore, Jacky Jones, and Brett Torino, yet despite changing hands so many times and despite the fact that the car is now more than half a century old, only 837 miles have ever been covered with it. With such little strain being put on the car in its life, it has never needed a restoration and presents as immaculate. Fitted with a 429 Cobra Jet V8, this special muscle car produced 370 horsepower when new, sending that power to the rear wheels via an automatic transmission. The car also comes with the original invoice from Ford to Bud Moore Engineering, the bill of sale and original MSO, the original door sticker, and more.
The rare Torino will be part of the Indy 2022 auction taking place from May 13-21, and while it's unclear what it could sell for, we doubt the figure will be low.