It consisted of even stiffer springs and shocks, an 11/16ths-inch anti-roll bar, and meatier tires. The 351 Windsor became an option in 69. The SportsRoof was a unique-looking rear end treatment that was unique to the GT.

This is strongly believed to be one of the earliest original front ends. The stainless was professionally polished and looks amazing. NASCAR founder and president, Bill France, had been at the Daytona test and was nonplussed by the speeds he had witnessed. Likewise, the headlights were set back into scoop-shaped tunnels topped with covers for maximum aero efficiency. The 429 isn't this prototype's original engine, eitherFord initially tested this car with a 460-cubic-inch V8. Furthermore, this hood has a steel reinforcement and does not require a prop rod or stands, as do the reproduction hoods. This is truly a rare investment quality vehicle that has been given the royal treatment as far as restorations go. As it stood, just three prototypes were built in total, one with the Boss 429 engine, one had the 429 Super Cobra Jet engine, and one had the 429 Cobra Jet. The GT was a good performer, with contemporary reviews lauding both its power and handling. Traction-Lok and Detroit Lockers were available according to engine type. If you have the means, we highly recommend picking one up. Known simply as the Ford Cobra, the car was Fords attempt to mirror Mother Mopars successful formula of taking a Plymouth GTX and stripping out all the comfort and luxury items to form the basis of the low-cost, high-smiles Road Runner. This vehicle is powered by the original 429 cubic inch 370 bhp Cobra Jet V8, power is sent to the rear wheels via an automatic transmission. The only other known surviving front end is on racing legend Bud Moore's own King Cobra. NASCAR itself didn't help matters either, regulating the so-called "aero cars" out of eligibility for the 1971 season. The interior is almost unchanged from the standard Ford Torino, this car came from the factory with factory-fitted air conditioning, power steering, power brakes, and power windows. The GT was available with a host of drivetrains. (Photo courtesy of Mecum Auctions.). (Photo courtesy of Motor1.). As I grew older, my thirst for learning everything I could about cars, both contemporary and classic, became all-consuming. F70-14s came with the Competition package. Instead of the original 429 Cobra Jet, this King Cobra is now powered by a Boss 429, Fords NASCAR engine of the era. Given my zeal, it amazes and enthuses me that today I can occasionally come across a car which, by virtue of its rarity, or perhaps its lack of impact on the automotive world, somehow managed to escape my knowledge base. [emailprotected]. Backing these motors up were a variety of transmissions, including two different three-speed manuals, a pair of four-speed manuals, and no less than three Cruise-O-Matic slushboxes. Original Numbers Matching 429ci Cobra Jet Engine His production run consisted of 4 front ends. Heavy Duty Nodular 9" 3.00:1 Differential He kept the yellow production version that had more refinements to the fiberglass front end. With the mid-1969 entry of the Dodge Charger Daytona into NASCAR's Grand National series, Ford needed something serious to maintain its years-long dominance of the series. Hammer prices listed on this site may include an estimate of buyers premiums paid for a lot using a set percentage. Actual buyer's premiums vary based on lot type, bidding method and other factors. Straight and Solid Body New Brake Lines According to period reports, the Ford Torino King Cobra was capable of over 200 mph on long banked circuits, but the lack of a rear wing meant the back of the car would lift. The top lump for 68 was the 428 Cobra Jet V8. Moore eventually sold this orange King Cobra, which was rediscovered many years later in a South Carolina field.

The only surviving all original car is Bud Moore's yellow car with no graphics. Whats more, all that work to the placement of the grille proved fruitless, as the big blocks under the hood were overheating. A wide variety of gearsets could be chosen from, with a 4.30:1 ratio the top performance option. The GTs 14 x 6-inch steelies with F70-14 bias-plys made the marriage between car and road. As NASCAR-related relics go, it doesn't get much more rare than this. However, this 1970 Torino King Cobra, one of only three built by Ford as a NASCAR aero special, has managed to survive for 49 years. The restoration was just completed and both the engine and transmission have been rebuilt for performance and durability. We promise not to use your email address for anything but exclusive updates from the Power Automedia Network. New U Joints Privacy Policy - Terms of Service - Contact Us, The Lucini Lamborghini Hydroplane Powered By An 8.2 Liter Lamborghini V12 With 850 HP, Theres A Custom Ferrari 412 Pickup Ute For Sale $19,500+ USD, Americas Most Beautiful Car? Outside, the Cobra had a blacked-out grille, Cobra emblems behind the front wheel arches, and a hood pin kit. Shinoda set to work, enlisting the services of 1968-70 Dodge Charger sheet metal designer, Harvey Winn, and designers Jacques Passino, Bill Shannon, Dick Petit, and Kar Krafts Ed Hall. Its not known exactly why the team didnt add a rear wing to the car, whether they thought it wouldnt need it, or that it might create unnecessary drag at high speeds, but its an omission that was felt by the first person to drive the car at speed. Of the trio, it was the only one equipped with a 4-speed transmission. The latter used a 113-inch wheelbase, while the hardtop and sedan models rode on an extended 116-inch one. Power is provided by a 429 cubic inch 370 bhp Cobra Jet V8 mated to an automatic transmission. The lot and information presented at auction on the auction block supersedes any previous descriptions or information. Quadrajet Carb Call Tom 7 Days a Week at 248-974-9513! Track testing of the newly-christened Ford King Cobras at Daytona was initially promising as all three cars easily slipped past the 200 mph barrier, but further testing revealed problems. (Photo courtesy of bringatrailer.com.).

The 1968 Ford Torino GT. Further work would clearly need to be done to the King Cobra. Mecum is not responsible for information that may be changed or updated prior to the auction. Three prototypes were constructed, and a different big block was dumped into each a Boss 429, a 429 Cobra Jet, and a 429 Super Cobra Jet. Floor Shift An extensive restoration has brought the car back to its original prototype condition, including its one-of-a-kind convex glass rear window, original CarLite glass stamped prototype development, and prototype lettering on the back of a door panel and the gauge housing. In the late 1960s the world of NASCAR had begun to take aerodynamics seriously the cars were approaching 200 mph on some banked circuits and the only viable way to get them to go any faster was to make them more slippery. King Cobra Bud Moore Real Front End! Fearing that the aerodynamic war between Ford and Chrysler would lead to carnage, he instituted an engine handicap to slow the aero cars down and increased the homologation requirements from 500 to 3,000 streetcars. This model was supposed to be a followup to the TorinoTalladega and a competitor against the Plymouth Superbird. This extremely rare 1970 King Cobra is documented with a copy bill of sale from Ford to Bud Moore. (Photo courtesy of Motor1.). The standard engine was supposed to be the 210 horsepower, 302 cubic-inch V8, however, due to a UAW (United Auto Workers) strike at the time, Ford had to use the 195 horsepower 289 cubic-inch V8 instead. Its likely that a wing would have been added had the project not been cancelled. Ford president Bunkie Knudsen handed down a brief to legendary designer, Larry Shinoda, who had recently penned the Boss 302 Mustang, in which the objectives were simple: break 200 mph; beat Mopar. And now one of them can be yours. Powered by Gasoline and Caffeine. We may earn money from the links on this page. Silodrome was founded by Ben back in 2010, in the years since the site has grown to become a world leader in the alternative and vintage motoring sector, with millions of readers around the world and many hundreds of thousands of followers on social media. That car, the Torino King Cobra, never made it to the track, but thankfully two prototypes survived. One magazine tested a 1968 Ford Torino GT equipped with the 428 Cobra Jet, C-6 Cruise-O-Matic, and 3.91:1 gears, and recorded a 14.2 second quarter at 98.9 mph. For starters, the front end of the car actually produced too much downforce, and the lack of a rear wing created rear-end instability in high-speed banked turns. Under the hood, however, there were more significant modifications. The 428-4V Super Cobra Jet became the new performance motor. Today, all three cars are accounted for and fully restored, with one having been sold at auction for the princely sum of $525,000. Further modifications were made to fit the prodigious 429 cubic inch Ford V8 into the engine bay, this would be mated to either a 4-speed manual or an automatic transmission. The Ford Torino King Cobra you see here is notable for a number of reasons, not the least of which is that it only has 837 miles on the odometer, its theonly King Cobra with a production Torino VIN, and it was formerly ownedby Bud Moore, Jacky Jones, and Brett Torino. A unit-construction vehicle that was based on the prior Fairlane generations platform, the 1968 Torino was available in two-door notchback, four-door sedan, and station wagon configurations. We'll send you the most interesting Street Muscle articles, news, car features, and videos every week. 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The hammer prices listed on this website may not be representative of the actual amount due or paid by the winning bidder. Frame is Solid and Clean Ford had handily won the 1968 title with a Torino in the hands of star driver David Pearson and was looking good to repeat in 69 based on the first ten races of the season, of which Pearson won three. (Photo courtesy of fuelcurve.com.). It has high-back bucket seats, a center console with a floor shifter, and a unique Cobra-branded emblem on the right side of the dashboard. Building The Worlds Fastest V8 Flathead Ford With Modern Parts, Going Against The Grain Pays Off For Mike Obermyers 68 C10, SEMA 2021: Turbosmarts Straight-Gate50 Is Redefining Wastegates, ARP Bolt Talk: What Is Torque Spec And Why Fastener Torque Matters. Copyright 2000-2022 Mecum Auction, Inc. All rights reserved. Road & Track participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means we may get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links to retailer sites. Are you an InfoNet member or Mecum Customer? There is another Yellow Cobra that is considered to be an original with Holman & Moody VIN numbers. Beautiful Fit and Finish Cast Iron Tail Housing Surrounding them were 14 x 5.5-inch steel wheels with GT hubcaps and E70-14 tires Firestone Super Sport tires. The lack of an airfoil created rear-end instability in testing. Upsized 2.5" Reproduction Exhaust To slash the vehicles cost la the Road Runner, Ford gave the Cobra the Fairlane 500s interior trim in lieu of the plusher Torino bits.