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    Pick of the Day: 1970 Ford Torino SportsRoof

    The 1960s were all about the youth market. Plenty of models that looked sporty but didn’t quite have the performance to match—witness the Mustang 2+2, AMC Marlin, Dodge Charger, and many others that looked fast but were quite the opposite in standard configuration. Our Pick of the Day is one of those vehicles that had broad appeal for the masses, though its story is a bit different. This 1970 Ford Torino SportsRoof is listed for sale on ClassicCars.com by a dealership in Sherman, Texas.

    When Ford introduced its redesigned Fairlane series for 1968, there were many changes in the lineup. Gone was the bucket-seat XL and GT models, now replaced by the Torino and Torino GT; unlike for 1966-67, only the Torino GT came with bucket seats standard, with the Torino featuring a fancy bench seat instead. For the GT, there were now three body styles available, as a fastback was added to the roster.

    This fastback was also available as a Fairlane 500, Ford’s mid-size bread-and-butter model. It was among five ways to go, which included a two-door hardtop and convertible, four-door sedan, and wagon. The Fairlane 500 fastback was available with all engines, six and V8, including both the 390 and (starting in April) 428 Cobra Jet, though those engine were rarely ordered. And though Ford offered the Fairlane 500 fastback as a cheaper, more pedestrian alternative to the Torino GT, it was the Torino GT fastback that was the biggest seller among the whole Fairlane series by a large margin.

    Ford’s marketing department decided to brand all fastbacks “SportsRoof” for 1969. In addition to the Torino GT and Fairlane 500 SportsRoof offerings, Ford introduced a new performance model—Cobra—which was available as a SportsRoof, making three fastbacks within the mid-size series.

    For 1970, Ford redesigned its mid-size series. Gone was the Fairlane, with the series now buttressed by the Fairlane 500 (and, come mid-year, the Falcon) and topped by the all-new Torino Brougham. The Fairlane 500 was now only available as three body styles: two-door hardtop, four-door sedan, and station wagon—no more convertible or SportsRoof. The Torino (knocked down one rung in the hierarchy) now played the bread-and-butter role among Ford’s mid-size series and offered four body styles: two-door hardtop, four-door hardtop, four-door sedan, and station wagon. There was no SportsRoof to succeed the 1969 Fairlane 500 SportsRoof when the 1970 model year debuted.

    But on December 16, 1969, Ford announced the Torino SportsRoof in a Car Merchandising News Flash bulletin. “The exceptional sportsroof [sic] styling of the 1970 Torino GT and the Torino Cobra will now be available in the standard Torino series.” In another dealer item, Ford claimed “adding Torino SportsRoof to the economy segment brings this sales-marketing feature within reach of an enormous cross-section of car buyers,” touting a price $164 cheaper than a Torino GT—“a sporty alternative to offer the GT enthusiast who can’t quite afford the higher series unit.” The Torino SportsRoof had appeal to Torino GT shoppers who need a car for less money, or any sporty compact buyer (like a Mustang) who wants to move up in vehicle size but still get a sporty-looking car in the same price range.

    Not many people selected the Torino SportsRoof and opted for four-barrel engines with any semblance to horsepower, but this Medium Red 1970 Torino SportsRoof was ordered with the 300-horsepower “M-code” 351-4V. This engine was on the cusp between regular consumers seeking a bit more horsepower and the first step for enthusiasts who wanted to go fast. In fact, only 631 folks opted for this 351 paired with the FMX Select-Shift Cruise-O-Matic. In addition to the engine, this Torino features the optional 3.25 axle ratio, F70x14 belted whitewall tires, power front disc brakes, AM radio, tinted glass all-around, and argent Styled Steel wheels (one of 109 so equipped, according to Marti Auto Works). Note the lack of power steering! Seller claims 99,467 miles on this unusual Blue Oval. Judging by the pictures, the interior has been changed from the Black cloth and vinyl bench seat to all-vinyl, and the wheels are now Magnum 500s. Other observations include the addition of an FM tuner and 8-track tape player.

    If you’re a regular guy or gal who tends to fall under the bell curve of life but whose automotive whims fall under the fringes, then this $28,500 Ford checks all the boxes.

    Click here to view this Pick of the Day on ClassicCars.com

    SRT V10-Powered 1941 Lincoln-Zephyr Coupe Street Rod

    This 1941 Lincoln-Zephyr coupe was purchased by the current owner in the late 2000s and was subsequently modified as a street rod, with the work being performed primarily by The Shop-RC Classics in Palm Desert, California over a four-year period from 2009 to 2012. A V10 sourced from an SRT-10 pickup was installed along with a four-speed automatic transmission. The exterior was modified into a three-window coupe and repainted two-tone purple, the door handles were shaved, and the rear turn indicators were frenched. The car rides on chrome 17″ American Racing wheels wrapped in Goodyear Eagle Sport tires and features a Mustang II-style front end, rear coilover shocks, power-assisted disc brakes, and power-assisted rack-and-pinion steering. Customization continues on the interior with twin power-adjustable buckets wrapped in brown leather, a center console, and an Alpine CD stereo. This Zephyr custom is now offered on dealer consignment in Tucson, Arizona with two binders of service records and a clean Arizona title in the name of the owner’s trust.

    The body was refinished by The Shop in Palm Desert, California, with work being performed between 2009 and 2012. The roof from a three-window coupe replaced the original five-window roof in 2009, the hood, trunk lid, doors, and fenders were reworked and reinstalled in 2011, and the overall bodywork was prepped, primed, and painted in light purple with a dark purple upper section and a purple-and-cream beltline in 2012. During the exterior work the door handles were shaved and door poppers were installed. The exterior is accented with twin chrome waterfall grilles, chrome windshield wipers and window trim, and front and rear chrome bumpers with overriders.

    Additional details include rear wheel cover, “Viper Powered” badging, dual side mirrors, frenched rear turn indicators, a center-mounted brake light, and twin chrome exhaust outlets. There are cracks at the corner of the hood opening.

    Chrome 17″ American Racing Salt Flat wheels are wrapped in Goodyear Eagle Sport tires. Disc brakes are fitted at all four corners and are mated to an electric high-power mast brake pump. The suspension features a Mustang II-style front end with cut springs, rear coilover shocks, and revised upper and lower control arms and spindles, and the car is equipped with power-assisted rack and pinion steering.

    The power-adjustable bucket seats are wrapped in brown leather, and matching leather extends to the center console and lower portion of the dashboard. The latter was repainted to match the exterior in 2012, and it is accented by chrome trim. Additional interior details include vent windows, folding seatbacks, gold-colored lap belts, air conditioning, a column-mounted shifter, and an Alpine CD stereo that is mounted in the custom center console. A battery shut-off switch is located in the trunk area, which is trimmed in interior-matching tan leather and carpets.

    The three-spoke banjo-style steering wheel features chrome accents and is mounted ahead of a circular cluster of AutoMeter instrumentation including a 120-mph speedometer and gauges for fuel level, voltage, oil pressure, and coolant temperature. A 7k-rpm AutoMeter tachometer is mounted adjacent to the instrument cluster. The digital odometer indicates over 900 miles, which represents the mileage on the build.

    The 8.3-liter V10 was sourced from a Dodge SRT-10 Ram pickup and was installed by Specialty Performance Team in 2010. Equipped with red valve covers, the engine was factory-rated at 500 horsepower and 525 lb-ft of torque when new. The Shop in Palm Desert conducted additional fabrication work in 2011 that including fitment of the transmission and fuel system hardware, preparation of the electronic fuel injection system, and installation of miscellaneous cabling and hoses. The headers were also cut and redirected, and photos of the service records shown in the gallery further outline the work performed.

    Power is sent to the rear wheels through a Dodge 48RE four-speed automatic transmission.

    The title carries an “Odometer in Excess of Mechanical Limits” code.

    324 Olds-Powered 1930 Ford Model A Coupe Hot Rod

    This ’30 Ford Model A is a steel-bodied, five-window coupe that was purchased by the seller in 2000, and the hot rod was completed around 2020. It is powered by a 324ci Oldsmobile V8 topped by two Rochesters and linked to a Borg-Warner T-85 three-speed manual transmission with overdrive and a Dana 44 rear end. The ’30 frame was boxed and Z’d, and the steel body is channeled 4.5″ over it and has a louvered decklid. The car rides on 16″ steel wheels with a leaf-spring suspension and drum brakes, and custom details continue inside with a ’36 HaDees heater, a ’38 Ford dashboard, a ’36 Mercedes-Benz firewall, ’47 Mercury wheel, and a ’32 Ford cowl vent. Driven ~300 miles since it was completed, this five-window hot rod is now offered with a clean Washington title in the seller’s name.

    The body is steel and has been channeled over the boxed and Z’d frame. The BLC headlights have integrated turn signals, and ’48 Olds tail lights were installed. The rear deck is louvered, and the car has a ’32 Ford cowl vent and a ’36 Mercedes-Benz firewall. An auxiliary light and horn are mounted on the chrome spreader bar, and the rear window rolls down.

    ’40 Ford 16″ steel wheels are painted beige and have Diamondback bias-ply-look tires. The car has leaf spring suspension and drum brakes.

    Inside is an adjustable bench seat with a Firestone cover, a ’36 HaDees heater, a Hurst shifter, a ’38 Ford dashboard, and a ’47 Mercury wheel. Diamond-stitched upholstery covers the kick panels and transmission tunnel, and the garnish trim is chromed.

    Additional gauges are mounted under the dashboard, and the seller has driven the car ~300 miles since completion. The clock does not work.

    A fuel tank and the battery are mounted in the trunk, and the floor has been cut to provide clearance for the rear crossmember.

    The 324ci Olds V8 is topped by two Rochester carburetors with Edmunds air cleaners. The headers are linked to a dual exhaust system with cutouts.

    The Borg-Warner T-85 three-speed manual transmission with overdrive is linked to a Dana 44 rear end with a custom-painted cover.

    The seller provided the image of the in-progress build.

    The car is titled as a 1930 Ford A Coupe using VIN A4058359.

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