Private import: 1970 Ford Torino

By: Craig Rowland with Guy Allen - Words & Photos

Date: 13.06.2023

Thinking of buying overseas? Craig Rowland did and reckons it was a great experience

This was a retirement present to myself, after 27 years in the defence force. Instead of watching an investment that’s doing not much, I’ll get an investment that I actually enjoy. I haven’t looked back. It’s a 1970 model year Torino Cobra sports roof, built October 1969, with a 429 J-code CobraJet engine, C6 auto with nine-inch diff., disc brake front and drum rear.

The next step up from this was a Super CobraJet, which was a drag-pack car.

A big tough coupe guaranteed to get plenty of attention wherever it goes

It was restored in 2015-16, on a rotisserie, when they rebuilt the motor, the transmission – everything.

I was on usedcars.com, which has every shape and size of American cars and saw this. I showed it and several other cars to my wife Karen. The appeal was that there aren’t many in Australia and I like the similarities to an XA Falcon coupe.

| Read next: Falcon XA GT & Ford Torino 429 SCJ review

We looked at the Torino and thought we can land this, even with luxury car tax (don’t get me started on that!), GST and all that for $100,000 Australian. That only buys you a rusted-out project in XA coupes.

I bought it out of Canada and it arrived in Australia about September last year. Obviously there’s that stressful period when you’re sending a lot of money overseas.

| Read more: Ford Torino GT review

It arrived and drove it around and thought it sounds like it’s got all the power in the world but doesn’t really get up and go. I took it to a mechanic and they had a look and were scratching their head over why the linkages for the secondaries didn’t seem to be opening.

They realised someone had cut the shaft on the accelerator shaft, bent it towards the firewall and rewelded it, so the pedal had less forward travel.

| USA muscle car alternatives: Ford Torino

The mechanic mentioned he’d come across a Mustang with a similar set-up, and he thinks what some people were doing this in the USA – perhaps when dad was passing it on to the son – to limit the performance so they didn’t wipe themselves out.

He fixed that and then we went for a drive. It was like driving a totally different car. It lit up the tyres without any trouble. Now it acts and performs like a 429 should.

| Read next: 1969 Ford Torino Talladega

It claimed 370 horsepower out of the factory and that was an understatement – there was a lot of that for insurance reasons back in the day. They were probably around 400.

I like to compare them to XA coupes. Size-wise there’s a shoebox of volume between a Torino and an XA – the Torino is a little bit longer but its narrower and about the same height. To me, it’s an XA coupe with a 429.

| Read next: 1968-72 Ford Torino GT review

You can get serious bang for you buck – like this 429 CobraJet

You park them side-by-side with an XA coupe and you’re talking about something that cost about a third of the price with a lot more under the bonnet. If anyone should be dedicated to the local product, it’s probably me.

My second car when I was 18-19 was an XB coupe. I lost my virginity in that car, lost my licence in it three times – did everything in it! But even I looked at the maths and thought a 351 versus 429, similar body style for a third of the price, it was an easy decision.

| Revcounter: Import gems

The interior reflects that this was an upmarket car for 1970

If you’re not sure about what you want, then there are some really good options with the American cars. It pays to think outside the box and look at what alternatives are out there.

I’ve ended up with a turn-key car that’s the proverbial ‘ducks nuts’ for a lot less than the Aussie equivalent.

My best advice is get on the phone to the seller and have a talk. You’ll get a feel if they’re legit and you need to do your research.

Craig couldn’t be happier with his import experience

 It’s a dream to drive. The acceleration is off the charts. There’s no power steering, which I prefer. It doesn’t wallow around the road like a lot of American stuff. They were Motor Trend Car of the Year in 1970, so Ford got a lot right.

From Unique Cars #478, May 2023

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