Colorado Cruiser: 1969 Torino GT
Imagine a warm and sunny day in July. You walk out to your Torino GT, power the top down, and install the top boot; which is beautifully seamless with no exposed snaps. The striking Gulfstream Aqua paint glimmering in the sunlight is accented by the cool, white interior. You slide into the driver's seat with your sweetheart at your side (an advantage with the standard bench seat!). You turn the key and fire the smooth and powerful 351 4-barrel V8, put the Select-Shift transmission in drive, and cruise down a gently winding country road. The ride is smooth and quiet, and the GT suspension handles the curves with ease. You push the throttle down and the 351 responds with plenty of power; enough to leave all those lesser cars behind. The breeze blows through your hair and the sun feels warm. Life is good!
The action was hot at Ford for 1969, and this beautiful Torino GT was definitely part of the "Going Thing". When a buyer wanted a sporty convertible, but needed more room than the Mustang, the Torino GT was the obvious choice. Considered a mid-sized car in 1969, the Torino Convertible had an overall length of over 201 inches, and rode on a 116" wheelbase.
Mid-sized certainly didn't mean cramped quarters; when you step inside the big GT, you'll find room enough for the whole family. The bench seat was standard on the Torino GT, with bucket seats and floor console a $120 option. The padded instrument panel was very sporty, with four pods directly in front of the driver housing the vital signs. Standard instrumentation included a speedometer and gas gauge. Warning lights monitored all other functions. A 6000-RPM tachometer was optional as was an electric clock.
You can't help but notice the smooth, clean flowing lines of the Torino GT. The shape is sleek and simple with no bulges or other items that would look tacked on. The look is uncluttered, yet very distinctive with just the right amount of chrome around the wheel openings, grille and windshield. The rear end treatment is all Ford with the large single rear taillights. In fact, the styling is quite similar to the full-sized Fords.
In 1969, the GT equipment group added a sporty flair with special ornamentation, racing stripes, non-functional hood scoop, and wide tread belted tires mounted on competition styled steel wheels. Beefed up suspension was also part of the package. Under the hood, the GT option included a rather anemic 220 horsepower 302 V8 as standard fare. Our feature car however, is packing more respectible firepower with the optoinal 351-4V V8. Horsepower is an impression 290, which required premium fuel due to the 10.7 to 1 compression ratio.
The 351-4V Windsor V8 found in this Torino was all-new for 1969. This basic engine design began in 1962 as a 221 cubic-inch V8 engine. Windsor refers to the Windsor, Ontario plant where the original engines were built. Although not all small-block engines were built at the Ontario plant, the name stayed with the engine over the years. The 351 Windsor shared the 4" bore of the 289 and 302 cubic inch engine but had a taller block to accommodate the longer 3.50" stroke.
Other options found on this care include Select-Shift transmission, power front disc brakes, power steering, AM radio, tinted glass and the remote control outside mirror; just the right options to make this a very pleasant car to drive. With a base price of $3073 and an "as-equipped" price of just over $3800, this Torino provided a lot of fun for the money in 1969.
View all 1969 Ford Torinos in the vehicle registry.
Complete article now available in issue #5 of Legendary Ford Magazine
To read this 6-page article in its entirety, including details on the 351W specs, further interior and exterior information on the Torino, as well as a closer look at this untouched 1969 Torino Gt, visit Legendary Ford Magazine online and subscribe today!
Note: SuperMotors has a business affiliation with Legendary Ford Magazine, which provides Ford, Lincoln, and Mercury articles and content to SuperMotors.
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