1970 Ford Torino Twister Special Is One Of Just 90 In The World

You may not have heard of the 1970 Ford Torino Twister Special before and that’s understandable as it is an exceptionally rare car.

The genesis of the Torino Twister Special can be traced back to 1969, when Ford approached its Kansas City Sales District dealerships to promote the 100 examples of the Mustang Mach 1 ordered by Detroit developer and race promoter Lawrence LoPatin. The dealers agreed to do just that and went one step further by ordering 90 special examples of the Torino.

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For starters, the dealer group commissioned the vehicles to be produced with Ford’s then-new 429 Cobra Jet big-block V8. Back in the day, this engine was good for roughly 370 hp and all Torino Twister Special models produced left Ford’s Dearborn factory painted in a color known as Vermillion, with black interiors and steel wheels.

Making this example, which will head to the auction block in early January, ahem, special is the fact that it is one of just 30 produced with a 4-speed manual transmission.

The Mecum Auctions listing reveals the car was sold new at Jim Jenkins Ford in Independence, Kansas and has been restored to as-original condition. It still rocks its numbers-matching V8, period-correct Shaker hood, 4-speed manual, and a 3.50:1 Traction-Lok differential.

While it is unclear how many miles the car has under its belt, we do know that it will be sold without a reserve and will no doubt interest many muscle car collectors and enthusiasts.