RARE 1970 Ford Torino King Cobra

www.rkmotors.com
Looking for the crown jewel in your vintage Ford collection? This 1970 Torino King Cobra is the ultimate. One of just two factory prototypes built at the height of the NASCAR "Aero Wars", the car features an experimental front end reshaped to compete with the Chrysler wing cars. Formerly owned by NASCAR car owner Bud Moore, the Torino has been through a number of color changes but, thanks to a comprehensive restoration, has been returned to its original Vermillion hue accented by unique black stripes. The body presents well all around and is sure to grab the attention of any Ford fan within a 25-mile radius. As a prototype, the car has seen multiple engines during its lifetime. While it was delivered to Bud Moore with a hot 460ci V8, a period-correct Boss 429 now resides between the fenders. The C9AE-6015A block carries aluminum Hemi heads which frame the combination of a C9AE 9425-D aluminum dual plane intake and a single Holley four barrel. Behind the 429, a period-correct Toploader 4-speed channels power back to a stout Ford 9-inch nodular rear with 3.50 gears. The suspension is surprisingly stock with double A-arms up front and a live axle with staggered shocks out back. Power steering and power disc/drum brakes assist through the corners. The like-new interior is equally simple with a black bench seat, heater, seat belts, and an AM radio. The car is well known among Ford royalty and has been featured in numerous publications including Motor Trend and Muscle Car Review.

[@normansilver905]

A beautiful Ford creation. The restoration is immaculate too. Thanks for sharing. It is truly a gem!

[@curtisclark13]

I read somewhere that they had initially planned on adding a rear wing to it. It would’ve looked even more amazing!!!

[@marshallposey2063]

I paid a visit to RK Motors a couple months ago. Very friendly people and amazing inventory!

[@patch5859]

Not a big Ford guy, but always loved the Gran Torino! This is an awesome example of great concept cars! Glad to see it was restored to as close to original as possible! Great job!! And thank you for sharing this!!!

[@bln3576]

My first car was a 1970 Torino with a 429 engine in it. 4 speed. It had ram bars. I paid $50. for it and it was insured for $60 back in 1980. Fast car. Peace

[@shawnbeck2303]

What are ram bars? Not sure where you are going with this. Shawn

[@theyhatehimbecausehetoldth7576]

And then you boomers try to sell them for 60 grand now.

[@jupapikillz2788]

They hate him because he told the truth I guess you could say business is “booming”

[@larryverbeck4698]

Hht 0l P o P P. I0

[@pmaint1]

You paid $50 for it? Yah I don't think so!!!

[@Fred-wy4ix]

Back in The 70's, my State Highway Patrol used The Ford Galaxie and The Ford Torino with The 429 in them. They also used the 426 Hemi's as well as The 440's. Those are memories of days gone by. Reason as to why I am making these known, because they ALL DESERVED RESPECT because they all DESERVE IT.

[@badass6.0powerstroke10]

Cop cars, Fords yes used 429,s Chrysler cop cars used 440,s But 426 Hemis, i don't know about that, that Hemi was too much money to build to put in cop cars.

[@donkavalary1005]

Magnificent car, talk about memories, I owned a 70 Mustang Boss 302 I bought in June 1970, wish I had it today.

[@seansullivan4709]

I did a drawing of this car in pencil back in '89. I hung it up above my desk and all of the truck drivers and my coworkers thought it was a Mustang with a 280Z front clip. I gladly told them what it was, how many were produced and why it was never sold to the public. There was a single Cyclone Spoiler produced which had better aerodynamics due to it's convex rear window instead of the Torino's concave rear window. It was noted in the article I read that the King Cobra would have required a wing like the Superbird to keep the rear planted.

[@mcm95403]

The 70 Torino and the 71 Mustang Boss 351 are two of the few Fords Ive always wanted but never bought.

[@beckywatt5048]

mcm95403 Got a 351-4v in a horse trade one time , had a 400ci with some Cleveland parts in it , ran hard , was going to put the quench 4v heads on it to run even better , but some people found I had that engine and made me an offer I couldn't refuse at the time (numbers matching project )

[@margaretdianecrandall9085]

Am I the only woman that had a 1969 Gran Torino! My dad told me and Mom to pick out a car. Yeah baby! Loved it and wish I still had it. Best car ever!

[@papachuck63]

According to Wikipedia: " It never saw a NASCAR track or a showroom and only three prototype cars were produced. One was equipped with the Boss 429 engine, only offered otherwise in the Boss 429 Mustang, one had the 429 SCJ, and one had a 429 CJ.[13]"

[@edge2sword186]

They crashed 3 of them in testing on NASCAR TRACKS and they put that front end on a 1969 Talladega . It really had the stability that the 1970's didn't but Ford stopped their racing program .

[@michealwaltenberry7237]

@Edge2 a Talladega front end is completely different to this in every way and in no way would fit a 1970 body

[@jeffb243]

As you may know, my friend Steve Honnell has a yellow King Cobra with the Can Am 494-4 speed in it. Also has a high-low switch above the shifter on the bottom of the center panel. He also found a Mercury version (1 of 2) that has the Boss 429 4-speed in it, its Calypso Coral. Both gorgeous cars!!! The hoods on these things are heavy as hell! Ford killed them, for a couple of reasons. 1. The nose worked too good. It unloaded the rear end, it would need a Superbird/Daytona style wing to plant the ass end. 2. Ford pulled the plug on a lot of development dollars on these aero cars, and racing in general 3. Word was out NASCAR was going to put an end to the wild cars, and limit them to 305 cubic inches, if they continued building them. In the 1971 Daytona 500, a lone Daytona was running a 305 cubic inch engine built by Keith Black. It was running in the top 3, and got took out. They were that good of a car. The King Cobra still needed a lot of development to be competitive, if the aero wars would’ve continued.

[@shawnbeck2303]

I had a 1970 Ford Torino with a 302. Loved the body style and the interior. Comfort Weave was the fabric of choice. The long hood and short tail with just the lip of the trunk slightly bent. Gave this car the perfect profile. Easy to work on engine too.That King Corba was thought to be just fantasy. Till the Yellow one was found. It would have kicked butt in NASCAR. 429 Boss motor. Richard Petty would have shit his pants. When this Ford went pass for the Win! SHAWN

[@cababy1296]

I videotape this car back in January at the mechum auction in Florida! Something to see in person I heard they only made two👍

[@melvinhunt6976]

This is the car that changed NASCAR, and put an end to the manufacturer's WAR! Not the superbird! They were racing the Bird !

[@frankyhouse837]

Great sound

[@kentleytaggart5816]

Wow a car I did not know existed .Looks great .

[@dietermueller6469]

Amazing car love it......

[@papachuck63]

I thought I remembered seeing three of these in a photo.This red one, yellow one and a white one. Did only two of the three have 429's or was the white one just a mock up? My family once owned two 1970 429 SCJ's ( one red and a grabber blue one) and a 1971 white Torino 500 sport with a 302 and the red lazor stripe. Not all at the same time but all of them were great cars.

[@et4036]

Had a 1970 blue Torino, 351 Cleveland 4 Barrel automatic the front didn’t look like red one, but it had two headlights / side, a great car.

[@badass6.0powerstroke10]

Only the King Cobra Torino used this aerodynamic front end, was a very rare car.

[@marshallposey2063]

Awesome!

[@wolftmfg]

This is a stunnerrrrrrR

[@craigjones9244]

Beautiful 👍💖

[@tamalsengupta5377]

my all time favorite ride! and ford fairlane 500

[@darrellterry7209]

Imagine how this beast would sound with three inch exhaust front to back .

[@alexgolovchenko3791]

Real nice car.

[@LITTLE1994]

This car was supposed to be an Aero Warrior like the Charger 500/Daytona, Superbird, Talladega and Spoiler II, but was canceled.

[@horsepower0539]

I had a 70 Torino once with the 351 Windsor Hideaway headlights 4-speed

[@eddiebowens1919]

i love it

[@zenobowie]

a bit late I guess at the time,Dodge being successfu with the Daytona !After !970 the fun was over with muscle cars,a shame it never got in production, this Torino KC looks fab :)

[@GenerallyGeneralLee]

What a find!

[@AlejandroP1980s]

General lee with a Nascar hemi nice

[@Smasho8000]

That's a beautiful thing of beautiful beauty. It's also quite pretty too.

[@lionelvillahermosa653]

Excellent beautiful amazing sublime inmortal.

[@toddlecher4097]

beast

[@wesdionne278]

What I don't understand is how KZbin videos show that a 1970 Red Torino 429 scj can vary with times of 13.71 vs Red Cuba with 440 of 13.78 on here to another 1970 Torino 429 scj of 12.93 to a Transam of 13.23 to a 1970 Red Torino 429scj of 13.64 vs a Camaross396 of 13.59 to a 1970 Torino 429scj with 13.08 vs Olds w-31 which wound up doing real bad so didn't write down time to finally a 1970 Torino 429scj of 12.72 to a 1969 Yenko 427 Camaro of 12.0 then 12.59. Then it was mentioned that Motor Trend ran a 1970 Torino 429 scj with 4 speed and driver to 4206 lbs. to a 13.99 time in Feb. 1970. These times ranged so badly that I thought maybe read end as one guy stated that stock was geared 3.91 with Detroit Locker gearing being 4.30 but that couldn't be right as narrator advised 1970 Red Torino with 429scj had 4.57 factory gearing for 12.72 race vs 1969 Yenko 427 Camaro so something else had to account for difference of 1.27 seconds so what????? Also, the reason I am asking is that I and my brother John owned a 1970 Blue Ford Torino 429 scj 4 sp that had a rotating tach in dash but we never cared to drag test it for fear of somebody following us to steal it.

[@user-oe5gj7bu3z]

Superbe voiture je la veux merci.

[@77chev73]

Great time's I had a 76 Ford Torino 351 clv all great times

[@alkhulaifi302]

Best! !

[@TheMec1978]

Excelente

[@nokomisnichols]

Nice

[@j.manuelcharriez8115]

My dream muscle car ❤🔥❤🇺🇸Ford #1

[@74sickness]

its for sale on ebay for 600 000

[@williamadams6084]

Why was the dash tac missing ?

[@Promethesis]

RK Motors, would you be interested in an original Ford in-dash tachometer for this King Cobra? It fits in the left side of the dash where that clock blank is currently. Let me know.

[@d.e.b.b5788]

Any changes actually decrease the value of prototypes. While it might LOOK nice, it wasn't stock. So a collector wouldn't dare do it.

[@j.manuelcharriez8115]

One of my dreams cars

[@jacobbales3692]

Coolest car ever

[@julianofernandes5512]

Lindo carro

[@bigthunder2860]

I remember a neighbor had a 428 cobra it was a quarter mi car the 429 was a track car the starski and hutch car had a killer 460ci now all the cars look the same now no body style junks

[@robquinton9835]

from the front window it looks like ans aussie XC Cobra

[@LynyrdSkynyrdFan]

WOW

[@thomaswanderer6022]

In the beginning I thought it was fake, like some model of the car. Then the engine run was shown And my jaw dropped

[@herbsload2869]

FORD redid the nose to answer dodges slope nose super bee in 70'. i think it looks pretty cool ! its different I will admit that marco scarpa. take another look at the video. it has a really nice profile about it! it groooowwws on ya .

[@jeremythompson9895]

These were developed to compete with the winged Dodge Daytona and Plymouth Superbird. But they never we're produced because NASCAR made a rule that the winged Mopars could only have a maximum engine displacement of 305 ci because they were just dominating NASCAR with the 426 hemi under the hood

[@paulblumhardt3827]

Chryslers winged super cars were the Plymouth Superbird and Dodge Charger Daytona.

[@goldenltd1970]

@@jeremythompson9895 they developed this car for the 1970 season but the two men responsible at Ford got fired at the end of 69, Bunkie Knudson and Larry Shinoda. Then Ford cut racing budget by 75 percent and Nascar wanted more homologation models for this year, one per every second dealer and not only 500. There were many reasons and the aero cars were limited to smaller engines in 71 and then baned

[@goldenltd1970]

@@jeremythompson9895 and yes, the hemi was so dominant that Ford won the manufactor championships from 63 to 69 straight and the most races in the sixties

[@joaquinaguilar5942]

I drove a 74 grand torino elite to school, 400m and had a hood and trunk long as a coffin. Got it for 250$ was nice this was in 2003. Put the motor in my 71 f250.

[@alexisashley6975]

Car pronnography too cool

[@tylerrjohnson68]

My 1970 Ranchero had Cobra emblems all over it

[@chromeboy37000]

damn it !!!! :o !!!!!!!!!

[@jasonbrand5762]

💪💀COOL !

[@davidlane9138]

It should have made production and sold to the public. Why ford didn't is anybody's guess? They were bad ass looking muscle cars 💪

[@ulisesramossantana5490]

Woooooow! ✌️😃 🇲🇽

[@hugogmazza8118]

Beauty 100 % !!!!!!! 😅😅😅😅😅

[@bigmarkdarula]

Hey that’s my car - give it back

[@lenaoCaloi]

a traseira é bem parecida com a do Maveco

[@leonardnose5695]

What’re you spooks up to?

[@shawnbeck2303]

I was wrong! Red,Yellow and White. Not Red, Orange and White. Anyway, Richard Petty would have shit himself as he was passed in his SuperBird. What the Hell! Was that! We will never know! Shawn

[@toddlecher4097]

only 2 of em

[@BillyCLeWorth]

Rare for sure and kinda cool , in a museum , but that front end is" Bufugly" . That is" Butt Fucking Ugly ". I suspect not many people would have bought them had they gone into production but then again AMC sold thousands of Pacers Matadors and Gremlins so who knows .

[@d.e.b.b5788]

OTOH, lots of people thought it was beautiful. Sales would have really depended upon price. Like the Daytona and Superbird, there simply wasn't much of a market for 200 mph cars for the street. Street racers were more into 0-60 and 1/4 mile times which were available cheaper with a non aero car that simply had a big engine dropped in.

[@sergeantmasson3669]

Wrong ! Ford made three King Cobra prototypes. Bud Moore had one of them but it was yellow and had a 429 TJ engine with an automatic transmission. No Magnum 500 wheels and no exterior stripes. One was Acapulco Blue but it had severe body damage from wrecking during testing. Only one had a Boss 429 engine and it's at the Ford Museum. That car is yellow also.

[@alineageofdragons440]

Air craft carrier sized 'sports' car.

[@v.e.7236]

3:00 The moment you realize this "crew" is young, by the peach fuzz they sport on their faces.

[@bmwcarrmann429]

Back in 1970 my dad worked for Chrysler he ordered a Dodge charger Rt/SE 440 6pack with every thing on the card.Well the car came the same day a doctor brought a Richard petty blue Cyclone Spoiler 429 Cobra Jet with every option.As the car was gonna be traded in the doctor saw my dad's car comi g off the car carrier .My dad test drove the Cyclone down the interstate.After he came back he was shaking and forgot he had a car coming off the car carrier.Well the doctor and my dad made a deal and he came home with the cyclone and the doctor got the charger.they became friends my dad kept his car and raced it for the 12 of the 17 yrs he owned it.Some guy from North Carolina came down with a stack of horse chocking hundreds and bought it.I Hear he restored the car and won countless awards.He painted it red it was featured in Hotrod magazine back in the 80s.I have been in that car with my dad and witnessed it run I g over 160 as a little guy so I know it was a 200 mph street racer back then.peace

[@seanthebaptist6757]

My gawd

[@1fastford795]

This car would of owed in nascar

[@christiantroy7722]

It almost identical to a 1972 ford falcon two door hard top build in Australia just the front end and a few body lines are different rear bumper and door handles but I'm sure the panels will fit if you wanted to swap them out as ford Australia copied a lot of things from the toreno and mustang in the late 60s and 70s one of my favourite cars the 1972 XA falcon GT coupe two door hard top

[@chrisstianodibonilla3901]

What’s the price ? I’m interested

[@mrlamboapollo]

MCG brought me here

[@mentallyhandicappedpoptart2649]

Didnt Saabkyle04 review this exact one?

[@josephtaverna1287]

I love that car beautiful and what's the motor in it is the 427 is it a 428 or is it a 429 all winning Motors Ford first on race day fast on race day and last but certainly not least ferocious on race day no junk Chevrolet

[@jquest43]

Joseph Taverna the motor is unknown,and is classified since this was s Ford secret prototype. Whoever buys it takes their chance.i heard it was a straight 6 but who knows. Thanks for watching.

[@josephtaverna1287]

@@jquest43 mr. 43 the car is way too big to have it straight six in it that would be the shock of all shokers have a good day take care

[@jalderink]

@@jquest43 LMAO! I guess you cant tell the difference between a straight six and a V-8. The video, CLEARLY, shows off the engine..

[@jquest43]

Jeremiah that was a falsefront..to hide the "SuperSix" engine!

[@jalderink]

@@jquest43 Ha, good one!

[@jefferybeeker9901]

My life long pals uncle had one of theses an trusted my pal to use it on a Friday nite in the Midwest one of the fastest cars I ever rode in oh days lost to time an youth

[@stripervince1]

I have a Pic of the white one

[@stripervince1]

@G hrvyck bullshit I have a picture of it from 1970 send me your email and I'll email it to you

[@victorjeffers1993]

What happened that it never got into production ? The Grand Torinos were a nice looking muscle car

[@johnropeleski6006]

rarity is always expensive

[@daddyboy55]

Ha my x father in law had a yellow one way back when.

[@Slightlyevil]

Ronald Taillon My dad had a Cuda and Roadrunner back in the day. I could kick him for not keeping either lol.

[@jesuslemus6515]

Tengo el volante solo para conocedores

[@chere54321]

Trying to figure out what my 76 Torino is.. can anyone point me to some good information please? :)

[@SteveRood1]

chere Get a marti Raport from Kevin Marti Autoworks.

[@alanhardman2447]

chere - It's a Ford.

[@dutchvanhelsing6671]

Thought it was Superbird just then

[@jalderink]

That's what it was meant to compete against.

[@charleskandrut7022]

Better than Superbird!

[@lecatoir101]

A very close design to the Interceptor from Mad Max !

[@God-has-entered-into-my-body]

do you just have a torino

[@jeffreyhall2136]

I think the exhuast tips are hanging to low and should be contouring the car more.

[@mcm95403]

Yeah, those aero car figures went out the window in 70 when all the Superbirds hit the tracks. In 69 there were only a few Daytona's, most of the Mopar aero cars for 69 were the Charger 500's. Good try though.

[@oscartorres6378]

Que cosa hermosa

[@andyoutlaww7494]

2:53

[@stripervince1]

Rarest of the rare. Like rocking horse shit

[@cx.williams1645]

How come it's just a prototype? Did Ford not like it?

[@klaytone6105]

Gat damn

[@norsefalconer]

I had a 70 GT with a 351C, column auto, and bucket seats. That sucker could jump better than the General! All four off the ground close to a dozen times. Always landed rear first, soft as cotton. 😅😅😅

[@christopherkennedy4004]

I neeeeed to see that car do a burnout

[@motorcitymanman7711]

3:35 Those pipes are too long

[@Boss429..]

Motorcityman Man The exhaust is proportional to rest of the vehicle. If you viewed the photos from the sellers website, you would note this as well.

[@motorcitymanman7711]

@@Boss429.. I saw them......too long.

[@motorcitymanman7711]

@666revelator I disagree......but whatever......im 59 im quite familiar with that style of car.

[@Boss429..]

666revelator Agreed.

[@Boss429..]

Motorcityman Man I disagree.

[@brantleymyers884]

24 Charger Daytona and Superbird fans dislike this video

[@seanthebaptist6757]

I'm a Mopar guy, but this thing is a beauty.

[@brantleymyers884]

@@seanthebaptist6757 yeah me too but it's a cool ass car

[@jasoncornell1579]

Far better than the blunt fronted ugly production cars

[@fambam1666]

Like the original look alot better

[@skipstalforce]

120 speedo. should be 140