Ford Torino

Which Ford Torino version to buy: specs compared across generations

If you are choosing a Ford Torino, the data split is simple: the strongest measured output is 370 hp on 2 generation 7.0 MT and 7.0 AT (1970–1971, Cabrio); the weakest is 157 hp on 2 generation 4.1 MT, 4.1 AT, 4.9 MT, and 4.9 AT. That is a 213 hp gap (370 − 157) — 2.36 times the power of the 157 hp cars.

If you are choosing a Ford Torino, the data split is simple: the strongest measured output is 370 hp on 2 generation 7.0 MT and 7.0 AT (1970–1971, Cabrio); the weakest is 157 hp on 2 generation 4.1 MT, 4.1 AT, 4.9 MT, and 4.9 AT. That is a 213 hp gap (370 − 157) — 2.36 times the power of the 157 hp cars. 1 generation (1968–1969, Cabrio) tops out at 360 hp on 7.0 428 MT and 7.0 428 AT, 10 hp below the 2 generation 7.0 pair. 3 generation (1972–1976, Coupe Hardtop) offers only two versions, 5.8 MT and 5.8 AT, both 250 hp — 3 hp below 2 generation 5.8 MT / 5.8 AT (253 hp) and 120 hp below 2 generation 7.0 MT. Production years in this catalogue: 1968 through 1976, three generations, eighteen named versions. Drive is RWD on every version. Fuel type is Gasoline on every version. 0–100, top speed, mpg, kerb weight, gross weight, tank, ground clearance, and wheel size are not measured on every version, so this buying guide ranks what is measured: horsepower, displacement, power per litre, torque where given, gearbox, body, and brakes.

Ford Torino models: which generation changed what

1 generation (1968–1969), Cabrio, 8 versions. Power band 195–360 hp. Smallest engine: 4.7 MT / 4.7 AT at 4736 cm³ and 195 hp. Largest by output: 7.0 428 MT / 7.0 428 AT at 7013 cm³ and 360 hp — 165 hp more than the 4.7 pair (360 − 195), +85%. 7.0 429 MT / 7.0 429 AT share 7030 cm³ and only 223 hp — the same output as 4.9 MT / 4.9 AT (4948 cm³) despite 2082 cm³ extra (7030 − 4948). Cylinder count 8, layout V-shaped, boost No, 2 valves per cylinder, Carburetor, fuel 80. Engine placement: Rear on 4.7 and 4.9 versions; Front, longitudinal on all 7.0 428 and 7.0 429 versions. Manuals are 4 gears; automatics 3. Front and rear brakes Drum. Rear suspension Dependent, leaf spring.

2 generation (1970–1971), Cabrio, 8 versions. Power band 157–370 hp — the widest in the catalogue (213 hp span). Cylinder count changes to 6, layout Inline, placement Front, longitudinal on all eight. 4.1 MT / 4.1 AT (4097 cm³, 157 hp) are the smallest-displacement Torinos here. 4.9 MT / 4.9 AT keep 4948 cm³ but drop from 223 hp in 1 generation to 157 hp — 66 hp less (−30%). 5.8 MT / 5.8 AT add 5766 cm³, 253 hp, 481 Nm. 7.0 MT / 7.0 AT are the catalogue peak: 7030 cm³, 370 hp — 10 hp above 1 generation 7.0 428 MT. Manuals drop from 4 gears to 3. Brakes remain Drum. Same Cabrio body as 1 generation.

3 generation (1972–1976), Coupe Hardtop, 2 versions. The line shrinks from eight versions to two. Body is no longer Cabrio. 5.8 MT and 5.8 AT: 5800 cm³, 250 hp / 186 kW, cylinder count 8, layout V-shaped. Versus 2 generation 5.8 MT (5766 cm³, 253 hp): +34 cm³ and −3 hp. Front brakes change to Disc; rear brakes not measured. Rear suspension not measured. Boost, valves, fuel system, compression, bore × stroke, fuel, engine placement: not measured. 5.8 MT returns to a 4-speed Manual; 5.8 AT stays 3-speed Automatic. Years: 1972–1976, the longest production window (five calendar years vs two for 1 generation and two for 2 generation).

Engine options and horsepower: power per litre

Power per litre uses catalogue hp and displacement (hp ÷ litres). Higher means more output from each litre; it is not a price.

Densest engines: 7.0 MT / 7.0 AT at 52.6 hp/L, then 7.0 428 MT / 7.0 428 AT at 51.3 hp/L. Least dense among large engines: 7.0 429 MT / 7.0 429 AT at 31.7 hp/L — the same 31.7 hp/L as 2 generation 4.9 MT 157 hp. 1 generation 4.9 MT 223 hp at 45.1 hp/L beats 2 generation 5.8 MT 253 hp at 43.9 hp/L on density, even though the 5.8 makes 30 hp more (253 − 223).

Same-name traps: 4.9 MT is 223 hp in 1 generation and 157 hp in 2 generation. 4.9 AT follows the same split. 5.8 MT is 253 hp (2 generation) or 250 hp (3 generation). 5.8 AT likewise. Always pair the name with generation and hp.

What the extra displacement buys (no prices in this catalogue)

There are no sale prices in the data, so “extra money” here means extra cubic centimetres and what hp they return.

• 4.7 → 4.9 (1 generation): +212 cm³ (4948 − 4736), +28 hp (223 − 195). About 13.2 hp per extra 100 cm³ (28 ÷ 2.12).
• 4.9 223 hp → 7.0 428 (1 generation): +2065 cm³ (7013 − 4948), +137 hp (360 − 223). About 6.6 hp per extra 100 cm³.
• 4.9 223 hp → 7.0 429 (1 generation): +2082 cm³, +0 hp. The extra litres buy no extra catalogue horsepower versus 4.9 MT.
• 4.1 → 4.9 (2 generation): +851 cm³ (4948 − 4097), +0 hp (both 157 hp). The 4.9 also matches 325 Nm. On these numbers, 4.1 MT is the tighter buy: same hp and Nm in a smaller 4097 cm³ engine (38.3 hp/L vs 31.7).
• 4.1 → 5.8 (2 generation): +1669 cm³, +96 hp (253 − 157), +156 Nm (481 − 325). About 5.8 hp per extra 100 cm³.
• 5.8 253 hp → 7.0 (2 generation): +1264 cm³ (7030 − 5766), +117 hp (370 − 253). About 9.3 hp per extra 100 cm³. Nm on 7.0 MT is not measured.
• 5.8 253 hp (2 gen) → 5.8 250 hp (3 gen): +34 cm³, −3 hp. You do not buy more power; you buy Coupe Hardtop, Disc front brakes, 8 V-shaped instead of 6 Inline, and a 4-speed Manual on 5.8 MT.

Manual vs Automatic inside a pair: hp, kW, cm³, cylinders, layout, and (where measured) Nm are identical. The gearbox is the only measured difference: Manual with 4 gears (1 generation and 3 generation 5.8 MT) or 3 gears (2 generation manuals); Automatic with 3 gears on every AT.

1970 Ford Torino horsepower vs 1968–1969 and 1972

1970–1971 (2 generation) horsepower: 157 (4.1 MT, 4.1 AT, 4.9 MT, 4.9 AT), 253 (5.8 MT, 5.8 AT), 370 (7.0 MT, 7.0 AT). Peak 370 hp is the highest in the three-generation set.

1968–1969 (1 generation) horsepower: 195 (4.7 MT, 4.7 AT), 223 (4.9 MT, 4.9 AT, 7.0 429 MT, 7.0 429 AT), 360 (7.0 428 MT, 7.0 428 AT). Floor is 38 hp above the 2 generation floor (195 − 157); ceiling is 10 hp below (370 − 360).

1972–1976 (3 generation) horsepower: 250 only. Versus 2 generation 5.8 MT: −3 hp. Versus 2 generation 7.0 MT: −120 hp. Versus 1 generation 7.0 428 MT: −110 hp. Versus 1 generation 4.7 MT: +55 hp.

kW check: 2 generation 7.0 MT 272 kW vs 1 generation 7.0 428 MT 264 kW (+8 kW). 3 generation 5.8 MT 186 kW matches 2 generation 5.8 MT 186 kW even though hp is listed 250 vs 253.

Performance, mpg, weight, dimensions

0–100: not measured on all 18 versions. Top speed: not measured on all 18 versions. mpg / city / highway / combined consumption: not measured on all 18 versions, including searches that target 1969 mpg, 1970 mpg, or 1972–1976 mpg. CO2 and eco class: not measured. Kerb weight and gross weight: not measured — weight per horsepower cannot be calculated. Ground clearance: not measured. Fuel tank: not measured. Wheels: not measured. Length and wheelbase: not measured.

Torque is measured on six 2 generation versions: 325 Nm at 1600 rpm on 4.1 MT, 4.1 AT, 4.9 MT, 4.9 AT; 481 Nm at 2600 rpm on 5.8 MT and 5.8 AT. 481 / 325 = 1.48, so the 5.8 pair has 48% more measured torque. Power rpm: 4000 on the 157 hp engines, 4600 on the 253 hp engines. Torque and rpm are not measured on all 1 generation versions, both 3 generation versions, and 2 generation 7.0 MT / 7.0 AT.

Compression (where measured): 2 generation 5.8 MT 9.7 is the highest; 4.1 MT 9.3; 1 generation 4.7/4.9 and 2 generation 4.9 9.1. 7.0 / 7.0 428 / 7.0 429 compression: not measured. 3 generation compression: not measured.

Reliability and problems: what the specs actually flag

No failure rates are in the data. What is specified and should sit on a buyer’s checklist:

• Carburetor on every 1 generation and 2 generation version; 3 generation fuel system not measured.
• Boost No on generations 1 and 2; 3 generation boost not measured.
• Fuel 80 on generations 1 and 2; 3 generation fuel grade not measured.
• Front brakes Drum on generations 1 and 2; Disc on 3 generation 5.8 MT and 5.8 AT. Rear Drum on generations 1 and 2; 3 generation rear not measured.
• Front suspension Independent, spring on all 18. Rear Dependent, leaf spring on generations 1 and 2; 3 generation rear not measured.
• Engine placement Rear on 1 generation 4.7 and 4.9 versions versus Front, longitudinal on 1 generation 7.0 428/429 and all of 2 generation. 3 generation placement not measured.
• Same-name engines that are not the same: 4.9 MT 223 hp (8, V-shaped) vs 4.9 MT 157 hp (6, Inline); 5.8 MT 253 hp (6, Inline, 5766 cm³) vs 5.8 MT 250 hp (8, V-shaped, 5800 cm³).

Which version to choose

Peak power: 2 generation 7.0 MT or 7.0 AT, 370 hp, 52.6 hp/L, Cabrio, 1970–1971. 7.0 MT if you want Manual; 7.0 AT if you want Automatic. Both 3 gears, RWD, 6 Inline.

Peak power in 1 generation: 7.0 428 MT or 7.0 428 AT, 360 hp, 51.3 hp/L — 10 hp and 1.3 hp/L behind the 2 generation 7.0 pair, but 8 V-shaped and 4-speed Manual on 7.0 428 MT. Do not confuse with 7.0 429 MT / 7.0 429 AT: same “7.0” label, 223 hp, 31.7 hp/L, 137 hp less than the 428 pair.

Best hp per litre among the smaller 1 generation engines: 4.9 MT / 4.9 AT 223 hp at 45.1 hp/L — denser than 2 generation 5.8 MT 253 hp (43.9 hp/L).

Do not buy 2 generation 4.9 for more power than 4.1: 4.9 MT 157 hp and 4.1 MT both make 157 hp and 325 Nm. 4.1 MT / 4.1 AT use 4097 cm³ instead of 4948.

Do not buy 1 generation 7.0 429 for more power than 4.9: 7.0 429 MT matches 4.9 MT at 223 hp with 2082 cm³ more.

Mid-band with measured torque: 2 generation 5.8 MT / 5.8 AT, 253 hp, 481 Nm, 43.9 hp/L. 96 hp and 156 Nm above the 157 hp 4.1/4.9 quartet; 117 hp below 7.0 MT.

Closed Coupe Hardtop and Disc front brakes: only 3 generation 5.8 MT / 5.8 AT, 250 hp. Choose 5.8 MT for Manual 4; 5.8 AT for Automatic 3. You give up 120 hp versus 7.0 MT and 3 hp versus 2 generation 5.8 MT.

Cabrio only: 1 generation or 2 generation (all 16 versions). 3 generation is Coupe Hardtop only.

Shortest vs longest years: 1 generation and 2 generation each cover two calendar years; 3 generation covers 1972–1976.

If you only remember three numbers: catalogue peak 370 hp (7.0 MT / 7.0 AT), catalogue floor 157 hp (2 generation 4.1 and 4.9), and the 3 generation pair locked at 250 hp. Weight, mpg, 0–100, top speed, tank, clearance, and wheels remain not measured, so they cannot break a tie.