I love hunting for old iron in the deserts of Arizona. For the rust-averse like myself, it’s a paradise. The sheetmetal is anywhere from pristine to paint-roasted and the chances are good that even the abandoned, unloved tank sitting in someone’s backyard isn’t too far from coming back to life. Sure, the pack mice and ground squirrels can wreak havoc on the wiring, the interior is probably roasted into oblivion, and the weatherstripping is a cracked and useless feature, but hey…at least there is no sheetmetal cancer that can’t be fixed with some heavy sandpaper and a good primer.
BangShifter Joe Haber knows all about the great sheetmetal of Arizona…living in Tucson, he’s seen the same fifty, sixty year old rides tooling around. And we don’t mean restoration jobs or hot-rod builds, but near-stockers that somehow have defied age, with only faded paint to show for their time. In the case of this 1971 Ford Torino 500 station wagon, all you are missing are a set of slot mags and indian blankets for the weathered seats. Oh, and the dash top…because that has turned to dust and disappeared. But hey…that’s a bonus: build the new dash top, complete with cupholders. The two-barrel 351 is still plugging along and there is even air conditioning…but you might want to fix the leak at the compressor. For $3,000, this might not be a solid choice for a second car, but if you have an image of cruising down a desert road in a long roof, chasing the sunset, you couldn’t do any better.
Craigslist Link: 1971 Ford Torino 500 station wagon
I honestly didn’t know there was such a thing as a Torino wagon. After seeing this monstrosity I wish I’d stayed blissfully ignorant….
Well Geordie, guess one man’s trash is another man’s treasure. I had to do a double take when I saw this as it looks almost exactly like the 70 model that’s in my garage (minus the wheels/tires). I bought mine at an estate sale back in 1999. It was originally white but at some point the original owners painted it almost the same color of green as the 71 listed here (why would anyone paint a car green?) Anyway, mine has a perfect black interior and has the neat “dual action tailgate” where it either flips down like a regular tailgate or swings open like a door. While mine wasn’t optioned out much (302, automatic, power steering, and AM radio), I have collected some items that should really finish it out well(complete hideaway headlight grill assy.,factory in-dash air conditioning, front disc brakes, and GT scooped hood). I even bought a set of manual trans. brake/clutch pedals in case I ever want to go that route. I know they won’t be everyone’s cup of tea but it’s a neat car that rides well and won’t break the bank. And I love the “coke bottle” styling of the 70/71 Torino/Fairlane/Ranchero (so much that I have 3 Rancheros of those years as well but that’s a different story for a different time) I hope someone out in that area saves the ol’ girl. It looks awful clean. I hate that I’m on the opposite side of the country or I’d take a swing at it myself…..
I like it. But McSqatch…. if you’re so rust adverse, why in the blooming flower, do you buy them buttercup?
don’t worry,CHMG,you are…………
Love it…especially the green…if I had room (or the free time, or an extra screw loose), I’d go get it and bring it back East…
I was going to buy this when it was at desert valley auto parts, someone got there first. Instead the people that bought it did nothing with it, what a shame. I had a 4V Cleveland that would have gone in there.
I know of a similar ford wagon with a 390 for sale locally in near perfect condition for the same price. Not the Torino nose though.
Can you provide contact information on the Wagon?
Its a Country Sedan in beautiful condition in the same green two blocks from me in SW Montana. If you are really interested I\’ll get his number.