Building the Torino Interceptor

[HUMVEE Driver]

I've been looking into starting my own Interceptor project for a while now, and sadly, the cost of a buying Falcon, having it shipped here, customs, rebuilding it, etc etc etc is too great. So that idea is out. Until I win the lottery, that is. I could keep saving my pennies for it, but I'm not getting any younger and I want to have some kind of Interceptor car to drive around.

So I looked into modifying American cars. I've settled on a 1971 Torino GT. I know that the body styles are all wrong and there will be problems mating Falcon parts, so this won't be a replica. Maybe we'll call it a tribute car, like someone mentioned in another thread.

I've found a '71 Torino in decent shape that I'm going to look at this weekend. No pictures, but the guy says it's a Kentucky (southern) car, it has a rebuilt 429, c6 automatic trans, and new dual exhaust. No miles on the engine or transmission. He says the body is in good shape and it's a very solid car for the year just needs some body work, a paint job, and some interior work. It also has power steering and front disc brakes.

The body and Interior don't bother me at all because I've decided to build a Road Warrior version of the car. It's supposed to look beat up. (This will also help me out with the cost because I won't be making a pristine car.)

Some of the things I want to do to it are:

- Sell the C6 trans and make it a manual transmission
- Put on a functional supercharger
- Remove the grill for that smashed-in look
- Install rectangular headlights
- Put on the roof spoiler
- Put on the end pieces of the trunk spoiler
- Install zoomie pipes
- Look in to the side flares, but I'm not sold on them
- Take out the trunk lid and install functional gas tanks. About those, I love the idea of modifying old 60 gallon propane tanks. When I cut them open, I'll weld in baffles (I think that's the term) so all that gas won't be sloshing around too bad. Then we can truly see how a car would perform with all that extra weight in the back!

So there you have it. Just like with my Humungus Machine build, I'd love to hear everyone's thoughts, ideas, and comments. I'm hoping that the car I'm going to see isn't too good to be true, because it sure sounds that way. I'll keep everyone updated; wish me luck!

HUMVEE Driver

[MFP1]

DO IT! That would be very cool. If us guys at Mad Max Cars canhelp feel free to let us know. Depnding on how much you want to sink into a base car, there are a few Coupes here in the states for sale........

[rustycarr]

let us know how it goes and take pics when you can, have fun with it.

[17 Night Rider 17]

Would love to see pics of this project from start to finish. I have a similar interest in a 70-71 Torino as well thanks in part to a bunch of threads on this site debating the best american match. I had originally had the mach 1 mustang as my top choice but I am now leaning towards the torino the hips and tail are so much closer imo, and the room for zoomies as well as the windows/front end matching closer are my main reasons.

Would love to know exactly why you settled on the torino as a base and if you had considered a mach 1. If you have previously answered this, apologies, I havent rechecked the threads.

hope all goes well in your hunt.

[HUMVEE Driver]

MFP1, thanks for the offer of help! I'm going to need the supercharger and the spoiler pieces. Any chance you could point me in the right direction for those?

17 Night Rider 17, I'm going with a '71 Torino for the same reasons you mentioned. The rear of the vehicle is similar, as are those distinctive side windows. It also has room for the zoomies, and the Torino is a fairly big, beefy car. I like that!

HUMVEE Driver

[Zarana-X]

Be sure to check for rust in the rocker panels and in the lower 1/4 panels, and wheel wells.

[aussie muscle]

it should be a snap after building the humongous mobile.

no miles on the engine or transmission.

better check there is actually oil in them before starting them up.

[MFP1]

MFP1, thanks for the offer of help! I'm going to need the supercharger and the spoiler pieces. Any chance you could point me in the right direction for those?
HUMVEE Driver

Certainly, MMC has pretty much whatever you need.

[Justice]

I think that the cost of a good Torino mad max car and a good Falcon mad max car would be within 5 grand. Torinos are really rare these days. Not as rare as falcons though. I never see them on car shows, or in the wild. Classic mustangs, vettes and camaros are a dime a dozen.

I myself have played with the idea. But a tribute car for me would be a BOB 70's Torino with a 460 big block 4 speed, hideaways, zoomies, shaker hood (as the 71-73 mach 1 hood does not fit) and a roof spoiler. I'd put a pedestal spoiler on the boot, I doubt the gigantor duck-tail can me made to fit on that boot-lid.

[torinoscj]

Justice,how many Torino's do you want?I currently have 19 of them,yes,that is nineteen.The only body style that would look close is the 70/71 sportsroof (fastback) style and has already been done and very nicely,I might add.Look on youtube for Randy's Mad Maxness and check out his car,very cool.Cheers,Bill