Parnelli Jones Torino?

[old5.0]

A buddy just found a 68 Torino GT fastback, S code 390 auto, full vinyl top, purported to be some sort of Parnelli Jones special edition. Anyone ever heard of any such animal?

[Tracker1]

yes a special edition car, regional dealer thingy - possibly west coast or pac northwest area. Only a few hundred made

[442w30]

I haven't heard of it, but if you give the codes on the data plate, I may be able to help with a lead - and possibly an old newspaper ad!

For what it's worth, I don't think fastbacks could get vinyl tops, but I would bet there were dealer-installed deals.

[442w30]

....

[old5.0]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Tracker1</div><div class="ubbcode-body">yes a special edition car, regional dealer thingy - possibly west coast or pac northwest area. Only a few hundred made </div></div>

Thanks for the info, Des. <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/beers.gif

[old5.0]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: 442w30</div><div class="ubbcode-body">.... </div></div>


Diego-


HUGE thank you, that's the car. <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/headbang.gif

Here's a pic of the door tag: http://i62.tinypic.com/rtdef7.jpg


L.A. DSO.

[442w30]

The LA DSO is very promising!

However, it also is not a special-order Torino, as a special-order car would have a 6-digit DSO like this vehicle that's in the attached pic.

Because of that, I think it may be difficult to determine more of its history like how many were ordered for the promotion. A Marti Report would at least give some details on the car like the attached pic.

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2015/04/full-474-25020-speccolor70spoilerscjblack.jpg

[old5.0]

^^^^Agreed. My assumption is that Vel's ordered a number of Torino GT's through the normal process and modified them at the dealership. The car in question needs restoration, but is very solid and complete, down to that funky looking glass hood and it's been tucked away for years. I'll get some pics up in the next day or so.

[Tracker1]

Cool stuff!

[flyingn]

never heard of those. Very nice

[SS427]

That's the beauty if sites like this. Many including me would never know about cars like this without people sharing them here.

[old5.0]

Here a couple of pics showing the hood and the remains of the vinyl top:

http://i57.tinypic.com/nc0mo.jpg

http://i59.tinypic.com/33z5mkn.jpg


The PO had to move the car outside a few months back and removed the Parnelli Jones emblems for safe keeping. Here's a pic:

http://i62.tinypic.com/2dhtnk8.jpg


I may have some details wrong, because my buddy was trying to relay the story to me at the same time he was trying to get the car loaded and out of there, but here's the deal as I understand it. The PO's uncle worked for or with Parnelli Jones in some capacity, and received this car either for free or at a significant discount due to that relationship. When the uncle retired, he moved to Oregon, took the car with him, and subsequently passed away. A few years back, the PO finally talked his aunt into selling him the car and trailered it back to Nebraska, but never did anything with it. He reluctantly decided to sell it to my buddy in order to free up cash to complete the restoration of a 67 Chevelle SS396 that he's owned since he was a kid.

[442w30]

Well, at least the lineage has not been lost!

Was the hood part of the package?

[Tracker1]

That's a rare piece, Ford guys would love to see that at a SAAC show or Mustang show pulling in just as it is. Mind-blowing. I knew it was a dealership thing, but I didn't know it was HIS dealership. Wild.

[old5.0]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: 442w30</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Well, at least the lineage has not been lost!

Was the hood part of the package? </div></div>

I believe so. It looks to me like the car in the newspaper clipping you posted is wearing the same hood. It's unusual enough that it has to be part of the package. I've never seen a scoop design <span style="font-style: italic">quite</span> like it and certainly never on a 68-69 Fairlane/Torino.

[old5.0]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Tracker1</div><div class="ubbcode-body">That's a rare piece, Ford guys would love to see that at a SAAC show or Mustang show pulling in just as it is. Mind-blowing. I knew it was a dealership thing, but I didn't know it was HIS dealership. Wild. </div></div>

I know, right? I thought I'd pretty much seen or heard of at least one of everything from the 60s, and then this pops up.

[442w30]

Ever hear of a Cyclone or Cougar 500?

[old5.0]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: 442w30</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Ever hear of a Cyclone or Cougar 500? </div></div>

The Cyclone 500 I've not only heard of, I've seen an orange one in person. <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/grin.gif

The Cougar 500 I'm not sure. Sounds familiar, but I can't place it off the top of my head and maybe I'm thinking of something else.

[Tracker1]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: old5.0</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: 442w30</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Ever hear of a Cyclone or Cougar 500? </div></div>

The Cyclone 500 I've not only heard of, I've seen an orange one in person. <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/grin.gif

The Cougar 500 I'm not sure. Sounds familiar, but I can't place it off the top of my head and maybe I'm thinking of something else. </div></div>

http://www.legendarycollectorcars.com/fe...hat-is-it-help/ (http://www.legendarycollectorcars.com/featured-vehicles/factory-specials/1968-mercury-cyclone-gt-500-what-is-it-help/)

http://www.fordmercurycougarxr7.com/pages/SpecialCougars/Cougar5001968.html

And don't forget these oddballs:

I'm a fan of the writer - kinda, sorta knows what he is talking about. He calls it available Wilderness Green instead of correct Washington Green <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/smile.gif I am sure he will amend it.
http://www.streetlegaltv.com/news/ebay-find-of-the-day-ever-heard-of-a-70-torino-type-nw/

[442w30]

Didn't realize I had such an obvious typo on the color. <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/no.gif

For my book (https://www.facebook.com/sellingmuscle), I've helped solve the riddle of the Cyclone and Cougar 500s thanks to the assistance from a few Cougar folks plus my friend who's into 1967 Fords (maybe you saw his wagon at MCACN?).

I've relayed some of the info to the Legendary website posted above.

5.0, do you collect old literature? I'm looking for the <span style="font-style: italic">Ford World</span> issue posted on that website.

[old5.0]

I don't Diego, sorry. I sold most of my older stuff several years ago. Now everything I've got factory-wise is concentrated on 79-93 Mustangs. The mag collection is a little more expansive, but still mainly early 80's through late 90's.

By the way, when's that book going to hit?

[442w30]

I don't know - I gotta finish it first. <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/hmmm.gif

[old5.0]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Tracker1</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: old5.0</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: 442w30</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Ever hear of a Cyclone or Cougar 500? </div></div>

The Cyclone 500 I've not only heard of, I've seen an orange one in person. <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/grin.gif

The Cougar 500 I'm not sure. Sounds familiar, but I can't place it off the top of my head and maybe I'm thinking of something else. </div></div>

http://www.legendarycollectorcars.com/fe...hat-is-it-help/ (http://www.legendarycollectorcars.com/featured-vehicles/factory-specials/1968-mercury-cyclone-gt-500-what-is-it-help/)

http://www.fordmercurycougarxr7.com/pages/SpecialCougars/Cougar5001968.html

And don't forget these oddballs:

I'm a fan of the writer - kinda, sorta knows what he is talking about. He calls it available Wilderness Green instead of correct Washington Green <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/smile.gif I am sure he will amend it.
http://www.streetlegaltv.com/news/ebay-find-of-the-day-ever-heard-of-a-70-torino-type-nw/ </div></div>

I like those N/W Torinos, especially with a 429. This 68 PJ car is fascinating me. Now I want to know if any were built with a 428 CJ.

[442w30]

Judging by the date, it was possible.

[Sportyworty]

The date would need to be April 1 or later for the CJ. It is likely that PJ ordered a few cars for the conversion at the same time as this one being built in Feb. I was a previous owner of one of the R Cougar 500 cars. One of the small block versions was on Ebay a few weeks ago. Have 4 Marti Reports for the Cougars so far. The topic goes back on the Cougar forum to about 2002 when another small block was located in a wrecking yard. Love all the unique ones and the research as well.

[442w30]

The date of the newspaper article is from May, for what it's worth.

I have production figures on how many R-code Cougar 500s were built, if you're interested.

[old5.0]

Fitting we're having this discussion on 4/28. Happy Cobra Jet day! <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/burnout.gif

[Sportyworty]

Sure Diego, I would like to see what you have.

Thanks in advance
Kerry

[email protected]

[442w30]

There were 54 500s built. All were white, and 16 of them were CJs.

[L78M22Rag]

Speaking of white Torinos... this is a little off topic, but I thought this was a neat find.

https://jacksonville.craigslist.org/cto/4995855941.html

[Sportyworty]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Sportyworty</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Sure Diego, I would like to see what you have.

Thanks in advance
Kerry

</div></div>

Right and the 2 DSO's and Red interior. With regards to the Cougar 500 R cars my interest is in the GT vs Standard stats as well as transmission type break down. I gave Richard Fleener my Marti for his research and if you have copies will see the GT car is a drum brake and the Standard is a Power Disc. All of the 68.5 Mustangs and Torino's were GT cars with extra cost optioned mandatory disc brakes. It is interesting that the Cougars could be optioned with or without like any 69/70 CJ. My suspicion is the cost of the Mercury loaded with the GT and PDB was getting high from a marketing stand point. At least the they are recognized on the reports Kevin Marti issues. It is not likely he will have any Ford documentation on the Parnelli Torino with perhaps the exception of a block of serial numbers going to the dealership. This would be like the 68 Challenger Mustangs that were ordered in the same basic built then converted at the dealership.

[442w30]

8 of the 54 were GTs, and I know all the cars with the GT package were 428s. That leaves another 8 Cobra Jets without the GT package.

However, there were three interiors used for all 54 cars:

- red vinyl buckets 1D
- black vinyl buckets 2A
- red vinyl buckets 2D

[61 vert]

I would maybe be intereted in the parnelli jones car if it comes up for sale.