A rare 1970 Ford Torino Cobra Twister Special fetches $198,000, cementing its place as one of the most valuable Torinos ever sold at auction.
Mecum’s Kansas City 2024 auction concluded with a standout sale of a rare 1970 Ford Torino Cobra Twister Special for an impressive $198,000. Among hundreds of cars auctioned, this Vermillion Red muscle car took the top spot, standing out as one of the most exclusive Ford Torinos ever produced.
The Torino Twister Special, introduced in 1970, is a regional rarity, with only 90 units ever built and sold exclusively through Ford’s Kansas City District Sales Office. These cars were equipped with unique Twister decals, all painted in the eye-catching Vermillion Red, and powered by a single engine option: the 429-cubic-inch Cobra Jet V8. Unlike its Mustang Twister Special sibling, which offered two engine choices, the Torino was tailored for pure power.
This particular Twister Special is rarer still, being one of just 30 cars fitted with a four-speed manual transmission. It’s also among only 29 known to exist in the Twister Special Registry, further enhancing its desirability. Restored in 2012 to concours condition, the car boasts a numbers-matching drivetrain and has earned multiple awards for its originality and flawless presentation.
The $198,000 sale makes this Torino the second most expensive of its kind to sell at auction, surpassed only by another manual Twister Special that fetched $236,500 in 2021. Its performance at Kansas City 2024 highlights the enduring appeal of rare, high-performance muscle cars from the golden era of American automotive design.
Other notable results from the event included a 1970 Ford Mustang Twister Special that failed to sell at $180,000, a 2023 Ford F-350 Bronczilla pickup at $159,500, and a 1969 Dodge Charger restomod for $99,000. While the auction lacked million-dollar sales, the Twister Special’s impressive result solidified it as the crown jewel of the event.
With its exclusivity, factory-original condition, and historical significance, the 1970 Torino Cobra Twister Special remains a coveted piece of Ford’s muscle car legacy. For collectors and enthusiasts, it’s a reminder of a time when American automakers pushed the limits of performance and design.
