A rare 1970 Ford Torino Cobra Twister Special fetched $198,000 at Mecum Kansas City 2024, cementing its status as a collector’s dream.
Mecum’s Kansas City 2024 auction showcased a variety of collectible vehicles, but the star of the show was a 1970 Ford Torino Cobra Twister Special, which sold for an impressive $198,000. This Vermillion Red hardtop not only led the event in value but also highlighted the enduring allure of rare American muscle cars.
The Torino Twister Special is no ordinary classic. Produced in a limited run of just 90 units and sold exclusively through Ford’s Kansas City District Sales Office, the Twister Special was introduced alongside a similarly exclusive Mustang variant. While the Mustang Twister Special came in 96 units with Grabber Orange paint, the Torino variant was finished in Vermillion Red with unique Twister decals adorning the rear fenders.
Powering this rare muscle car is a 429-cubic-inch Cobra Jet V8, the only engine offered for the Torino Twister Special. This particular example is even rarer, as only 30 units were equipped with a four-speed manual transmission. Adding to its prestige, it’s one of just 29 cars registered in the Twister Special Registry.
Restored to perfection in 2012, this numbers-matching Torino has won multiple awards and remains in pristine condition. Its sale price of $198,000 makes it the second most expensive Torino ever auctioned, trailing only another manual Twister Special, which sold for $236,500 in 2021.
Other notable sales at Kansas City 2024 included a 2023 Ford F-350 Bronczilla pickup for $159,500, a 1969 Dodge Charger restomod for $99,000, and a 1967 Chevrolet Corvette convertible for $94,600. However, none could match the exclusivity or the allure of the Torino Twister Special, cementing its legacy as a crown jewel in the world of American muscle cars.
