1971 Ford Torino GT 429 Cobra Jet – Vintage Road Test Video
Watch a vintage road test of the 1971 Ford Torino GT 429 Cobra Jet with Bud Lindemann.
Posted on YouTube By: john doe
Video Transcript
Bud Lindemann: This is the one Ford takes to the racetracks. You know this Torino GT must have been a better idea because it picked up a bundle of checkered flags. When the new 71’s came off the assembly line the changes were very slight but then of course when you’ve got a winner you don’t hurry back to the drawing boards. We, however, do feel that the performance of this new model is better. But, I’ll tell you what, judge it for yourself. You’re looking at it. A real, honest-to-goodness supercar, in 1971. Apparently, no one told Ford about smog emission, high insurance premiums, and the new legislation sponsored safety laws. Somewhere I heard that the supercar is dead, but at Ford Motor it’s very much alive.
1971 Ford Torino GT 429 Cobra Jet Bud Lindemann
“Great to feel the muscle”
We got the test we wanted, 429 cubic inch engine, 370 horses, heavy-duty suspension, and without all the accessories that add all the time. Great to feel the muscle, we hit 30 miles an hour and 3.4 seconds We felt that these runs would be considerably better with G60 15 tires. Our tester has the standard G 70 14. 45 MPH took 5.4 seconds.
1971 Ford Torino GT 429 Cobra Jet Brake Test 2
We had the standard 350 to 1 rear-axle ratio. The optional 391 or 430 would have made a big difference in the ETs. But as it was, it still made sixty miles an hour in seven seconds flat.
Making the Torino go was obviously the prime consideration, making it stop seemed almost like an afterthought. This showed up in the braking tests. We had 11.3-inch discs in the front with 10-inch drums in the rear. The brakes began to fade on this 50 MPH stop and is measured 97 feet. On this 70 MPH panic stop, the brake fade was very noticeable, rear axle hop was prevalent and quite a bit of Correction was necessary to keep it in a straight line. We ate up 204 feet.
1971 Ford Torino GT 429 Cobra Jet Brake Test
“The car felt strong and massive”
In the pylon runs the car felt strong and massive. It seemed to stay flat, as our driver pushed through the cones at over 50 miles. This is where the heavy-duty suspension really pays off. Rebound and recovery excellent.
1971 Ford Torino GT 429 Cobra Jet Wheel drift
With all the parts hot and really working we took the Torino out of the track and turned it loose. The 429-inch hauler up front made it possible to bring it through the turns with accelerators power on and rubber spoken, In a four-wheel drift. For a while, it felt like 1969, when the supercar was king. They employ heavy-duty independent coil springs, shocks, and torsion bars upfront. With heavy-duty leaf springs and shocks in the rear. Axle hop was quite noticeable in hard high-speed cornering. This was probably due to the rear suspension this poorly located. Stiffer shocks could have made the difference, especially in rear-end control. They seem to be too soft for the spring rates.
1971 Ford Torino GT 429 Cobra Jet Track Test
“The Muscle Car is still Alive.”
In all our cornering there was a lot of Tire squeal and horn honking. You suppose they’ll ever get rid of that rim blow steering wheel. While there were several changes we’d like, testing the Torino Cobra was still fun and it did prove one thing, the Muscle Car is still alive.
1971 Ford Torino GT Burn Out
1971 Ford Torino GT 429 Cobra Jet Specs
Make: Ford
Model: Torino GT
Submodel: GT
Year: 1971
Body style: 2 Door Sportsroof
Drive: Rear Wheel Drive
Dimensions
Length: 206.2” / 5237mm
Width: 76.8 in / 1951mm
Height: 51.1” / 1298 mm
Wheelbase: 117” / 2972 mm
Fuel capacity: 20.1 gal / 76 liter
Curb weight: 4019 lbs / 1823 kg
Engine: Ford 429 Cobra Jet
Engine type: Naturally Aspirated V8, 4-Stroke, 2 Over Head Valves per cylinder
Fuel type: Gasoline
Fuel system: Carburetor
Charge system:
Displacement: 429.2 cubic inch / 7 Litter
SAE Gross Horsepower gross: 370 hp @ 5400rpm
Torque gross: 450 ft-lb / 610 Nm @ 3400rpm
Transmission: Cruise-O-Matic 3 Speed or 4 Speed Manual
Performance Specs
0-20 mph: 1.6
0-30 mph: 2.5
0-40 mph: 3.3
0-50 mph: 4.4
0-60 mph: 6.4
0-70 mph: 8.1
0-80 mph: 10.2
0-90 mph: 12.8
0-100 mph: 16.8
0-110 mph: 21.6
0-120 mph: 28.9
0-130 mph: 44
Drag times
1/4mile: 14.7
1/4mile Speed: 94 mph / 151 Km/h
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