1970 Ford Torino 4 Door Hard Top 2V 351 Clevland Automatic C-4 100k Miles

I am selling one our family treasures, which says a lot :).
This car we have owned since 1990, was originally bought by my grandmother in 1989, she got it from a school teacher women in Patterson, CA. Car was in good shape, my grandmother loved it since it had "pick-up" and when she suddenly passed on in 1990, we inherited it. The car had 60,000 miles on it then , we put 40,000 on it in 90's and stopped using it in 2001. It has sat on my property since. I can give a complete history and honestly describe everything since we always loved the Torino.
The following things are wrong with it:
The parking pin has fallen loose in transmission and so there is no park, which, by the way, is why I let roll down a driveway once and it stopped against a tree, there is a picture of the dent in the driver side rear panel, didn't do too much, if it was a Toyota, it would have been smashed in.
Everything rubber is rotten, seals, hoses eaten by rats etc..
One of the dual exhaust pipes rusted the chrome end-tip off and is loose banging on axle.
Air Conditioning compressor froze up causing belt to snap, I stopped in time, since it knocked off the main water pump belt making temp. overheat, but I got out the screw driver and put it on in time before any engine damage could have happened.
Vinyl roof cover rotted off 20 years ago.
Ceiling fabric blew out when we had the trunk partially open on the freeway and the air pressure built up causing it to pop.
AM radio has never worked.
Interior is vinyl, there is a rip from Dad's keys.
Main problem of why we stopped driving it is that the Bakelite ignition switch down the steering column broke and the key pull-rod wouldn't grab the slider switch anymore, so we had to hot wire it. So, we parked it, about 6 years I tore apart the steering column and first not understanding replaced the key assembly, which was a waste of time. Finally found the switch, it is the WHITE type, short production I understand of early 1970. I left it torn apart since.
Engine has minor oil leak in rear, not sure if just valve covers or rear seal, I had put too much 20-50W in it one day and over pressured the seals.
The old lady didn't like the shoulder seat belt so.. now only a lap belt, which, anymore I don't think a cop would know the difference if it was original equipment of not.
Tires on it are from the late 90's.
Needs shocks, my dad tried air shocks they are just flat dead and was a bad idea, also lots of squeaking in suspension.
Good things:
Main engine is in great shape, no oil burning. For half it's life it was used with 1990's lubricates. Never was really overheated to the point engine cracking, air conditioning even worked until 1994. Engine compression was always very good, would ping on regular gas, until carburetor started running a little richer one day and pinging stopped of course. Transmission is good other than parking pin, since C4 is always reliable. Have original owners manual.. kinda cool.
Body is good, no eastern salt, total California car, the dent I know should been easy to get out that I made, it's a long crease.
Instrument cluster looks good, and dash, has always had a split between the curved form in the middle.
Grill and rear plastic is still perfect original.
I think that with out the having to rebuild engine, this is a great restoration vehicle. The main hassle is the parking pin and steering column ignition problem. I guess one's view of a hassle is different than others.. the upholstery, seals and small rat eaten hoses could be a problem too.
Vehicle is located in the Grass Valley, CA 95945 area, 50 miles NE of Sacramento, I am on a 2 mile long dirt road.
Any questions, feel free to ask!
My name is John.




Also published at eBay.com