1969 Ford Torino Talladega
In 1969 the Nascar wars heated up. GM was pretty much a non-factor. Mopar and Ford were going at it full steam. The 68 season had shown just how slippery the New Torino was. But Ford was still outgunned by the Hemi. Nascar would not allow Ford to run the SOHC 427 (Cammer) so they had a new motor to try, the Boss 429. In order for the engine to be legal ford need to sell 500 to the public. Initially the motor was to go in to the Talladega but the marketing types changed that and the Boss 429 Mustang was born. Still Ford knew that to be competitive on the Super Speedways they needed a more aerodynamic car. Thus the Talladega below. They grafted a more slippery nose on the front end moving the grille flush the rest of the front. The bumper was a rear bumper cut and rewelded to fit the front. The biggest change was the rockers were rolled. This allowed Ford to lower the car more than a stock Torino for racing yet still be within Nascar regulations.
Ford used a Torino Fastback and named the car after the newly built Talladega motor speedway. Production was at the Atlanta assembly plant in January and February of 1969. Just 754 were reported built including prototypes. (See my additions below) As you read the original brochure below ignore any mention of the optional equipment none of it was available. Also note the Talladega pictured in the brochure is a mock up not a true Talladega. It is rumured that two Talladega's were made with Ram Air. Both were for Nascar drivers as there personal cars..
I have had many Talladega's submitted to my registry. With each one added more questions came up. I started my own research into how many of these cars were made. As of 10/15/2002 the research continues. Below are my findings to date on production numbers..
Total Talladegas produced (Car with a DSO code of XX 2500) 743 Color breakdown: Blue Paint Code X = 199 Maroon Paint Code B = 258 White Paint Code M = 286.
One Special Talladega was made for the President of Ford Motor Company. This car has been reported as a Prototype. Since the DSO is XX 1000 I do not include it in the above total but it is a Talladega, and since it was the last Talladega made and the only one made at the Lorain Assembly plant this is oner special car..
Other sources have reported as many as 9 prototypes. The car above is often included in that number. I do not count it as a prototype. Two other cars are reported as crash tested by Ford. Both vin numbers due not checkout as valid with both Ford Motor Company and Kevin Marti of Marti autoworks. So we can strike those cars from the prototype list. Another prototype was reported as a Red Ram Air car owned by Banjo Mathews. This vin also does not checkout with Ford as a valid car. One other car is included as a prototype that was given to Bill France, since this car carriesa DSO of 2500 and was made on the production line I include it with the other white T's above. That leaves us with 4 confirmed Prototype cars. If you add them all together my research shows Total Talladegas as 748. Like I said the research goes on check back for updates.
Questions Email jhuntley@ameritech.net