7. Ford Torino Talladega
In the late 60s, Ford was fully dedicated to racing, not only in America, but all over the world through its Total Performance Program. This meant that Ford was investing in Formula 1, Touring Car Championships, Drag Racing, Trans Am racing, rally racing and NASCAR. However, to win in NASCAR, it needed a special weapon and in the late 60s, the competition was fierce. Ford`s success in NASCAR was based on stock car bodies, but in 1969 the rules changed, allowing manufacturers to introduce special, more aerodynamic bodies that could achieve higher top speeds on oval tracks.
In 1969, Ford presented a new engine, the Boss 429, which they installed in the Mustang Boss 429, but the NASCAR officials said that they wouldn’t accept a pony car and that Ford must enter a bigger car with that engine. The Galaxy was too big, but the Fairlane and Torino series were the perfect size. In just a few weeks, Ford engineers had to transform a regular-looking Torino Fastback into a Talladega special model, named after the new NASCAR track, the Talladega Speedway in Alabama.
To make it less slippery at high speeds, Ford installed special lower front end, full grille and tucked the front bumper. A lower suspension and lighter weight did the rest, and the Torino Talladega came close to the magical 200 mph limit straight from the box.
The NASCAR rules stated that manufacturers needed to build at least 500 of those special racing models and sell them to the general public in order to participate in racing. Ford managed to sell exactly 743 copies. Also, the Talladega managed to be dominant in the 1969 NASCAR season, which was Ford`s main concern in the first place. Today, those cars are extremely popular and valuable.