Fordnatics List Archive

This read-only message was archived from a public mail list.
Mail From: (email redacted)

Following Ed Schreibers lead, I remember the unmarked patrol pursuit cars
of the Maryland State Police from when I was just about to earn my drivers
license. These cars were '70 Falcons (or Torinos), very plain, but with
429 engines and....... shaker hood scoops! Very strange cars, but probably
very effective in the pursuit of scofflaws. I believe that in 1970 the
Falcon and Torino were the same basic car with different badges (OK experts,
jump in here!).

Don Rositch
Nor-Cal Shelby Club
'66 Mustang 2+2
'94 Mustang GT
'66 F250 Custom Cab p/u

This read-only message was archived from a public mail list.
Mail From: Ed Schreiber <(email redacted)>



On Tue, 9 May 1995 (email redacted) wrote:

> Following Ed Schreibers lead, I remember the unmarked patrol pursuit cars
> of the Maryland State Police from when I was just about to earn my drivers
> license. These cars were '70 Falcons (or Torinos), very plain, but with
> 429 engines and....... shaker hood scoops! Very strange cars, but probably
> very effective in the pursuit of scofflaws. I believe that in 1970 the
> Falcon and Torino were the same basic car with different badges (OK experts,
> jump in here!).

Don, I remember the Torino's with the shaker hoods and I think the 429
was available but, I never saw one used as a police car in NC. The
Falcon name was used on some other bodies and I seem to recall that it
was used on the cheap versions of the Torino, although I could be wrong.

BTW 61 Ford State patrol cars were 4 door 390/330 HP with 3speeds and
overdrive in NC. I almost bought one for parts about 10 years ago. The
330 HP had no oil holes for hydraulic lifter pump up same as the 375 and 401
versions. But they must have had better valve springs than the 300 HP
since the valves would float about 4500 due to lifter pump up. The fix
was to install 375 springs or 427 springs. The lack of oil holes caused a
friend some problems on a rebuild since he put in hydraulic lifters, and
they wouldn't pump up. Had to put solid lifters in. The police engines
had the 406 style cast iron headers also.

They ran pretty good too, but I never saw a test on the police versions.
The 375/401 stuff wasn't too fast on the drags but made good top end
though. My 375 has turned 6000 in 4th with a 350 rear, if the Tach is
right, But this was years ago when I not to worried about cops, tires, etc.

I have an article written by Roger Huntington on the 61 Ford Starliner
which states that Ford ran a 375/401HP one into the low 160's by adding race
tires only. Also, a fellow named Karol ???? took a 61 Starliner to
Bonneville and ran in the 150s thru the mufflers after driving it up from
Texas. This car had air but the belt was removed for the run. I will
dig out the article and exact speeds if anyone is interested.

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Mail From: "Dan. Jones" <(email redacted)>

Don,

In 1970 1/2, the Falcon name was reintroduced as the economy version of
the Torino. They were basically strippers (all vinyl interior, bench seat,
rubber mats) with limited options (power steering, power disc brakes, two
tone paint, white sidewall tires). All the powertrain options were available,
including the shaker-hooded 429SCJ with 4 speed toploader and 4.33:1 Detroit
Locker differential. The 429SCJ equipped '70 1/2 Falcons were very rare,
with fewer than 100 built. Box stock, with 4.33:1 gears, they were supposedly
good for low 13 second timeslips. I assume the police pursuit cars would
have been fitted with different gears to provide higher top speeds.

Later,
Dan Jones

> Following Ed Schreibers lead, I remember the unmarked patrol pursuit cars
> of the Maryland State Police from when I was just about to earn my drivers
> license. These cars were '70 Falcons (or Torinos), very plain, but with
> 429 engines and....... shaker hood scoops! Very strange cars, but probably
> very effective in the pursuit of scofflaws. I believe that in 1970 the
> Falcon and Torino were the same basic car with different badges (OK experts,
> jump in here!).

This read-only message was archived from a public mail list.
Mail From: David Schwarze <(email redacted)>

(email redacted) writes:
>
> Following Ed Schreibers lead, I remember the unmarked patrol pursuit cars
> of the Maryland State Police from when I was just about to earn my drivers
> license. These cars were '70 Falcons (or Torinos), very plain, but with
> 429 engines and....... shaker hood scoops! Very strange cars, but probably
> very effective in the pursuit of scofflaws. I believe that in 1970 the
> Falcon and Torino were the same basic car with different badges (OK experts,
> jump in here!).

Just wanted to mention that there are some pictures of the early Torinos
and Falcons up on the web at my "Temporary Fordnatics Home Page" site,
which is at:

papaya.nosc.mil/~schwarze/fordnatics

Follow the link to the "Photo Gallery". There are over 100 pictures of
Ford automobiles there, but the links below "Lincoln Continental"
are still not finished. I am working on them a little each day, and
should be done soon.

This page is not to be confused with Chucko's official Fordnatics page
which is at:

best.com/~chucko/fordnatics

Cheers,
-David

============================================================================
David Schwarze '73 VW Safare Custom Camper (Da Boat)
SAIC Comsystems, San Diego Calif. '73 Capri GT 2800 (Da Beast)
e-mail: (email redacted) '87 Mustang Lx 5.0 (Da Sleeper)
papaya.nosc.mil/~schwarze '93 Weber WG-50 (Da Piano)
============================================================================

This read-only message was archived from a public mail list.
Mail From: (email redacted) (Walt Boeninger)

[from "Dan. Jones"]
>Don,
>
>In 1970 1/2, the Falcon name was reintroduced as the economy version of
>the Torino. They were basically strippers (all vinyl interior, bench seat,
>rubber mats) with limited options (power steering, power disc brakes, two

Right. And I just saw one for sale around the corner here. $499
Looks completely original and plain as the nose on Rositch's face..

Book value is $150 to 1500. So $499 is just about right.

- -----
Regards

Walt Boeninger Phone: (415) 691-3394 (800) 477-6222
Hewlett Packard Company E-Mail: (email redacted)

This read-only message was archived from a public mail list.
Mail From: (email redacted) (Dave Williams)


-> very effective in the pursuit of scofflaws. I believe that in 1970
-> the Falcon and Torino were the same basic car with different badges
-> (OK experts, jump in here!).

You're correct! The Falcon became the bottom-line Torino in 1970. For
some reason it's not usually listed in the 1970 model lineup, but it was
there. I first discovered it when perusing a local Ford dealer's parts
books. I've seen one (1) 1970 Falcon.

This read-only message was archived from a public mail list.
Mail From: "Cliff Koch" <(email redacted)>

On May 10, 11:11pm, Dave Williams wrote:
> Subject: Weird Fords of the Sixties/Seventies
>
> -> very effective in the pursuit of scofflaws. I believe that in 1970
> -> the Falcon and Torino were the same basic car with different badges
> -> (OK experts, jump in here!).
>
> You're correct! The Falcon became the bottom-line Torino in 1970. For
> some reason it's not usually listed in the 1970 model lineup, but it was
> there. I first discovered it when perusing a local Ford dealer's parts
> books. I've seen one (1) 1970 Falcon.

There's a fellow in the Chicago area selling a 1970 429SCJ Falcon,
supposedly in "mint" condition. He wants $35K. They may be rare, but
there's a lot of other cars I'd want to own first for $35K. I think he'll be
keeping the car for awhile at that price.

Cliff

- --
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cliff Koch
Motorola Cellular Infrastructure Division
(email redacted)