1968 Ford Torino GT Is a Rare Pace Car Convertible in Stunning Condition

Ford paced the iconic Indy race for the first 1935, when Harry Mack drove a Model 48. Since then, Ford was selected to provide the Indy 500 pace car five more times. In 1968, the then-new Torino led the pack with William Clay Ford Sr. behind the steering wheel.

Ford celebrated the achievement with a limited run of production models, which was standard procedure at the time. Records show only 709 replicas were produced and sold as Pace Car Edition Torinos. That's a very tiny fraction of the massive 1968 Torino output, which included over 150,000 examples.

While the actual pace car featured a 390-cubic-inch (6.4-liter) V8 engine, the replicas came standard with the 302-cubic-inch (4.9-liter) small-block Windsor powerplant. The 390 V8 was available on the Pace Car Edition, but it was nowhere near as popular as the no-cost 302 V8. Two of the 709 replicas were ordered with the R-code 428-cubic-inch (7.0-liter) Cobra Jet V8. 

Hailing from Council Bluffs, Iowa, this Torino GT Convertible is one of only 511 pace car replicas ordered with the 302-cubic-inch V8. It's also one of 496 units fitted with the C4 automatic transmission, and one of 277 cars to feature this drivetrain combo and blue vinyl seats.

A quick look at the Marti Report it comes with reveals that some options narrow the production number significantly. It's one of 139 cars with a blue convertible top, and one of only 115 with a center console. The tinted glass and remote mirror options make it one of only two built just like this.

But scarcity isn't the only thing that makes this Torino a great classic. This vehicle is in fantastic condition inside and out. It's unclear if it is a proper survivor or an older restoration, but the fact that it's still around in such incredible shape after over five decades is impressive, to say the least.

The Wimbledon White shows next to no weathering, while the blue top is in tip-top shape. Look close enough and you'll spot some wear and tear on the seats and the door panels, but you'd have to be very picky to actually mind it. As far as I'm concerned, this Torino is an outstanding classic. 

And I'm not the only one who believes that; this Pace Car Edition is a multiple award winner. The only downside here is that the seller is unsure whether this vehicle is unrestored or an older refresh (he quotes the lack of full documentation). On the flip side, these convertibles have an exceptionally low survival rate, so you won't see many like this at car shows.

The Pace Car Edition drop-top is up for grabs via eBay, where 26 bids have pushed the sticker up to $32,400. There's no reserve, and the auction is scheduled to end on February 19. For reference, Pace Car Edition models have sold at public auctions for sums between $21,000 and $46,000 in recent years. Could this convertible become the most expensive Torino Pace Car Edition?