| Ford Division
Ford Motor Company Dearborn, Michigan |
| Engine |
175-hp, 289
cu. in. V-8 |
| Transmission |
3-speed automatic |
| Steering |
Power-assisted |
| Suspension |
Standard |
| Brakes |
Disc F, Drum R |
Check
list |
| Engine |
| Throttle Response |
Fair |
| Noise Insulation |
Very
Good |
| Drive
train |
| Shift Linkage |
Good |
| Shift Smoothness |
Very
Good |
| Steering |
| Effort |
Very
Good |
| Response |
Good |
| Handling |
| Predictability |
Very
Good |
| Evasive Maneuverability |
Good |
| Brakes |
| Directional Stability |
Good |
| Fade Resistance |
Very
Good |
| Interior |
| Ease of Entry/Exit |
Good |
| Driving Position |
Good |
| Front Seating Comfort |
Good |
| Rear Seating Comfort |
Good |
| General |
| Vision |
Good |
| Heater/ Defroster |
Very
Good |
| Weather Sealing |
Very
Good |
| Trunk Space |
Very
Good |
|
For some reason known
only to the highest-ups at the Ford Motor Company, the Lincoln-Mercury
Division is calling the top eight of its 13 intermediates Montegos,
while over at Ford Division, only the top six of its 14 intermediates
are named Torino. The Torino series replaces last year's Fairlane
500/XL and GT models and are completely re-styled to look more
like the bigger Fords. Happily,
the Torinos feel like the big Fords. Ford has learned a lot
about ride comfort lately, and the latest "hockey-stick"
front suspension link (with plenty of foreand-aft compliance
to absorb harshness) really gets the job done. The stock handling
isn't very sporty, but it's on a par with all but the Iongest-wheel
base big cars.
Interior dimensions are within
a few inches of what's offered in the big cars, and even the
trunk is commodious. The interior in all models but the Torino
GT (where bucket seats are standard) are somewhat plain, but
comfortable. The longer (by five inches) greenhouse for '68
gives the rearseat passengers a useful increase in head room.
It's a very nice car for four people, but the middle seats
leave something to be desired.
This is Ford's "standard"
car, and, as such, comes off as a better bargain for the money
than the bigger Fords. |
