JIM BATIE SENT ME A WHOLE BUNCH OF PICS AND INFO ON HIS CAR . THE INFO AND PICS WERE SO GOOD , I DECIDED TO DEDICATE A WHOLE SECTION TO IT . ENJOY !
HOW I BECAME A TORINO OWNER
I first saw this car at the Portland swapmeet in April of 1999 . I was at the meet looking for a daily driver in good enough shape to drive without needing a lot of work , in the $3,000 to $ 6,000 range . It was near the end of a long and disappointing day when I walked by this car for about the thrid time , and finally decided to take a look at it before heading home . It really wasn't what I was looking for . It was big and it was yellow , not my favorite color , but it looked clean and the price was in the ballpark . As I walked around it , there was some more info on the side window about it being a Q - code , and a stall number where the owner could be found . Ten or fifteen minutes later , the owner was unlocking the doors , popped the hood , and fired it up . It seemed to start right up , and didn't sound too bad . The interior was in good shape but
showed normal wear and tear . I was surprised to see that the buckets , console , etc. looked like they could actually be original . The power windows , heated rear window and intermittent wipers peaked my interest and curiosity . I took the owners phone number , snapped a few pictures , and went to collect my things at a friend's stall , and headed home .
Armed only with a colored flyer that had been dropped of at the car , just an hour before I looked at it , I started to investigate what the Q - code was about and if it really meant anything . The flyer was from Dearborn Classics , and after a quick fax , I found out that Dan and Trevor were the ones that went to the swapmeet . Several days later , I was able to speak to Trevor , and found out alot about the Torinos and what I should be looking for . After a few days of
thinking about it , and getting Cindy's usual okay and standard question about why we needed yet another vehicle , I made arrangements to go back to Portland for a test drive of the car and a shopping spree for her . The test drive went pretty well and I made an offer on the car . The owner did not seem too happy , but said he would let me know after several other partys had looked at it . Weeks passed with out hearing , so I figured that someone else had offered him more for it .
Finally , a call came and terms were agreed to . After several months of waiting , I finally took possesion on the 26th of May , 1999 . From that time , until late June of 2000 , I drove this car daily without a single problem . In late June , a very tired clutch , finally gave out . The trans had some noisy case
bearings , the driveshaft had u - joint cups turning in both ends , and a summer of collecting new and used parts for a facelift , was just too much to resist . With the rest of the summer off , the time was right to get started on another project . Before I knew , it was the end of November , and the car was finally on the road again . It still needs a few things . I'm still trying to locate a couple of wheel lip mouldings , and a flexible duct for the air cleaner snorkel . I would like to move the front bumper back and I am building a new hood for it . It would be nice to put the Laser stripe back on it , if new ones are ever made again .
Thanks to Dearborn Classics and TorinoBill for their help , and to my family for their patience and support , once again .
As I found the car at the Portland swapmeet
The engine compartment when I started . It had been nicely detailed with spray - on undercoating . what a mess and a real pain to get rid of .
A few weeks into July , and a summers' worth of projects underway .
The last of the Laser Stripe is now gone . Too bad !
The inside has been painted , some of the insulation and wire is back in .
It's a couple of days since it's been painted . Time to roll it outside .
NOTE : THE HOOD ON THIS CAR IZ NOT STOCK . IT'Z A 73 HOOD THAT'S BEEN MODIFIED WITH A 72 SCOOP .
