Ford
Torino King Cobra prototypes

Why it matters

The King Cobra was Ford's planned 1970 aerodynamic Torino for NASCAR superspeedways, the successor to the Talladega. It never raced, because its nose created rear-end lift and Ford then cut its racing budget, leaving only a few prototypes.

How rare is it?

Six separate kinds of rarity – never combined into one number.

Each kind of rarity is rated separately and never combined.

Production

Every figure says what it counts.

Independent counts (e.g. engine and colour) are never combined into a calculated figure. Surviving examples are never presented as original production.

History

Racing director Jacque Passino asked Special Design Center director Larry Shinoda to devise a homologation-special nose for the 1970 Torino, shaped like the Le Mans-winning GT40. Shinoda, with Chuck Mountain and Ed Hall, drew a front clip that lengthened the car by more than half a foot. Test cars showed about 200 pounds of front downforce but dangerous rear lift, linked to the concave rear window.

Ford dismissed Bunkie Knudsen and cut racing spending, and a retooling estimate of $2,000,000 needed 3,000 cars sold, so the project ended. Bud Moore saved at least one car from the crusher.

Technical specifications

Engine

Transmission & drivetrain

Chassis, body & dimensions

Performance

“Not yet verified” means no source has been checked for that value yet. Nothing is estimated to fill a gap.

Identification guide

How to tell an original from a replica or later conversion.

The Bud Moore car was ordered on 18 August 1969 as a Special Purpose Vehicle and built at the Lorain, Ohio, plant on 15 September 1969. It is described as the only King Cobra with a production Torino Cobra serial number. As a prototype it has a fibreglass front clip and hood instead of the steel parts planned for production, rolled rocker panels and staggered rear shocks as on the Talladega.

Sources

Each number links to the exact facts it supports.

1. 1
   Talladega and Spoiler Registry – 1970 King Cobra and Spoiler II Level B

   • 4 King Cobras built per registry, three known to survive (Silodrome says three built)

   Accessed 2026-11-12
2. 2
   Rare Rides: The 1970 Ford Torino King Cobra Level A Street Muscle

   • Three prototypes were constructed
   • all three cars easily slipped past the 200 mph barrier

   Accessed 2026-11-12
3. 3
   Real 1970 King Cobra to Auction (quoting Mecum lot text) Level B Talladega and Spoiler Registry · 2016-01-20

   • one of two known to exist today
   • 429 Cobra Jet V-8 engine
   • 370 HP and a hefty 450 lb-ft of torque
   • 450 lb-ft of torque
   • C6 3-speed automatic to a Traction-Lok rear axle

   Accessed 2026-11-12
4. 4
   1970 Ford Torino - The End Level C Hot Rod and Muscle Cars blog · 2015-03

   • Shinoda's 7-foot fiberglass hood and fenders slope down

   Accessed 2026-11-12
5. 5
   The Talladega King Cobra: Ford's Charger Daytona Fighter Level A Hagerty Media

   • a single, smooth piece of fiberglass

   Accessed 2026-11-12