Did Richard Petty drive a Ford Torino?
No. Richard Petty did not drive a Ford Torino in NASCAR's top series. His racing career is most closely associated with Plymouth cars (and later Dodge) fielded by Petty Enterprises.
Context: Richard Petty’s NASCAR legacy
Richard Petty, known as "The King," won seven NASCAR Cup Series championships and accumulated more than 200 race victories during a career that spanned several decades. His success is inseparable from the Plymouth-based cars his team fielded for most of his Cup career, including iconic models and aero-focused developments from the Plymouth lineup. While Ford’s Torino family was a major contender on track in the same era, Petty’s rides were not among those Torino-bodied machines in the Cup Series.
Manufacturer history of Petty Enterprises
Petty Enterprises built its success primarily around Plymouth during its championship years, and the organization later aligned with other manufacturers as the sport’s landscape evolved. Across the period, there is no credible record of Richard Petty driving a Ford Torino in NASCAR’s premier series, with his most famous rides rooted in Plymouth—and later associations with other manufacturers as the team adapted over time.
Before exploring the manufacturing associations in more detail, here is a concise look at the brands most closely tied to Petty’s Cup Series rides.
- Plymouth: The long-standing backbone of Petty Enterprises, yielding the cars that powered many of his most memorable victories and championships.
- Dodge: The organization and its successors later fielded Dodge-branded cars as the sport’s manufacturer alignments shifted.
- Ford Torino: Not used by Petty in Cup racing; while Torino was a prominent Ford model in the era, Petty’s Cup rides remained Plymouth (and later Dodge under evolving teams).
The record shows that Richard Petty did not pilot a Ford Torino in the NASCAR Cup Series. His success sits squarely on Plymouth-based cars for the bulk of his career, with later transitions to other manufacturers as the sport evolved.
Summary
Did Richard Petty ever drive a Ford?
Yes, Richard Petty drove a Ford for the 1969 season. He switched to a Ford Torino Talladega and won 10 races that year before returning to Plymouth for the 1970 season to drive the newly developed Superbird.
You can watch this video to learn more about Richard Petty's 1969 Ford: 38sMotorsports on NBCYouTube · Jul 31, 2019
- 1969 season: Petty drove a Ford Torino Talladega during the 1969 season. This was his only year driving Fords, as he left to drive for Ford due to dissatisfaction with Plymouth's competitiveness on super-speedways.
- Performance: Despite the switch being a surprise to many, he had a successful season with Ford, winning 10 races, notes Yahoo! Autos.
- Return to Plymouth: Plymouth responded by creating the aerodynamic Superbird for 1970, which was specifically designed to lure him back. Petty was impressed and rejoined Plymouth for the 1970 season.
What kind of car did Richard Petty drive?
Richard Petty famously drove Plymouths, Fords, and Pontiacs throughout his career, with the #43 Plymouth being the most iconic. He drove iconic models like the 1967 Plymouth Belvedere and the 1970 Plymouth Superbird, but also raced in Fords for a period and later in his career, drove Pontiacs and Chevrolets.
This video shows Richard Petty driving the 1970 Plymouth Superbird: 1mGoodwood Road & RacingYouTube · May 27, 2015
- Plymouth: This was the make Richard Petty is most associated with.
- 1967 Plymouth Belvedere: He won 27 races in this model, including a record ten consecutive races in 1967.
- 1970 Plymouth Superbird: This is one of his most legendary cars, featuring a distinctive nose cone and a large rear wing for improved aerodynamics. Petty returned to Plymouth after a brief stint with Ford to drive this car.
- 1971 Plymouth Road Runner: He drove this model to his third Daytona 500 victory in 1971.
- Ford: Petty raced in Fords for a period in his career.
- Ford Torino Talladega: He drove this model in 1969 after switching from Plymouth.
- Pontiac and Chevrolet: In the latter part of his career, Petty also raced in these makes.
- 1992 Pontiac Grand Prix: This was one of the cars he raced in 1991 and 1992.
- STP Chevrolet: He drove this car in the late 1970s.
You can also watch this video to learn how the 1970 Superbird influenced Richard Petty's return to Plymouth: 59sRoad MissionYouTube · May 30, 2025
Did Richard Petty ever drive a Ford Torino?
🏁 Did you know that Richard Petty drove this Ford Torino? At Memory Lane Museum, we have over 100 historical vehicles, many of which come from the golden age of automotive racing, and were once driven by Richard Petty, Bobby Allison, Dale Earnhardt, and more!
What did Richard Petty drive in 1969?
Ford Torino Talladega
After a disappointing 1968 season – at least by his own lofty standards – Hall of Famer Richard Petty (2010) shocked the racing world by signing a one-year deal to drive a new, limited-edition Ford Torino Talladega for 1969.
