How much horsepower does a 1970 Ford Torino GT 429 have?
The 1970 Torino GT offered two 429 V8 power levels: 360 horsepower for the standard Thunder Jet and 375 horsepower for the Cobra Jet.
These figures come from Ford's gross horsepower ratings published in brochures and showroom literature of the era. They reflect engine output without modern exhaust and accessory loads, so they’re not directly comparable to late-model “net” horsepower figures. The exact number depended on the chosen engine configuration and options.
Engine options for the Torino GT
Ford cataloged two primary 429 configurations for the Torino GT in 1970. The following list summarizes the horsepower figures as published for each option.
- 429 Thunder Jet: 360 horsepower (gross) with torque typically around 450 lb-ft.
- 429 Cobra Jet: 375 horsepower (gross) with torque in the roughly 450–480 lb-ft range.
In practice, a Torino GT equipped with the 429 engine would fall into one of these two horsepower brackets, with the Cobra Jet option representing the higher-performance choice of the two.
Context and measurement differences
Horsepower ratings from this era are “gross” ratings, measured with minimal ancillary equipment. Modern specifications use “net” ratings that subtract the effects of accessories, exhaust, and emissions equipment. As a result, contemporary readers should interpret these numbers as historical performance figures rather than directly comparable modern outputs.
Why the numbers vary
Even within the same model year, individual engines could vary due to production tolerances, compression ratio, carburetion tuning, and final drivetrain configuration. These factors could shift the real-world performance slightly from the published numbers.
Summary
The 1970 Ford Torino GT’s 429 V8 offered two primary horsepower levels: 360 hp for the standard Thunder Jet and 375 hp for the Cobra Jet. Remember these are gross ratings from the period; real-world performance depended on how the car was built and equipped.
