1969 Ford Fairlane Torino 428 Cobra Jet - No Rust, New Re-Man Engine, 4-speed

I purchased this car several years ago, as a relativelyeasy project - to make use of an extra engine I had laying around. I basically cleaned it up, painted it and installed a stroked 427 8V. The car was intended be a simple but fun driver, with more of a stripped down retro look......similar to something you would have seen on a NASCAR track in 1969-instead ofa complete restoration. So most all of the external chrome trim was removed and the bumpers were painted white. The original bench seat was removed and replaced with racing style buckets. New carpet and new headliner were installed as well as all new weather-stripping. The original shifter was replaced with a Hurst. After driving the car several times, it became apparent that it was just too consuming having multiple projects. So I replaced the engine with the 428CJ that came out of it anddecided to sell it.
As for the particular details of the car, I will attempt to be as brief yet thorough as possible...
First off, the engine. It is a 428 Cobra Jet engine, however it is not the original block. It's what's known as a "Service Block" andIS the correct replacement. It's an industrial block and actually stronger than the CJ block. There are no casting numbers on it. However it is identifiable by the external ribs along the side. This engine was purchased a very long time ago by the previous owner - back when you could simply buyone over the parts counter.But he never put the car back together. When I took the car out last week to take pictures.....those are the most likely theonly actual miles on this engine. Even though it was rebuilt decades ago, it was stored properly. It started right up, ran perfect immediately with absolutely no smoke. Even though I had not driven the car with this engine, I had previously installed and tested it. After removing it, I pulled the oil pan to inspect the internals. The engine was spotless on the inside with the correct 1U crank - leaving little doubt that it is what it's supposed to be.
As for the rest of the drivetrain, it has the correct close-ratio Toploader. The rear axle was originally a 3.25 with a Trac-Lok. However I replaced the gears with 3.70 ratio. All brakes and universal joints are new.
I haven't repaired any rust. The car hasn't had any rust removed by sandblasting or any rust covered up with a 'treatment'. I say this because a lot of people will take something that has rusted.....then either patch it up and/or cover it up with Por-15 and call it 'rust free'. But this car literally has almost no rust - because it neverreally rusted in the first place. Just some minor pitting on a few areas of the underbody - and norust at all in the key body areas like rocker panels, rear window frame and trunk. You can look underneath the car and stillneatly see thespot welds and stamping details. The body is extremely straight. When I painted it, I mostly just sanded and sprayed it - with no body work required. The only known body work on the car is on the rear corner of the left rear wheel well - and the floor pans have been replaced. The paint isn't prefect. But it is slick and straight.
Actual mileage is unknown. Title simply says 000000 because it's exempt. All original parts that were removed will be included.......seats, shifter, chrome trim etc. I also have the original power brake setup which was removed for clearance. Theonlyexception,is the original 428 Cobra Jet cast iron exhaust manifolds. However, they will be available for purchase at fair market value - if that's something you want. The valve covers I think are original - but the air cleaner is not.....and I do not have the original.
That's pretty much all the details I can think of. I'd also like to explain that this car isn't a show car. It was never intended to be. But at the same time, it's not a cobbled together mess. It IS an original Cobra Jet. And it was about as close as a "survivor" as you could get when I bought it - except it had been taken apart and never put back together. I never intended to "restore" it, because I just wanted todrive it. On my other car - the parts on it are nearly irreplaceable. With this car I wanted something I couldtake out without being absolutely paranoid about something happening to it.It's a great car for someone who just wants something reliable to get out and drive. This would also be a perfectcandidate forsomeone who wants to spend the moneyit takeson a restoration. You could have a show quality car withan overall investment of well below what it would actually be worth. Either way you look at it, it's well worth the reserve price. I never finished getting this car 100% where I wanted it. But all the important things are there. The engine is basically new. Rear end has been rebuilt. The only thing that really wears out on the transmission is the shifter - and that's been replaced. All the brakes are new. Tires are new. A little TLC and you could drive this car anywhere. I'm not saying it's not road worthy right now......but I literally put the engine in, started it and immediately drove it across town. I was confident it would make the trip just fine. But like anything this old that hasn't been driven in this long - it's gonna need a little tuning and adjusting.......so I wouldn't recommend buying it with the intentions on driving it back. Bringing a trailer would be highly recommended. A $500 deposit will be required within 24 hours of auction close. Full payment will be expected within7 days. If anyone has an additional questions, you can also text meat 601-577-4118. Thanks.