When Ford first announced the 1969 Torino Talladega Coupe, it was with the intention of combating the threat from the Dodge Charger Daytona and Plymouth Superbird. In the decades since, the Torino has become one of the many forgotten classic Fords that is definitely deserving of a second look.
George Poteet knew that with some high-caliber custom work, he could remind people how awesome the Torino Talladega can be. His car, the “GPT Special” 1969 Torino Talladega has already had a good year, winning the 2013 Optima Batteries Street Machine of the Year award at the Goodguys PPG Nationals. Hemmings Auto Blog reports that Poteet’s GPT Special can claim another big victory, taking home first place at the inaugural Barrett-Jackson cup, netting a cool $20,000 in prize money.
We already covered the GPT Special in-depth before it won any of these awards, but suffice to say Rad Rides by Troy knows how to enhance an already stunning car. By taking three-inches out of the front fender, slamming the car to the ground and widening it a full five inches, the Rad Rides team created a menacingly-low street machine that seems ready to eat asphalt wherever it goes.
Using a C5 front suspension and a Detroit Speed four-link setup in the back, the GPT Special is as much about handling as it is about speed. Speaking of which, the 750 horsepower 429 V8 engine inhabits an engine bay that is every bit as clean and detailed as the rest of the car.
The interior is a period-correct recreation of a Holman-Moody NASCAR, lacking even basic carpeting or sound-deadening. But this dedication to detail won Poteet that $20,000 bounty, as well as a GM LS3 crate engine. It might make a nice mantelpiece, you know?