Ford and Chevrolet had traditionally
dominated Argentinian motor sport, but the Torino soon developed a strong
following after an early success in the grueling 3307km Gran Premio International
de Turismo. Top local drivers including Eduardo Copello, Eduardo Rodríguez
Canedo, Rubén Luis di Palma and Gastón Perkins were among those tempted to race
Torinos in the Torismo Carretera series. Héctor Luis Gradassi secured the first
contest of the '67 season. Even now there's an ardent following among
youngsters because the Torino shape is still campaigned in a local NASCAR-style
'silhouette' series, but the cars have space frame chassis and modern V8s.
Start drivers include popular multiple champion Norberto Fontana.
"They had a huge impact on our race
scene because a factory-backed team wiped the floor," explains CACRA
president Daly. "Their results in the Turismo Carretera confirmed that the
old coupes were ending their 40-year lifespan."
Designed
and built in Argentina was a key tagline in the project's marketing campaign,
and the Torino was a success straight out of the box
The Torino's best-known competition foray
was a three-car team managed by Fangio that was entered in the 1969 84-hour
Marathon de la Route at the Nürburgring. With homegrown hotshoes enlisted for
the audacious challenge entitled 'Misión Argentina', the Equipe created
tremendous national interest and a massive convoy followed the team along the
motorway to the docks. Painted white with contrasting blue stripes, the 1350kg
cars ran to Group 6 spec with wide wheels and 290bhp engines prepared by top
Argentina tuner Oreste Berta. The trio dramatically set the pace but noise
complaints to the Adenau police forced a lengthy pitstop to change the leader's
exhaust system, resulting in a frustrating time penalty. The surviving Torino-
driven by Copello, Oscar Mauricio 'Cacho' Franco and Alberto 'Larry'
Rodriguez-Larreta-finished fourth, but had covered two more laps than the
victorious Lancia Fulvia 1.6HF.
Stories of the Nürburgring adventure are
legendary in Argentina. When one team car broke down while out on the circuit,
Fangio himself attended the stranded vehicle and sang instructions to the
driver in the style of a tango to avoid disqualification for outside
assistance, Prior to the race, Fangio's involvement proved critical when trying
to get help from a nearby garage one night. Initially, the mechanic refused to
open his workshop, and wouldn't believe that the '57 German Grand Prix winner
was involved with the Torino team. "Bring the great man to my garage, and
then I'll open up," insisted the owner, who had to eat his words when
Fangio appeared. "The Nürburgring cars are a very important part of our
racing heritage, because a local car did so well in Europe," adds Daly.
Torino's
handling and ride are impressive: the early styling is the cleanest, with neat
rear clusters
The Torino remained in production until
'82, after Renault took control of IKA in '77, but the French firm was never
happy building a by-then outdated American-based car. Just 1241 380Ws were made
from a total of 99,000-plus Torinos. Today it's easily the most collectable,
with values around $25,000 on the home market, but it's key to check
authenticity. A restored early 300 two-door is more affordable, starting at
$10,000.
The featured Torino is owned by Manuel
Elicade, a historic racer and president of the Club de Automóviles Sport.
"As a kid I thought they were the coolest thing," he says. "My
father owned seven Torinos in the 1970s. I remember him picking up his last, a
lovely bottle=green four-door Grand Routier, from a Renault dealership in 1980.
I was about four and rode on the front seat along Lugones Avenue in Buenos
Aires, which is a four-lane highway. My father was really excited with the
Torino and asked me to 'mark a car and I will pass it'. So I said:' Go for that
one, Dad!' then he would floor the gas pedal and, of course, pass the chosen
car. We did this six or seven times. It was the most exciting thing. I could have
imagined and the roaring engine is still with me. It's a special feeling, 33
years later, when I take him out for drives in my Torino."
The 380W keeps company with many exotics in
Elicade's garage including a Bugatti T37 and Maserati A6GCS, but still gets
used regularly: "My first was a '79 TSX coupe' that I sold to buy this
one. It gets driven a lot. You could commute in it every day if you could stand
the summer heat here. I take it to work several times a month, and it often
gets the thumbs-up. It's a national icon, and you can feel that on the
streets."
The
featured Torino is owned by Manuel Elicade, a historic racer and president of
the Club de Automóviles Sport
My long-held ambition to drive a Torino
around La Capital begins with a rendezvous in La Boca, the old port and home of
the famous Puente Transbordador – a 1908 transporter bridge that straddles the
Rio Riachuelo and was last used to carry cars in '39. The colorful tourist spot
attracts a few suspicious-looking types and, once the photography is done,
we're relieved to be heading across town in this prized machine. The roomy
interior features Jaeger dials, a wood-rimmed wheel, an elegant veneered dash
and broad, comfy seats. Understated and spacious – with deep foot wells and
panoramic views- the Torino has a classy character with discreet badging in
keeping with this sophisticated and energetic city. The rough streets and
disused rail tracks are a tough test for the big coupe, which hops around over
the bumps, while the heavy steering is hard work at slow speeds, but the car
starts to come alive once on to the clearer main roads. The gear-change has a
long throw, with a strong spring-loaded central bias, though the action becomes
slicker as you stretch the smooth power of the Torquey straight-six. Once the
pace quickens, the steering gets more precise, which is just as well as we duck
and dive on the 14-lane Avenido 9 de Julio (the world's widest avenue). But the
high brake and clutch pedals make it awkward to heel-and-toe.
The Torino puts the power down well, with
no axle hop as you extend the revs of the lusty, Weber-fed 'six' - working the
ZF gearbox away from traffic lights- and there's minimal roll on roundabouts.
Massive potholes push the ride to the limit, yet the car feels strong with no
scuttle shake or steering kickback. Impatient taxi drivers and commuters are
surprised by out determined charge, and only cautious braking impedes our
progress back to Retiro. Matching its Italian looks, the Torino feels more
European in driving spirit than its American Cruiser roots. Rugged, quick,
stylish and full of character, it's easy to see why the locals adore the
‘Toro'.
