ORIGINAL W/ EXT REFRESH, SOLID-RUNS GREAT, 390 V8, AUTO, AIR, PS, PB W/ FR DISC

Description

Affordable Ford muscle is still easy to find if you know where to look. Cars like this 1970 Ford XL made their living on the oval tracks of NASCAR, which certainly explains the swoopy fastback bodywork. Today, they're rare and extremely cool pieces that will stand out among all the pony cars at the next cruise night.It's rare to find an XL hardtop of any kind, let alone one with all the good stuff already built in. It's not quite a survivor, having been repainted at some point, but the work that was done was clearly sympathetic to the cause. The cool Dark Aqua Metallic paint was freshened a few years ago, and it's a fantastic choice on a full-sized cruiser, adding shine without making it look like some 21st century remix. Fit and finish are quite good, at least as good as the factory did it, and it appears to have always been protected from harsh winter climates and the damage they do to old sheetmetal. The white vinyl top is definitely new and shows quite well, and if you squint just right, you can see where the roofline on the '71-73 Mustang coupe came from. The full-width grille with hidden headlights was more Lincoln than Ford, and yes, the headlights are fully functional. But despite all this, there's not a lot of chrome beyond the bumpers, which are excellent originals. Out back, you can see that Ford was still in love with jet exhaust taillights, although these are squared-off to match the car's overall theme.The white bucket seat interior appears to be original, a nice color combination in good condition that can be enjoyed right away. The only notable demerit is a split in the driver's seat cushion, but we're betting a competent upholstery shop could make it vanish for not a lot of money. Looking to be all original, the interior does show some natural wear, but it has a very cohesive overall look that fits the car perfectly and it probably wouldn't add much value to start chasing perfection. There's easily room for five on board with a spacious back seat that most 4-door sedans today would envy, although buckets and a console in a full-sized Ford is a relatively rare find. With a wrap-around instrument panel, it has a very driver-oriented feel, and all the controls are at your fingertips, including a shifter that looks suspiciously like the famous "horseshoe" shifters from across town at GM. Other options include factory A/C and while the original AM/FM radio is inop, there is a Kenwood AM/FM/CD/MP3 unit hidden under the front seat with remote. A mammoth trunk is what you'd expect, and includes a spare tire up on its own shelf.To get all that sheetmetal moving, you need V8 power, and this XL carries a smooth-running 390 cubic inch V8 that makes it feel like a much smaller car. It looks tidy and well-maintained, and things like the original air cleaner and carburetor remain, so you know it hasn't been abused. Given the wide availability of performance parts, it's remarkable to see one so original and untouched. It starts easily and idles the way you'd expect, with a soft burble from the dual exhaust system. A 3-speed automatic feeds the original 9-inch rear, which is full of highway-friendly gears so this sucker just loafs along at high speed. The list of new equipment includes that exhaust system, the shocks, and, of course, those gorgeous 15-inch Torque Thrusts, which wear 235/60/15 white-letter radials.For fans of the unusual, this XL hits all the right notes: great colors, stylish bodywork, and just enough smooth horsepower to get some attention. Call today!