THE TWISTER SPECIALS

Revised January 2010 after new information about the combined ARI & Twister project was discovered from a knowledgeable Ford source. Updated area is marked by (*).

The Twister Specials, a group of 96 specially ordered and consecutively numbered Mach 1's, were a promotional Mustang made exclusively for the Ford Kansas City Sales District dealers. Also produced were 90 Torino Cobra’s with 429 SCJ engines and 4 Torino Ranchero’s with 351 Cleveland engines.

To set the background for our story we must back up in time to late in the 1969 production year. The Boss 302 has been highly successful.The Boss 429 is being produced to meet NASCAR production requirements and the phase out of the Shelby/Mustang has begun. Ford is coming in late but very strong to the performance car mass production era. Sales plans for the 1970 models will concentrate heavily on special promotions to help Ford capture a larger share of the high performance market, an estimated market of some 800,000 cars in 1970 alone. It’s here that the Twister Story begins to unfold.

In Detroit, Ford’s Special Promotion Division was approached by the President of American Raceway's, Inc. (ARI), a close personal friend of “Bunkie” Knudsen, Ford’s president. He requested pace cars for use at five of his existing or planned race tracks. Ten 1970 Mustangs were built. Five Mach 1’s and five convertibles. All ten cars were sent to a special Ford garage in Dearborn where the drive-trains were completely balanced and blueprinted for high speed requirements for pacing NASCAR races. All  were equipped with 428 SCJ’s and automatic(C6) transmissions. Distinctive side stripes and rear quarter decals having the appropriate track logo were designed. Plans called for color coordination of the tracks and pace cars. Later disaster struck and ARI went bankrupt with only two of the five planned tracks actually built.

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 In order to make the ARI project possible, because of the high investments costs, Special Promotions had to find a  Ford District willing to do a promotional car, with around 100 cars pre-sold tp District dealers.  The Kansas City Sales District Sales Office(DSO 53) stepped up and signed on with the project.

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Ford was encouraging use of District special promotion cars as part of their 1970 high performance marketing plans.  Special Promotions work on the ARI project would be the pattern used to create the Twister Specials. As Note; None of the ARI cars were converted into Twister Specials.

The side stripes were redesigned containing the "Ford" oval and a "Mach 1" logos. Rear quarter panel, track designated decals, were redesigned with a tornado background and the Twister Special logo. Certainly everyone knows of the Midwest’s reputation for these quick and high powered storms.

The original Twister Special order was placed for 100 Mach 1’s, light on convenience and luxury, heavy on performance options. Goodies included 428 SCJ engines, drag pack, competition suspension, power front disk brakes, shaker hood scoop and Goodyear F70x14 Raised White Letter Polyglass tires. The only non-performance options were an AM Radio and Tinted Glass. Half the order was to have been equipped with C6 automatic transmissions and 3.91 traction-lok differentials. The remainder with four-speed manual transmissions and 3:91 traction-loks.

Upon receipt of the order in Dearborn there were not enough 428 SCJ engines on hand. The 48 available 428 SCJ’s were used and the remaining 48 cars were equipped with the newly announced 351 Cleveland 4V engines. Except for the power train combinations, all of the Twister Mustangs were produced in Grabber Orange and equipped identically.  All 96, 1970 Twister's were built at Dearborn in the early to middle part of October 1969.  At the same time, in Atlanta, the 90, 1970 Twister Torino Cobra's were being produced in Vermilion having either 429 CJ or 429SCJ engines.  The Twister Mustangs were produced first.  The Twisters were in the 118,000 VIN series while the 10 ARI pace cars were in the 120,000 series. 

The cars were shipped to Ford’s Kansas City Claycomo assembly plant out-bound transportation lot. Stripes and decals were applied by a detailing firm under contract with Ford’s Special Promotions Division. Completely finished, the cars were once again transferred, this time as the main attraction for Kansas City’s special day.

On Friday, November 7, 1969, Kansas City Sales District dealers participated in a special promotion held at the Kansas City International Raceway(KCIR) called “Total Performance Day.”  Featured attractions were special appearances by the Ford Drag Team, Ford’s Total Performance Show and Bob Tasca’s High Performance Show. These teams were a traveling caravan touring the country promoting Ford’s high performance cars and after market muscle parts. Morning seminars were held for the dealers, their sales, parts and service personnel.  The afternoon brought exhibitions by the Drag Teams and then a chance for participants to try their luck on the road race course or the quarter mile. Trophies were presented to the winners in each of the district’s 13 sales zones. Participation certificates were furnished all who dared a shot at the clock on the road course or quarter mile..

Around 4:00 P.M., after a full day of awesome high performance demonstrations the dealers were taken to an area containing the specially prepared, high performance, Twister Specials. Before their eyes, awaiting the drive home or shipment to their dealerships, were 96  Mach 1’s and 90 Torino Cobra’s. To a Mustang and Ford enthusiast, what a beautiful sight that must have been.

NOTE:  Without the 1970 Twisters being produced to defray the cost of the ARI project, there neaver wouldn't have been any ARI pace cars produced !!

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