1971 Ford Torino 500 Wagon review from North America

Nothing aside from the basic tuneup and typical replacements ever needed to be done to this car. It started easily in the coldest of winters and the air conditioning would readily freeze out the occupants on the hottest summer days.

Rust did eventually claim the lower body panels, but such holes were handily fixed in fine student fashion with duct tape and spray paint.

Years of vacations with kids never wore the carpeting out or marred the thick vinyl seats, and the hood still shined like new the day it lost out to a skidding dump truck.

This was a large family station wagon built before strict speed limits and unleaded gas, and before a full tank became a valued commodity.

The stout V-8 engine sucked gas at a steady 12 mpg, rising to 15 on the freeway with favorable tailwinds.

The rear seat would fold down to engulf stacks of lumber, cases of beer or a small deer from the side of the road. Nothing was too much for it to handle.