Dennis Collins has uncovered another long-forgotten classic, this time a 1968 Ford Torino GT that had been sitting in a field in Wyoming for nearly 50 years. The car was effectively entombed beneath a homemade shelter, surrounded by lumber, wire, and decades of accumulated debris.
The discovery was documented on the Dennis Collins YouTube channel, where Collins and his crew traveled to Cheyenne to recover the car. What initially looked like a difficult extraction quickly became far more interesting once its factory tags and equipment started revealing exactly what had been hiding underneath.
The Torino turned out to be a genuine GT equipped with Ford’s S-code 390-cubic-inch V8. It also wears Wimbledon White paint, a red interior, red C-stripes, GT wheels, and several desirable factory options that make the car much more compelling than an ordinary abandoned project.
Its Wyoming license plate dates to 1978, and Collins estimated the car had been sitting for roughly five decades. Despite the long storage, the people who parked it had gone to considerable effort to protect it, including placing plywood beneath the car and supporting it on blocks.
The Tags Confirmed It Was A Real S-Code GT
Once the shelter was dismantled and the car became accessible, Collins began decoding its identification tags. The S-code confirmed the 390 V8, while the body code identified it as a two-door Torino GT.
The trim information also matched what was visible on the car, including Wimbledon White paint and a red interior. Its DSO code pointed to Denver, which made sense given the car’s apparent history in the surrounding Wyoming area.
Collins also found a 3.25 limited-slip rear axle and a C6 automatic transmission listed in the factory coding. Power steering and power brakes were still present, adding to an already attractive specification.
It Still Has Some Unusually Original Hardware
One detail that particularly impressed Collins was the survival of the emissions equipment. The smog pump was still in place, along with its belt and anti-backfire valve, components that were frequently removed from older performance cars over the years.
A block heater was also fitted, an understandable feature for a car that spent its life in Wyoming. Collins noted that the underbody appeared surprisingly solid, with little indication of the serious rust often associated with cars stored outdoors for decades.
The odometer showed 73,276 miles, so this is not a low-mileage time capsule. Even so, the overall completeness and combination of factory equipment made the Torino look like a very worthwhile candidate for preservation.
After 50 Years, It Rolled Out Without Much Fight
The recovery itself went better than expected. Once the wooden structure was removed and the tires were aired up, the Torino rolled out with surprisingly little resistance.
Collins had expected locked wheels and hours of additional work, yet the car moved freely once it was winched forward. He even remarked that the car seemed as though it “wants to live again.”
The hood has some damage, the interior is far from pristine, and the exterior will obviously need significant attention. Collins nevertheless made it clear that the Torino will survive rather than being parted out.
He also promised a future update showing the car running and driving. For an S-code 1968 Torino GT that spent close to half a century hidden away, simply emerging intact and largely complete already makes this a remarkable rescue.