The Argentine Torino: An Archived Account

This page preserves historical material from a former Rambler Rogue Registry site. It is presented as an archive of past correspondence and recollection, not as a current source of information about any vehicle, organization, or event.

What Was a Torino?

According to the archived page, the name Torino did not refer only to a Ford. The material recounts the story of an Argentine car of that name, described in a series of emails from Andrés Martorano as the Argentine Rambler Rogue. He recalled that the car had been remarkably popular in Argentina during the 1970s.

Origins at IKA

The account states that at the end of 1955 the Kaiser Corporation of the United States established a branch in Argentina known as Industrias Káiser Argentina, or IKA, located in Córdoba City. The venture began with utility vehicles, including the Jeep line under American Motors control, and the Kaiser Carabela, described as a local design patterned after the North American Manhattan.

Later, according to the source, IKA reached an agreement under which American Motors and Régie Renault would produce vehicles locally. The catalog reportedly grew to include the Renault Dauphine, Jeep vehicles, the Rambler Ambassador, and other models. The source says this variety did not produce good economic results, and that IKA-Renault needed a car to compete with the Ford Falcon and Chevrolet Nova. The early Rambler was described as big, heavy, and not well accepted.

The Rambler Rogue as Starting Point

The archived account says the agreement with American Motors allowed IKA-Renault to choose the Rambler Rogue as a starting point. Market studies reportedly indicated that the new car should have a local character rather than a typical North American appearance. The designer Pininfarina was said to have accepted the task of adding a Latin touch, recommending changes mainly to the front and interior. The car was renamed Torino, a name the source links to Italian heritage in Argentina and to the bull of the pampas. The emblem was described as a standing bull.

Engine and Launch

The source states that early studies considered a 2.0- or 2.5-liter engine, but later analysis favored the Tornado six-cylinder engine. The archived page includes an editor's note disputing the engine's attribution to American Motors and crediting Kaiser with its development. The account further says IKA-Renault engineers repackaged the engine with technical assistance from Oreste Berta.

The launch was described as taking place at the Municipal Racing circuit in Buenos Aires on the morning of November 30, 1966. Three models were reportedly presented: a sedan with a 3-liter engine and three-speed transmission, a coupe with a 230 cid engine, Holley carburetor, and four-speed ZF gearbox, and a top version called the 380W with a 3.8-liter engine and three Weber carburetors. The source claims 220 hp and a top speed near 210 kph.

Sales and Reception

The archived account says the sedan targeted the Ford Falcon but offered more equipment, while the coupes competed with sport versions of the Chevrolet Nova, Ford Falcon Futura, and Chrysler Valiant GT. Despite initial enthusiasm and racing success, the source states that sales did not meet expectations and that IKA-Renault did not surpass 15,000 sales in the first three years. Buyers were said to favor the proven Falcon. The account ends by noting that the Torino's mechanical ability would later become more evident.