It’s hard to deny that this 1974 Ford Gran Torino is one sharp car that seems to remain in near survivor condition, with the Maize Yellow paint indeed being an unusual and rare color choice as the seller states. However, he also lists it as a Sport Coupe model, and while the body does show some sporty lines for the period, I don’t think this one qualifies as an official Gran Torino Sport in the regard that Ford intended. That’s OK though, as this one’s a beauty overall, and other admirers must think so as well, as 33 bids have already taken the price up to $18,449. This 1974 Ford Gran Torino is in Chester, New York, and can be spotted here on eBay.
Looking at the VIN, I believe the 30 indicates a 2-door hardtop Gran Torino, a step up from the base model, which would show 25 in this position instead. A 21 here would indicate Ford’s new Torino offering for ‘74, the more upscale Elite, but the number would have to be 38 for this car to be a Sport model. In any event, the car looks great outside overall, with most of the paint remaining original. The owner mentions that the door and quarter panel on the driver’s side appear to have had some paint work, but describes those areas as presentable. He also says this one’s a solid, garage-kept southern car, with 100% rust-free sheet metal.
Stepping inside reveals an interior that lives up to the seller’s statement that it is in pristine condition, and while not necessarily sporty, the bench seat and column shifter were common components inside a Torino. The condition here seems to help validate the owner’s claim that the 28,000 miles showing are actual, with everything from the door panels, headliner, and instrument panel appearing to be about as good as you’re likely to find in just about any fifty-year-old auto.
The letter F in the VIN represents a 302 engine with a 2-barrel, which was the entry-level V8 and factory-rated at 140 horsepower. It’s said to be running extremely well, with everything under the hood appearing to be in good order, plus there’s also a new battery. More good news comes from down below, as the rails and underside seem about as solid as the body. No matter where you look, this one’s a very nice example, and I’m curious how high the price will continue to climb here. What are your thoughts on this 1974 Ford Gran Torino?
This is a sharp car and I like it. My favorite of this generation of Torinos would be the 1972 Gran Torino Sport, before the big bumpers. Especially a fastback equipped with laser stripes, a manual transmission, bucket seats, and the instrumentation group.
Which brings us to this car. It’s a big bumper coupe, base powertrain, not a Sport, “pretty” color, bench seat, standard instrumentation. It’s in good condition and the Magnum 500’s look great. Still, even given the low mileage, I would have thought the bids would be modest. But the current bidding is strong.
I guess, these big Gran Torinos are moving up the price scale?
Thanks Mike.
Spot on Bob. Love your choice of favorite Torino too. Front end and hood on the 72′ was so nice, great lines on that car. How about one w the 351-4V, 4sp, and 3.50 gears ⚙️.
Really nice looking Ford here. Perfect cheerful cruiser. Load up the grandkids, 👪 lots of room on the bench seat.
So this is what a ’74 Gran Torino looks like without the Stripped Tomato paint job. Just kidding. These have nice lines, but I’m with all the above comments from Bob and Stan about the 1972 models. Beautiful nose on those, grill and bumper are very nicely integrated on them. We had a family friend with a gorgeous Dark Emerald green 72. And it just sticks out in my memory even though I haven’t seen it since thevlate 70s.
Ha! Me too. Some cars just can’t escape their Hollywood counterparts. Did you know, Glaser( Starsky) hated the car so much, he purposely tried to wreck it. He insisted on bucket seats to keep from sliding across the bench seat into Hutch. He said the thought of undercover police in a fire red sports car always seemed ludicrous to him, but work was work.
Wait- I’ve seen this movie before…
Not a “Sport” but very nice!
In 1984 I bought a used but high miles super clean ’73 Gran Torino Sport fastback ($1,000.) in black. Stunner.
Sport offered floor shift and guage group/Tach.
351, 2 barrel was gutless but that was OK- loved the car.
Kept lots of pics on this car and one of the few non-beaters I ever bought. It was beautiful, loved the body style but no visibility out of rear window.
Buy the nicest example you can find – like this one!
These big bumper Torinos were big street slugs back in the day.
My friend had a 72 4 door sedan that he bought new. It had an excellent ride, roomy and comfortable for highway trips. But this example appeals to me partly because of the nice wheels and very good overall condition.
Looks like rental-car spec to me. I’d choose a ’72, or better yet, a ’68 or ’69. These are just not as desirable as the earlier ones to me. They are just a stop on the Torino road to me, and ’74 is probably the worst year for American cars in terms of styling and performance. Name a single 1974 anything that is the “best” year. You can’t do it.
Aston Martin Logonda series 1?
Laguna Type S-3
Triumph TR6
Good points Karo. The Pinto was best seller that year & Motor Trends pick of 1974 was the Mustang II. How am I doin supportin ya? Now yellow over green? Sorry that’s suspect to me. Yellow over black or even white sounds right. And finally, my 73 Mustang had the same engine. 140hp will get ya around town but it won’t do the boot scoot boogie.
Performance was really falling off in 1974. The one bright spot in the Torino/Montego/Cougar/Ranchero was the 351 Cobra Jet, aka the Q-code engine. It still had 255 horsepower and was in its last year. Of course the 460 was available but it was only 206 horsepower and is a completely different animal. In ’75 the 351 CJ was gone and the 351 (H-code, 2-barrel) was the base engine in the Torino, with the S-code 400 and the A-code 460 optional. But looking at this listing again I am starting to feel a little bit of Torino lust.
Last year of ignition points and no catalytic converter=mixed bag!
Its a basic car, not a big deal….but low miles is nice, color is not, non sport is not… interior is also so basic, and green! Thus seems like it should be more like 12K.
I had a 1975 GranTorino that I got used in 1978 while in high school. Had the 351Windsor, & a huge fuel tank, but hey, gas was lots cheaper back then, even for a high school kid. Everyone is right, the lines had changed from the early 1970s. I ended up getting rid of all the smog stuff, & did a shift kit in the tranny. Going to a holley carb & edelbrock intake, hooker headers opened up the HP a little. Traded it while in college but still think they looked cool.
I had a 1975 GranTorino that I got used in 1978 while in high school. Had the 351Windsor, & a huge fuel tank, but hey, gas was lots cheaper back then, even for a high school kid. Everyone is right, the lines had changed from the early 1970s. I ended up getting rid of all the smog stuff, & did a shift kit in the tranny. Going to a holley carb & edelbrock intake, hooker headers opened up the HP a little. Traded it while in college but still think they looked cool.
This could be the “Dude’s” replacement Torino LOL.
Nice condition tho’
Sharp ride. Good colors. Similar to our ’69 Galaxie. Love the formal roof and could care less about the bumper standards. The starter interlock would have been a bigger deal.
Always loved the styling of the Ford Elite and Gran Torino for 74 but I loved the 74 Mercury RX7 Cougar much more. These cars looked so good for a mid size luxury sports car. This is one of the nicest 74 Torino’s I’ve seen in a while.
I notice code X for the transmission, which would be the FMX automatic (not the C-4). That is a pretty stout unit and a bigger engine with some performance mods would drop right in. Or that 302 could really wake up with a 4-barrel carburetor and some headers and a non-restrictive dual exhaust setup. Of course you could save the original parts and put it back as stock if you wanted to. Funny about these old Fords (including Pintos, for real): they bring good prices if they are clean and unmolested. I also note a DSO of 22, which is Charlotte, NC, so that claim of it being a Southern car is true.
Amazing what Magnum 500’s can do!