The Torino debuted in 1968 as a higher level of trim on a mid-size Fairlane. By the 1970s, the Torino nameplate had replaced the Fairlane altogether. The seller’s nice example is a Gran Torino Brougham per the car’s VIN (not a GT, as the seller says). With aftermarket wheels and a 400 V8, the Ford has a muscle car look to it in Granite Falls, Washington. Possibly needing nothing, this Torino is available here on craigslist for $11,950. Kudos to “Curvette” for this Medium Blue tip!
When you went to your Ford dealer in 1975, you had a plethora of choices when it came to the intermediate Torino. They included the base Torino, Gran Torino, Gran Torino Sport, Gran Torino Brougham, Gran Torino Elite, plus wagons and the Ranchero pickup. Loaded with goodies, the Brougham 2-door hardtop found nearly 5,000 buyers in 1975, so the number that may exist today would only number in the hundreds.
The best remembered Torino is probably the 1974-76 Gran Torino “Striped Tomato” from the Starsky & Hutch TV show. That car could never be confused with the seller’s opulent ride. Since the odometer on this one has rolled over, we assume the mileage to be 171,000. Yet the car looks and runs well, so perhaps some work has been done over the years. It has the top V8 offered that outing, the 400 CI with a 2-barrel carburetor (those were fuel economy-conscious days).
We’re told the white vinyl top is brand new, and we assume the matching leather interior is not, but materials dating back 51 years. Being a resident of the Pacific Northwest, perhaps rust has never been an issue (none is mentioned or seen). Power goodies may be plentiful, as this Ford has electric windows (at a minimum). The aftermarket wheels are a plus (to me) in the appearance of the Gran Torino Brougham. If you’re a resident of Washington State, you may have to give the DMV a “documentary service fee” if you take the plunge here.
Curvette and Dixon are a great pair 👌👍Cool Blue Torino 😎
“muscle car look”? Uh, no.
I’d rather have the original wheels, wheelcovers and rear fender skirts if it was mine. The blue and white combo looks pretty sharp.
Yeah, I don’t care for those wheels either, the rest of the car is pretty good. I wish I had the room for this one.
This is the first year of the “M” code for the 351 and 400. The Cleveland moniker ended in 1974. The best answer seems to be that it stood for “Modified. “
It did stand for Modified.
These units in any form suffered from severe understeer. The 400 is a plus, enjoy replacing that doomed A/C every spring. While well built physically these were disasters mechanically. All which is easily remedied today. Wouldn’t you really have a Buick?
A good example of the bloat that was permeating Detroit offerings at that time. Bigger and heavier, slower with worse fuel economy. The 400M is real gas hog. Ford focused on a softer, quieter ride and more optional equipment for added luxury as they expanded the Torino line upwards in price. My folks had a basic 69 Fairlane that had a 302 and automatic. It was quick with so-so handling and braking from 4 wheel drums. We got a 74 Torino Brougham as a loaner when our 69 was in the shop for a couple weeks. The Torino was much longer and heavier than the 69, was slower, had better brakes and plowed through the turns like a pregnant Hippo on roller skates. The 69 had pretty good visibility all around, the 74 was like sitting in a bucket with the high beltline and terrible blind spots thanks to the huge sloping C-pillars. The 74 was much more plush and luxurious and the 69 got much better gas mileage. Detroit was resistant to change and stupidly slow to respond to the changes happening world wide regarding the price of oil and environmental damage. When reality determined that people needed smaller more economical and less wasteful vehicles Detroit managed to convince them to buy what they were selling which were bigger, gas guzzling cars that cost more money to own and operate. Profitability took priority over engineering vehicles better suited to buyers needs rather than wants.
On the other hand this is a well preserved example of a comfortable malaise era ride that should make for a comfortable cruiser. The blue and white is a good combo for this car. If you read this far please accept my apology for the long winded rant.
I like it! I’m just afraid that someone will repaint it in red with white stripes, to turn it into a Starsky & Hutch “tribute” car! Oh no!
The 400 V8 isn’t my favorite Ford motor, it only lasted a few years, and parts can be hard to come by. Some pieces from a 351 will fit, if you know the intricacies of the Ford parts catalog, but these all came from Ford with two-barrel fuel mixers. A performance motor it wasn’t. Upgrades are tough, as most of the aftermarket doesn’t really offer anything for the 400. A 351 or a 429 have much better aftermarket parts support for them. The “tall deck” block is the issue, parts for a “short deck” 351 are much more plentiful.
Great car, but the radio is A.W.O.L. in the pictures, LOL! Not a show stopper, by any means, but ask if the factory unit comes with the car! Since there are factory stereo speakers in the doors and rear package shelf, an aftermarket upgrade should be easy, peasy, lemon squeezy, if the factory unit has suffered its demise! Stereo means at least AM/FM, with a possible 8-track tape player as a bonus, LOL!
The alloy wheels are out of character for this luxury cruiser, they would be right at home on a Torino GT!
I owned a car almost identical to this, except mine had blue interior and the 351M. It was a great car that I passed on to my daughter during her 1992 senior year. Nostalgia tempts me to bid, but I’m in KC and I’d have to give a thorough going over before bidding.
Nice cruiser here with a 400 engine and A/C.
Beautiful color combo on this future collectible, seems to have all the goodies and desirable options. Think the price is a little high a bit lower would make it worth it considering the high mileage will need to be thoroughly checked out which I highly recommend for any old car purchase- pay now or pay later buyers choice understanding car comes as is?