In the 1970s, if you were shopping for a mid-size muscle car at your local Ford dealer, the Gran Torino is probably what the salesman showed you. While the Torino nameplate had been at Ford since 1968, the Gran Torino made its debut in 1972 and that year of the car would appear in the 2008 Clint Eastwood movie, Gran Torino. The seller’s car is from ‘73 when it would see a change in the front end to accommodate larger front bumpers mandated by the Feds. What makes this Gran Torino interesting is that it has a 460 V8 under the hood, an engine that supposedly was reserved for police work. Located in a barn in California, Missouri and dormant for many years, this ’73 Gran Torino is available here on Facebook Marketplace for $3,500 firm.
Launched in the late 1960s, the Torino would become the successor to Ford’s intermediate Fairlane. The car was named after the city of Turin (Torino, in Italian), which was considered the “Italian Detroit”. Modified Torino’s would represent Ford in NASCAR for several years, winning more than their share of races. The third generation would be built from 1972-76 and the Gran Torino was considered the muscle car brother in the group. However, by then the cars were getting detuned along with everything else out of Detroit to be more insurance and environmental-friendly. The fastback version of the Torino was referred to as the SportsRoof, which had a rear slope similar to that of the Mustang of the same time period (headroom in the back was reduced along with rear-facing visibility from the driver’s seat.
The seller’s ’73 Gran Torino looks like it was pushed into an old barn and forgotten about 20 years ago. Apparently, that’s where it sits today, on a dirt floor with flat tires which usually is not conducive to prolonged chassis life. The car was in running condition the last time the seller tried to start it, but from the photos that could not have been recent. An interesting twist on this Gran Torino is that it has a 460-4V engine, which was exclusive to the Ford “Inceptor” package which I thought was reserved only for police use. So, either that package was available to more than your local sheriff or this motor is not original to the car. It has an automatic transmission, which is how the police units would have been equipped.
We’re told the Torino is solid for its age with little rust. At least the barn looks to be a fairly dry place, which would have prolonged the car’s life. The exterior color is said to be grey, but the driver’s side front fender is red, which suggests it was replaced at some point. The slotted magnesium wheels on the front will not go with the car and the tires mounted on the Cragars in the back will not hold air, so the buyer should be prepared to bring his own rolling hardware.
Inside the interior reflects at least 20 years’ worth of dust and dirt and the front seats are not original to the car. They came out of a 1988 Ford Thunderbird. If your intent would be to restore the car to 1973 standards, you’re going to have to source another set of buckets. The mileage for the Torino is stated as 300, which must be some sort of Facebook placeholder as the actual mileage is not revealed.
Ford had a lot of success with the Torino in 1973. It’s styling apparently was preferred over the new Colonnade look of the Chevy Malibu’s and Ford managed to sell 168,000 more mid-size cars than the Bow-Tie guys did, for a total of almost 500,000 automobiles. Today, these are not investment grade vehicles as Hagerty believes the nicest one on the planet is worth just $15,000. But that doesn’t consider what a CJ429 would add to the value or a 460 Interceptor if you could actually get one in a street Gran Torino SportsRoof in 1973.
These are fairly desirable, but I do like the 72’s better. This example may rank low on the rust scale, but what about the general “it’s in good shape” scale? Car needs tons of attention. A Marti Report would answer the engine question, but after reading the Facebook Marketplace (ugh) ad, I don’t think the seller would consider such an extravagance. Not including the front tires/wheels? Not willing to deal? 2500 messages, really? $3500 for this?
The seller says it has a 460, but doesn’t imply it was factory installed. I have a hunch the VIN and or a direct question to the seller will show the engine was not originally a 460 but was installed at a later date, maybe when the car received it’s other modifications.
Steve R
This particular car may or may not have been born with a 460 but they were available. I was prepping new cars at a Chicago Ford dealer at that time & we had one come in. Triple black & fun to drive in a straight line.
It should be rust free, right? It’s a California car…
It is in California, Missouri, not California the state.
Hauling it out and washing it might be too much to ask, but couldn’t they at least remove the junk sitting on and in the vehicle before taking pictures.
But then you’d be able to see the junk underneath the junk. This car would cost way more to restore than I will ever be worth
The only thing more outrageous / hilarious than the $ that people ask for Stripped , Rotted and Abandoned POS’,
Is “wheels / tires not included”
Why not just add more crazy $ to the already crazy price your asking?
Whoever buys these wrecks is not going to know or care that you added an extra 1-2K for $400 worth of tires.
Most police cars are four door so they can put the bad guys in the back seat with cuffs on. Also by 73 the feds had sucked all the horse power of those engines. Not enough power to pull a noodle out of a cats butt.
I can see why he wants to keep the wheels, they are worth more than the car.
Only if they are 15” diameter.
Steve R
This is a definate NO!!😂
One of best ways to get a customer to buy a car is to take a photo of the trunk floor, showing hundreds of what appear to be maggots or ant larvae. I’m sure they get people excited and ready to buy! At least the new buyer will know the condition the seller found it in!
Starsky and Hutch, we found your car!
The Saginaw steering pump
and GM A6 style a/c compressor bracket indicate this engine came from a little newer model Ford, probably a tbird or Lincoln.
In 73, it would’ve had a Thompson steering pump and York or tecumseh 2 cylinder compressor. I’m pretty sure the 460 was available in the big cars (LTD) but a 73 torino could be had with the 429 as its biggest engine. The next year, I think you could get a 460. It would cost a fortune to
Make a nice car out of this. Far more than you’d ever recover.
I always wondered why ford didn’t put the 460 up as an option, I watched the hp of the 64 390 with solid lifters at 375, that was a beast, but in 69 the 390 had dropped, I always felt like, what happened? We got the cammer so I can’t complain. But while the 429-460 short block are interchangeable, why didn’t we offer the 460 as dodge offered the 440, and the 425 dual quad (all the way) Hemi? Was the last year Ford 427 put out with a c6 and a 600 cfm carb? What we couldn’t run the dual quads? No more 425? No Boss 460? SCJ460?
Ford detuned the 390 for Grandma’s LTD by 1969. Emphasis was on torque and getting more mpg. We had 1969 390 LTD. It was still zippy for a family battle ship but not near as quick as the 1963 390 Monterey it replaced. Lower compression single exhaust two barrel carb and a calmed camshaft took the top end out. 265 hp 17 mpg at 70 mph. So many other Hot engines that year that took over from the older hot 390 models. It was already dated and destined for pickup duty.
It has a aftermarket shifter and has probably had a engine swap done in the past. A turd needs to be flushed
Owner buy a marti report? They are too lazy to pull it outside wash it and get good pictures! Plus it’s on Facebook hahahahahahaha.
we had a 1974 LTD Brougham coupe with the 460 in it. probably the most unusual FOMOCO product we have had was a 1975 Mercury Montego MX Brougham Villager wagon, 9 passenger no less. 460 w/ C6, 3:00 to 1 traction lock rear end, power steering, brakes, windows, and 6 way power seats up front w/ passenger recline. AM/FM 8 Track stereo radio, rear defroster, air conditioning, cruise control, tilt wheel, leather interior, deep pile carpeting, and painted the Lincoln Continental only color of Ivy Green Metallic. Ford executive walk thru order for the Chicago District, upon further research. parts stores kept telling me there was no such engine available in a Montego. didn’ matter if plugs, oil, air filter etc.
I was assigned four door marked police Torino in 73 and it was fast, but would overheat at the drop of a hat. We still had plenty of 71 Plymouths with the 440 police package and they would fly. The 460 Fords were always out of service because of over heating. My Captain pulled the Fords out of Patrol and them to Detective Bureau.The overall best police car I was assigned was a 76 Fury/440 package and the 78 Nova police. Damm, I miss those days
Is this a rare model where the rear passengers need to select the gears? I can’t imagine that’s the stock gear lever location. That’s crazy. I guess that proves it was a swap, and not a well though out one either
The car is in California Missouri
Well worth it!