“Get off my lawn!” OK, now that I have that out of the way, I have a 1972 Ford Gran Torino, finished in Dark Green Metallic for review today. A movie star car? Not exactly, this one’s a “Sport two-door hardtop” as opposed to a “Sport Sportsroof” model that starred in Clint Eastwood’s 2009 film “Gran Torino“. Beyond that, similarities abound though this example looks a bit down on its luck. Gunter K found the listing for this Ford, it’s located in Denver, Colorado and is available, here on craigslist for $6,700.
As most know, the ’72 Gran Torino was a rather radical departure, design-wise, from the previous year – with emphasis on the “Gran” part. Body styles included this two-door hardtop (Sport and non-Sport), the Sportsroof fastback, a four-door sedan, and three trim levels of station wagons. As for two-door “Sport” versions (the name variation gets confusing), there appears to have been about 31K copies produced with another 60K “Sportsroof” versions”. I specifically remember when this new Gran Torino was introduced and always thought it a let-down compared to the swoopy ’70-’71 that preceded it. My view hasn’t changed over time but at least this ’72 variant isn’t lumbering around with massive jaw-jutting five MPH bumpers that the Fed straddled later versions with.
Back to the 2009 movie, I liked the storyline and there was no missing the title’s reference though I thought a Ford Gran Torino to be an unusual automotive choice. Maybe it was chosen because the model name worked as a movie title though I can’t find an alternate meaning for the word Torino other than the Italian name for the city of Turin. I guess naming a movie Chevelle or Satellite just doesn’t convey any sort of deeper plot. As for this Gran Torino, it’s rough looking – too much time in the sun I suppose though the seller states there is “minimal” rust (none of the listing images are very well taken so small details are difficult to discern). I don’t spy any body damage but I do wonder about that hood and why it doesn’t match the rest of the car’s character. The slotted Ansen Sprint-type wheels are certainly period correct.
Being a Gran Torino Sport means V8 power only and that’s what this Ford is rockin’ though it’s a 161 net HP, 351 CI V8 engine so not a whole lot of rockin’ going on (’72 was the first year for net horsepower ratings). It’s described as a 140K mile daily driver that can be driven as it’s “fixed up“. An automatic transmission was the only gear game in town for this model/engine combination.
The interior is a bit confusing in that the front bucket seats appear to be upholstered in black vinyl while the rest of the environment is avocado green. And the ripped upholstery pattern of the front buckets doesn’t match that of the pristine rear seat either. The dash pad is shot and the steering wheel is disintegrating into chunks – all typical 50-year-old, daily driver, car stuff.
The verdict? It’s not much to crow about as it is, but get it up to snuff like Clint’s car and you might have something to crow about, right?
This is Starsky style not Eastwood..
Starsky style came later.
Starkly and Hutch was a 73/74 with the larger bumpers.
Actually it was 75-76. The 73 and 74 were not similar although the the 74 did look like the 75-76. :)
Looks like
Ford borrowed the front end design from the 70-73 Camaro sans the 4 headlights though. Cool car looking car for sure with a great engine that’s durable and I’m not a Ford guy.Definetely looks a heck of a lot better then the crash bumper 73’s and up.Hard to give a price with those few pics.I would say around 4- 5k from what I see. I’d leave the patina and cruise it .Duals ,glasspacks and an hei and fix the front bucket and get a steering wheel kit.Also all the usual stuff to make it a dependable summer cruiser.I like it.
Ok, so here is an entry level car with seemingly decent bones, where you can build it into something really nice while taking your time, and probably have no more than $20K invested over time if you are truly a doer vs a payer. It’s what the hobby used to be, and still is. Not lamenting on how a Super Cobrajet could be bought for pennies on the dollar in 1978, but rather how to make this a fun project today with simple upgrades like a cam and better heads, scrounging for parts like the steering wheel, etc. With today’s forgiving 2 stage paints, a garden hose to wet down the garage floor and a HF spray gun, you can even do your own paint job.
Plenty of potential here.
Not the original front seats, obviously. Probably had a bench.
Bet they are. They’re dark green if you look real close they’re just dirty almost looks like black. I’ve seen these as well as t-birds from this era with buckets and a column shift with and w/o consoles.
Not a Gran Torino Sport, just a regular Gran Torino that someone swapped a Sport hood onto it. This car has the standard Gran Torino door panels. Someone also took the green front bench seat out and replaced it with non original black bucket seats.
I like notchback? style Torinos better than fastback style. To me, fastback Torinos made their rear end look bloated. The same could be said for the ’71-73 Mustang fastbacks. The fastback style looked best on older Mustangs up through 1970.
If your a FORD fan, What’s Not To Love. This has got the “P” word all over it.
My favorite year, for this version of the Torino. The fish-mouth front-end really does it for me. I like the fastback profile better, but the notchback is fine too. IIRC, these were body-on-frame construction, which (IMO) makes them better towing rigs. Guy might want to try and find one with 429 big block, for that kinda service, though.
I’d be inclined to drive it as-is, but it would look sharp with a full resto-mod.
The 72 Sportsroof’s were the best looking Torino’s, next to the 68-69 fastbacks. I’d be a player at $4k, and 1,000 miles closer.
A friend had this one except blue. 100% original and yes the exact same seats. Nice example. Won’t last long.
Jim ODonnel, This is a regular Gran Torino, not a Gran Torino Sport per sellers description, and evident by the missing fender script and non-GTS door panels. And those are definitely NOT Gran Torino seats.
Glad I am not the only person who noticed this
Seller did not advertise car as a sport. Original add just says Grand Torino. The front seats are green , just look dark in the photo
What about the hood? Didn’t a standard Torino employ a flat hood? This one has a fake vent/scoop as used on the “Sport” edition.
JO
They clearly replaced the old hood with a sport hood and put in different seats. As mentioned above the interior door panels show it was NOT a sport. Guess the writer was confused when he saw the added on hood.
You’re right Jim, somebody swapped a sport hood onto this car. The scoops are not fake though, fuctional RamAir was an option on the GTS in ’72 for 429 and 351 CJ engines.
Seller did not advertise car as a sport. Original add just says Grand Torino. The front seats are green , just look dark in the photo
Also that is not the way the Sport back seat looks either.
I owned one of these (Bright Red / Black int.) new back in the day. The Sport edition had this hood, buckets w/red contrasts, full instrumentation (tach, etc), console, and (min. 351 2v) auto or stick. Mine was c6. Biggest problem was too front-heavy for big dips in road (think: Queens Road in Charlotte back then). New technology for them now are heavy-duty sway bars. It’s still a beautiful car to me.
Yours had the sport gauge and bucket seat options then. Nice. A good number did not.
Earlier craigslist Denver ad showed passenger side rear quarter panel with dent/rust where bumper and side marker light meet. Picture was removed.
License plate reads GOML
Best looking cars of 72, Sport or otherwise. Wish I had room for another toy, I’m only a 100 miles north
It’s sold, I passed it today, sitting on a trailer, headed north on I-25 into Wyoming