Ford introduced the Torino in 1968 as the high-end of the mid-size Fairlane line-up. By 1971, the nameplate replaced the Fairlane altogether. This 1972 edition is the Gran Torino, a premium edition. It was passed along from the seller’s grandmother to the uncle in 1984 and to the seller two years ago. The car is in nice shape and doesn’t appear to have any pressing needs. From Lakewood, California, this vintage Ford is available here on eBay where just one bid has been cast at $8,000 (no reserve).
The Torino received a redesign in 1972 and became a little boxier compared to the aerodynamic 1970-71 models. Buyers could choose between the base Torino, Gran Torino, Gran Torino Sport, and the Ranchero (Ford’s coupe-utility or “Ute”). As typically was the case, Torino sales continued to lag behind that of the market leader, Chevrolet, with 132,000 Gran Torino 2-door hardtops delivered compared to 212,000 Chevelle Malibu Sport Coupes.
As the story goes, the seller’s grandmother bought this Ford brand new in 1972 and used it sparingly over the years. This was in the Hollywood area and the car spent much of its time in her garage. After she passed away 12 years later, the seller’s uncle took charge and the car relocated to Palm Springs. He didn’t care for the original medium brown paint and had it redone in beige, after which it began to live under a cover in a carport. All-in-all, the vehicle has only been driven 70,000 miles.
The passage of time has resulted in a few little scratches and nicks, and a couple of tears in the seats. But it starts, runs, and drives as it should, powered by a 351 cubic inch V8 and an automatic transmission. Other than the paint, it’s a survivor-quality automobile that appears to have a lot of life left. It’s no performance car but should still attract some attention at Cars & Coffee – if for no other reason other than it’s a bit on the plain side.
I’ve always liked the 1972 Gran Torino. Here is one reason why:
My dad was not a car guy. He bought new cars, but not often, and typically the lowest trim level with minimal options. At this time it was a 1970 Torino, which didn’t even have power steering (“the company work truck doesn’t have power steering, why should I pay for it on my car”). Soon he began complaining that this Torino wasn’t much more pleasant or comfortable to drive than the truck.
Now, it’s well known that I’m the “car guy” in the family. So one day he comes home from work and tells me, “let’s go down to the Ford Garage (that’s what we called our small-town dealer, and I still call dealerships that today) and do some car-shopping.” I instantly know I will fill the role of the one to recommend and/or pick out the next car. Note that I am 15 at the time.
It wasn’t hard for me to figure out that a new 1972 Gran Torino four-door would be the sweet spot for the next family car. But it needed to be well-equipped…. even with air conditioning. Turns out the dealer doesn’t have one in stock but has one coming in. I study its option list (loaded!!) and pronounce it acceptable. Dad smiles and says “sounds good, we’ll let Mom okay the color (she didn’t drive), then I’ll sit down and make the deal.”
They had the car for a dozen years, it served them well. I learned to drive using it.
My favorite 1972 Gran Torino is a Sport with the laser stripes.
This is a decent example, I hope the buyer gives it some love.
Thank you for sharing that great memory Bob. For many of us, its not just the car but its the memories, the sights, smells, and feelings we get when we see them or better yet drive them. This is a solid Torino that had a lot of care over its life, and I hope someone gets to drive it and experience it. And take care of it and keep it this nice for years to come.
Bob loved the memories.
Reminded me of my parents Torino.
My mom had a red 72 sport like this one and drove it it for many years until 1980. It was a two door 351 Cleveland engine with a Red paint job with the Black vinyl top and interior and the tow package.
My mom (while not in Pasadena drove it similar 😏) style…she would tell folks she just over five feet tall (4’11” actually ) and loved her Torino.
She always liked to tell the story of having a car rev up after just purchased at a light and how the Torino accelerated ahead quickly and easily to leave the other car way back.
I always thought this 72 had the best grille.
The last funny comment was after the car was sold it received a Ford sticker for the dash stating use emergency brake as car might pop out of gear.
Ironically the paint and top was just a couple years old after barb wire scratched the paint and top while parked and rolled down the drive through a fence. The new owner was told and be careful on using the emergency brake.
I guess the Ford snail mail letter was a couple years too late. 😏😉
Lucky child! My Dad took me along on his car buying trips, but I wasn’t allowed to pick anything out, as he was buying company cars, and he had a strict budget to follow.
For a good laugh, I highly recommend watching Jay Leno discuss when he was allowed to pick out the engine for his Dad’s car! Classic!
1st year of a horrible platform lasted to 79 with the LTD II..drove like a fish..undersized tires, under powered…
While this car looks not at all like a muscle car that front clip is one of my all time favorites! Who doesn’t like the jet engine air intake (what I saw as a young lad ) & don’t forget the Starsky & Hutch reference as the drove a similar Torino chasing bad guys ! On a more sober front David Soul died today at 80, kind of shocking really but we all are getting older.
BA, I literally JUST told my gal that Mr. Soul died.
Boy does seeing this car bring back memories! I owned a ’72 Gran Torino as one of my cars in my earlier years of driving and I loved that car! Mine was a medium blue with black roof and interior and had the 351 Cleveland engine. Man that car could scoot! I purchased it from a friend with about 90k on it for a couple hundred bucks, drove it for a few years, sold it with 155k on it for triple what I paid for it! GREAT Memories.
I had a 74 Gran Torino blue pd 400 dollars in 82 for it from a friend motor went in a year but my brother had a 351 w sitting so we thru that in it an drove great sold it at a garage sale for 350 4 years later
Russ, nice write-up as always. “a bit on the plain side” can always be altered mildly, moderately, or heavily of course. I believe the hp was around 160 or so on that 351 Cleveland. A cam & 4 barrel would make a difference outta the gate. And take that smog crap off of it.
I’d go with TBI or port injection instead of the four-barrel, but otherwise, I’m with you. In addition to the cam and intake, headers and dual exhausts to help it breathe, and maybe some new cylinder heads, to boost the compression a bit, if the budget allows it. If you go all-in, new pistons and a forged crank as part of a general engine overhaul would be the finishing touches. The headers and exhaust are probably the cheapest upgrades to start with, followed by the intake and cam, with the other stuff on the “nice-to-have” list, but not essential.
Not a great deal, it’s as generic as they come. The asking price is probably at the top of the market especially when you factor in the flaws in the paint and body as well as the work needed on the seats. This will likely draw some attention at a coffee and cars one or twice, mainly because not many survive, beyond that it will disappear into the background. This is coming from someone that’s owned several Fairlane’s and Torino’s it’s just bland and boring, without much of a following. The next owner will have a hard time finding a buyer at this price if they ever decide to move on to something else.
I wouldn’t necessarily believe his grandmother bought it new. That’s a tactic often used by flippers to drive a higher price from potential buyers. Someone bought my moms 28,000 mile 1984 Honda Accord a few years ago and almost immediately posted it on eBay with a fabricated story about how it was his grandmothers bought it new. Since then he’s listed a few dozen other cars, each belonging to some family member.
Steve R
My Grandmother did indeed buy it new, and there is a stack of expired registration slips to document the lineage. The story as told is accurate.
Wow, nice to see one that wasn’t abused. Plain and maybe a bit boring, but the 351 in 72 should have some decent power, maybe put dual exhaust so it can exhale easier. The A/C will be nice, I hope it finds a good home where it’s appreciated for what it is.
Ford hatched a winner with the restyle. My second favorite after the 70-1. The headlamp nacels mimic the grille for a subtle yet aggressive face. This would be a great driver or fixer upper.
I am truly torn between these and the previous generation (70-71) Torinos. I’m with you on the styling of the 70-71, which I prefer to these, but this generation, which lasted until ’78, if my faulty memory serves, were body-on-frame cars, while the previous generations of Torinos were all uni-body cars. I prefer body-on-frame construction for a couple of reasons, not least of which is that the factory frame can be swapped out for an aftermarket example that is stiffer than stock, while offering upgrades to the suspension and steering gear that the factory could only dream of in 1972, such as rack & pinion steering in place of the recirculating ball setup from the factory, or four-link or IRS rear suspension options in place of the budget-friendly but dated live axle on either coil springs or leaf springs the factory supplied.
Another reason I’m torn about these is simply the grille. I like the grille on the 1973-78 versions better, but to get the nicer grille, you have to take the Federal bumpers that come with it. It got worse in 1974, when the tail was restyled to fit Federal Battering Rams to the rear of the car as well! I prefer the taillights and rear bumper from the pre-Federal cars as well.
I like the old brown color better, yes dual exhaust, 60/70’s tires staggered and old western rims.
I own the mate to it in same color combination, but a year newer. A notch back hardtop with the Cleveland and an automatic, but with fabric seats. This would make a really nice ‘pairing’ in the garage ~
Not a bad car but I think $8K is too high. I owned one of these, it was OK but I feel that the Chevy 350 small block was a better, smoother, engine than the 351 Windsor.
the ’72 pictured has a 351 Cleveland in it as noted by the distinct valve covers. In the eBay ad it is also described as a Cleveland. BOTH Windsor and Cleveland v/8s were great engines but the C really could make the power if massaged a little. Take off on the line was a bit slower than the W but come up with the revs at around 60 to 100 mph and they really put on the speed. To this day they surprise more than a few at the lights
What a clean, honest survivor, and it appears to be as it is described. This is one of my favorite year Grand Torinos. I’d do some modest upgrades to this 351 and sorry, but would have to update to some tasteful, age appropriate rims. Great car and yes, she’s got alot of life left in her.
I had a 72 Ranchero- slightly raked in the front- would like to find another one.
72 was a good year for styling- Camaro split bumper, Continental MK 4
I bought a 74 Torino brand new in 74. I now own a 76 Elite as my daily driver.. Great cars..
Isn’t it funny how cars that you could barely get $2000 for on a good day jump in value when a movie comes out where a car is one of the key aspects of the movie. Suddenly everyone wants one. Prior to the 1988 movie you could buy a Tucker for under $10,000 now they are pushing a million dollars.
That’s true Troy. However ,Tuckers are very unique in that they were assembled by hand & only produced for a couple of years. They ran outta $$$ which halted production. What a superb automobile concept it was tho. Quite the history.
I always liked the Torino and the LTD. They just drove really nice and they were comfortable. I never owned one but a friend of mine had a few of these and we worked 40 miles away so we took turns driving everyday. I rode a lot of miles in the big Ford’s and I don’t know why I never bought one honestly. I was buying trucks. I wouldn’t mind having one similar or another big Ford now.
A classic example in good shape that can become a blank canvas for whatever you want to do to it, from mild to wild. I’d try to limit myself to “bolt-on” upgrades, so a future owner can return it back to stock, if desired, as we aren’t really owners of these cars, but caretakers. I would look at engine upgrades to cure the abysmal drivability of these cars, with their primitive early 1970’s anti-smog controls, but otherwise try not to go too crazy with the parts catalog. I would consider a repaint back to the original brown metallic though, as the repaint seems to have oxidized a bit. I think that the car would look better in the original color, even though you might be able to “buff it out” with some rubbing compound, but that’s up to the buyer.
This car was just professionally detailed, there is no oxidation present. The paint is smooth and shiney.
O.K., thanks. It must just be the light in the pictures, combined with the pale color. My Bad.
In high school I had a bright yellow 1972 Gran Torino, with brown interior. 351 Windsor. Love that car
I was a 19 year old kid and got a job selling new cars and one day somebody wanted to trade in a 72 Gran Torino 4dr. It had right at 100k miles and in those days there was no value left at that mileage so they offered the customer $600 but the car was in beautiful condition, well equipped, Ziebarted, one owner. I bought that car from the dealer and drove it for years. I let my younger sister drive it thru high school. Later got it back. Used it to tow my boat, took it on many trips. Later sold it to a buddy in Florida. He drove it for a few years then sold it back to me with nearly 200k miles. Unfortunately didn’t have any use for it any more and sold it. Never a single problem with that car. Equipped with 351 Windsor engine.
I had a 1972 Gran Torino coupe, the same color green as the car in the Clint Eastwood movie. 351-4V, dual exhausts. My first car with an AM-FM radio.
Sold today. $8300