It’s a part of the human condition to makes lists. You might have your five favorite albums, favorite movies, and perhaps even your favorite Ford Torinos. For me, that last one isn’t really a list, but a single car—this one. Although the NASCAR heritage of the 1968-69 models is worthy of respect, and the “shaped by the wind” bodystyle of the 1970-71 SportsRoof is pretty cool, I’m a ’72 guy through and through (at least if a Torino were in the cards). Barn Finds reader PRA4SNW found this beauty on Hagerty Marketplace in Mahopac, New York; it’s being sold as an auction with a current high bid of $4,000 (but well over a week left to go).
As muscular-looking as the Gran Torino Sport was, and although it could be optioned to be a true performance car (by 1972 standards), many of them had basic two-barrel powerplants (down to the base 302). This one has the step-up 351 Cleveland two-barrel with a C4 automatic and a 2.75:1 axle ratio (as evidenced by the door tag information and Marti Report). The 351 was not a performance engine in this state of tune, producing 161 horsepower, and the automatic was the only transmission option, as the EPA required each available driveline combination to complete 50,000-mile durability tests for emission components starting with the 1972 model year.
The seller says that this car had the following work completed in November 2025:
Replaced front pads and calipers
Replaced rear shoes and cylinders, replace brake fluid hose
Installed front and rear KYB shocks
Replaced front upper control arm bushings
Replaced rear axle pinion seal
Removed, treated, tested, and reinstalled radiator
Replaced heater core
Changed coolant and engine oil
Replaced air, fuel, and oil filters, spark plugs, points, condenser, and distributor rotor
Unfortunately, the air conditioner still needs servicing, but the interior has been reupholstered and the carpet replaced (although there is apparently a tear somewhere). The Sport has full instrumentation, Ginger Vinyl bucket seats, and a console with a floor shifter for the C4. The dash pad appears to be in excellent condition.
The car is not perfect and the pictures show the Torino’s major flaws. There are a few rusty spots, a few dents, “peeling side stripes,” and this quarter panel shows the damage caused by a blowout in times past. This picture shows the outline of the Magnum 500 wheels and white letter tires, both of which were ordered with the car when it was new (although the tires have obviously been upgraded to radials).
No, it’s not perfect, but this SportsRoof looks like a great driver whose condition wouldn’t embarrass anyone, even if you left it alone; I even love the color: Medium Bright Yellow. The 1973 model looked similar, but I prefer the 1972s more distinctive nose, meaning that it wins…by a nose. The advertisement gives a fairly thorough account of the car’s history, and like Johnny Cash once sang, it’s “been everywhere, man.” Being such an untouched example, however, I imagine it will sell for a solid final bid. How high do you think it will go, and what’s your favorite Torino?
Thanks Aaron. I’m right there with you, the 1972 Gran Torino Sport is not only my favorite Torino, it would be in my top ten favorite cars (that is, if I actually sat down and made out the list). The muscular, swoopy styling; the expressive in-your-face front end; the cool instrumentation group; I just like it all.
Ford nailed the front end look 👌 on these Torinos. Thanks for the article Toth, good eye on the find ❄️
I agree with you Stan and Bob, the ’72 nose is by far my favorite. The whole cars lines are beautifully done. This one looks looks great. 351 is a nice setup too.
Ditto on all previous comments! The “chromed railroad tie” bumper on the ’73’s destroyed the look of this model (IMO)! This looks like a good buy. GLWTA!! :-)
Lots of memories when I see one of these cars. My very first car when I was 15/16 yr old was a 72 Torino SportsRoof bought in 1981 for $400. Color was 4B Bright Green Gold Metallic and was a beautiful color out in the sun. Had dark green top and interior. Magnum 500’s but no laser stripe. Bench seat with high back rests that made the car appear it had buckets from the outside. 351C 2bbl with FMX trans and standard instruments. P/S P/B and A/C. Mileage was about 80k.
My dad and I did a little engine work and with a new master cylinder and a couple cans of R-12 (that cost about 89 cents each) and some TLC and a few junkyard parts we had everything going and looking good. Working a job when out of school for the summers gave me enough money to put a stereo with amp in it and dual exhaust with glass packs. I really thought I was something back then. Didn’t know how good I had it. Sigh…..
They should have used this year Torino for Starsky and Hutch.
The 72 Torino was a great looking car. IMO the yellow and tan vinyl top with the trim looks really cool. I also love the tan interior that seems to be in great shape. Buckets, console, auto on floor all look to be in great shape and ready for highway cruising with the 2.75-1 gear. It’s already over 8K and rising.
Other than a very little rust showing and a few bumps and bruises this car looks good and an awesome driver.
Get off my lawn!
Mine was a 72 Ranchero- even better looking than the Torino. Tapered stripes down the side and a slight rake made it look mean and aggressive. 72 was a great styling year all around- Camaro, Lincoln MK IV, Challenger, ‘Cuda.
Back in the 80’s, I had ’69 Torino GT fastback, and a guy at work had a ’72 GT fastback in a pale mint green. We bonded over the fact that we had Torino’s and a love of beer. His car was his every day driver, and he started complaining that he wanted a smaller car for the gas mileage. I tried everything to buy that car from him. It was probably in the same shape this one was. To no avail. He traded it in on some crap box, getting less cash for it than I was willing to pay.
These are great looking cars! I have owned 3 of them in the past.
The stripe has been replaced before. It should say Gran Torino Sport inside the stripe on the front fenders. The word Sport shouldn’t be below the stripe.
I’d buy it have the body repairs and paint it to match Clint Eastwoods car from “Grand Torino” movie
These were arguably the best looking intermediate of 1972. Having been raised in a GM family it was sometimes hard to peer over the fence. The beauty of these and fuselage cars was not lost on my young mind.
Yes, one of Ford’s very best designs.
Of any period.
But it sure got hit with the ‘Ugly-Stick’ when they bolted-on the BoxCar Bumper in ’73.
Hideous.
‘Starsky & Hutch’ probably propped-up sales.
But Ford’s management of the early 70’s Bumper-Standards was easily the most ham-handed of the Big Three.
Just look at the ’74 Maverick, Pinto, Torino, etc.
And I say this as a lifelong Ford acolyte.
I have always liked the looks of the ’72 Torino. Even the 4 door that my friends parents had was a handsome car.
Best looking Torino ever produced. A 429 w/ Auto was the top engine available that year. The best combo was a 351 CJ with 4 speed. This was a very rare option you almost never see today.
Actually, the top engine was the 351CJ. Hard to believe, I know,
but compare HP numbers to the 429 and you will see what I mean. This particular car was part of my Ford collection at one time – it is very well documented (I bought from the original owner ) and it’s a very good car overall.
Sorry, your mistaken. A 429 was indeed an available option in these Torino’s for 72. I have a dealer brochure indicating such and have witnessed such a combo at Carlise Ford a few years ago. The 429 was not a CJ version, just a 4 bbl passenger car engine used in other big Fords.
I am not mistaken, and I did not say 429’s were not available in these cars – I know that they were. What I said was that the 351CJ was the top engine in terms of horsepower. Since you have your brochure handy, check the horsepower ratings of both engines and you will understand (I know it’s hard to believe). I know these cars very well – this particular one was in my Ford collection for 20 years (I bought it from the original owner) and I also still own a 1 of 1 ’73 GTSS with 351 4bbl (with A/C) which my father and father-in-law built at Oakville assembly (1 of 60 built with black lower body paint option). If you wanted to go as fast as possible you would have bought the 351CJ. If you wanted to pull a trailer (or a plow) you would have bought the 429.
Agree the 351CJ was top dog for horsepower, but for torque the 429 was the winner. I would have picked the 351 just because it was available with the 4 speed and the 429 wasn’t. For mods, the 429 would have had more potential in performance.
Horse power does not get it moving, that’s torque. Just get the rear gear ratio right and feed it another gear. A Buick GS isn’t quick because of its HP it’s the mountain moving torque. I know everyone looks at the HP numbers and assumes that’s the magic. That’s what pulls you along on the top end. 1/4 mile at a time you really don’t get there. That’s where the car with too much HP blows the tire past it’s traction capability and all is lost. Although the big block is down on horsepower don’t count it out
You can thank the “Malaise Era” emission controls for that! Between the lean mixtures and EGR, the emissions controls really began to hit horsepower and torque ratings hard in ’72, but the worst was yet to come, with catalytic converters, weak as dishwater unleaded gas, and electronic feedback carburetors, all because Detroit resisted electronic engine controls until the mid 1980’s, while the Europeans were years ahead of Detroit at this time in adopting electronic engine controls for their cars. You knew that Detroit had fallen behind when the lowly VW Super Beetle got Electronic Fuel Injection (EFI) and electronic ignition in 1972!
Bugs got FI in 1975.
To “Big C”: My bad, I missed the date by three (3) years, but my point is still the same. The Europeans were years ahead of Detroit in adopting electronic engine controls, which is why they drove better than Detroit’s offerings during the “Malaise Era”. Even in ’75, the Beetle was still years ahead of the first Detroit offering to get EFI since the 1957 Corvette, which if my admittedly faulty memory serves, might have been the 1983 Ford Escort.
she’s clean for what it is and buckets and console too boot. nice color combo as well. not many left like this
This thing has really long legs – not a stoplight racer, but it’s surprising how fast it will accelerate from 50 or 60 mph to 80 or 100mph – and still keep going!
Theirs was a big style change,,I ordered me a new one, to make it really complete it should have the 351-4v Q code with those loud no restriction mufflers music th a motor heads ears i think alot were asleep @ the wheele if you ordered rally preformed pkg. that engine went with it.
I like the color combination of this one looks like it was well taken care of ,saw on just like it on the old series emergency right down to the laser stripe brown vinyl top and mag u. 500s wheeles preferably I prefer trim rings and caps
The Good: Color Combination, 351C engine, overall condition, floor-shifted automatic transmission with console, bucket seats, replacement vinyl roof material included. The Bad: Two-barrel intake, the tin worm has started to attack the body! The Ugly: ’72 Emission controls, vinyl roof. The verdict: A good daily driver that can be restored as time, money and skills permit. Upgrades to the intake (Four-barrel carb or EFI), cylinder heads (increased compression, port work or aftermarket heads), ignition (electronic ignition) and exhaust (headers and dual exhaust) will restore what the EPA took away for relatively short money.
P.S. I’d swap out the stock seat belts and shoulder harness for a more modern three-point belt setup in front. The stock shoulder belts from this era were terrible! Uncomfortable and hard to use, they stayed stowed about 99% of the time.
Ended at $18,500.
Reserve Not Met
45 bids.
I feel that it was a reasonable bid and probably should have sold.
It’s a much better car than that – unmolested and well documented with a very short ownership history. Not many of these cars left like that. It’s a tough time of year, though – post Christmas hangover with the bills rolling in after the spending spree. Folks will need a bit of recovery time. Reminds me of Ronnie Hawkins in old age when was asked if he was still wild – he said, “I can still party as hard as ever, it just takes me longer to recover”.