The 1972 model year was the first time that the Fairlane/Torino beat out the Chevy Chevelle in terms of sales. They were all new cars that year, whereas the Chevrolets were on their fifth (and last) year of a styling cycle. This Gran Torino Sport might be the nicest one of these automobiles still around and has just 26,000 miles on the odometer. Its no-doubt fastidious owner has recently passed on, so it’s been sold as part of an estate sale. Located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, this beauty is available here on eBay where bidders have raised the price of poker to $30,600.
In their redesign of the mid-size Torino in 1972, Ford stylists emphasized the “long hood short deck” look that had strong elements of “coke bottle” styling. Plus, they switched back to body-on-frame construction instead of unit construction as was used with the prior generation. The Gran Torino’s employed a large egg-crate grill in an oval opening to help them stand out. The top trim level was now the Gran Torino Sport which was offered in a notchback-hardtop and the SportsRoof (aka fastback) like the seller’s car. While the 302 cubic inch V8 was standard in the Sport, the 351 engine was the more common choice, such as the H-code 2-barrel in the seller’s Ford.
The seller doesn’t use some of the usual words to describe this car that you might expect to find, like “survivor” or “numbers-matching.” But given its apparent low mileage and overall condition, we’d have to think they would aptly apply here. More than 60,000 copies of the SportsRoof version of the Gran Torino Sport were built that year as Ford was on its way to a rare victory over Chevy in the sales game. More than 36 years later, the ’72 Gran Torino Sport was popularized in the Clint Eastwood movie, appropriately titled Gran Torino.
I suppose if you took a magnifying glass to this 50-year-old automobile, you’d find some flaws. But otherwise, it presents quite well and would be an attention-getter at shows. The beautiful red paint is flanked by a white vinyl top, although I always that detracted from the styling of the fastbacks. The white and black interior looks most inviting, and the Ford is equipped with goodies like air conditioning and power windows. The family hopes that the buyer treats this fine automobile as well as the dearly departed did, whether it was Grandpa or Uncle Ned. I know I would.
It’s a beauty for sure, selling for some big numbers already. Color combination looks amazing, can’t remember seeing a Torino that nice in forever. Somebody is going to get a nice car. Not cheap, my only issue is that air cleaner doesn’t even have the correct element in it. It’s a 14″ element for the money it’s going to bring throw a K&N in it.
I think I watched Grand Torino at least 5 times! That Grand Torino sport was perfect for the movie. Green is one of my favorites and works really well with the shape. Very handsome car with the early bumpers. Red is nice but not so much with the white. Just my opinion. Still a really nice car and I hope whoever ends up winning the auction continues to drive and cherish.
Has been on my “if money was no object and I had a huge garage” list for a long time. This one is super nice. My perfect Gran Torino Sport has the laser stripes, but for sure I wouldn’t turn this one down. It’s a big car, on the chunky side, but still manages to look sleek. Lots of people like these 72’s, as evidenced by the solid bids.
Yes Bob your right I would like this torino with the lazer strip, still a great looking torino. I’ve owned several 70 to 71 gas back in the day and they are my favorite torino body style but I like the 72 alot. Even the 73 with that ugly front bumper with a 4 speed and v8 for some reason appeals to me, go figure.
Bob I owned a 72 that had a laser stripe at least twice as wide as any I’ve ever seen. Makes me sick wondering what I had and let get away. Have you seen one with wider stripe?
I’m wordering if a ram air air cleaner was going to be offered here, like in the ’73 mustang. Hard to believe back in the day, car manufacturers would tool up a completely different front end(like here) or even 60% of the body (’69 f-bodies) being new – for just 1 model year! – compare that to the sheet metal of the current challenger vs the 2008!
Plus, ford also tooled up another bumper, hood, & grill for the base version for ’72! – again 1 yr only …
https://forum.grantorinosport.org/uploads/1843/72base.jpg
Where did they get the money to do this & still charge a FAIR price for the car?!
Quantity, my friend.
For that kind of money, you would think it would have a matching set of tires. Dunlop on the driver’s side and Primewell and Firestone on the passenger side.
Didn’t catch that, clean it up and flip it!
Ha! Well, you can only see one side at a time…
This car checks all the boxes except one, Q, meaning the Cobra Jet engine which is the preffered power plant. It’s got great colors and low mileage though, and should do well.
I like 68-72 GM A bodies but I have always said that the 72 Ford GranTorino Sportsroof was one of the most stunning midsize cars ever.. I put it up there with the 69 Olds 442. Don’t care for the vinyl roof on these but other than that- beautiful !!! These cars ran pretty strong with the 351CJ!
I owned a ’72 similar to this one back in ’79. Mine had a 351 Cleveland C6, red with black vinyl top and laser stripes instead of the molding. Previous owner was a mechanic at a Ford dealer and dressed the car like a Cobra, very tastefully. One of the nicest I owned.
This baby is clean in and out!!
Get OFF my Lawn!!!
Nice car here but that was a great movie!
Looks like the tires were brought ONE AT A TIME. Sad when the tires don’t match, Makes me wonder what else is messed up
So this could be a Cleveland or a Windsor. Who has a sharp eye? I’m thinking C.
Cleveland, by the shape of the valve cover
From 70-73 Mustangs, Cougars, Torinos & Montegos were 351C except for the early 70’s during the transition from W to C some 70’s were W. That is the way that it was always explained to me.
Reminds me of the one Barry Newman beat the $@%& out of in Fear is the Key.
Still hideous after all these years. The profile of a bloated Pinto. Even the tail lights scream “Pinto”.
Too big, too wide, too heavy. And then the five mile per hour bumpers were grafted on and made it worse.
After such trim, useful and restrained 66-71 models.
One of many Ford grotesqueries of the era. Made worse as the decade wore on in Elite drag. Or worse, Cougar.
Ford’s theme for the ’70s: more road hugging weight.
Awful styling period for Ford.
Psychofish…2, does this mean there are two of you?
Wow. I don’t want to throw any stones here as this is a very beautiful car. But almost 37 large for a ’72 351 2V automatic with 161 horsepower? Somebody must have been feeling really confident or just had to have this. But best of luck to them. I just wouldn’t put too many miles on it, or mod it!
Maybe if it had a ’71 boss 351 & a 4 speed in it. How motors changed at Ford(& Chrysler) from ’71 to ’72 – & a yr earlier at GM!