Starsky and Hutch! I had to get it out there before someone else mentioned it – even though the cars used on that show were 1974 to 1976 models, not a 1973 Ford Gran Torino Sport Q-Code 4-speed model like this one found on eBay is. This project car is located in Paxinos, Pennsylvania with a $4,500 buy it now price or you can make an offer.
The Torino was redesigned for the 1972 model year with a one-year-only, small oval grille, then in 1973 Ford went with a longer grille. You can tell that it’ll need a replacement grille along with quite a bit of other bodywork that will need to be done on this car. The first photo shows a home rust repair over the rear wheel and here is what the passenger side looks like. Ouch.
The photos are details and snippets which seems to be all the rage these days for some unknown reason. But, this photo shows that this is a 4-speed car. The photos in the listing show what looks like a decent interior and seeing a factory 4-speed makes it look even better to me. The seller says that this “car has been setting, was last inspected 1992 was parked in barn 20 years and out side for 5 so its been off the road for a while”.
Here is the Q-Code 351 Cleveland V8 with a 4-barrel carburetor which would have had 246 hp, making it the highest-horsepower engine for this model in 1973. The 429 had just 201 hp and the 460 wasn’t available other than in police cars. The seller says that this one “is missing original carb and air cleaner.” They must mean the original carb and air cleaner as there is clearly one on the engine in the photo. Are any of you fans of this era Gran Torino? The Q-Code engine and 4-speed makes this one desirable, in my opinion, even with the rust issues.
And who needs silly options like power brakes anyway!
Ha, good one. It was all about going, not stopping,,
That photo of the gauges and shifter is strangely erotic to me. Just the right amount of wear of that shifter knob. Makes me imagine twisting that 351 up through every gear.
I have several 72-73 Gran Torinos and Rancheros. If the exterior body has that much rust, the the floors are probably shot. Floor pans are available, but I don’t know anyone that has installed the aftermarket ones.
Places to watch for rust on these cars are the kick board under on the passenger side, floors under the passenger back seat area (booth under the seat and the actual floors), doors in the lower rear corner (inner & outer), wheel arches & inner wheel wells.
Places to WATCH rust…Pretty much the whole car! IMHO.
It has some nice features, but these cars don’t have a huge following. It’s probably too rusty to restore and to expensive to be a parts car. This would have to be someone’s dream car for it to be considered a candidate for restoration.
Steve R
I’d put a 72 clip on it. The 73 front end gives it an awkward look and it doesn’t match the back of the car
Not S&H – “Fear is the Key”
Nice but I am a 72f fan (front nose)
Apparently so is Clint Eastwood….
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Gran_Torino_poster.jpg
“Ever notice how, every once in a while, you come across someone ya’ shouldn’t have messed with?”
I agree with TURBO COUPE this is a car from back in the day when cars were actually designed and not regulated by uncle sam to all look the same. Unfortunitly when we BF readers are all gone cars like this will be like the dodo bird extinct
They won’t all be gone. Some of us are passing on the love for classics to our children. Don’t give up! We won’t all die!
This thing is really interesting! Once more on BFs I learn something, no idea that Ford was still turning out anything like this in ’73. In many states this would be smog exempt, so build the Cleveland properly and it could be a real beast, and almost no chance another would be at a show or cruise. Very cool.
I grew up in a 73′ sport. This one they said was designed for Highway Patrol. Everything was oversized from the brakes to the rear end and the heads. The valves were huge much bigger than my parents Cleveland from there Elite. The rear axle got bent and I could not find another one large enough. I had to settle for a 72′ T Bird and the geared sucked. Never was the same again. It would sit you back in the seat again at 110 mph. It was great!
73 Torino- I’d only be interested if it was a sedan and green with some brown, uh, rust coloration. And the ringer.
What???? not a single reference to Starsky and Hutch? Huggy Bear likes this one.
Did you miss the very first line in the write up?
They may have built Cougars in Lorain but it would have to have been after 1973. All 1967-1973 Cougars were built in Dearborn with some 1968-1969 Cougars built in San Jose.
This, like the Corvair, Pinto, Cordoba thing, is known for one thing, Starsky and Hutch, and why it doesn’t have the signature stripe, is beyond me. The series was so popular, Ford even came out with a replica in 1976 ( 1305 units) This car should be restored with the stripe, because, if that’s what it takes to recognize it, so be it. These were really cool cars, although, I read, originally, the series was suppose to have a Camaro, and Paul Glaser ( Starsky) was upset it was a Torino, and did all he could to destroy it. And the engine noises? Dubbed in, because, at the time, California had noise restriction limits.( and probably still do) The series went through 4 Torinos. Is that a period correct Kraco Am-Fm 8 track in the dash? Cool find.
Good eye on the radio Rube, I wonder if K-Marts are around any more? Confused about the ramps on the grass? 5 years sitting outside on those ramps and has not sank an inch. Nice car back in the day.
Oh, things look bad for the once mighty K-Mart, there may be a few left. While I was still in Wis. the one in Medford closed. Good luck with the snow, I hear you could get a foot!!!
Just so ALL who keep commenting about the Starsky & Hutch Torino will be able to see what it ACTUALLY looked like! Nothing at all like the featured car. :-)
Weld a few patches , make it have brakes and a set of new white letter tires , give the motor a refresh and drive it like you stole it , (with a for sale sign in it) . Rough stuff seems to be popular now .
Weld a few patches , make it have brakes and a set of new white letter tires , give the motor a refresh and drive it like you stole it , (with a for sale sign in it) . Rough stuff seems to be popular now .
Wow. What a great find. I don’t think I have ever seen one with a 4 speed. 351C with a 9″ N rear end top’s it off. Oh and black interior with bucket’s. My kind of car no matter the size. Pop on a couple of Thrush muffler’s and make it sound right.
I had a 73 sport with a 69 429 and it ran like a MF lol. Would love to have THAT again C6 tranny it would set you back big time
My first car was a 72 GT sport that my Dad bought me for $300. Had a 4-bolt 351 CJ and C-6. That was 1980. I have been on the hunt for another to satisfy my mid-life crisis.
The 4-speed would be cool but I imagine my left knee would not like it much. I only know mine had a 4-bolt main because I built the engine in the street in front of my house.
Another rare old Ford, again this would have been a pretty nice new car but very few buyers came knockin’. Wouldn’t mind running this through the gears at all!
like……
x2 on your left knee/ankle/leg/hip not liking the second pedal. That interior shot is a blessing and a curse to those of us with old man neuropathy! The only time I had that much HP and a 4spd was test driving a 69-70 full size Galaxie with 429 under the bonnet. That car would scream and leap each time I pulled away from a stoplight.
Alexander, I too had a 69 Galaxie with an N-code 429 4-spd. Very low production with this setup. 69 was the last yr. you could get a 4-spd. in a full size Ford. Would love to reminisce with ya.
One of many Fords I owned was 67 Galaxie 500 fastback. It had a neek 289 smallie backed by an FMX. Frame rot sent it to the crusher.
Starsky and rust…..only with no Starsky.
My ’73 Grand Torino Sport Fastback CobraJet. Just wish it was a manual.
351 CJ in Torino 266 HP with Motorcraft Spread Bore Carb D3ZF-MA, in Mustang 246 HP, Torino is heavier than the Mustang so it got extra HP to match the Mustang performance.
Note: 428 CJ Valve springs are direct bolt in 351 CJ and allow about 5800 rpm without Valve float, about 400 rpm more than 5400 stock limit.
Check out the old Ford Engine performance books for more go fast tips.
My 1973 351 CJ Gran Torino Sport was dark forest green metallic, black interior, Floor console shifter C-6 3000 stall, (swapped to 1974 Ranchero 4 speed top loader wide ratio), 3.25-9 inch, 6000 rpm tach, full gauges, rally pack suspension 1-1/8″ front sway bar, 7/8″ rear sway bar.
1972 – 1976 Gran Torinos remain the King of Nascar winning more Nascar races than any other make or model. 1972 Nascar Gran Torinos were the first make model to run a 351 C small block and win against the big blocks of the other makes and models.
Note: Torino wheel wells are huge and fit 15″high x 10″wide Nascar wheels and tires inside the wheel wells, with negative back spacing – wheel is deeper on the inside toward the rear end gears than what shows on the outside, this is what real Nascar race cars have as it puts less stress on the bolts holding the wheel to the axles in a 500 mile race. Think of Deep dish wheels as costume jewelry sticking out past the wheel wells as an amateur owner showing off proving they do not understand race car engineering, just smile and feel sorry for their ignorance.
My Mum borrowed my car once and when she got back, she said when she had passed another car “my God your car has a lot of power”, compared to her 1972 Gran Torino station wagon with 351W 2 BBL.
Thanks for posting.
Greg