Starsky & Hutch was a popular TV show in the mid to late 1970s. Besides making stars out of Paul Michael Glaser and David Soul, their on-air car also got a lot of fan mail. In most cases, they drove a 1976 Ford Gran Torino with red paint and huge stripes, which earned the car the nickname “Striped Tomato”. To capitalize on the success of the show, Ford built 1,000 copies of that car, and the seller says this is one of them. Needing some restoration, this 50-year-old conversation piece is in Chehalis, Washington, and is available here on craigslist for $17,000. An attaboy goes to Tony Primo for the tip!
Producers had several Gran Torinos made up to look the same, although they came from different model years (1974-76). Since the show was on until 1979, the ‘76s got the most play. Engines varied from 351 to 400 and even 460 cubic inches, all equipped with automatic transmissions. Since they carried their own identification numbers, it’s not hard to tell one of these 1,000 from a later tribute. Per the seller, only about 100 are known to exist, as the vehicle has its own registry.
The seller has done some research, and most of the photos provided are screenshots of details, not of the car itself. He says he has the only one in Washington and knows of another in Oregon (so that may have the Pacific Northwest covered). This car came with a 351 V8 when new, but the seller says a 460 is there now and the odometer reading is 50,000 miles. So maybe someone drove this car as hard as Starsky did in the show.
Its original red paint (and we presume stripes) are on the car, but it sat (outside?) in California for three decades and needs attention. It will run and drive but not stop. Some degree of restoration will be needed, and we’re told this one is # 203 off the line at Ford’s Chicago plant. The seller has no interest in a trade unless it’s a “badass” Mopar. Do you have room for this Striped Tomato in your vegetable garden?
I used to see one of these running around my home town. Did not know Ford made 1,000 of them. Just thought some one had some leftover white paint and tape.
I had a guy in the neighboring town that had one. i used to see the car around fairly often. I don’t want to say I didn’t like the guy, but there was alot of car envy going on there. I never met him. My jealousy meter was pegged.
I’ve always thought the stripe on those cars was about the ugliest ever put on a car. They don’t follow the car’s lines at all, they just look like an afterthought…which I guess is what they were.
It was like a creeping blight back then, even Ford of Europe got into the act with an identical stripe option for the Cortina(or Consul, I forget which).
If it was Europe, it would be a Taunus; probably the coupe (which we Cortina-sufferers didn’t get), which was quite a nice-looking thing.
It was the 1970’s, man. Actually it was a great and wild time to be alive in America. In most states legal drinking age was 18 or 19 and people that age crowded the bars. It was a time before HIV. Most everyone smoked cigarettes, (not me, I hated but tolerated them) It was before the ‘just say no’ trend. The draft was over. In the early 1970’s new cars sold for $3500-4000. Everyone drove cars, pickups were for hicks. The price of gasoline was 29 cents a gallon before the Arab oil embargo and all the way up to around 50-70 cents a gallon in the later 70’s. That car fit the times especially with high jacker air shocks. Many people now would not understand.
People went around barefoot and that long shag carpet felt good when you came inside.
Nike swoosh
It is welcome that the seller provided some of the Starsky & Hutch model’s background and documentation. But more pics of this specific car would help. I suspect it needs lots of work. Obviously a narrow market. Maybe his “buddy Phil” could help.
Its my car its solid and still has the original paint and interior, it runs and drives but dont stop,its an old car it sat in California since 1999 it needs restored or drive as is i will take more pictures this weekend we have rain all week
I added more pics
A guy in high school had one. He raced a 71 Mach1 351C 2bbl heads, 4bbl intake. He was beaten badly. Then a 56 Chevy with a 283 4bbl beat him. He was seen much around town after that.
Sounds like he needed a 4 speed.
He was seen around town after the ’56 Chebby bested him? Pizza delivery, door to door salesman?
With that dirty rusty engine that’s not a $17,000 car, that would be price after fresh engine With aluminum head ,upgraded disc brakes
Its pending sale already i have 2 separate buyers wanting it cars solid and it runs great,these are rare,they sale fast
A beautiful clone just sold for 100k do a Google search,ill get 17k for this its pending sale for this weekend already and hasnt been listed even 24 hours,I did say 17k obo always start high
It had a brandnew rebuilt transmission and new rebuilt 460 4v installed i have over 8k in receipts,it was installed in 1995 and car was parked in 99,guy only wanted a bigblock for more power he said 351 was weak for that big ass car..lol
It had a brandnew rebuilt transmission and new rebuilt 460 4v installed i have over 8k in receipts,it was installed in 1995 and car was parked in 99,guy only wanted a bigblock for more power he said 351 was weak for that big car..lol
30 years ago I could have gotten that car for $500 in that shape. I love to see the old survivor, but that’s where my interest in it ends. If It were fully restored with a modern 302 and dive train in it. I’d give it a look at that price.
1st of many problems I have is that the seller states car has 50,000 miles. Huh? C’mon! And it’s not original. Also hard to believe only 10% are left outta 1,000 produced.
This car paint is still original it is sunfaded its been sitting in same spot since 1996 in California i drug it home,all the car is original except wheels and motor,I just put 50k miles on the listing. Because you have to out a number they only made 1k of these there is said to be around 100 left in existence, I got it from a guy whose had it since the 80s car has never been restored it needs restored badly,there is a starsky and hutch limited edition registry group in Facebook where they keep track of the vins of these cars mine is in the registry
Hey David, just curious how long you’ve had it. And did you intend to restore it? Did you change the engine out yourself? Thanks
I bought it in March all I did was get it running and put on some nice slotted mags it just been sitting with a couple other classics on my property it needs to go to somone thats gonna restore it,the engine was swapped out in the 90s i have paperwork for motor and trans both were rebuilt in 1995,this car sat in the same spot in California since 1999 he owned it a long time
The motor was replaced at 52k miles i have the paperwork from the shop guy upgraded from the 351 and fix trans to a 460 4v and c6 trans that was in 1996 and he drove it a few times and then parked it in 1999 do to it having issues he could never figure out,I bought the car and replaced the ignition module and that fixed all the issues car runs great
Maybe, “maybe” if it was clean and driveable it’s a 10-13k car. Maybe.
Pending sale
Ford hit a home run w that paint job.
I think you are in the minority on this one, Stan.
But what do I know, I once put 69 Cougar taillights on my
66 Mustang. Thinking it would look like a Shelby.
I was wrong.
The vin don’t lie,all starsky and hutch cars have the same first 4 letters in the vin,and have a district sales office number of 0022 on the door tag,and a ps122 on bucktag for starsky and hutch I even have the wrighting under hood ps122 car #203 2b red my car is 100 percent real and it is on the starsky and hutch registery group not sure why you would think its fake what do you want the marti report too??
Husky & Starch.
…..and of course there’s the popular “Starter and Clutch”,….
Don’t forget Mad magazine’s take: “Barfsky & Clutch”.
I remember these back in the day. There were a couple in our region. Personally, I never cared for the paint treatment; the stripe was too wide. I did like the TV series though…
If you haven’t seen it check out the movie geo. Ben Stiller, Owen Wilson 🍿 👍👍 😂
We needed a Huggy Bear edition, with purple paint and a fur headliner.
Clint Eastwood Gran torino
“Get off my lawn!”
Back in the day my friends brother had two of them not sure what the year was a cool car besides i loved starsky and hutch show
TV premise. Network make a show appealing to the younger generation. Since the mid 1970’s cop TV everything sells.
OK Lets use the bulky Torino because Ford is a major sponsor. These guys are under cover so add flashy red paint and a big white spear down the side so no one will know who they are! How is that for a show?
The Torino with the disco bumpers and sub 175 hp were all the rage. Not. Making replicas might have helped getting a few out the door. In reality knowing Ford would have sold as many as they could.
This boat doesn’t have the bucket seats which were a needed option, so your passenger isn’t sliding into you make sharp turns.
It doesn’t say if it has the factory tach. The paint tag under the hood says special. Doesn’t say if that is there and all came with a build sheet behind the rear seat. It will clearly say Starsky. A Marti report would be nice. Documentation is everything. Never take the seller’s word.
Non OEM engine at only 50,000 miles is a head scratcher as performance between the 351 and 460 is so minimal it would be all in your mind anyway. The lack of pics hurt. The engine shows its age and reality its old compared to the rest of the car.
@$17K I would get involved in the SH community. Do some research. In the end much better examples are out there. Believe it or not come up for sale all the time.
This car is registered on the starsky and hutch registery group,you can tell its real by the vin all limited edition starsky and hutch torinos had the first 4 of 6g30 which mine does,and also the dso number on door sticker will say 0022 which mine does,and it will also say ps122 on bucktag which mine does and I also have the writing under hood ps122 car number 203,this car is real the vin proves it alone I am in all the torino groups,and I put 50k on it because you had to fill in the blank to post it dont need a marti report to tell this is a real car,ive had several torinos
d had ordered up number 0f 1976 Gran Torinos (the last year for the model) painted in Ford Bright Red.The Wimbledon White “vector” stripeS were added on the flanks to finish off the paint scheme. A|l Starsky & Hutch models were built at Ford’s Chicago assembly plant S the spring x 1976 and were given the DSO numbers 0022 (US) and 8000 (Canada). The VINs on these cars start with 6G30 and carry the code PS 122 on the buck tag and build sheet. The cars came with any engine option that was offered on the Torino, which included the 351-2V, 400-2V, and the big block 460-4V engine. All were automatics, as that was the only transmission offered in ’76.
Most factory limited-edition “Starsky & Hutch” 1976 Ford Gran Torinos came with a front bench seat standard, though bucket seats were optionally available.The ’76 cars had regular bench seats, not split-bench.
My buddy phil has two limited edition cars in oregon with buildsheets and both his had bench seats,go join the starsky and hutch registery page and learn a little before you spread false information, ive had a bunch of torinos since the 90s I know everything about them,if your on the torino groups you would know this cars real just by the district sales office number door sticker and vin,and bucktag says 122 thats starsky and hutch special
And ya they didn’t want to slide around in their seats for the TV show and movie cars so they had bucket seats but almost all the limited edition cars i e seen had bench seats some had black interior and some had white interior, I bet you the buildsheet is inside the car its still all original untouched the Goldman I got the car from has had it since 80s and he never looked for it,I can go waste 40 bucks on a marti report if it would make you happy,the vin dont lie
I guess you are clearly not a fan
So, did Nike rip off the swish?
“To capitalize on the success of the show, Ford built 1,000 copies of that car,”
In discussing with my significant other when did a corporation “reissue” a product that they never made that had been modified for a movie/tv show. She came up with the red Swingline stapler from “Office Space”!
I can’t imagine any of today’s automakers doing something like this.
@David C heck. Don’t get those panties in an uproar. Not new to the game I owned one. At the time it was fun. Not a muscle car but sounded like one.
You are correct. Most cars had a bench seat. They were ordered with minimal options to keep the initial price down. Usually, one per dealer. There were cars special ordered. My car had the tach, 460 and buckets.
Not disputing you have a real car. I never implied you didn’t.
Since you don’t show a window sticker or anything else. It leaves buyers guessing. When trying to sell a special model its a plus to spend the money to get a Marti. It shows more than just validating what it is. It shows many interesting facts that put the car in perspective. It also shows how your car compares to the others that have the same codes. It’s just a missed detail in my opinion. It helps buyers make a decision.
When I sold my car I laid all the documentation on the hood in a loose leaf binder.. Build sheet, window sticker, enlarged pictures of the various tags with an explanation of what it said followed up with a Marti. I just stood back and didn’t say a word. The car and details spoke for themselves.
Do what you want. I would suggest making the brakes work even if you have a local shop do it. You may find a buyer out of state. It’s going to be hard to find a transporter that will haul it with no way to stop. If you don’t have ANY paperwork spend the money and get a Marti. Good luck
The car is pending sale to north carolina, he has a covered transport ready just waiting on payment,I sold 3 classics this week and im selling this last car I have gotta focus on my health if it dont sell ill get a marti report and maybe pull out the seats and look for a build sheet,thanks buddy
It’s 2026. we don’t have shuttle buses to the moon, but we can still argue about the seats in Starsky & Hutch’s car.
Well the vin dont lie ,the first 4 of the vin tells you right away its a limited edition car, all limited edition cars share the same first 4 digit 6g30, and it has the ps122 bucktag,and the 0022 door tag for starsky and hutch, and it has the 2b car 203 under hood from assembly line, definitely dont need a marti report the new owner can order one and they can tear the car apart looking for a build sheet i cant do it with my health failing,the car needs to go to somone who can restore it, I will continue to drop price till sold
A good friend of mine ordered one of these during our senior year of high school in 1976. He ordered the 460 motor. I remember looking the car over on the day he picked it up. Underneath was built like a 3/4 ton truck! We ended up rooming together in college at Middle Tennessee. The car came with tall gears, something like a 2.75, and was an absolute dog. I was a gear head and wrenched on the car at his request. We pulled the stock spread bore Motorcraft smog carb and replaced it with a Holley. 460 parts were not plentiful at the time and I had trouble finding an intake manifold, ended up buying an Offenhauser “dual port 360”. We also put a shift kit in the C6 tranny and swapped the 9 inch stump for a 3.50 (31 spline). That and a little lighter springs in the distributor advance really woke that motor up. Still not all that fast at that point, maybe a 15 second car, but way better than high 17’s. We had a lot of fun in that old barge, I actually miss it… Interesting factoid, the factory S&H cars were essentially painted twice, first white, then red on top except where the white stripes were. Good times!!
@ David. It would be behind the cardboard panel on the left side of the rear seat as you are looking in the trunk. Good luck.
Ok I will have my kid check when hes home this weekend thanks
That thing would be a bad unit with an LS in it.
It would, but I say keep it Ford
personally, i would rather walk than drive something looking like this but these do have following.
A fool and his money soon part
@ misterlou: “I can’t imagine any of today’s automakers doing something like this.”
Only because today’s unimaginative shows pale in comparison, leaving us dreamers pining for the automobilia of our youth.
The General Lee, Knight Rider, Rockford’s Firebird, Columbo’s Peugeot, The A-Team’s van (it takes all kinds lol), every George Barris car — Munsters, Monkees, etc.
Fun fact: George Barris drove the Gran Torino in the Starsky & Hutch Warner Bros. movie w/ Stiller and Wilson.
The only TV car that might challenge your thesis? John Delorean’s eponym in the B2TF series. And, that’s only because the decade in which it was built doesn’t matter as the timeline can always be adjusted.
There used to be one around here but haven’t seen it in a while,no wait I believe it was at the Blue Suede Cruise in Tupelo this past spring now that I think about it.
Cool car good luck with the sale👊🏽
The car was always unappealing to me because of those ugly fat bumpers.
‘Dual racing mirrors and a deluxe bumper group are required as optional equipment.’
Deluxe bumper group? Yeah, go Ford. Ha … and I’m a ford guy.
As a 10yo when the show premiered I was a huge fan. Me and my friend used to play Starsky & Hutch in our neighborhood. From what I’ve read Paul hated the car and did his best to beat the crap out of it whenever he could. Just watch a few of the shots with him pulling up fast and whacking the curb and you can tell lol.
That car turned out to be one of the biggest stars of the show. Although I later read the stars enjoy driving the big heavy car as much as we enjoyed seeing them drive it. I would still love to own one maybe with a more modern 302 in it. But the prices they now get for these cars that I used to get for $500 takes me out of the picture.
I think the seller made the right call here, I’m sure there will be a buyer who appreciates what these cars represent. And with some work and $$, this could be a hit at a local cars and coffee. Good luck to both the seller and buyer !
Thanks don I hope it goes to somone who can love it
Not the original motor. Not part of the 1000 club anymore.
A few of them dont have matching motors anymore,mine was upgraded from a smallblock to a bigblock, still a factory limited edition car man just not matching motor,lots of classics dont have the original motor, that dont mean its not a factory limited edition lmfao,alot of guys prefer the movie and TV show stripe and put it on the limited edition cars,makes it not the correct stripe but that dont make it not a limited edition anymore ,go buy some hot wheels john,ill cut the hood and stick a blower out the hood it will still be a limited edition car…lol
It affects the price. I don’t make the rules.
It will still sell ,alot of people dont care if its original motor ,most classic cars dont have there original motor ya it may effect price but not to all
“It will still sell. A lot of people don’t care if it’s the original motor. Most classic cars don’t have their original motor. It may affect the price but not to all.”
Not an English major.
Exactly paul thank.you
It came standard with a bench seat, but since it was a two door, the back portion of the bench seat was able to fold forward so people could get in the back seat. I had one of these cars.
Of course it will sell. The point is the car will not sell at its fullest potential. I myself in my younger years have swapped original motors out.. If you can’t take the criticism Dave then why the HECK do you keep looking.
I try to respond to hundreds of messages on this car cant get to them all but it notifies me everytime you open your mouth johnp
Dropped price by 2g’s & still for sale days later. And had pending sales. 🤔 Apparently potential buyers don’t see what seller does. Just sayin. GLWTS!
Ive sold over 30 of my classics in the last 5 years my healths not good I sold 3 cars this last month I got thisnone left ill sell it for cheap if I have too as long as it finds a good home, some of us dont need money
Ill keep dropping price till it sells that better than raising the price right??,I just sold an all original 390 z code 1968 country sedan wagon beautiful condition for 6k dropped it from 20k its not about the money if you know me
You certainly seem to respond to my messages David. I feel kinda special being on the mind of a man who doesn’t need Very sorry to hear about your health issues. I hope the banter helps keeps you going.