By 1972, Ford offered buyers of the third-generation Torino three different models: the Torino, Gran Torino, and the Gran Torino Sport as seen here. The biggest change is the grille, instantly recalling memories of the TV show Starsky & Hutch. This 1972 Ford Gran Torino Sport two-door hardtop is listed here on eBay in Las Vegas, Nevada, the bids are at $6,001, but the reserve isn’t met.
There’s that Sport hood scoop and the famous grille. A show of hands for those of you who watched Starsky & Hutch either back when it was originally on or in reruns. Speaking of that, let’s have a moment of silence for David (Ken “Hutch” Hutchinson) Soul, who recently passed away at age 80. I know, 80. Time keeps marching on, friends. Do it now or you may regret it later, whatever “it” is.
Ford made the third-gen Gran Torino for the 1972 through 1976 model years and they also offered a Ranchero based on this design, not to mention Mercury’s Montego and Cyclone being based on the same platform. After the end of production in 1976, the chassis was used on the 1977 through 1979 Thunderbird, LTD II, and Ranchero, as well as the Mercury Cougar. The seller says this Gran Torino Sport is “RUST FREE” (sorry for yelling) and you can see that it isn’t perfect, but it’s always nice to hear the words rust-free. The data tag says that this car would have been “Light Pewter Metallic” when new.
The interior looks pretty nice, and I’m assuming seat fabric is still available to match the driver’s seat, to replace the velour passenger seat cover. I’m just assuming it’s ripped, but that seat cover could very well be protecting a perfect seat. The driver’s side looks great in the photo above, just maybe in need of some new padding. They don’t show the back seats at all, which is unfortunate, and they mention surface rust underneath but that the floors and trunk are “excellent”, so that’s good. This body style is a two-door hardtop as opposed to the sloping SportsRoof model. The trunk does look good, at least from the inside.
The engine would have been a $99 option for this car, an S-Code 400-cu.in. OHV V8, which sounds impressive but by 1972 it had 168 horsepower. It sends power through a three-speed C-6 automatic and console selector to the rear wheels and this one can be driven, just not on the highway. It needs a “thorough going over”, according to the seller, but the bidders are liking what they see. Have any of you owned a Gran Torino Sport?
Another 1972 Gran Torino, maybe not in as quite the good condition as the one Russ wrote up last week, but not bad. This one is a Sport, though not a SportsRoof with the laser stripes (my favorite combination). I’d take it back to Light Pewter Metallic; with the white vinyl roof that would be a unique combination.
The 1972 Gran Torinos were interestingly styled cars, looking their best before the 5 mph bumpers diminished their looks.
Good job Scotty.
Thanks, Bob. I agree on the color combo, maybe this was sort of a stopgap in primer or something?
Air conditioner not working?
If we’re painting, I say “striped tomato”, in honor of the fallen.
If one looks at the picture, they can see those car in not “RUST FREE” as the seller claims. And no one mentioned the missing air cleaner (why would you lose something like that?) I do like the all white combination (This from a guy who owned a triple white Dodge Charger SE.)
Starsky and Hutch never drove a ’72 Torino.
You are correct, sir, I was just talking about this generation and “grille” design, not the year or model that they drove. I didn’t say that they drove a ’72, I guess I have to be more literal from now on.
I believe Starsky’s was a 74. The 400 engine was known as the 351 Cleveland’s big brother. It was only available in 2 barrel form. Not meant for performance, but a workhorse.
Watch the show it’s not even the right grille or nose for that matter
👍
Nice find. I think David Soul’s best role was in Magnum Force…ditto for Hal Holbrook who played some mean SOBs in his day
I could nitpic like why does engine look like a mess all across the top for a car with only 66,000 miles on it? Or why is there no mention of rear passenger panel damage (fishtail)? But seller has good rating. And, whatta want for 6G’s? Like Bob mentioned, the one listed last week was nicer for 33% more.
It looks like the front clip and passenger door are primer or different paint but Jamie how can you tell the dog house has been replaced ? Seems like That would be a heck of a lot of work for a 7k car?
Agreed on the damage and rust!! But the Title is misleading to entice people to look!!
LOL-Paint it green -GET OFF MY LAWN
The seller has some bad feedback. Looks like the doghouse has been replaced. Not enough photos to tell for sure. Can’t be driven on the highway? Why? I’d look at this one in person before I bid on it.
One negative feedback more than a year ago doesn’t mean much. Multiple negative feedbacks with complaints such as misleading descriptions would be cause for concern because it suggests a pattern of deception.
Steve R
And 72 being a one year only with that
Grill, my first car was a Q CODE , SPECIAL
ORDER 351 COBRA JET 351, SAME AS A
BOSS 351 BUT WITH HYDROLIC LIFTERS INSTEAD OF SOLID, MY OLD MAN TEST DROVE A 400 B IT WAS OK BUT NOT EVEN CLOSE TO THE CJ, 345 HORSE 4 BOLT MAIN 4BBL 2 1/2″ DUAL EXHAUST AND THE CROSSOVER (H PIPE) C6 WOULD SMOKE THE TIRES IN ALL GEARS
LAST Passing gear to drive at over a 100 mph still smoking tires one last time on the way to bury, n the 120 speedo not enough speedo for that car, so many
People tried to correct me about the motor lmfao, my old man was told they might not be able to get that eng, but they did! He ordered it in late 71 it didn’t come until almost 73, it had a small place on the dash, it said carol Shelby equipped 351 cobra jet and had the snake..
I got called out a few months ago for calling a ‘ doghouse ‘ a doghouse?
It’s good to see other folks that call a doghouse the front and a clip the rear.
Just my rambling for the day!
Which one is the original bucket seat …or is it trick photography ?
Flip a coin! Seriously, I’d bet on the passenger seat being all original, since the driver’s seat is the one that gets the most use, being the only one that is always occupied when the car is moving (I hope)!
I had a 72 pewter gray tornio with a 351 Cleveland.. me and my dad rebuilt it with some serious performance parts and street raced it .. kick myself for ever selling it… Starsky and Hutches car was a 74.
Actually 74-76 !!
The Good: Rarely seen bucket seats and console, C6 A/T, A/C. The Bad: Damage to right rear quarter panel, Front seat covers. The Ugly: 1972 anti-smog gear. The 400 V8 has a decidedly mixed reputation, so unless a numbers matching example is important to you, I’d consider an engine swap. There are upgrades for the 400 though, so it’s not a lost cause by any means. Consult a competent machine shop or Ford engine expert for next steps. I’m not a fan of vinyl roofs, so I might consider removing it as part of the body repairs, or maybe not. Other than that, just fix the rear quarter and drive it!
Too bad it don’t have even rarer tach & aux gages, tho i guess they could be added here.
How bout the insane rarity of a ram air system?! …
http://www.fordramair.com/new/products/ram_air_units.htm
&
https://www.flickr.com/photos/23768530@N05/3825279904
I owned a 1972 Gran Torino Sport back in the 70’s when I was in the Air Force. It was candy apple red with white interior and 351 Cleveland engine. I loved that car, wish I still had it.
Apparently this author ignored the big rust around the rt rear quarter around the back bumper!! 🤷🤔🤨
I was talking about rust holes, Enrico, not surface rust – as was I’m sure the seller who says that it’s “RUST FREE” if you read the eBay link. A brand-new car in the showroom probably has surface rust on it somewhere.
My single Aunt bought a new ’73 Chocolate brown Gran Torino Sport that unfortunately had the new massive front bumper of the ’73 redesign. She loved that car and it rode nice but it was a shame that they had to lose/revise the ’72 front end, it was nicely unique!!
I had a 72 plain Torino 302 140 hp
You can thank the DOT for that!!
The owner doesnt have 20 or 30 dollars to his name for an air filter? That gaping hole in the middle of the engine compartment is very disconcerting! The vehicle is selling for over six thousand dollars, get an air filter for it! Sheesh!
Preferably an open element air cleaner, so the engine breathes a little better! The air doors in the factory air cleaners often got stuck, as the heat stove mechanism, designed to route hot air from the manifold into the engine for faster warmup on a cold start, often rusted closed. This was another EPA anti-pollution measure, of dubious value, for the reason I mentioned (they rust closed). The snorkel on the factory air filter wasn’t all that large in any case. Oh, and BTW, the hood scoops are purely decorative, and non-functional. I’d a least research the possibility of making them functional.
Before you go investing money on a stupid air cleaner make sure the engine runs!!
Dear Mr. Enrico Mandragona, you are absolutely correct , ‘make sure the engine runs’, is the first logical thing to do before wasting unnecessary money on an air cleaner. Too bad the seller didn’t think of doing that!
I had a 1970 baseTorino 351 Cleveland in factory Celery Green and dark green interior as a young man.
I remember it sounding like s Jet engine when I got on it with a Sonic high pitched sound and transmission shifting so hard the dashboard vibrated.
Great car always ran great looking back should of took better care of it and kept it longer.
had green and blue and black one .had the 72 truck in green thy all were gt had a lot of fun but sold went back to 68 falcon and my other wish I had them now
I’d be too tempted to paint it like the Starkey and Hutch car.
I’m more partial to the classic forest green metallic in “Gran Torino”, myself.
I owned a 72 Ranchero and a 72 Grand Torino. Ranchero rolled out with a 351 Cleveland and was a powerhouse. The Grand Torino had a 351 Windsor that ran well but was second to the Ranchero.
Sold the Ranchero to my baby brother and traded in the Torino on a 78 GMC 4 X 4 short bed.
I still look at both of these vehicles when they hit the market. I consider the 72 body style as one of the best Ford ever put on the road.
I worked Ford parts counter at a local Jackson, MI dealer in ’72. Parts was in the garage and new car prep was done in front of the counter so lots of that yr new cars including a lot of these.
Too bad the 400 engine came more in the smog era and to my knowledge was never developed as a performance engine. I know you can get a lot out of them but at a cost.
I also don’t like now or then vinyl roofs, and the color change scares me. Definitely would need to be inspected, but at $6K? Might be worth a shot for a driver vintage car.
Had a 72 GranTorino Sport with sports roof . Was red with bucket seats and full gages . It had a 351 4v Cleveland. Was young never really looked it up believed it could have been a 351 CJ . Had all the factory chrome engine covers.Was very fast car for its weight.
A friends mom had a 72 “sportsroof” (fastback). Bought it new and kept it mechanically very nice until someone rear-ended her. Don’t know what motor it had but sounded and moved like a beast. Medium blue with a white vinyl top. We all thought it was top shelf. Really like the buckets and center console. To bad it sold before I seen it. This was in my price range and I would’ve taken a shot. Oh well. Win some lose some.
Does it have AC, there’s no belt?
Auction update: this “RUST FREE” Torino Sport (with surface rust) sold for $8,500.
IMO, there was no need for Ford to make a fastback version, unless they were gonna race em at Nascar. The 1st gen camaros & firebirds & ’70-74 challengers have a sporty rear window angle about the same as on this very handsome car.
Can be driven, but not on the hiway? Super old tires? Tires need balancing?Runs rough? – i would bring along a spare gas filter – very ez to install.