Ford Gran Torino

           

    

As we continue to chug along with our afternoon theme this week, Poseur Muscle Cars, I simply must include the ideal Poseur Muscle Car. It's too good to leave off the list.

Show the average person a Ford Gran Torino, and they are almost guaranteed to smile widely and say, "Hey, it's the Starsky & Hutch car!"

Indeed it is. In the 1970s, Messrs. Starsky and Hutch would invariably go powersliding off in their trademark red-and-white Gran Torino in pursuit of broadly drawn villains and their nefarious schemes.

In truth, despite its ruggedly handsome, muscularly chiseled looks, a stock Gran Torino would have had a hard time working up to a powerslide. It wasn't a slow car, exactly, but even by the deflated standards of the early 1970s, it wasn't really a quick one, either. Its Ford V-8 was detuned and tweaked more for emissions than performance, while its focus on luxury and bulging exterior lines made it a corpulent cruiser. Think of South Park's Cartman, who took Beefcake weight gain supplements, neglected to actually exercise, and thought his quickly expanding rippling bulk was actually muscle. That's the Gran Torino.

Yet... the Gran Torino is still compelling. Even apart from its status as the most interesting part of Starsky & Hutch, the Gran Torino is, frankly, a good-looking car. It looks like an intimidating muscle machine, and the combination of its visual horsepower with its comfortable accoutrements make the Gran Torino an interesting, if dated, period cruiser.

--Chris H.

Comments

[Hal on March 06, 2008 at 06:58 PM]

Chris,

Wow, take a swipe at the Mustang II and you draw a crowd. Not too many Gran Torino loyalists I guess.

I was working as a used car "lot boy" for a local Ford dealer the summer of 1976. We had a red '72 Gran Torino Sport that sat most of the summer--a beautiful car. I lusted much.

Since the most I was allowed to drive it was about 100 feet around the lot, I don't know how it performed. But, it had a 351 Cleveland with dual exhausts, and made the sweetest exhaust note at idle. Bucket seats, white leather. I truly lusted.

I have owned some outstanding cars since then, including a 911C4, a 928, and an Audi S8, but I don't think I lusted after any of them the way I did the '72 Sport.

Just discovered the blog the other day--love it.

[Frank P on March 11, 2008 at 05:11 PM]

My first car was a 76 Torino two door (the base model, not the "Gran" version). It was brown with a tan vinyl top with a matching naugahide interior. Great car for loading up with friends and cruising. The overly boosted steering, soft suspension, 14 inch tires and an open differential kept it from being much of a performer in the turns, but the 351W 2 barrel,moved it to 60 in about 10 seconds (10.3 according to my digital Timex in'82). Thanks for bringing back good memories.

[Mean Dean on May 01, 2008 at 02:28 PM]

Yeah, I had the 1973 model - with the 351 Cleveland engine.

The car hated going slow, yet the ride got soother and smoother with every MPH faster.

Not great on gas, but great vehicle to have as I traveled 300 some odd miles to and from college in it my Jr & Sr. year.

I miss it.

[AlphaDog on May 01, 2008 at 08:00 PM]

My first car was a 1976 powder blue Gran Torino STATION WAGON. It still had that 351 engine it it though, and once it got off the line, did pretty well. Always wantred a Starsky & Hutch version, still do.

[cherokee on June 01, 2008 at 06:47 PM]

Yea, I owned a black 73 gran. I added opera windows. best looking and running car I ever owned. I added a good Holley, Hooker Headers,B&M shift kit, but left road gears. It would run w/ most ruststangs on the start and would really run great on top end. I outran a local N.M. state trooper in his hot Plymouth. He said radar showed 137 mph. That car was gliding @ that speed. I am old now, but I am looking for another one like it.

[GW on December 07, 2008 at 09:48 PM]

I had a '76 Gran Torino Wagon with factory custom paint (deep metallic green), tan interior, and the 351 Cleveland. I loved that car...gave it vanity plates that said "TANQUE". It had plenty of power, a comfortable ride even on long trips, and a cavernous interior.

[Anthony Cagle on January 10, 2009 at 10:42 AM]

Good time to revisit this post as the movie has just come out starring the car. I haven't seen it yet, but Ann Althouse has and has good things to say about it. E.g.: 'Get a nice car and take care of it and some day you will own a "vintage" car.'

Amen, sistah.

I was a total S&H fan and thought the "red tomato" was da bomb. Only later I learned of its poseur status. I heard it had 250 hp in what, a two-ton car? I'd still grab one if I found a mint one. I suppose after the movie these things will be scarcer than hens teeth and go way up in price.

I still think it's a great looking car, especially the S&H version. Not too humpy and bumpy and the front end looks clean and sharp.

[julie robson on March 29, 2009 at 02:21 AM]

Help!! Need to replace sender for fuel gauge and cable for speedo in 1972 Gran Torino, would a ford cortina be compatable??
Hope someone out there can assist.

[Wyatt on September 24, 2009 at 11:29 AM]

I'm lovein the red on the torino!

[Aleks Risitic, Toronto on December 20, 2009 at 03:34 PM]

I LOVE the silhouet and rear view of the fastback / sportroof version. The coupe version is totally unremarkable 70's fare.

In the front the original version had fairly nice styling for the day but I thought the later versions with the bloated grilles were ugly.

My dad drove one during his first stay in North America in 1977 and said it was a pleasant car to drive but the previous owners had already abused the transmission badly and it kept breaking down.

[Tim W. on January 15, 2010 at 07:25 PM]

This car was designed for the NASCAR circuit, though Ford dropped out that year. You could get the sport edition with a 429 in '72. Hardly a posuer.

I owned one with a 302, and with headers and a 4 barrell added, could eat a 1976 Firebird 400 for lunch.