Why The 1972 Ford Gran Torino Sport Was Ford's Best Mid-Size Muscle Car
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- Опубликовано: 1 июн 2024
- Ford produced a lot of muscle cars during the golden era but its best mid-size muscle car was the 1972 Gran Torino Sport which was produced when horsepower was falling just as fast as muscle car sales.
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Ever since Clint Eastwood made this car the centerpiece for his 2008-09 movie of the same name. The Gran Torino officialy achieved iconic status.
That was 2008! What have I been doing with my life??
@The94GTC It could go either way. Ford dropped the nameplate in 1976. The show lasted til 1979. A lot of those cars were built, some still survive now. The movie did the car justice.
like a dummy I traded my 72 my factory stripes were 3 times wider than movie car. Don't know how rare it was 351 Cleveland.
Starsky and Hutch, kid
Clint Eastwood is awesome!! Though I've never seen that movie, and I am mostly a Mopar guy(though I currently have a '68 Stang), I have always LOVED the Torino's Ford built, ESPECIALLY the '72 Gran Torino Sport. I knew a guy who had a very nice yellow one. Incredibly fast(enhanced mechanically), very cool mean old car. Good video here BTW.
I saw one of these in the parking lot of the theater that I work at last summer, & all I could do was stare at it because it was just SO BEAUTIFUL!!!!!!!!
We will never see the same kind of styling that the late 60’s early 70’s offered again
Edward Gross man, they are. Just so utilitarian it’s depressing. Big block 4 spd ? Nope 😢
Lots of great styling back then, to be sure. But the fit and alignments were atrocious. I can remember my '67 Tempest had gaps wide enough to fit my pinky finger between the door and fender. I kid you not.
Jordan Wilson I had one of those black Gran Torino Sports 72 model automatic black on black with the 351 Cobra Jet four-barrel I bought it used for about $2,000 and it was in good shape with a motorcycle to do at a used car lot kept it for about 4 years got into buying needed money bad and sold it for a thousand bucks and 92 I got it in 89 I mean 88 if only I had known what some of these old cars would brought today not so much as wanting the money but you just can't really find an old car anymore that's not the only muscle car or hot rod that I had I even made a hot rod out of a 68 Ford short bed I'll let both of them go for nothing but that's the way the pricing in the market was back then I ended up getting in a bind for money and selling the Gran Torino for $1,000 today probably bring about $30,000 especially since Clint Eastwood come out with the movie Gran Torino that jacked it up even more the reason a lot of these cars are so expensive is because of Barrett-Jackson before they started the cars were still worth a lot because they were antiques but that's really jacked the prices of of the cars up I cannot see paying 50 to $80,000 for a muscle car it's ridiculous because I grew up in the time when they were brand-new at 5000 sad thing is we used to get them when they were older or wrecked fix them up we paid anywhere from $500 up to $1,000 then you can build a really fast engine for 500 to $700 Danny Way those days are gone I might get another toy one day if I can find a good deal have a good day God bless
I know brother.
@@JimJones-ee6kp Amen brother. Vehicles are nothing but wayyyyyyyyyy overpriced these days.
Thanks for this video. My dad ordered a new 1972 Ranchero GT in fall of 1971. I still have pictures of it. It was white with an orange stripe, black vinyl top, matte black hood scoop, and black interior. Best of all it had the 351 Cleveland Cobra Jet. As soon as he got it he put a set of Keystone mags on it with 60 series Firestone Wide Ovals on the rear and 70 series on the front. He always said it was his favorite vehicle and the one he regretted trading away.
Everyone has a car they regretted trading away. I wanted Charger Hemi from this current gen for a handful of reasons:
1. I'll never be able to afford an actual muscle car from the heyday (1964-74: T/As still had great power in '74)
2. I have nowhere to store it unless I get a storage unit.
3. Repeat reason 1. due to outside reasons (Hint, starts with 'W')
I ordered a 5.7 Charger (Didn't want a Hellcat - Too much money or a 6.4 since I have no tracks near me to race it) from the factory at the dealer in Apr. 2018 and unless I am absolutely desperate, will drive this for another 5-7 years then park it and buy a beater car to keep my Charger as new as possible. This was my only chance opportunity to have a muscle car (RWD naturally aspirated V8 powered car by my personal definition is a muscle car) before they are gone for good.
My husband and l has a gold color 72 he build himself from the ground up. He love it.
I had 3 Gran Torino, 72,73 and 75. When i seen Starkey and Hutch program, that 75 went into the paint shop and had it painted and stripe that same way as Starkey and Hutch. New wheel's and tire's and jacked up in the rear. That car was stolen from my dad driveway and never found again. I miss it even to this day .
Amen. I has a 72 it was a baby blue. A beautiful ride. Yes l love the one on Starkey and Hutch also but l love my baby blue more.
I had one of these 72 Grand Torino Sport Fastbacks. That car gave me 270,000 miles of pleasure for it was a solid well built machine. It wasn't blindingly fast but it would get you thrown in jail if you drove that way. It was right next to my 66 GTO which was the best car I've ever owned right up to today's date. The Highway patrol stopped me a lot just to look at it and talk. Those cars do draw attention. Plus, I never got stuck in the snow.
Your right... cops loved to pull me over and just look at my grand Toronto sport . One guy told me it's looks fast just sitting there.
I had a few, snow no problem, pulled over for sure. At the time I liked the hard top better. Had both and a 70. Fun 🚗 's
My buddy had 1 bone stock baddass
It's a beautiful car, right up there for me with the 1970 Chevelle 454 SS, 442, GTO, GS & Cyclone/Montego. 👌😎
I had the 1972 351 and it was simply a joy to drive every single day! Every time I stopped somewhere, someone would ask me to open the hood and rev it up just to hear that engine. I never used the radio as I loved hearing it roar. Good times!
Oh, you bite your tongue, sir...the '66 Fairlane was gorgeous.
This guy puts out a lot of opinions that he acts like are facts. There are a lot of factors that go into sales and looks are pretty subjective. These cars and a lot of cars are pretty distinctive. The 66-7, 68-9 and 70-1 are beautiful cars also and the 72 was not some great leap, just a different car. He mentions few of the negatives of the cars he pumps up. Interest and prices down the road also aren't proof of success but compare the interest in these cars compared to the prices and amount of other brands cars from these years. These cars are mostly gone and others survive restored.
@@fcaughli agree ... you hit the nail on the head .... obvious this guy who made the video is making love to his Gran Torino sport .. barry white on the 8 track .. cuddling in the garage ;) shoot Starsky didn't love his Torino as much as this guy loves it ;)
I couldn't agree more regarding styling being subjective. Personally, I thought those styles were awful! IMHO the 1966 Fairlane GTs were much more attractive. I guess beauty is in the eye of the beholder. 😁
@@mrcappetto so true I know I came off harsh with my one reply .. but, the way he comes off as if his opinion is fact and truth, I own a 71 Torino and can admit it's not the car everyone loves, in fact there are other styles out there I think are much better, but I do like my Torino, and having had it in car shows all Ford shows ... the post 70/71 Torinos really aren't that loved or looked at as amazing styled cars ... not until Gran Torino ... and I also get tired of people calling the 68-71 Torinos, Gran Torinos tell tale sign of someone who think's they know vs. really knowing...
@jacktheripped oh for sure, pretty much those 72s and newer had bark but no bite in their performances, when you really compared to others ... even the 70/71 SCJ's can be a bit clunky in comparison to some of the combos ford had out prior.
The mother of a friend of mine had a loaded 1972 Gran Torino Sport 351-4v four-speed which she bought because she liked the way it looked. She drove it until it rusted out in the mid-'80s. She had Mercedes, Lincolns, and a twelve-cylinder Jag among others but she said the 1972 Gran Torino Sport was the best car she ever owned. I drove it several times, it was a fun car to drive but oddly enough it was also a fine bad weather car it did very well in the snow(I believe it had limited-slip ). I thought about buying it but by the time she got rid of it, the body and frame were shot from rust.
Yeah dude typical Ford. I had a 73 custom and it was eaten up.
My parents had a 1972 Gran Torino with the 351 Cleveland 4 barrel, was made in the Fall of 1971 so escaped Ford with engine that burned leaded. Not allowed in California even when new. Made for rental car market. My mom worked for National Car Rental and bought it from her boss. Wasn't till years later when we found out what we had had when we saw it at a local drag strip. I learned to drive in that car and the only thing that kept me from driving it too fast was I was told that one ticket banned me from borrowing it. It was metallic brown with white vinyl top, and the non sports roof, also an automatic. My mom to this day regrets selling it as it needed some work and wasn't valuable as far as we knew at nine years old and over 100,000 miles. We should have had a clue when everytime we took it for service the mechanics would offer to buy it. I hope it's still out there somewhere.
Thanks for telling this great story, of one that got away!!
I'm sorry to gear that, it is a nice looking car
Mine was a 351 Cobra Jet. Yours was probably that engine.
@@samuelmorado70 well I know about the 351 cobra jet and for some reason it wasn't that one. When the car was just over a year old we took it for service and when the guy asked us why we had a 351 4v without an induction hood my mom just said to him she thought it had a 302 as we had not paid or ordered anything special. All my mom said was she wondered why it jumped the intersections till she got used to it. It was her first new car and she bought it because it was beautiful. She knew it was a V8 but if someone snuck in an inline six they probably could have got away with it. My Dad was not a Ford guy and let her pick it out. It had vinyl top, air conditioning and a column shift automatic, also extra side molding but no stripe. About four years later I was looking for one like it on the second hand market an all I found was 400 2v's which were slow compared to that one. The guy we sold it to was not interested until he saw the motor. Then he gave a deposit and came back with a tow truck. We sold it very cheap as it was running ruff and needed brakes and by that time it was about 11 years old. After he had the title in hand he said that he was changing his plans about a motor swap and just going to tune up the "Cleveland Engine." It wasn't till recently when we tried to find any 1972 Gran Torino that we found out that it was an early production (September of 1971) model. The air cleaner said 351 4v, but no Cobra Jet designated. It was briefly used to Promote National Car Rental but my parents were the first to buy it. Later they bought a 1972 Gran Torino four door which was no slouch but it said unleaded fuel only on the dash and inside the gas filler neck.
Great story Warren.
I believe it was 1980, I purchased a pewter Torino, very basic.
I did not know until years later, I had owned a rare Torino.
Example: Ford made a plain Jane Torino, no Gran on it's name. I purchased mine with 150,000 miles. A great project for a 20 year old car nut.
Mine, 351 Cleveland 2 barrel carb. Sport mirrors and pretty much nothing much for for options.
With the Non Gran Torino's had a completely different nose section that and Torino with Gran attached.
Gran Torino's had the fishmouth grill with headlamps Separate from the grill. As into the straight up Torino, had a full width box-crate grill that en housed the head lamps.
My appologies, I cannot find a way to picture an example.
Bottom line, It was a great experience to learn auto mechanics on what had been lacking maintenance.
I seriously was very attached to the car as having dreams about the car for several years later.
The car was not fancy but looked very stylish without all the fancy upgrades.
Oddly, my Torino was more rare than the Gran Torino Sport, with the Formal roof-line.
I still miss that car, after all the years passing.
I love the design language of old muscle cars. The long hoods, flat fronts, coke-bottle haunches, integrated tail lamps and thin rear windows (even if they made rear visibility difficult). We'll never see such beautiful, sleek cars again.
351 4v small block Cobra Jet was a Badass motor! I was lucky enough to own one in 1978. A replacement motor for my 66 Fairlane GT. It seems the original 390 was tired....
But back to the CJ, I had a choice to either sell me another or....hehe...here is a 351 4V CJ in a Grand Torino. 🤔. I will take the 351 CJ, AND I was glad I did. It ran like a Raped Ape!
I installed the MOTOR in my 66 Ford Fairlane GT, replaced the carb with a Holley 750 dual feed. It would out run pretty much any stock car on the streets.. telegraph road racing. Way before "Street Outlaws"
We love our old cars, don't we ? ✋
Telegraph Road? In Northern Virginia?
Cool, I had 1st 75 torino, 2 72 torino's one hard top and then a 70 torino. Fun cars.
If the 72's were slow, then everything we drug diwn the street were slow. 68 Camaro's and the like.
@@dialsmavis8191 Michigan
Yes, yes we do, 100%!!!
Even though I had a Boss 351 I was always a bit jealous of my buddies 72’ Gran Torino Sport. The GTS’s Coke bottle styling was evolutionary Ford genius. Too bad the musclecar era didn’t last a few years longer. We could have had 500 stock HP in these babies.
Exactly mate.
ZZ UP - Nice! Tons of potential in that engine. 🚀
Yeah, but U had a Boss 351 Mustang extremely rare and fast, I'd rather have it
At the same time in Australia, we had the 351 Cleveland, by the factory, marked at 300hp to sooth the insurance companies, but in th 4 door they commonly had outputs of 350-380hp. Guess we were lucky.
Don't be fooled by the number. In 1972 all US engines went to SAE net ratings significantly lowering the numbers, even if there were no actual changes to an engine. What were the Australian ratings? DIN/gross?
@@jeffbranch8072 as of right now unsure. Today we deal in kilowatts and gross figures. Unsure in that time frame.
The styling was starting to work just as the muscle car era was closing down.... That's unfortunate.
So true hi polished so true look at the '72 Lincoln mark iv
Well said. 👍🏼
David Mc - And a lot of those cars are worth 6 figures or more today. If only we could have foreseen the future during those times, bought up those unwanted classics and resold them 20-30 years later.
I had a 72 fastback with a 400 M and a locked up oil pump. I wish I had fixed it and kept it.
David Mc ......Yes and if you had 4 of the right ones you’d be considered rich not very rich but very comfortable. Those Superbirds were $3000-3500 average new if you put 2 away then you’d be very comfortable today.
Nice looking car. 70 eliminator cougar also looked great .
I owned a 69 Eliminator, miss that car every day.
s p nice car.
I find the 68 Fairlane and the Galaxie quite handsome to look at.
Wow enjoy your car. You are bless. I looking for a Impala 64 to 67.
Yeah me too. I prefer it to the 72
I totally agree brother.
@Natural Creature I had the VERY RARE 69 Fairlane 428 SCJ with the C6 and 456 Detroit locker rear it was the JADE BLACK color man I am a IDIOT to let that one go so many years ago
My favorite is the 68' or 69' Cobra Fairlane 428 SCJ with Formal Roofline and covered in vinyl.
The Sportsroof is just too ordinary, and makes the car look big, which it is not.
My dad had a 72 gran Torino. I remember riding in it. Just my dad & I enjoying a cool sports car in San Bernardino CA in the late 70s. He died a few yrs ago. Special memories. Rest in peace dad. Until I see you again. Love you.
Shout Out to Clint Eastwood.
Amen. Great movie. ...and great song too!
@@ludovicoc7046
Also a true Ford Fanatic,
Clint if you're seeing this, relate some of your Ford tales, or better yet a book on same. EEEHYAAA THAT WOULD BE A BEST SELLER
I really hope they give you a good kick back on the commercials. You have very good videos but they really commercial bombed your video.
Are Starsky and Hutch a joke to you?
I had a 1973 gran torino sport
I'm still happy with my 72' Gran Torino 4dr, even though it's not a 2dr Sport. It was my stepdad's great aunt's car that was handed down.
You still have one? I SO envy you!
I think the '70 was a bit better looking, but they didn't make a bad looking Torino. Someday I'd love to own a Torino.
They are mostly all gone now.
@@WALTERBROADDUS Yeah, unfortunately they do seem to be a lot less common than the GM A-bodies and even the Chrysler B-Bodies.
Lots of cool looking cars in the 70s but they rusted in record time. Manufacturers put almost no effort at all into corrosion protection. Too bad tho
@@giggiddy yeah, unless you bought an American Motors as they Ziebarted their cars starting in the early to mid 70's, but they rusted out too after about 10-15 years especially here in the rust belt.
I got lucky and bought a 71 torino gt shell, not to bad. Assembling a 351c on my coffee table edelbrock aluminum heads
Back then every car had it's look, you knew a Ford from a Dodge from a Chevy . I wish cars still look like these beautiful classics.
You nailed it with this one! I only wish you would have included the Ranchero in with the video. This was the pinnacle of styling for the Torino/Ranchero. My first car was a 73 Ranchero, but I always wanted a 72 because of that grille and hood!
Agreed. That 5 mph truck bumper Ford was forced to put on the Torino’s front end in 73’ & 74’ didn’t do anything to enhance the vehicles styling. 🖖🏻 🖖🏻 🖖🏻
@@xyrzmxyzptlk1186
In 73 that was.
The 72 Ranchero was and still is in my eyes, on par with Edsel Ford's 39 Zepher
styling exercise... I know,
I know, I've got my riot gear on!
I 've restored 2 for customer's That had the 429 thunder jet option. So clean was that design, too bad it was the pinnacle of the end
Of a grand era! I'm still not over it.
Guy Neault - Sorry Guy. I wasn’t specific enough. I’ve fixed the original comment. The 72’ Gran Torino Sport (and 72’ Ranchero) is/are my favourite “musclecar(s)” ever......at least styling wise. My dream car is a restomoded 72’ GTS with a Boss 429 engine pushing about 600 horsepower. If I win the lottery tonight it WILL happen.
My first car was a '72 Ranchero GT with a 302 engine and it was a blast!
I had a 73 Ranchero with a 302 that ran ok. It did 0-60 in under 12 seconds bone stock! Better than later 302 fuel injected motors in the vic. I started to build a 351cleveland 2 barrel with ported heads, edelbrcock 4br etc. but sold the car before I got the engine together. Ond aspect I don't hear about is that the 72 on up Torino had the full frame which did wonders to suspension durability and quietness on our country dirt roads. Unibody cars were horrible on dirt roads.
Those side decal stripes were reflective too. Looked great at night.
My 1971 Grabber blue Torino Gt had the white into blue Laser stripes. Those stripes really stood out on that car. Man, I wish I still had that car.
I always loved the fastback '72-73 Torinos best. Too bad it was only around for 2 model years.
Me too! The 1972-1973 Ford Gran Torinos & standard Torinos are my favorite Ford Muscle cars of the 1970's!
The best part is it has the same wheel base as Ford's mighty Ford Panther Platform (like the Ford Crownvic, Mercury Grandmarquis, and Lincoln Town Car). So if you ever want to do a restomod on a 72-73 Torino you can use to The Ford Panther frame and just bolt it on as well as do a Coyote swap in it.
I miss my 73 bought myself in highschool
@@CJColvin that's still alot of work considering the Torino's were unibody construction and the Panther platform is a full frame design. Start cutting.
@@markreisen7038 Right.
Now I want a 1972 Gran Torino.
Welcome to the club.
10 days after returning from Vietnam I purchased a 1972 Gran Torino Sport what a great car.
I was always partial to the 460 cid equipped "tomato with a pinstripe" on that TV show lol
The oval ported 351 CJ is a beast, to be sure. And the lines on the early 70's Torinos are superb.
If you want the badass one - repeat after me.... 1969 TALLADEGA TORINO
You are right, that was a really sharp car. Still is.
I love the narrator. Very professional. You believe 100% of what he says because of how he says it. He pronounces the works properly and without accent. He enunciates well. And, he doesn't show any emotion. It's like reading a book...straight talk. Love it! Great video editing and photo choices as well on all their videos.
Those 72 Gran Torino sports look soooo nice. I am building a 70 Torino convertible and have always thought the 70 models were the best looking, but those 72 Gran Torino be Sports have a great look also. The front bumpers were still integrated nicely before they went to the massive ugly bumpers starting in 73.
That was a very thorough review. Nice job! I remember driving a friend's 72 from Minneapolis to Florida almost non-stop. That was a smooth, fast cruiser with a 429.
This car here in that two to three year span was one of the best looking cars ever made. I may have actually liked it better than the Mustang. I know it was definitely one tuff looking car! We have cars with monstrous horsepower now days and they are nice looking but not quite as good as the old muscle cars of years ago!
Back in the day...early 80s two of brothers friends each had a 72 Sport. I was just a kid. But was so fascinated by those "beast."
Always wanted one but never pursued it, but watching this has me itching.
I owned a 72 it was one of the best car I ever had,wish I still hat it today had the Cleveland 351,never had one issue with it,a great looking car
The color schemes and decals on these cars are very nice. The front end on the 72 looks so good.
My dad had a 72 gran torino sport with a 429 cobra jet engine swap lol
Joeseph Phelps, tell us more about that car,please,
Street race story's etc.
I was really young then. Don't remember much about it except it was light blue. I just heard stories from my dad about it mostly. He claimed it would peg the 120 on the speedometer in a quarter mile
Joseph Phelps we have one in the polebarn which my dad got his first ticket in he was going 110 lol
Can I see pictures of it lol
Would you be interested in selling it?
The '72 looks good, but my co-workers '68 CJ is just awesome inside and out!!
Mid sized! I love it, my family had an ugly brown one for a teenager car in the late 80's. We called it the gas pig. My memories of it was that it was huge.
My 1972 Ford 'Ranchero' GT was a Torino with a pickup bed. 351cj 4bbl. Motor went 500k, [orig motor] and sold it because it would not pass smog test in Kalifornia....
You mean Helliforeigna.
I had a 1970 ranchero I was crazy about that car
@@charliestep Sounds awesome brother. What engine did it had.
When I was a Kid I convinced my Grandfather to buy one . I was surprised when he said yes . He let me go to the dealership with him to to order it and let me pick out the options . The only stipulation was that it had to have a bench seat and that was OK with me because it was the styling I liked . It had the 351 4v , gold with Brown Vinyl roof and every option offered even a Dealer installed Left rear power antenna which I thought was cool. He said it would be mine once i got out of school and got a job . That never happened Because it was to much car for Him , so he traded it for a '73 Maverick 4 Door with a Luxury package and a 302 V8 ( rare ) . Needless to say I was disappointed because I never got to drive it .😢
Bench seats are better anyway especially with a cute snuggle bunny along
Yes and no, because with the bucket seats my lady and I could crawl over the console, on to that low secluded back seat 😁
I had one of these but lost it in the blizzard of 78". Still miss it big time. I used to blow the doors off GTO's on the weekends. Always knew it was a sleeper.
I don't care what anyone says, I have even since my 70s childhood I've been madly in love with just the 72 model Gran Torino Sport. It's just something about the way it's sculpted. And especially the front of it. The way the grill sits inside the bumper line and slightly lower than the headlights. And the way the hood drops down from the fender crowns. It's just perfect in every way and then 73 happened and they lost me.
The 1972 model year was THE BEST styled Torino/Gran Torino. I love that front end.
I do too. it has the LTD/Galaxie 500 look.
Remember the 75 Starskey and Hutch Torino with the Nike sneaker swoosh
I remember one near a bus stop from grade school. We rode by it for two years. Though I don't think it ever moved from the carport where it was parked.
Yep that's the striped tomato alright
Loved that car with the stripe.
💯
There are a few Starsky and Hutch Torino replicas here in the U.K there is a guy who owns one near where I live, i saw it parked up in town a while ago and I was tempted to slide across the bonnet and pull out a cap gun lol 😁
1970-1972 Torinos are some of my favorite Fords. Someday....
And thanks for another stellar video. Yours are some of the best on RUclips.
The 1972 Gran Torino Sport is a great riding vehicle that can really move with the right engine modifications. I own a 72 model with the optional "Q" code 351CJ and 4 speed toploader. The Sport model does well at car shows because they are different and you rarely ever see them at shows. The body on frame construction makes for a smooth ride and good rigidity for drag racing. I get no wheel hop when I launch as the factory competition suspension does a good job of keeping the tires planted. The coil springs are also an advantage over the leaf springs of the previous model. The cleveland engine can really be a great performer, on par with the big blocks all while using the factory 4v heads. Bob Glidden proved it in the 70s that the cleveland was the engine to beat in pro-stock. My car has not been on the road since 2004, but when it was, there was not one time when I had it out on the street that I did not get a thumbs up or someone wanting to buy it. They are honestly rare at this point. I can't remember that last time that I spotted a "Q" code 4 speed 72 for sale on FB marketplace or Ebay. I see 69-71 Cobra Jet cars for sale all the time on those platforms. If you want something different yet enjoyable, find a 72 Torino.
I had one just like it,351CJ. I bought it in 75 , great car!
I think the styling was ahead of the others in its class
The new cars just don't have any character.
Of course they do.
It’s just that you’re not with it, old man.
@@Bartonovich52 "Whipper-snapper!"
Well that's because everyone want a bland and boring SUV, you know.
That's cause there beer can metal plastic junk and they all look the same no car today has its,own style
@@KTJohnsonkidThunder
Folks
Most cars in every era are boring as they are meant to be mass production, low cost and simple cars.
When the Gran Torino was introduced, there were plenty of bland cars around, though a factor in the 70s was the regulation over emissions, fuel, etc.
I'd say that the 70s was a bad decade as the cars were muzzled by regulation and also because boards felt the pressure to wind down the horsepower war and focus more on practicality and even safety.
Interestingly, I think that cars in 2019 are now interesting (I mean if you don't buy a Hyundai or something) and there is a lot of choices in performance cars now.
I had a yellow one like you showed, best car I ever owned. It took almost every car that challengd it, no problem. I sure do miss it😢
I hit the like button before a word came out of his mouth. Love the 72 GT. Best stance, front look with 72 grille, and overall look of the Torino family.
What a fantastic video. Keep up the great work
Long be with the "60's and early 70's" days when automobiles were designed, built and powered with passion and with brains!!!!
Exactly mate.
Not to mention that people can work on em as well without any Electronic gizmos like you see in Modern vehicles today.
One of my dad's friends had one of these with the 4 speed. I loved riding in that car.
Fantastic video one of the best I've ever seen on RUclips in my 30 years you guys really know what you're talking about salute
Great stuff! I’m always excited to see a new OCM vid.
But that crooked door trim at 3:25 is bothering my OCD 🤣
The visibility of the fastback was abismal. I backed into a '68 charger and didn't even see it! This WAS a beautiful car, though.
Stephen Smith, Assoc AIA, MBA ....So it was YOU !!!💪
Those body coloured side mirrors were gorgeous. Should’ve used them.
They're called mirrors. You use them when they are properly adjusted to help you when you're backing. No remote backing camera on these '72's!
Donald Trump is a Wonderful Man - Translation?
I have a '69 Torino fastback that is worse for rear visibility. The side mirrors are almost useless because of the way the rear quarters rise up. Backing up is a real challenge.
Wonderful video! I had one with a 351 Cleveland 4 barrel, fastback with vinyl top. So much fun.
I just acquired one of these! It was sitting on someone's property, my fiance and I made a deal (traded our '67 Cougar XR7 for it) and took it home. Been spending all our time in the garage since then. I've been getting plenty of footage so I can put together a restoration video. Stoked!
I saw, worked on, drove and enjoyed many of these but never saw one with a 429. But I did see a. '72 Montego Brougham non GT with a 429. The 429 CJ was gone in 1972 but the 351CJ rocked till 1974 despite low compression. The back end looked like a earlier Chevelle but the side profile was superb!
Oh what a fine machine!! Lov to hav one for daily driver !!
Amen. But we will not find one. Thank to clinton in the 90 and obama in 2009 has all that was left destory.
Grandpa had a yellowish gold with red stripe 72 Gran Torino Sport. I remember him and I out in the pasture rounding up the cows with it! I was 8 and having the time of my life! Man did we get air! No wonder the frame cracked. Those were the days, good times. Miss you gramps!
My first car was a 1973 Ford Gran Torino Sport. It had a 351 Cleveland (2BBL). I loved that car. This is a great video and I appreciate every second of it. Keep up the great work. PLEASE!!!
I seem to remember a 1972 Gran Torino being used in the movie *"Gran Torino"* starring Clint Eastwood.
Yep and in one of the Fast and Furious movies
get off of my lawn!
One of the best lines from the movie. :)
Wasn't his older?
@@waynes.2983 No sir, it was a '72.
Have you guys done an episode on the Mercury Montego? It was very similar to the Ford Gran Torino, and also had the cool looks of that era.
72 and 73 Montego GT please.
@@markg7030 Yes, and '69 and '70 Montego please!!
It was called the Montego GT. It also was very stylish. The Montego GT replaced the Cyclone and Cyclone GT with the impressive gunfight grille flanked by concealed headlamps from '70 and '71.
@@larryhawkins3294 The styling was very impressive, and unique, considering that it was a twin of the Torino.
David Pearson, anyone?
Thanks for mentioning the switch to more realistic HP ratings. The horsepower available in cars did drop in the early 70's, but not as dramatically as many people think. Another source of the theory that there was such a dramatic loss of HP was the elimination of most of the high compression options.
I had the 72 Grand Sport In Red. I ran it in a demolition Derby in Indianapolis. Early 70's Fords were looked down upon in the mid 1980's when I did it. Man I'm kicking myself now. LOL
friend of mine had one yellow with a black stripe looked like a bumblebee going the road with black interior.
Well, Dodge had a REAL Super Bee with yellow and black
Mine had the reflective stripe from front, yellow to orange to red at the back. Looked good on the silver! Great effect at night!
Unlike the contemporary muscle cars, Torino’s stayed cheap. You can find good examples for them well under 20,000 all day. The 72 sports roof is the rarest and most desirable of the bunch (excluding the late 60s Torino talladaga and cobra jet cars) and it warms my heart when I see one floating around for sale.
The word floating you used sums it up perfectly, at this time the Torino was a bloated mess.
And unfortunately at this time they we’re never considered a muscle car, heavy and not enuf horsepower to to use on the street
Nobody really wants these cars. I bought several muscle cars in early 90s running, driving for one 2 two paychecks. All my Chevrolets that I sold 10 years ago sold QUICK and for good money. My 72 Torino sport was for sale for a year and only one person asked about it. It was a good running driving car that only needed paint and I only got 800 out of it .
Dad took us car shopping in 1972. He finally bought a 4 door Gran Torino. I bugged and bugged him to buy the sport but to no avail. I also loved the 72 Mach1 Mustang... although I knew there was little hope of bringing that home . The Gran Torino was a solid reliable car and I learned to drive in it. My mother did complain of the famous ford sticking throttle and sure enough, when I drove it at her request I found the throttle did indeed stick after it was depressed. The car scared her after that especially in wintertime.
I bought a 1972 base Torino brand new. The base Torino has a less cluttered front end. When ordered separately, all the performance options on the Gran Torino Sport were available on the base Torino. The options on my car included: the 4-speed trans with a real Hurst linkage, 351 CJ engine, comp-suspension, different rear-end ratio and full instrument panel. Not ordered: air conditioning, power steering, and carpet (just rubber mats). The 1972 351 CJ was one of the few cars of the era without a smog pump. The car was the definition of a "sleeper" . Sold it for a Mustang in 1990 after 18 years and 419,000 miles (original engine, the heads never came off).
Imagine a modern Torino, I mean ford did a heck of a job designing the new GT and mustang
Market is not there today.
Ford was considering reintroducing the Torino a few years back but for some reason it never came to fruition.
@@xyrzmxyzptlk1186 The name has no meaning to the market today. No more than Focus, Fairmount, or Merkur do today. The sedan and mid sized market is gone to Toyota, Honda and etc. The over 40 crowd is not buying a new Torino. And the under 40 are on Uber.
WALTERBROADDUS - The 2019 Ford Grand Torino concept car came with a 435 HP V8 and looked pretty darn good to boot. The market’s flooded with sporty cars like that at present so they delayed the release. It could still happen at some point, even if you don’t think so. Check it out online. 🚘
Mercury brought back the Montego name but in a sedan n it didn't do so well.
I remember watching starsky and hutch and everyone wanted a striped tomato
That's why I didn't watch it. Still think it's ugly
@@michaelconlin5614 And slow
@@michaelconlin5614 so even though you don't like it and didn't watch it you bothered to watch this and comment because we all needed your negative opinion right?
Check out the 72 Torino in the car chase from the movie "Fear is the Key" , I think it's way better than the chase in "Bullit".
I think Michael Conlin was making a statement that many of us have in that the '73 model is a big disappointment lacking the beauty of the '72 car. It's actually what our author here intended to point out to us or he would have titled the video ...The Ford Gran Torino Sport... instead of ...The 1972 Ford Gran Torino Sport... This video was more about enjoying art than anything else, and I thank Old Car Memories for the approach selected here.
I really enjoy your content, and find myself agreeing with your choice of cars. My dad bought a 1972 Ford Torino, which surprised me since he was a Pontiac guy. I found the 72 Torino was one of the best looking cars of the 70's and had decent performance for its time. Thanks for your channel, its one of my favorite channels on RUclips.
I had one of these...Pumpkin yellow with a brown vinyl top. Beautiful! I loved it 'till it started vapor locking. Never did get that fixed. Michael
I always liked the 70-71 better, and saw the changes to the 72 as unnecessary fat. By itself this later car looks OK, and far ahead of the GM “colonnade” intermediates. I know GM delayed them to 1973 because of the Nixon “price freeze” and the 72’s would have looked better without the battering ram bumpers, but this Ford is still prettier. The Mopar “Fuselage” line had the cleanest lines but look rather bland compared to this.
I thought the 66-67 Fairlane had style same with the 68-69 Torino fastbacks
I owned a 68 Torino with a 390ci, loved that car. And although I agree the styling of cars in the 68-72 era were some of the best looking cars ever made, what’s being built today has it’s own place in auto history. I now own a 2020 Mustang GT, what a car!!!
351 Cleveland man , most of our vehicles in Australia throughout the 70’s were equipped with 351 Clevelands and a de-stroked 302 Cleveland as well .... I’ve got one in my 79 F-100 the Gran Torino is legendary for sure most to Clint Eastwood !
Towards the end of the Torino lineage was the Gran Torino Elite, then the LTD 2.
Yes Sir
American automobiles didn't start using unleaded gasoline until 1975
John Bartholomew Yeah that was the first year for cats. As I recall, they went to hardened valve seats in 71 because they knew unleaded was coming.
It's easy to forget how well styled this Torino was, thanks for posting.
It was in a 1970 Torino that I took my Driver's Ed! What a car to learn to drive in, oh my! Even if it was a kind of base or mid-range model, it had a V-8, and automatic trans, and went like scared rabbit! Our instructor INSISTED that we STOMP on the throttle when getting onto the superhighway in the "acceleration lane", so that we would merge into traffic at speed, causing the least interruption possible to traffic. Pretty sure that it was the color of orange shown here on the Torino GT at the beginning of the vid. A thrilling car to drive at 15 years of age!
Get off my lawn 😁
Beat me to it.
The fairlane 500 GTA is a beautiful car. So awesome. Amazing it wasnt a seller
The 66 Fairlane GTA had a high base price. Most people didn't realize it was priced so high because the 390 V8 and Selectshift automatic was standard equipment. The 2 Dr Hardtop was about $3043 and the convertible was about $3286.
This is my favorite video on your RUclips channel I believe.. great work!! plz try n do a Ford ranchero video Max appreciate you fam
Thank you for this I love your videos this is my all-time favorite car!
unleaded was not manditory until 1975 when cars were built with catalytic converters.
I thought they changed the valve seats when unleaded was incorporated, I'm sure there was some learning curve going on
Manufactures were told to get ready for unleaded fuel in 1970 to start with 1971 engines. Lower compression was the major change in engines which lowered power.
@@markg7030 yes but it wasn;t manitory.
@@peterhogan9537 Right: The 71 GM ads all stressed "low lead" and also "regular gasoline" (as opposed to needed premium). Much of the Ford and Chrysler changeover lagged until the 72 models, but GM went 100% regular gas (low compression) for 71.
I had a 72 Grand Torino super sport, I had it painted like Starsky and Hutch's car It was stolen two weeks later never to be found.
I had 2, à 74 Gran Torino 4drs ( 302) and a 73 Gran Torino sport, which was born with a 351Cleveland, but their was a 351Windsor when i bought It. They were great cars, miss them.
My all time favorite car. I had one way back in 89 when I was 20, and another 10 years ago. I was so happy to see a movie come out that shone a spotlight on it!
It's like the girl in high school who wasn't homecoming queen but had the sexest hips and a personality to die for.
Amen to that kubota haaa n got the lips too like the size of a 390 tbird motor
Requirement of unleaded gas only cars was 1975 and not 1972 as you claim.
Wait a minute-
Unleaded has was not mandatory for American cars until 1975-that’s when catalytic converters were introduced-
The reduction in horsepower was due to smog equipment being installed on these cars as well as insurance pressure that made manufacturers reduce horsepower on ALL cars made during this time
The US mandated 91 octane gas for 1972. Unleaded came later. That ment from 1972 model year, 10.7 :1 compression ratios dropped like flies in the frost to about 7.9:1 actual on some of the Cleveland and 400 Ford engines. The de Tomaso used the 351C 4v, and for 1972 its Compression dropped from 11:1 to just 8.2:1 with power down to 248 hp from 330 hp the European 71s had. OldCarMemories is 100% correct. Planned unleaded gas would reduce gasoline consumption at the refinery but increase gas consumption on the car and two kinds of emission nitrides of oxygen was the reason for the octane drop requirement drop for 72.
@@deanstevenson6527 OldCarMemories is still incorrect. He said unleaded gas not lower octane gas. Unleaded gas mandate happened on 1975 model year cars and not 1972 model year cars as OldCarMemories states in this video.
Wait a minute-
The higher the compression ratio, the higher the octane needed to resist the predetonation (knocking), so I’m not sure about that octane regulation you’re talking about-
I haven’t seen any reference to it in my research-
Do you have any???
When I was 18 I bought a Gran Torino sport 351cj 4spd. Then got a Gran Torino 302 auto donor car, swapped the engine and transmission. 20 years later, I still have it. Not in show shape, but still fun and beautiful. It was a poor kids muscle car, couldn’t afford a GTO or Charger. Torino was 8k less and in driving condition compared to the others at the time.
Awesome video thanks so much for taking the time to post bud
Although I am a Chev fan and a teenager at the time I could not find any thing Rong w this car I whould have killed for that but I'm not a murderer so I never got one 🤢
Why is there no 1:18 scale die cast car available of the '71 Torino? So irritating for collectors!
Back in the late '70's I transplanted a 351C 4V from a '72 Gran Torino Sport into my 1969 Mustang Mach I. (The Gran Torino Sport was a wrecked junkyard find, with only about 49K miles on it.) The Mach I came with the 351 Windsor 2V engine. It did pretty good, but I always wanted the Cleveland 4-barrel engine. (The 1970 Mach I was available with the Cleveland 4-barrel engine, but I don't believe the 1969's had that option.) The 351C 4V engine in my Mach I actually lacked a little pick-up on the very low end compared to the Windsor engine, but once it wound up a bit (around 3,000 rpm) it would scream from then on. I think the low-end torque was lower because the 4-barrel Cleveland had enormous intake valves for that size engine - designed for higher RPM output. There wasn't much that would touch that car once the RPMs were up. I sure miss it (I sold in in 1983 if I remember right).
My friend had a green one, I had a 75, and later a Starsky and Hutch version. That thing could slide around a corner and NEVER loose control. No other car I've ever driven could slide corners like that...miss those days. So fun.