1972 Ford Gran Torino Hardtop

In 1972, the Torino was redeveloped from scratch.  The new Torino emphasized the long bonnet and the cola bottle design more than ever before.  The most radical change was a big grille on the Gran Torino.  He looks like a great killer whale, says the car journalist Tom McCahill.  The Gran Torino has chrome surroundings around the headlights.  The front looked more aggressive, the windshield had a 60-degree angle.  The A pillar and the roof were thinner.  The rear bumper seemed beefier, the thin, rectangular tail lights are edged.  The windows were frameless and the small triangular windows were no longer installed.  Inside the Torino new door handles were installed, which do not protrude so far.  The model selection has been reduced to 9.  The convertible was completely discontinued, the sedan and the sedan without B-pillar was replaced by the sedan with the so-called “pillared hardtop”.  Practically the appearance of a sedan without B-pillar, but with built-in B-pillar.  The name “pillared hardtop” was a pure marketing story.  The models without B-pillar no longer met certain safety requirements.  The doors were frameless.  The rest remained, including the “SportsRoof”, so the notchback “Torino” remained the basic model, the “Torino 500” was replaced by the “Gran Torino”.  The Brougham was no longer a model of its own, but a variant of the Gran Torino.  The “Torino GT” was also abolished and replaced by the “Gran Torino Sport”.  The Torino and Gran Torino were available as coupe and sedan.  The Gran Torino Sport was offered as a coupe and coupe with fastback.  The station wagon was available as “Torino”, “Gran Torino” and as “Gran Torino Squire”.  The Cobra models were discontinued because the Torino should be more luxury and not performance.

For consignment, a Gran Torino with its 2 door hardtop styling, original paint,  black vinyl roof, and original interior, and correct 14" wheels.  A 1 owner car with 84,274 title verified actual miles and always garage kept, this is a stellar runner and driver.   This 2-year design is the 1st of its ilk to grace our Hallowed Halls and looks just fab doing so.

Exterior
Exceptionally sleek and well-proportioned factory straight steel body panels with well minded gaps are wrapped in the original paint application of Light Blue.   We see original badging which displays well as does the chrome which has some staining, and brite work which remains in nice condition.  Overall, the paint presents well but does have stone chips and scratches on the lower body panels and could use a paint correction to really stand out.  The factory remote controlled driver's mirror adorns the door and the slightly raised center and peaked hood adds to the redesign look to the front end along with the 1 year only eggcrate grille and integrated enormous front bumper.  Crisp racy lines on the flanks are complemented by the rear exaggerated coke bottle bulge quarter panels.  Wide stainless beltline moldings are set off by a brightwork highlighted black rub strip just above and a clean full black vinyl roof shows off the formal roof styling as it flows down to meet the trunk lid and just below is the body integrated chrome bumper with inset oval tail lighting.  We note a few areas of bubbling under the top as the base of the rear glass, but otherwise the top remains showroom fresh.  14-inch steel wheels with standard issue Ford crested turbine wheel covers wear Hankook thin whitewall radials in 215/70R14 format from the 35th week of 2017 and these are roughly the same width as the factory ones this car would have been born with. 

Interior
A swing of the door, and we are met with a blue molded vinyl covered door panel with a chromed spear trim separating the upper and lower stitched embossments.  Manual window cranks and a toggle for the sport mirrors is also noted.  Moving inside we sit on the original medium blue vinyl split back bench up front, and a full bench in the rear, both in excellent condition and near perfectly preserved.  A clutter free medium blue dash with all its factory parts, knobs, and gauges fronts the split bench, and is also in excellent crack free, fade free condition.  The factory AM radio still resides within its factory opening the dash   Below, the original blue carpet covers the floor, and has very little fading and staining.  The headliner remains nice and tight, with no markings or tears.  Let's just say for this interior, blue is beautiful.  

Drivetrain
A lift of the long hood and we are met with a very clean and shiny engine bay.  All buttoned up, the factory correct 351ci Cleveland V8 with a 2-barrel carburetor on top under the factory Ford Blue single snout air cleaner assembly greets us with a mechanical smile.  More Ford Blue graces the valve covers and block, and we note a wonderful patina that only comes with age and careful use gracing the engine bay.   A correct FMX 3-speed automatic transmission is on the back of this mill and drives a Ford 9” 2.75 rear.

Undercarriage
A nicely preserved rust-free environment under here with a strong frame, and mar free floorboards.  A newer single exhaust system is presented with a nearly new factory style muffler.  Independent coil spring suspension up front works with power disc brakes and in the rear is a 4-link suspension system along with power drum brakes.  A well-preserved undercarriage with minimal surface rust, however, we do note a leak coming from the pinion seal of the rear axle.

Drive-Ability
She fired right up and the 8 cylinders propelled us on to the test track and more!  It's a great cruiser with a nice smooth ride and plenty of power.  Good brakes are in order and bring us to a bias free panic stop and steering was a breeze as it is power actuated.  All functions were working during our trips around the test track save for the clock that refused to keep time.

1 Owner, well maintained, clean, rust free, a beautiful original interior, and some power under the hood, you are ready to put a tiger in your tank and burn some rubber...nuff said!

2A30H292014

2-1972
A-Atlanta, GA Assy Plant
30-Gran Torino 2 Door Hardtop
H-351ci V8 2bbl
292014-Sequential Unit Number

WARRANTY TAG

BODY 65D-Gran Torino 2 Door Hardtop
COLOR 3B-Light Blue
TRIM CBA-Medium Blue Vinyl
DATE 27E-May 27th
DSO 16-Philadelphia
AXLE 2-Ford 9" 2.75 Conventional
TRANS X-FMX Automatic

Classic Auto Mall is a 336,000-square foot classic and special interest automobile showroom, featuring over 850 vehicles for sale with showroom space for up to 1,000 vehicles. Also, a 400 vehicle barn find collection is on display. This vehicle is located in our showroom in Morgantown, Pennsylvania, conveniently located just 1-hour west of Philadelphia on the I-76 Pennsylvania Turnpike. The website is www.classicautomall.com and our phone number is (888) 227-0914. Please contact us anytime for more information or to come see the vehicle in person.