1972 Ford Gran Torino

302 V8. Why the '74 front end? This wagon raises many questions.
Price seems way off, too.

http://losangeles.craigslist.org/sfv/cto/3920124309.html

 

It's not a $6800 wagon. It's a one-off, and you can tell it doesn't quite fit right. 1972 front frame horns are different from the subsequent 1973-1976 types. They would have had to weld on the frame bits from a newer model.

I've seen other atrocities like this in my time. Like a 1998+ Crown Victoria front clip on a 1992-1997 model CV. I think it looks OK, but it's obviously not right.

I think this wagon looks OK, but not $6800 worth of OK. Maybe $3500-$4000 if it drives right.

What I'd want to know, when was the front clip changed? Was it wrecked in the 70s and someone decided to make it look like the 74-76 models? Was it wrecked in the 90s and they couldn't FIND a '72 front clip to use? Was it wrecked a few months ago and the guy hacked up a perfectly good 74-76 to make this thing?

 

The '72 front was the absolute BEST looking Torino front. The '73 - '76 are downright frumpy and butt-ugly, by comparison, because of the DOT-required 5-mph bumpers.

In 1978, my little sister had a triple-white '72 Torino GT with the strobe stripe and the 15" Kelsey-Hayes five-spoke Magnum wheels, and with a 390 automatic. I loved that car!

 

Yup, I love the '72 front end, not as much as 70-71, but still love it. Don't understand why they would do this, unless they couldn't find a '72, so they made the '74 work. Which leads me to believe the front was wrecked at some point.

 

Or somebody wanted the original one-year-only '72 front end for themselves and took it off of this wagon...

BTW, the "fish mouth" front end was only available on Gran Torinos and above, lowly Torinos got a variation of what was to become the '74 - '76 noses, as seen here: http://forum.grantorinosport.org/base-model-or-gran-torino-front-end_topic6210.html

Dan

 

Looks like the average 73 to me, I'd say the seller put the wrong year down.

 

Not so, from the GrandTorinoSport.org website:
The attractive new grille on the Torino series is of dark argent, one‑piece corrosion resistant ABS plastic with egg crate motif and dual horizontal headlights.
All other models in the series are distinguished by a high series grille which has a light argent flattened oval design with bright leading edges. Bright headlamp doors and a distinctive hatch‑type hood design further enhance the appearance of Gran Torino models.

Link here: http://grantorinosport.org/72torino.htm

Dan

 

Dy'up..

72....



bace model 72...



73 model with wood.






Bace model 73

 

But apon looking closer, I'm wondering if it has a 75 grill on it..???

74/75 grill...... so wrong year listed or it got smucked once and got a latyer years nose......we'll never know. The side trim is correct for 72/73 though, on the one listed for sale.

 

Yep, I attached to wrong picture... A 73 not a 72.

Dan

 

He mentions in the ad that it has a '74 front end so he must know what he has. Frankly if it had the base '72 Torino front end the '74 doesn't look too bad in comparison.