1972 Ford Gran Torino Squire

429 V8 and loaded up. Says it's a Squire but the wood was removed prior to repaint. This one certainly merits more pics.

http://chattanooga.craigslist.org/cto/4288926999.html

 

Maybe I'm just too much of a purist, but I absolutely hate it when they "delete" the woodgrain on a repaint. I understand why it's done -- it's expensive to replace even if decent reproduction Di-Noc is available -- but I still don't like it.

While you see a lot (relatively speaking) of other mfrs' wagons with muscle car front ends, stripes, etc. (how many "Chevelle SS wagons" are on ebay right now?), I don't think there are many Torino wagons with Gran Torino Sport front clips running around. It might be interesting, buy why can't customizer do this with the original non-woodgrained wagons? There are just as many plain Gran Torino wagons left as Squires, aren't there?

The other mod that makes no sense to me is the switch to Saginaw steering. It's true that Ford installed Saginaw power steering on full-sized Fords, Mercurys, and Lincolns in the '70s, but, as far as I know, they didn't do so on the mid-sized cars. I have had a lot of Fords with the Ford power steering system and I've never any particular trouble with this steering system. Is there supposed to be a huge difference it performance between the two systems?

I'd venture to guess that one of these with the 429 is pretty rare; I don't believe I've ever encountered one. I'd expect that most had a 351 of one description or another.

 

I agree about deleting the wood. The wood is what makes a Squire a Squire.

 

I guess our 72 Gran Torino was just a Gran Torino. As much as I like wood on the sides without wood like mine was cleaner and when old needing restored much cheaper to work on.
I really like the looks of a 1972 Gran Torino.

 

This is one of our member's, unlovedford, wagons. He recently acquired a base '72 Torino wagon.

http://www.stationwagonforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=27895

 

Ford did put the Saganaw steering into the mid- as well as full-sized cars. When I had to replace the steering box on my 78 Thunderbird, I had to know which it had. Having driven both systems, there is really no difference to be felt at all. About the same ratio, the same lock, and the same feel.

It seems to me that this one needs to be kept as close to original as possible, since it is a rare one. I'd love to see the last line of the Marti report! There can't have been that many with all these options built in 72, and there certainly can't be many left!

 

Thanks. I checked my Ford Shop Manuals -- something I should have done in the first place -- and found you're quite right that Ford installed Saginaw components in some mid-sized cars. However, it appears that they did not use any Saginaw components in the Torino in 1972, although they were using the Saginaw steering gear in mid-sized cars by '75.

I agree about keeping it close to original. Unfortunately, it will take some bucks to return this car to true Squire status. The Gran Torino Squires used the translucent transfer. I don't know if anyone reproduces this. The best bet might be to use the process they use to woodgrain the metal dashboards of 30s & 40s cars. I had this done for the surround moldings on my '70 Country Squire, and it was very successful.

 

Someone liked this Gran Torino Squire enough to buy it, because it apparently is now gone. Ad deleted by author.

 

WTF is up with the four all-terrain tires on this wagon??? How dumb is that?

 

http://chattanooga.craigslist.org/cto/5704418125.html

 

I remember this one in it's former glory.

Quote.....
This is a complete car that ran and drove perfectly (past tense by the looks of it now, mite just as well have added, "It used to look good") . I started detailing everything under the hood and removed the front clip to install a Sport clip. It will need to be finished to be road-worthy

Detailing?? is that the new term for I smashed it and now I'm cobbling it back together with a front clip from various cars?


Wow, amazing detailing!.................



$6900....FIRM!

 

https://chattanooga.craigslist.org/cto/d/1972-ford-gran-torino-squire/6314452989.html

 

Part of the ad text:
" I also started swapping over a Gran Torino Sport front clip to add some sportiness to the car. That has not been completed and will need final assembly by the new owner (basically the header panel and grill assembly). All original parts that were removed are still in my shed and will go with the car. "

I'm a bit thrown off by this. As far as I know, the only difference between a '72 Gran Torino front end, and a Gran Torino SPORT front end, is the hood. Why would he need to collect an entire front clip (fenders / hood / header panel, etc...)?

Here's a '72 full line brochure page showing a Gran Torino Sport:

 

Unless it was a base Torino.

 

....But it's not - it's a Gran Torino with the appropriate 'fish mouth' front end.