For 1974, the final body of the Torino, the one best known for being the Starsky and Hutch car, appeared. Gone was the body-hugging rear bumper and in it’s place was the massive rear chromed railroad tie, like the one that had taken over the nose the year prior. There’s no point in discussing stock power or performance, because there really wasn’t much of either. It was a large car that moved, the end. But there is something special about today’s Rough Start find. Most people think of the Striped Tomato Torino’s nose, the dual headlights, the grille with the turn signals mounted inside. That’s the Gran Torino grille. Do you remember what the basic, bare-bones Torino grille looks like? It’s the full-width unit that has the headlights incorporated that first appeared in 1973, with the first vestige of the corner marker light that would become a Ford hallmark a few years later. This was the taxi nose cone, the stripper treatment, and ordinarily it wouldn’t mean squat, except for one thing: the movie “Hooper”.
The bones are there: 302, C4 automatic, 9-inch rear. All you need is a few minutes with a sander, some blue paint (the stripe is up to you) and some of those killer wheels, which look like chromed reverse wheels from what I can see. Make it monstrous and have fun with it. It certainly beats another Striped Tomato replica on the streets, and for $2,000, would be well within the budget to duplicate visually…or leave the visuals alone, just find a set of deeper-dished Cragars and get to work on that 302!
Craigslist Link: 1974 Ford Torino
Sounds like a stupid question, BUT, why waste a two door to clone a four door? EVERY type Torino got Starsky and Hutchized, why not this one too?
http://www.nocarnofun.com/the-1974-ford-gran-torino-specs/
Mainly because like the General Lee Charger, there’s a ton of them. And with the Hooper build, you don’t really have to stick to the script so easily. Just add a rollcage, a stomping engine and the ability to swing the tail wide…which, last time I rode in a Gran Torino, was easier than it should have been to do.
O.K.
https://www.mikesdecals.com/purolator-wood-brothers-1974-ace-p-2085.html
Been done but not that much.
Just for the record, the bare bones full width grill Torino was first made in 1972.