In each and every line of vehicle that was available at the time that could be considered a muscle car in any way, shape or form, there is a point where you see the muscle die and the malaise take over. For Chrysler products, it’s the 1972 model year, when the Hemi and the 440-6 leave the building and the first vestiges of big bumpers takes over. For Camaro, it’s 1975…catalytic converters and the start of the Z28 package’s hiatus. Buick fell off of the muscle wagon pretty hard for 1973, while Pontiac did everything in their power to remain relevant even as things were going wrong inside the company. You can pick and choose to y0ur heart’s content and what I would consider the line is probably different from yours.
But the Ford Torino is unique, because I can’t think of another car that had a one-year perfect blend of both worlds. 1972 is a one-year-only setup…for 1973, the big chromed railroad tie made it to the front and the beginning of the slide that ended with the LTD II kicked off. But 1972…Ford got it right. You could get the big engines or you could focus on the plushness of the interior. You could get a wagon that could haul a 4×8 sheet of plywood in the back or you could get a Sport with the competition suspension, the Magnum 500 wheels, and the full instrumentation package. Meanwhile, Chrysler was sliding into the doldrums and Chevrolet had to postpone the new body style of their Chevelle a year due to the strikes.
Green on green with a black top, Torq-Thrusts and an air of modest bragging, this Gran Torino looks like the kind of ride that Dad would’ve treated himself to after securing that promotion he had wanted so badly and had been working so hard for. The wheels? Oh, they’re just fun. The 351M? It’s enough. Twenty bucks says that the air conditioning blows colder than the winds on the prairie in November, and that at Interstate speeds, there’s few other cars you’d rather be in.
I’ve always liked these.
If it had a 4 speed then you would be dealing with perfection!