I got a kick out of the license plate on today’s featured car: The tag reads OLD KAR. Indeed, after 50 years, this old Ford has earned that title. And after a long line of family ownership, it is being offered for sale by the grandson of the original owner.
The Pick of the Day is a 1974 Ford Gran Torino two-door hardtop listed for sale on ClassicCars.com by a private seller in LaGrange, Kentucky. (Click the link to view the listing) While the listing states that this is a Brougham, further inspection leads us to believe it is not. It does have the opera windows and skirts like a Brougham, however these were available options for the Gran Torino as well.
“The car was purchased new by my grandfather, passed on to my dad, and now me. Decided to let someone else enjoy it. Always garaged, rust-free, and 100% original condition,” the listing says.
The Torino model slotted initially as an upscale subseries version of the midsized Fairlane in 1968. It received a redesign in 1970 that incorporated a longer hood, a shortened decklid, and a more raked windshield. Those same basic elements carried through to another redesign in 1972, when the Torino lineup was assembled using three models: Torino, Gran Torino, and Gran Torino Sport. Later years brought changes that kept up with styling trends as well as evolving Federal safety regulations.
The sales brochure for Torino models from 1974 reads: “Sleek new Ford Torinos. Nearly as large inside as the big cars. With ample room for six – including vacation luggage. And smaller-car handling ease plus mid-size economics.” Ford summarized the car’s attributes with: “Everything makes sense: comfort, great looks, size, and value.” There were 14 exterior colors available that year.
Showing just 86,600 miles on the odometer, today’s feature 1974 Gran Torino appears to have survived a half-century in miraculously unmodified condition. Even the steel wheels and hubcaps remain installed after all these years. The car is finished in Medium Ivy Yellow with a black vinyl top, and the period-correct look is completed via a pair of opera windows as well as wheel skirts at the rear.
Power comes from a carbureted 351cid V8 mated to a three-speed automatic transmission. The seller says it’s “all in very good condition.”
While not a “Sport” model, this is undoubtedly one of the cleaner third-generation Torinos we have seen in recent years. Give it a closer look if you have ever considered one of these!
The asking price is $15,900 for this classy looking OLD KAR.
To view this listing on ClassicCars.com, jet on over to Pick of the Day.
Someone’s gonna buy it and immediately paint it red with a white stripe…
Sure hope not
Amazing how you can ignore the engine bay when a car looks that good. A ten minute engine wash would make a lot of difference.
Pretty sure that’s not a Brougham, rather a regular Gran Torino with the optional vinyl roof. NO Brougham badges on the door cards and the plain black vinyl and lack of woodgrain on the dash indicate the lower trim level. Also, rear fender skirts are definitely not factory nor is the clear plastic dishwashing soap container tied to the vacuum canister on the LH side of the engine compartment.
It’s a Gran Torino but it’s not a Brougham. the Brougham has a NICE interior, not these cheap plain seats, and also has trim across the back panel between the tail lights. Among other things. The regular GRAN Torino had opera windows but there the resemblance ends.
This is the Canada brochure but my buddy had a (US) Brougham and it was like this, not the featured car.
https://oldcarbrochures.org/Canada/Ford-Canada/Ford-Canada%20Cars/1974-Ford-Torino-Brochure/slides/1974_Ford_Torino_Cdn-06-07.html
Correct. NOT a Brougham.
Thanks for the clarification! Any buyer is encouraged to do his or her due diligence, including confirming equipment with the seller. I wrote the story based upon the information provided to our classifieds website. Beautiful car nonetheless!
Thank you for all the comments.
It seems the seller thinks it’s a Brougham but, as you have pointed out, it is missing some of the Brougham hallmarks, such as the fancy interior. The opera windows and skirts seems to nudge it into appearing as a Brougham, but we see both were options per the brochure.