The Ford Engine Association offered 1972 Ford Gran Torino as an intermediate machine. Although marketed as a conventional family van, it was too co-opted by performance enthusiasts as customized musclecars. The Gran Torino was the top trim equable of the Torino, which debuted as its own nameplate in 1970 after spending eight agedness as a Fairlane trim exact and subseries. The Starsky & Hutch television panoply in the mid-1970s popularized the Gran Torino.
Under the Hood
The design year 1972 was not a bully year for the Gran Torino. Stricter federal emission administration standards and higher insurance premiums led to weaker engines. The design engine for the Gran Torino was a 95 horsepower, 250-cubic inch, inline six-cylinder engine. It featured a 3.68-inch Muzzle and 3.91-inch stroke, an 8:1 compression ratio and single-barrel carburettor. Options included a six-way power bench seat, power steering, knitted vinyl and cloth trim, map light, a Rallye sport package with sport-style trim "Color Glow" metallic paint schemes and "Laser Tape" stripes. A tow package also was available. Ford produced 305,124 Gran Torinos in 1972. An optional 140-horsepower, 302-cubic inch V8 powered the estate car. The straight-six and V-8 engines featured throw iron blocks and heads. A three-speed instruction or Ford's Cruise-O-Matic automatic transmission transmitted the faculty from the engine to the wheels. A Hurst floor shifter four-speed handbook was available for the V8s.
Dimensions
Ford offered the Gran Torino as a two-door fastback coupe, a two-door hardtop, a four-door sedan and estate car. The two-door coupes and hardtops sat on a 114-inch wheelbase and measured 203.7 inches stretched. The four-door sedan and estate car featured a 118-inch wheelbase. The sedan was 211.3 inches enduring and the estate car measured 215.1 inches from bumper to bumper. Curbside weight ranged from approximately 3,370 lbs. to 4,042 lbs. depending on the imitation. The wideness of all three models was approximately 79 inches with the heighth ranging from 52.6 inches for the coupe, hardtop and sedan to 55 inches for the estate car. The hardtop and sedan featured a fuel vehicle holding 23 gallons, while the estate car's vehicle carried 20 gallons.
Chassis
The 1972 Gran Torino was equipped with front CD brakes and rear drums. The front suspension consisted of an independent wishbone course with coil springs and anti-roll bar. The rear featured a animate axle configuration and coil springs. The final rear axle ratio was 3.00:1.
Features and Production
The model year 1972 marked a major re-styling of the Gran Torino. The straight lines and wide narrow grille from 1971 gave way to a rounder, softer looking Torino with its beefy "fish mouth" grille. The car was heavier and bigger, but the convertible was no longer available for 1972. Elsewhere were the 351 Cleveland V8s offered in 1971 with 285 or 300 horsepower. In their community was a gutted 351 Cleveland generating 275 horsepower with a 4-inch Muzzle and 3-inch stroke. The optional four-barrel carb 351 "Cobra Jet" was all the more available, on the other hand generated equitable 248 horsepower. The Cobra Jet featured a dual-point distributor, exclusive intake manifold, four-bolt leading bearing caps and chief dampers and valve springs.
