The Starsky And Hutch Car: Was The Ford Gran Torino Worthy Of The Silver Screen? (2024)

Mustang GT Coupe

Make

Ford

Segment

Coupe

In the world of TV, there have been quite a few iconic legends that graced the silver screen. There was the Ferrari 308 from Magnum P.I. The GMC Vandura from The A-Team, and the modified 1982 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am from Knight Rider, to name a few. The Starsky and Hutch Gran Torino was one of the paramount examples of '70s TV cars.

Originally planned to be a green and white Camaro, the bright red Ford Gran Torino nonetheless created a buzz among American muscle car enthusiasts. Suddenly, it became a cool statement to have one parked in your driveway, especially if you were one of the lucky owners of one of the 1,305 'Starsky and Hutch special editions Ford produced.

Let's look into the specifics of the Iconic 'Striped Tomato,' as Paul Michael Glaser called it, and unveil the history behind it.

Why A Ford Gran Torino?

The Ford Gran Torino was chosen as the iconic car for "Starsky & Hutch" by the show's creator, William Blinn, and producers, Spelling Goldberg Productions, because it embodied the essence of the 1970s and the characters of Detectives David Starsky (Paul Michael Glaser) and Kenneth "Hutch" Hutchinson (David Soul).

Instead of a conventional four-door sedan as a patrol car, its bold, sporty design, including a muscular appearance and fastback roofline, perfectly matched the action-packed scenes in the series.

Its association with the Ford brand added to its appeal. Moreover, the Ford Gran Torino was durable, making it ideal for stunts.

Built For The Show

During the run of the show, roughly ten different Torinos were used. Among them were stunt cars driven by stunt drivers and a 'Hero' car or two. The stunt cars, as you'd expect, had to pull off the numerous slides, turns, chases, etc. To do that, the cars had to be modified. The most common engine used in these cars was the 351ci (5.8-liter) V8 Windsor engine, but the engine selection went up to the 460 cu-in V8. Unfortunately, despite the cubic inches, they produced a mere 148-226 hp. Very often, sounds from older, more powerful Ford V8s were dubbed over the show to make it seem more intense.

Modifications made to the cars were wider custom 5-spoke wheels and tires, roll cages, racing harnesses, fire suppression systems, chrome exhaust tips, air shocks, upgraded suspension, a roll cage, and the white stripe across the car dubbed the 'Vector stripe.'

Amongst the 1974-1976 range of Torinos used, there were 'Hero Cars', which were intended to be driven by Paul and David. These were not used for stunts or chases.

What Influence Did The Show Have On Ford’s Sales?

After the show aired, there were fans who obviously wanted their own 'Zebra 3,' and Ford obliged. Ford produced 1,305 special edition 'Starsky & Hutch' Gran Torinos in the spring of 1976. It had air conditioning and disc brakes.

Ford noticed a definite spike in sales of the Gran Torino after the show started airing, even before the limited edition model was introduced.

In today's market, there have been a few original Starsky and Hutch special editions sold at auction to private collectors. In 2014, one of the actual cars used in the show was sold for $40,000. That's a bit low, considering the provenance.

The Reboot

The great success of the 4-season TV series in the 70s led to the decision to create a movie. In 2004, the Starsky and Hutch movie was released, 25 years after the TV series concluded.

It depicted the origin story of how Starsky and Hutch started working together, featuring Ben Stiller as Starsky and Owen Wilson as Hutch. As in the TV series, it follows them through the streets of the fictional 'Bay City' in California. The Iconic Gran Torino returned to the silver screen and played, as before, an integral role in the movie. The original actors, Paul and David made cameos in the movie.

Unfortunately, none of the original cars could be made available for the movie, so the picture coordinator ended up buying one of Ford's limited edition Gran Torinos.

Where are They Now?

In short, we aren't sure what happened to these cars. One of the original TV series cars can be found in Las Vegas because, after all, what cannot be found there?

The car now belongs to The Auto Collections, a garage that hosts some 800 unique cars at The Imperial Palace. However, there is another at the Hollywood Car Museum. Those that are left, however many that may be, are in the hands of the general public and car collectors.

Indeed, It Is Worthy

The 1976 Ford Gran Torino's prominence is a testament to its enduring legacy in American television and automotive history and culture, and it continues to be celebrated and admired by fans and car enthusiasts around the world 50 years later.

It has made appearances in various forms of media, including movies and music videos, even in a video game, as a homage to the original series. It remains a symbol of 1970s cop shows and has left an indelible mark on American pop culture.