1973 Ford Other

Wagon U/K

5.8L 5753CC 351Cu. In. V8 GAS OHV Naturally Aspira

Automatic

3H42H168903

Clear

GAS

This is a very original 1973 Ford Gran Torino in good aesthetic and working condition, with a few rough edges that I'll describe below. It runs well, and I think it's really good-looking, with the exception of paint failing on the front fenders (particularly the driver's front). Overall I really enjoy this car and think it's both useful as a huge wagon and a lot of fun as an original 1970s cruiser. I'm selling it because I recently purchased a 1977 Cadillac Eldorado which is an even nicer cruiser, and a 1978 Jeep Wagoneer that is nearly as good a hauler. The odometer shows 63K miles, but the service records indicate this is actually 163K. The original owner sold this car in ~2007-2008, to the son of the owner of the repair shop that maintained it. He then sold it to a friend, who quickly sold it on to me in late 2010. The original owner had an ownership guarantee purchased at Aamco in 1976 that brought free annual check-ups, and I have those records from 1976-2002. I also have my own maintenance records from 2010 that I'm happy to share. I drove it as a daily driver for a month or two but otherwise have used it as an occasional cruiser when I want to experience the 1970s, and so I haven't put many miles on it. I will say that this car is so clean and original that I thought the 63K miles were accurate until I dug deep into the records; the odometer did actually roll over around 1985-1986. The exterior is the roughest part, though I think it looks pretty good. The paint looks original to me, and while it shines nicely there are areas where you can see flaws, stains, or discolorations. The obvious problem is that the paint is thin and failing on the front fenders, particularly the driver's front fender. It's not as bad on the passenger's front. You can also see rock chips on the nose and some door dings on the sides. There is also a small crease in the roof right above the A-pillar on the driver's side. But overall it's very straight and clean for its age, and when it has been detailed I think it looks great. All the chrome, glass, trim, badges, emblems, etc. are present and in good shape.The chrome in places shows water spots, but still shines nicely. Even where the paint has failed, the metal is still in great shape and there's no cancer rust that I can see, even underneath (I included some undercar shots). It's not a show car, but it's a nice, original, unmolested example of a Gran Torino wagon. The interior is in very good condition, not perfect, but I think quite close. The dashboard and dash pad look great, with no cracks. The bench seats, carpet, and headliner all look very good, almost like new. Same with the door cards and all the interior trim pieces. It's all there and looks great. The car still has its original pushbutton AM radio, which works as new, and even has the original floor mats (the pictures here had some strange light thrown on the floormats, but they look good). The cargo capacity is just enormous, with a hard floor, and it's easy to fold the back seat down and back up again. Interior problems? The biggest is that the HVAC fan controls don't work. They failed right before I put the car up for sale, which is frustrating because they worked fine the whole time I owned the car - plus, this is an air conditioning car and the last time I used it, it blew cool. Now obviously I can't verify that. The driver's window rolls up and down fine, but the others just fall down if you try to roll them up or down. The cruise is an aftermarket cruise, and it doesn't seem to work. The driver's seat could be more supportive. But other than that, everything works - headlights, brights, turn signals, radio, etc. Along with the cruise, there appears to be an aftermarket digital clock (non-functional), a (fantastic) multi-pane towing mirror with the original included. These aren't original but were such great old-person modification Mechanically, the car is in good shape. The 351 Cleveland (2V, or two-barrel) V-8 starts, idles, runs, and pulls great, though as a 1970s wagon it's not a rocket ship. It has a new choke in it, and so cold starts aren't a problem. It has never not started for me. The battery is one year old and still under guarantee from Wal-Mart (I'm including the receipt). The brakes were redone right before I bought it, and while it could probably use front pads soon, the car stops really well - better than any other 1970s car I've owned. While it's a big car, the Torino also turns and goes over bumps just fine. It does tend to wander a bit above 40 mph - to some extent that's just part of being a 1970s car, but my mechanic has recommended that the pitman arm/idler arm/tie rod ends be replaced at some point. It's not a problem in my current usage, but I'd do that soon if you want to drive it long distances or as a daily driver. The tires were replaced by Les Schwab; two in 2004, two in 2010. Even the oldest tires would have only ~3K miles on them based on the mileage listed on the invoice. The carburetor works fine, but my mechanic would like to see it rebuilt at some point (replacing it with a four-barrel carb with a matched intake is a common performance gain for these cars). Within the last ~10 months the car has had an oil change, a carb tune up, chassis lubed, air filter/breather changed, fluid levels checked, brakes inspected, brake fluid changed, transmission fluid and filter changed, and brake light fuse changed. While not perfect, this is a fun, solid, nice car in good original condition, and I'm hoping it finds a seller who will preserve/improve upon it.