There are numerous muscle cars from the 1970s that gearheads often overlook, but the Gran Torino is an American classic that deserves more attention.

It's no secret that automotive enthusiasts love every production year of the Ford Torino, with each generation boasting loyal owners and admirers. Equipped for running wild on dragstrips, dominating NASCAR races, or even daily driving duties, the mid-sized Torino's many guises are part of its hidden charm. Across the eight-year production period from 1968, the most memorable Torino muscle car is undoubtedly the Gran Torino which debuted slightly over five decades ago.

The majority remember the Ford Gran Torino as one of the coolest cars on TV in the 1970s, but there is a lot more to this muscle car than just Starsky and Hutch. Considering Ford introduced the Gran Torino at the tail end of the muscle car era, the design advancement, engineering excellence, and overall safety standards make it an underrated muscle car in today's collector car market. As we look back on this one-of-a-kind classic, here are some things everyone forgets about the Ford Gran Torino.

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Ford redeveloped the Torino for the 1972 model year, kicking off the third generation with a clean design emphasizing the long hood and coke bottle body styling. The most radical change was the prominent egg-crate grille on the Gran Torino, complemented by the chrome bezels surrounding the headlights.

Furthermore, unlike the previous generation, the arrival of the Gran Torino ushered in the migration from unit construction to body-on-frame construction. With advancements like rubber mounts, torque boxes, and an energy-absorbing front end, the Ford Gran Torino had a quieter interior with a smoother, more comfortable driving experience.

For the last year of the second-generation model, Ford offered the Torino in five trim levels. These included the base Torino, the mid-level Torino 500, the Torino Brougham, the sporty Torino GT, and the high-performance Torino Cobra.

The redesign for the third generation arrived with only three trim levels for the 1972 model year; the base Torino, the Gran Torino, and the Gran Torino Sport. While the Torino Cobra got put out to pasture, the Gran Torino replaced the Torino 500, and the Gran Torino Sport took over from the Torino GT.

Related: Why The Ford Torino GT Will Soon Be Worth A Fortune

Shaking up the range for 1972 also saw Ford briefly discontinue the Torino Brougham, relegating it to an optional interior package for the Gran Torino hardtops. The ultra-luxurious Brougham interior option equipped the Gran Torino with a stylish instrument panel, wood tone-trimmed deluxe steering wheel, generous glove compartment, bright pedal pads, electric clock, and a plush center armrest between the front seats.

The flawlessly tailored flight bench boasted nylon cloth on the seat and inserts and soft and supple vinyl for the bolsters and edges. Color schemes included Medium Green, Medium Blue, Black, Light Grey Gold, and Tobacco. However, the Gran Torino Brougham returned as the range-topping trim level for the 1973 model year.

Another significant change introduced in 1972 was the different wheelbase measurements for the hardtop variants. Ford offered the Gran Torino in a nimble two-door hardtop sitting on a 114-inch wheelbase platform or a more spacious four-door pillared hardtop with a 118-inch wheelbase.

Wagon models with extra passenger seats included the Gran Torino and a Gran Torino Squire, all with the same 118-inch wheelbase as the four-door sedan. Unfortunately, a convertible was no longer on the menu for the third generation, while the 'SportsRoof' hatchback was only available with the Gran Torino Sport.

With emissions regulations taking the bite out of muscle car performance, the Ford offered the Gran Torino buyers an impressive array of options for convenience, comfort, and flair. Comfort options included high-back bucket seats, six-way full-width power seats, 'DirectAire' air conditioning, AM/FM stereo radio, dual rear seat speakers, and tinted glass.

On the other hand, convenience options included deluxe seat belts with warning lights, an electric clock, door edge guards, power steering, intermittent windshield wipers, a three-spoke rim-blow steering wheel, instrument panels, and wagon luggage racks. Ford also offered the Brougham interior trim, pleated vinyl seat trim, laser stripe, sport cloth trim, and knitted vinyl seat trim for flair.

Related: The Ford Gran Torino Makes A Modern Comeback

Despite the stricter emissions standards and the requirement for lower fuel consumption, the base engine remained the 4.1-liter inline-six for the Ford Gran Torino and the 4.9-liter Windsor V-8 for the Gran Torino Squire. Other engine options included the 5.8-liter Cleveland V-8, 5.8-liter Windsor V-8, 6.6-liter small-block V-8, and the 7.0-liter big-block V-8.

Transmission options included a three-speed, fully-synchronized manual transmission, a four-speed manual with Hurst Shifter, and a SelectShift Cruise-O-Matic automatic.

Since its debut in 1972, the Ford Gran Torino has had an impressive silver-screen career, starring in notable films and TV shows. According to IMCDB archives, the Ford Gran Torino played essential roles in films like Clint Eastwood's Gran Torino, The Big Lebowski, Rendel, and the action-packed Fast & Furious.

However, the most memorable appearance is the distinctive crimson red and white striped Gran Torino used in the famous 1970s Starsky & Hutch TV series. Arguably less so in the forgettable 2004 Starsky & Hutch film starring Ben Stiller and Owen Wilson.

Over the years, we've seen loving re-creations of the Starsky & Hutch Gran Torino, with the flashy paint job sometimes featuring on all sorts of cars. In the final year of the Gran Torino, Ford produced a limited 1,000-unit run of the Starsky & Hutch edition.

Ford painted each special edition car white first before masking off the iconic stripes and spraying the iconic crimson red paint. All replica cars were two-door coupes equipped with any of the V-8 engine options offered in 1976.

Related: Here's Where The Ford Gran Torino From Starsky & Hutch Is Today

By the mid-1970s, Japanese automobiles were all the rage, offering better fuel economy and value for money than contemporary American models like the Gran Torino. Despite improvements like a power trunk release, automatic parking brake, opera windows, and landau roofs, Gran Torino sales were lower than ever.

The only upside to the 1976 model year was V-8 engine options with improved fuel economy, from the 154 hp 5.8-liter Windsor V-8 to the 202 hp 7.5-liter big-block V-8. Interestingly, the Torino chassis lived on under the Ford Thunderbird, Ford Ranchero, Ford LTD II, and Mercury Cougar from the 1977 to 1979 model years.

Today, enthusiasts remember the Gran Torino as the stylish, more luxurious alternative to the hardcore performance muscle cars. But since the Malaise-ridden 1970s are not mainly known for performance icons like the glorious 1960s, it's understandable the Gran Torino is an underrated muscle car.

Nonetheless, the Gran Torino is an affordable classic that could deliver a proper wallop with the correct configuration from a proper build. According to Hagerty's valuation, a 1972 Ford Gran Torino two-door hardtop with the 248 hp 5.8-liter Windsor V-8 goes for anywhere between $7,000 and $21,700, depending on the condition.

Sources: Ford Torino Germany Forum, Hagerty

Simon Kim has always been passionate about machines since childhood, and this has grown into an obsession well into adulthood. As an avid reader and creative content writer, he finds joy and fulfillment in sharing his love for cars and bikes with other machine heads. Currently, Kim seeks to deliver exciting and informative articles on HotCars. He enjoys music and art and dabbles in active sports and virtual gaming in his spare time.