1975 Ford Gran Torino

I picked up this 1975 Gran Torino in Rush City Minnesota in 2005. The car was completely original and had just 27k original miles. I swear the previous owner must have never driven it because it looked brand new and was 100% stock right down to the original belts and plugs. It made the 400 mile straight trip to Wisconsin just wonderfully and has given me no problems since. It wasn't until I got home and found the protecto-plate that I realized that I purchased EXACTLY 30 years to the day it was originally sold: I picked it up on October 6th 2005 and the original sales paperwork listed October 6th 1975! If that wasn't bizarre enough, the price I bought it for in 2005 was within $100 of the original 1975 price printed on the window sticker! As an added bonus, a pristinely mint build sheet was tucked securely in the hood insulation.

My goal was to keep it as original as possible but give it a little added performance as my weekend driver. Its got a 351W and 3 speed FMX transmission. And I've updated it with Cragar S/S rims, performance suspension, 2 1/4" dual exhaust, hooker headers w/ crossover, high output coil and ignition, an Edelbrock 4v carb and an aluminum intake. I've also added a tach, full guages and a grant steering wheel. The paint is still nearly flawless after 33 years, and the interior is as clean as a brand new car. Not a rip, tear, or stain to be found. The carpeting even has the showroom plastic wrap still stuck to the carpet under the floormats, and all the original warning stickers on the dash.

I bought this car because I was a lifelong fan of Gran Torinos and Starsky and Hutch-- but there are too many of those out there already and I'd rather make it stand out on its own while sticking true to its nature.

I tracked down the dealership where the car was originally sold on October 6th, 1975: Hastings Automotive, Hastings, MN