Makes › Ford › Fairlane and Torino › Gran Torino two-door "Striped Tomato" screen cars (Starsky & Hutch TV series) · Royal, state & papal · Film & TV
Ford
Gran Torino two-door "Striped Tomato" screen cars (Starsky & Hutch TV series)
The red-and-white Ford Gran Torinos used for the Starsky & Hutch TV series (1975–1979): hero cars and stunt cars, of which only a few survive.
Still being researched: full specifications. Everything shown is checked against the cited sources. Know more? Send us a source.
Contents
01Overview
At a glance
- Built
- 7 Built
- Years
- Not yet verified
- Engine
- 351 V8 (hero cars); 400 or 460 V8 (stunt cars)
- Power
- Not yet verified
- Top speed
- Not yet verified
- Body
- Not yet verified
- Designer
- Not yet verified
- In this archive
- Not yet verified
- Surviving
- 3 (independently researched)
Sources and any conflicting figures are in the sections below.
Why it matters
The red Gran Torino with the white vector stripe was the signature car of Starsky & Hutch and was called a third star of the show. Its popularity led Ford to build a limited run of look-alike special editions for 1976.
How rare is it?
Six separate kinds of rarity – never combined into one number.
Each kind of rarity is rated separately and never combined.
02Production & history
Production
Every figure says what it counts.
| What is counted | Figure | Basis | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total model productionscreen-used Gran Torinos known to survive, per SlashGear | 32 | Surviving examples | Independently researched |
| Total model productionGran Torinos said to have been used in filming (one 2014 auction car was described as one of seven); SlashGear says Ford supplied about half a dozen | 71 | Factory production | Independently researched |
Independent counts (e.g. engine and colour) are never combined into a calculated figure. Surviving examples are never presented as original production.
History
Ford supplied half a dozen or so 1974–76 Torinos for the series under its studio car-loan arrangement, and three are known to have survived. Hero cars driven for non-stunt scenes had 351 V8 engines; stunt cars had 400 or 460 V8 engines, and some got lower rear gearing and a dash label not to exceed 50 mph. Series creator William Blinn had imagined a Camaro convertible, and actor Paul Michael Glaser disliked the car and called it the "Striped Tomato".
The two daily-driver hero cars were known on set as Torino #1 and #2, with 351 Windsors and automatics, and were auctioned by Ford after the series. Torino #1 was displayed at the Petersen Automotive Museum in 2023, and #2 appeared at the British premiere of the 2004 film.
Variants
How each version differs from the standard Gran Torino two-door "Striped Tomato" screen cars (Starsky & Hutch TV series).
No variants documented yet. Have a source? Contribute it.
03Specifications
Technical specifications
Engine
| Engine family | Not yet verified |
|---|---|
| Engine code | Not yet verified |
| Layout | 351 V8 (hero cars); 400 or 460 V8 (stunt cars)3 Independently researched |
| Displacement | Not yet verified |
| Bore | Not yet verified |
| Stroke | Not yet verified |
| Compression ratio | Not yet verified |
| Fuel system | Not yet verified |
| Power | Not yet verified |
| Power at | Not yet verified |
| Torque | Not yet verified |
Transmission & drivetrain
| Gearbox | Not yet verified |
|---|---|
| Gears | Not yet verified |
| Driven wheels | Not yet verified |
Chassis, body & dimensions
| Chassis | Not yet verified |
|---|---|
| Front suspension | Not yet verified |
| Rear suspension | Not yet verified |
| Brakes | Not yet verified |
| Steering | Not yet verified |
| Body construction | Not yet verified |
| Wheelbase | Not yet verified |
| Length | Not yet verified |
| Width | Not yet verified |
| Height | Not yet verified |
| Front track | Not yet verified |
| Rear track | Not yet verified |
| Kerb weight | Not yet verified |
| Dry weight | Not yet verified |
Performance
| Maximum speed | Not yet verified |
|---|---|
| 0–100 km/h | Not yet verified |
| Fuel tank | Not yet verified |
“Not yet verified” means no source has been checked for that value yet. Nothing is estimated to fill a gap.
04Colours & options
Factory colours & interiors
Original paint and trim, with the number of cars in each where a source gives it.
Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.
Factory options & codes
Codes are shown exactly as written by the manufacturer.
Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.
05Individual cars
Chassis register
Every documented car, with its colours, history and where it is now. Open a row for the full record. Known chassis are not automatically authenticated originals.
Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.
Competition history
Every race result of the individual cars, in date order. Click a chassis number to open its full record in the register.
Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.
Auction & sale history
Documented public sales of the individual cars. Click a chassis number to open its full record in the register.
Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.
See one in person
Museums where an example of this car can be seen.
No example is documented on public display yet. Have a source? Contribute it.
06Reference
Identification guide
How to tell an original from a replica or later conversion.
Being verified against factory or registry sources before it is published. Have a source? Contribute it.
Sources
Each number links to the exact facts it supports.
-
1
Code 3 Garage: Starsky & Hutch Ford Gran Torino Level C
- 7 Gran Torinos said to have been used in filming (one 2014 auction car was described as one of seven); SlashGear says Ford supplied about half a dozen
-
2
Where the original Starsky & Hutch car is today Level C SlashGear
- only three are known to have survived
-
3
Starsky & Hutch Ford Gran Torino Level D Code 3 Garage
- 351 V-8s, while stunt cars came powered by 400 or 460 V-8s
Keep exploring
More from Ford
-
Ford · 1934
Edsel Ford 1934 Model 40 Special Speedster
1 Built
-
Ford · 1896
Quadricycle
1 Built
-
Ford · 1969
Mustang Boss 302 Trans-Am (Shelby team, 1969)
3 Built
-
Ford
Mustang GTP (1983-1985)
3 Built
More from United States
-
AMC
Ambassador convertible (1967)
Production not yet verified
-
Mercury · 1970
Cougar Eliminator Boss 302 (1970)
468 Built
-
Studebaker · 1956
Sky Hawk (1956)
Production not yet verified
-
Jeep
Grand Wagoneer (1991 Final Edition)
Production not yet verified
140 other makes from United StatesAC PropulsionAcuraAllstateAMCAmerican LaFranceAmerican MotorsAmerican UnderslungApteraArmstrongArnoltAuburnBaldwin-MotionBantamBarris KustomsBendixBerger ChevroletBill ThomasBollingerBremerBuckeyeBuffumBuickCadillacCallawayCastleCheckerChevroletChristieChryslerClenetCodaColumbiaConsulierCordCunninghamCzingerDana ChevroletDean JeffriesDeSotoDetroit ElectricAll makes →