Ford's Redesigned 1972 Torino

Ford redesigned its Torino "mid-size" models for 1972.  In the fall of 1973 the Yom Kippur War triggered a gasoline crisis that resulted in the next generation of most Detroit cars to be downsized.  The 1972 models also were among the last not affected by U.S. government regulations regarding bumper impact resistance capability.  So to some degree, those Torinos represent the last of an American automobile breed.

As the link above mentions, the Torino name first appeared for 1968 and styling was revised for 1970.  It terms the '72 Torinos as "third generation."

The name "Torino" is Italian for the city English speakers would recognize as Turin.  It is home to Fiat and Lancia  cars and, historically, Cisitalia and Siata.  Presumably Ford marketers  were thinking of the aura of the sportier brands and not of Fiat 500 Topolinos.

1972 Torinos came in two levels -- a basic Torino and the more upscale Gran Torino. Body types were a station wagon (not shown here), a four-door sedan and two varieties of hardtop coupes.  Even though Torinos were considered "intermediate" or "mid-size," they were fairly large.  Their styling for that model year was generally attractive.

Gallery

Ford Gran Torino 4-Door Pillared Hardtop.  That's what this model was called: "Pillared Hardtop" actually means that this was a sedan with a fixed B-pillar and not a pillarless car as the term "hardtop" normally meant in those days.  Ah, those marketers!

Gran Torino 2-door hardtop coupe.  The vinyl top covering was a fad at the time.  The sides of the car extend outwards to a horizontal crease that provides relief to potentially massive fender appearance as well as unifying the front and rear.  The rear fender kickup and sculpting add interest and also help reduce visible bulk.  This car has a long hood and a comparatively small bustle back.

Gran Torino SportRoof -- the fastback version of the car in the previous image.  The fastback quarter envelopes what had been the rear fender line, but the carry-over sculpting helps reduce the added bulkiness.

Rear quarter view of the bustle back version.  A detail on the image of the similar car, but more visible here: a thin chrome strip along most of the horizontal crease.  Rear end styling is simple and attractive, unlike what can be seen on many current cars.  Car shown was for sale.

The most distinctive feature on '72 Gran Torinos is the grille, seen on this "for sale" car.  Its outline is rounded-hexagonal with a rectangular grid pattern interior.  Aggressive-looking, but logical.  The dual-headlight housings follow the same outline theme.

All that changed on this 1974 Torino.  Federal regulations called for more massive bumpers, so frontal styling had to be reworked to accomplish this.  The resulting rectangular theme changed the character of the design, mostly for the worse.  The only plus, so far as I'm concerned, is the elimination of those dual headlights.  Again, a "for sale" image.