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1972 FastBack shrouded in mystery

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Classicfitness View Drop Down
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    Posted: 13-March-2009 at 11:45PM
I know this is the kind of question with no concrete answer, but I would like to know what you are thinking about it.

From the 60,700 Grand Torino FastBack 1972 assemble back then, how many would still be alive today?

I think "only based on intuition" that about 80% of the production must have been crush yet or parted out.

So according to my guess, maybe between 10,000 and 15,000 GTFB72 would still be around already restore or restorable.

What do you guys think?  
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote 1974xr7 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 14-March-2009 at 1:22AM
Based on what I have seen in the last 20 or so years, I have seen probably less than 200 total. That would be including in person or for sale in a publication or on line. That would also include all 72-76's. That being said I think 10,000+ is a little optimistic. Who knows, there may be 1000's lurking in the undergrowth or hiding out in barns waiting to be discovered. Very interesting to think about though. When traveling I can't help but think what's in that old rundown or abandoned building. I wonder...?
 
Thanks,David
 
P.S. I know where there is a 74 xr7 351CJ hiding. 
Always looking for 1974 Q codes
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote gpd294 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 14-March-2009 at 5:17AM
Well just think, if the 72's are scarce and are the more popular Torino muscle car, imagine my dilema trying to restore my wagon. Luckily, I have been fortunate to find a couple here and there. I am just happy most of the 72-76 Torino parts are interchangeble, but the Wagon specific parts, such as the tailgate rubber, is just about obsolete.
 
I dunno, but part of the fun of restoring is the hunt for me. I thought it would be next to impossible to find an NOS tailgate weatherstrip, but last week there was one on Ebay. It sold for over $200, but it was available. I just couldn't afford it at the time, but if I could of I would have scooped it up, because theres no telling when another one will be up for sale again.
 
Good luck on your fact finding none the less. Wink
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Classicfitness Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 14-March-2009 at 6:41AM
Originally posted by 1974xr7 1974xr7 wrote:

Based on what I have seen in the last 20 or so years, I have seen probably less than 200 total. That would be including in person or for sale in a publication or on line. That would also include all 72-76's. That being said I think 10,000+ is a little optimistic. Who knows, there may be 1000's lurking in the undergrowth or hiding out in barns waiting to be discovered. Very interesting to think about though. When traveling I can't help but think what's in that old rundown or abandoned building. I wonder...?
 
Thanks,David
 
P.S. I know where there is a 74 xr7 351CJ hiding. 

So a more realistic figure might be that within the last 37yrs, 95% of the production was crushed or parted?  This would mean that around 3000 GTFB72 are still out there.

If this is the truth, it is amazing to see how many of these cars are already dead.

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote 72FordGTS Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 15-March-2009 at 1:15AM
I'd say the 3000 is a lot closer to reality than the 10,000. In my area, I have only seen ONE other 1972 GTS in person in the last 15 to 20 years besides my own. I have seen a few non-sport 1972 Torinos, and most of those were in the beater class.

I know whenever I drive my car, most people say how they haven't seen one in years, and the younger crowd doesn't even know what the car is. It's hard to believe there were almost 500,000 1972 Torinos produced with the low survivor rate. About 10 years ago I still used to see mid-1970's Torinos every now and then, but now even those have all disappeared.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Psquare75 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 15-March-2009 at 1:46AM
I had my Elite on the road in 1998 to 2000.

from 1998 to 2008. I've seen.. THREE. on the roads.

I do see a Cougar every other month or so like mine however.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote MarkGubinski Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 15-March-2009 at 3:09AM
I think there are a lot more around than you might think. On the street, track, backyards & garages. I have 3 & I haven't put their serial #'s in the registery yet, because I'm lazy. I know of half a dozen other '72's just here in Essex County alone. I know none of them are in the registry either. The owners aren't even on this messege board.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote missing Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 15-March-2009 at 12:49PM
i agree with mark gubinski i live in st louis mo. within 150 mile radius i know of 12 fastbacks and 5 coupes and have been told about a few others i have not check on yet . there is a hand full in a junk yard here also. no telling how many are in garages,barns ect. that have not seen the road in years,this sounds silly but i sometimes wish i had ex-ray eyes like super man and could see what is in barns and garages you never no what you could find. i myself have owned 5 72 gts and curently am restoring a 72 with 351 4 speed ive loved these cars since i wash in highschool when i bought my first one 26 years ago i stop every time i see one, good day
bob link
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Eliteman76 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 15-March-2009 at 5:05PM
Well, at the rate I keep finding cars...it's hard to say.
To be honest, in all my time of messing with the 70's Torinos, I am up to 5 GTS, two GT montegos, 5 Elites, and a few other 70's intermediates.
As you all know, that Torino farm deal was a nice find, but I know that the yard that is about 2 hours from me had around 2-3 dozen torinos of assorted years..not including mercs...so I know in my area I have been fortunate enought to keep finding stuff.
I just wish I had the room to store the cars and not have to cut them up and haul off because I don't have the space.
 
Now, if I only could hit the lottery, and find a nice inide warehouse with a 10,000 pound forklift and a shelf system built to handle storing a couple torinos stacked by about 3 high on their own shelf, and about 10-20 spaces wide...hell, if I had that kind of money, I'd still run out of room.
 
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Hey Z Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 16-March-2009 at 2:40AM
If we're talking '72 fastback torinos only, which is what was asked above, I'd definitely say it's only 3000 to 5000 left, other than rusted out hulk's that no one will bother restoring.  I look at ebay and craigslist and very few come up for sale.  Yes I know there are many that people haven't registered or are storing but when those people die the cars either get crushed or sold and very few pop up for sale.  I only know of a very few here in Indiana and while I'm sure there's many I don't know about it's unlikely that I wouldn't see more of them running around if there were 10000 of them left.  No one knows but that's my somewhat educated guess.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote handsofstone Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 18-April-2019 at 1:45AM
I am curious as to where we stand now with regard to units still in existence. The op may have been lowballing it originally but after the cash for clunkers of the past occupant of 1,600 Penn., the numbers must now be lower than the low estimate.

Any thoughts?
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote 73 Ranchero Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 18-April-2019 at 3:49AM
My 73 GTS  I had back in 78 - 81 was scrapped back in 81.  Some parts from the car still live on.  The wheels are on my brother in laws 69 Mustang.  The C6 and the rear end are in a 40 ford pick-up.  The Q code is tucked away for a rainy day.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote qcode72 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 18-April-2019 at 4:42AM
I personally know of my 4 72sand 8 more on the road.The cars are restored here n/w pa. There are 10 fastbacks parted out and crushed.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote handsofstone Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 18-April-2019 at 5:11AM
I dragged this topic out if the grave because I am seruously contemplating offering some cash for the formal 72 GTS that I was looking at before my purchase. If it were to be mine, it would need to have all the brake lines/hoses replaced along with fuel tank etc.

Gonna call the guy and lowball him and see how that goes.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (1) Thanks(1)   Quote fordnmerc Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 18-April-2019 at 11:40AM
For what it's worth, I ordered these two reports in 2001. If anyone is interested, the company is still in business according to a search I just did online.

Obviously, they have no idea how many vehicles may be hidden away, but in the case of the 1973 base 4 door and 1974 base 2 door, I doubt it is many. Probably very few. I hope to be in a position to get a 73 or 74 base car again in the future.

In these reports, 'your state' is New York, in my case:



David
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote hogfiddles Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 18-April-2019 at 11:47AM
Hey :). I'm not too far from you......I'm just a bit south of Utica--I'm a little over an hour northeast of Ithaca

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote 72FordGTS Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 18-April-2019 at 12:20PM
Those are neat reports David.  Would be cool to see some for all different years of Torinos.
This is an old thread, and I still haven't seen another '72 GTS near where I live.  It seems though quite a few have come out of the woordwork all over in these past ten years.  But I still don't think the numbers of '72 GTS's in particular is very high.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote fordnmerc Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 18-April-2019 at 12:59PM
Originally posted by hogfiddles hogfiddles wrote:

Hey :). I'm not too far from you......I'm just a bit south of Utica--I'm a little over an hour northeast of Ithaca

Dave F


I passed by Utica a number of times in 2017, while going back and forth between here and Malone, in the north country.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote fordnmerc Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 18-April-2019 at 1:04PM
Originally posted by 72FordGTS 72FordGTS wrote:


Those are neat reports David.  Would be cool to see some for all different years of Torinos.
This is an old thread, and I still haven't seen another '72 GTS near where I live.  It seems though quite a few have come out of the woordwork all over in these past ten years.  But I still don't think the numbers of '72 GTS's in particular is very high.


I think that the interest generated by the film 'Gran Torino' helped a lot....and even 'The Fast and the Furious'.

And, even though the 'Starsky and Hutch' remake was more for comic effect than a serious reboot, it still brought attention to the cars. That's always a good thing.
David
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote unlovedford Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 18-April-2019 at 4:11PM
Well, I've parted out and cut up:

(8) '72 Sportroof GTS cars (2 of those were Q Codes), (3) '72 GTS Formal roof GTS cars (1 was a Q code)(2) '72 Ranchero GT trucks (1 of those was a Q Code), (2) 1973 GTS Sportroof cars, (1) 1974 Gran Torino coupe, (1) 1975 GTS, (1) 1973 Ranchero GT Q code, (1) 1974 Ranchero GT, (1) 1976 Torino 4 door, and (1) 1976 Elite.

According to this thread, then, I have taken a chunk out of the 1972 to 1976 ones left. However, the parts live on in countless other cars still out there, so there is some consolation in that.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote hogfiddles Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 18-April-2019 at 4:27PM
Originally posted by fordnmerc fordnmerc wrote:


I passed by Utica a number of times in 2017, while going back and forth between here and Malone, in the north country.

Malone..... now ya can't get much farther north than that!! Lol
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote fordnmerc Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 18-April-2019 at 4:33PM
Originally posted by hogfiddles hogfiddles wrote:

Malone..... now ya can't get much farther north than that!! Lol


Unless you're a moose in Canada!
David
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote handsofstone Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 18-April-2019 at 6:15PM
Have to drive south/southwest to get to Canada?
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote fordnmerc Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 19-April-2019 at 2:44AM
Originally posted by handsofstone handsofstone wrote:

Have to drive south/southwest to get to Canada?


Sorry, I don't know what you're talking about there....
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote handsofstone Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 19-April-2019 at 3:56AM
Some of new york is longitudinally north of Canada. I think.
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https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Massena,+New+York+13662/Kingston,+Ontario,+Canada/@44.5792333,-76.2493814,9z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m13!4m12!1m5!1m1!1s0x4ccc3e334844bb3d:0xf3532d54519c10d7!2m2!1d-74.891865!2d44.9281049!1m5!1m1!1s0x4cd2ab0674408ea9:0x76a5497715d6d9ea!2m2!1d-76.4859544!2d44.2311717

from Massena NY to Kingston ON you travel southwest
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at the north pole all directions are a southern exposure
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