Time Machine
Printed From: The Ford Torino Page
Category: Model Specific Forum
Forum Name: Starsky & Hutch
Forum Description: Technical discussion for original and replica S&H Torinos
URL: https://forum.grantorinosport.org/forum_posts.asp?TID=8565
Printed Date: 18-April-2024 at 1:23AM
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 12.06 - https://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Time Machine
Posted By: aktorino
Subject: Time Machine
Date Posted: 06-February-2013 at 10:57PM
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Hello! New to this forum. Great resource! Here's my story: Back in 1974, one of my favorite TV shows was called "Kolchak, The Night Stalker". Made for TV action/horror show. To my dismay, it was cancelled after it's first season. I was pretty bummed out until I saw this new show about two cool detectives with a hot car! Starsky and Hutch! I loved it! Never missed an episode. I grew up in Anchorage, Alaska. One summer day in 1976, my dad took my sister, my brother and I to a park to play. In doing so, it took us right past the local Ford dealer (Stepp Brothers Friendly Ford). Being a car nut, I always would peer into the showroom to check out the new cars as we drove by. On this particular day, before I could see clearly into the showroom, I saw a red flashing light. I instantly knew it was on top of a red and white striped Torino! All us kids begged our dad to pull in. To our surprise, he did. We literally ran inside and gawked at the car. We asked if we could sit in it. Amazingly, my brother had brought his Vivitar camera and a Polaroid camera. Flash! With one stroke of his finger, he forever burned into my brain that moment while recording it on that piece of film. Naturally, I dreamed of owning such a car, being a car nut that I was. Well, it only took me 37 years to fulfill that dream. I found a California Gran Torino with 70,062 miles on it. I did all the work myself and converted it into my own Starsky Torino. More to the story but here's a couple of pics:First on is from 1976, second one was last week   |
Replies:
Posted By: TV 2M8O
Date Posted: 07-February-2013 at 5:33AM
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Great story, cools pics and I can't wait to see more of your S&H Torino! -------------  TV 2M8O OUT JOE 1976 Gran Torino S&H season 2-4 Clone Project Blog: http://tv2m8o.blogspot.com/ |
Posted By: legend onirot
Date Posted: 07-February-2013 at 6:04AM
x2... welcome ------------- --------------------- malcolm 1973 gran torino sport (formal)... "Stacy Lynn" 1972 gran torino (formal)... "Mackenzie" 1973 gran torino sport (sportroof)... "Leela" |
TV 2M8O wrote:Posted By: Regul8r
Date Posted: 07-February-2013 at 7:43AM
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Welcome to the forum. We have seen that top pic here on the forum in the past. Someone in the family already a member? New to the board or been here before but back under a new name maybe? Either way... WELCOME! ------------- Carl Corey (Moderator/Event Coordinator) Contact ANYTIME! 1976 Ford Elite "Lola Mae" 97 Suzuki Intruder 1400 US Army Retired |
Posted By: aktorino
Date Posted: 07-February-2013 at 8:28AM
You might have seen the pic on another web site. I had a real hard time figuring out my computer in order to post the pics. Windows 7 cut and paste quit working....You can see me in the drivers seat and my sister in the passenger seat. Once the snow melts, I'm going to bring my Torino down to the dealership ( it's a BMW dealership now) along with my pictures and story and ask if, when ever they move their cars to clean the floors/carpet, if I can scoot my car in there and sit it and my self in the same spot and get my picture taken..... not sure if they're gonna let me but I think it's worth a try...
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Posted By: Mark S.
Date Posted: 07-February-2013 at 9:30AM
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Welcome! Nice car. I remember Night Stalker too...starred Darren McGavin, the actor best known for playing the Dad in the "A Christmas Story" movie. ------------- Mark 1977 Ltd II "Eltee" 1984 Mustang ragtop 2004 Grand Marquis Ultimate Edition 71 Torino GT 429CJ (sold too many years ago to count...) |
Posted By: aktorino
Date Posted: 07-February-2013 at 10:33AM
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Hello everyone, thank you for welcoming me to this forum. I replaced the original 351M with a 400. I have a 460 in waiting but I'll see how the 400 does first. The car was originally dark brown. Tan interior is getting changed out to black this weekend. Will post some pic's of that. I used a base coat/clear coat paint. Sanded and buffed the paing with 1200, 1500 and 2000 grit sandpaper. Will post additional photos as time allows... Aktorino  http://i1197.photobucket.com/albums/aa430/mikesyzf/torino2.jpg" rel="nofollow - http://i1197.photobucket.com/albums/aa430/mikesyzf/torino2.jpg
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Posted By: TV 2M8O
Date Posted: 07-February-2013 at 10:59PM
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NICE.... look forward to seeing more!Yeah, it can be a chore uploading pics and getting them to look right. I fight with my posts everytime I update my thread. Keep at it, you finally get it!!! LOL ------------- TV 2M8O OUT JOE 1976 Gran Torino S&H season 2-4 Clone Project Blog: http://tv2m8o.blogspot.com/ |
Posted By: aktorino
Date Posted: 08-February-2013 at 7:53AM
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Joe, I really like the rake your car has. What size tire/wheel do you have on the back? Air shocks? Different springs? That is what my car is lacking right now is the right tire size. Something I'm going to fix in the near future. Here's a couple more pics of the torino. Garage is small so some of the pics are not the best angle....   |
Posted By: TV 2M8O
Date Posted: 12-February-2013 at 2:43PM
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Michael, The Torino in my animated gif is the TV Hero#1.....  Everything I've read says they just added Hi-Jacker air shocks. Tires from that period were probably LR60-15's on 15 x 8.5 rims. Here is my LE from the day.....  Hurst air Shocks (fully inflated) with Goodyear GT RADIAL LR60-15's on ET 15 x 10 slot mags. Here is restored TV HERO#2....  Equipped with wagon rear springs, air shocks (not overly inflated) and 1 1/2" spacer on each spring, 275/60R15 tires on 15 x 8.5 rims. This is the car I'm cloning, so I will go the same route on mine. Hope this helps!
------------- TV 2M8O OUT JOE 1976 Gran Torino S&H season 2-4 Clone Project Blog: http://tv2m8o.blogspot.com/ |
Posted By: Alaskan Torino
Date Posted: 05-February-2017 at 11:02AM
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Update: My car is complete! With 70,000 original miles, it still drives great! Put a lot of miles on it last 2 years. After scouring the old photos from the family, I found another photo of the Dealer Starsky Torino back in 1976. I took the photo, being an excited kid, it's a little blurry. Fast forward 40 years. I spoke with the former Ford dealership ( currently BMW) and they allowed me to park my Torino it the same spot as the one from 1976! Talk about deja vu! http://s1197.photobucket.com/user/mikesyzf/media/image2.jpeg.html" rel="nofollow">  " border=""> http://s1197.photobucket.com/user/mikesyzf/media/image1.jpeg.html" rel="nofollow">  " border=""> |
Posted By: californiajohnny
Date Posted: 05-February-2017 at 11:55AM
awesome! post a few more pics of it now  ------------- JOHN 74 GRAN TORINO S&H CLONE 74 VETTE CUSTOM 90 S10 BLAZER 4X4 LIFTED 77 CELICA CUSTOM 75 V8 MONZA SUPERCHARGED 79 COURIER VERT. SLAMMED 75 VEGA V6 5 SPD 70 CHEV C10 P/U 68 MUSTANG FB CONVERSION |
Posted By: Alaskan Torino
Date Posted: 05-February-2017 at 4:59PM
http://s1197.photobucket.com/user/mikesyzf/media/tn3.jpg.html" rel="nofollow"> " border=""> |
Posted By: Alaskan Torino
Date Posted: 05-February-2017 at 5:00PM
 More... |
Posted By: Alaskan Torino
Date Posted: 05-February-2017 at 5:02PM
 yet again... |
Posted By: Alaskan Torino
Date Posted: 05-February-2017 at 5:03PM
 more... |
Posted By: Alaskan Torino
Date Posted: 05-February-2017 at 5:04PM
 yet again.... |
Posted By: MrSmog
Date Posted: 05-February-2017 at 5:23PM
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VERY VERY cool |
Posted By: torino335
Date Posted: 05-February-2017 at 6:18PM
| very nice ,like the story too. |
Posted By: californiajohnny
Date Posted: 05-February-2017 at 8:18PM
 ------------- JOHN 74 GRAN TORINO S&H CLONE 74 VETTE CUSTOM 90 S10 BLAZER 4X4 LIFTED 77 CELICA CUSTOM 75 V8 MONZA SUPERCHARGED 79 COURIER VERT. SLAMMED 75 VEGA V6 5 SPD 70 CHEV C10 P/U 68 MUSTANG FB CONVERSION |
Posted By: TV 2M8O
Date Posted: 05-February-2017 at 10:16PM
WELL DONE  ------------- TV 2M8O OUT JOE 1976 Gran Torino S&H season 2-4 Clone Project Blog: http://tv2m8o.blogspot.com/ |