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Another 73 Ranchero Front End Question
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wantahertzdonut View Drop Down
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    Posted: 03-October-2025 at 7:32PM
I've been smitten with a 73 Ranchero with a bitchin' drivetrain that's been available for a while, but I balked because the front end not my style.  But I recently discovered the base model 73 Torino grille and it's much more to my liking.

My question is, if I have a 73 Ranchero, but want to put a base Torino grille in, what sheet metal do I need to make that grille fit?  I don't care about turn signal or headlight wires, I can make those.  But will the front fascia be a direct swap? 
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Sak7788 View Drop Down
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Points: 45 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Sak7788 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 04-October-2025 at 3:08AM
  Correct, direct bolt on swap. Same fenders, hood and even the bumper.
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wantahertzdonut View Drop Down
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Points: 7 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote wantahertzdonut Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 05-October-2025 at 9:41AM
What is the body panel that surrounds the grille called?  I'm guessing "front end piece" won't get me very far. :)
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...header panel for 73 Torino/Ranchero? - The Ford Torino Page Forum https://share.google/RL1r3eFP0HAFccMtb
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   That would be the "Header Panel"
 Pretty much best to find it with the Base model grill as a whole completele matching assembly since they are different.
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wantahertzdonut View Drop Down
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Originally posted by Sak7788 Sak7788 wrote:

...header panel for 73 Torino/Ranchero? - The Ford Torino Page Forum https://share.google/RL1r3eFP0HAFccMtb

Thank you for that!
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Points: 1695 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (1) Thanks(1)   Quote hogfiddles Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 06-October-2025 at 5:21AM
Well there’s three … four, if you count the deflector……
the header panel - goes across the top
Headlight housings or buckets - one on each side
Stone deflector - which goes across the bottom
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wantahertzdonut View Drop Down
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As a followup, I read that this same base model grill came on later years too, is that true?  Just trying to open my options.  Every 72-73 I look at is a rust bucket surprise, BTS, or major project advertised as a running car.  
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Points: 45 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Sak7788 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 25-October-2025 at 5:11AM
  The 72 base Torino is similar but also different from the 73 and up that I posted above. The 72 front is a one year only design due to the government mandated 5mph front impact bumper. It can be made to work if you have a donor and modify the front of the frame to weld on older style frame ends.



   72 only base model Torino just barely still showes the "fish mouth" of the more common Gran Torino 72. Also notice the non 5mph bumper on the front. 73 is a split year 5mph front but not rear bumper,  74 and up all had the government mandated 5mph impact absorber bumpers front and rear.
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  I'm not exactly sure if or when they might have dropped the base model Torino front nose, the names get swapped around so you really have to go look for yourself to see what it actually is. Torino/ Gran(d) Torino/ Gran Torino Sport/ GTS. I didn't really understand until I got to digging thru this site, as well as Pinterest for having such a vast array of examples and related images.
   Good luck in your search. What part of the country are you looking in?
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Points: 6780 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote 72FordGTS Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 26-October-2025 at 11:45AM
There were only three years with the base grille.

The 1972 base model was a one year only grille,
1973-74 base models use the same grille

1975-76 base model Torinos looked like Gran Torinos.
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Originally posted by Sak7788 Sak7788 wrote:

  I'm not exactly sure if or when they might have dropped the base model Torino front nose, the names get swapped around so you really have to go look for yourself to see what it actually is. Torino/ Gran(d) Torino/ Gran Torino Sport/ GTS. I didn't really understand until I got to digging thru this site, as well as Pinterest for having such a vast array of examples and related images.
   Good luck in your search. What part of the country are you looking in?

Thanks for the info.  I'm actually after a Ranchero, and I'm in southern California.  I should have made that more clear.  I don't believe any Rancheros had the base grille but if that grille fits the 73/74-76 Ranchero, I can do a swap later.  

(The 72s have grown on me but I like the side profile of the later cars.  I'm fine with up to the 75 models due to the CA emission exemption)
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