The Starsky and Hutch 1975 (and 1976) Ford Gran Torino is one of the most iconic TV show vehicles of all time. The Torino was a centerpiece of the popular 1970s television series of the same name, and driven by the titular characters David Starsky (Paul Michael Glaser) and Ken “Hutch” Hutchinson (David Soul). The bright red Gran Torino, with its distinctive white vector stripe running down each side of the car and over the roof, was known for its high-speed chases and stunts, which helped to make the show a hit with audiences.
Known for their unorthodox tactics to get the job done, the two detectives used the car for chasing criminals and solving crimes. They, and the car, were often seen driving around the streets of fictional Bay City, California, occasionally meeting up with their main confidential informant, Huggy Bear (Antonio Fargas). But the car was a character in its own right. It took on its own personality and was known for its ability to get the detectives out of tough situations, something that mere mortal cars could not do. An interesting note that Glasser admitted to in the “Behind The Badge” interviews, is that he had an immediate dislike for the car. At the first viewing of the car with David Soul, Glaser remarked that the car looked like a “striped tomato”. That nickname stuck, and the show’s writers started working it into the show as Hutch’s derogatory name for Starsky’s beloved Torino.
The show’s creators originally wanted to use a Chevrolet Camaro convertible, but chose the Ford Gran Torino because of the Studio-TV Car Loan Program that the producers’ company was involved in. The pilot episode used two 1975 351 Windsor V8-powered (VIN code “H”), “Bright Red” (paint code 2B) 2-door Gran Torinos, the first season cars used 400 V8s (VIN code “S”), and following season cars used 460 Lima V8s (VIN code “A”). The powerful V8 engine made the car well-suited for the fast-paced action of the series. The car featured a “shaker” hood scoop, which helped to increase airflow to the engine, as well as a rear spoiler, custom wheels, and a police spotlight. The interior of the car was black, with black vinyl seats (with the exception of the first season car which had black cloth seats), and was also customized with a CB radio, police scanner, and a microphone for the characters to use while on the job. And don’t forget the flashing police light that the characters would stick to the roof during their high speed chases!
Air shocks were used to give the rear of the car its aggressive stance, and Ansen Sprint 5-slot mag wheels accommodated larger rear tires. The tires were mounted black wall side out to avoid display of unauthorized brand-name display. In the first-season episode “Kill Huggy Bear”, a close-up shot of the villain cutting the rear brake lines shows Firestone letters on the inside of the tires.
Ford Torinos (non-police editions) originally came factory with a 2.75:1 ratio rear axle gearing. The Starsky & Hutch Torino rear end gearing was reportedly replaced with a higher gear ratio to provide quicker acceleration. In the second season, a label prominently attached to the dashboard read “DO NOT EXCEED 50 MPH”, presumably because the high rear end gearing could cause the engine RPM to increase beyond what the engine could reasonably handle, leading to engine damage or failure.
The show ran from 1975-1979, but despite its relatively short existence, the legacy of the Starsky and Hutch car lives on. The car has been featured in numerous films (including the 2004 Starsky and Hutch movie starring Ben Stiller and Owen Wilson as the two detectives), television shows, and video games. The car has also been the subject of countless merchandise, including models, toys, Legos and clothing. Many fans of the series still own replicas of the car, and the Gran Torino remains a popular choice among car enthusiasts. The show and the car have become a part of pop culture history, and will likely continue to be remembered for years to come.
