While I getting my act together after a very nice week-long road trip I wanted to share a car that I once owed and that for all too common reasons let it go to a new home.
1974 was about the time the U.S. government’s fossil fuel consciousness began to kick in, choking the horsepower out of the muscle car. But this car was an exception. Here’s its specs.
Gran Torino Sport
VIN: 4H38Q107971
Body: 65R
Color: 3D
Trim: DB
Trans: U
Axle: 9
DBO: 75
Date: 08/73
Vin Code: 1974
VinCode Body Serial = Gran Torino Sport 2dr HardTop
VinCode Body: Medium Blue Metallic
Seat: Balmora B/Cloth & Corith (L/B Bench)
Trim Code: Med. Blue
AxleCode = 3.25:1
DSOCode: Phoenix
Assembly Plant: Lorrian
Undercarriage is aerodynamic ball joints are much larger than other Torino’s of the same vintage
Transmission is unique (Minus the traditional “Humped” housing)
Engine is 351-V4 Cobra Jet (Not a Cleveland)
9” rear end
10.5:1 ratio
Came with a 3500 Stall Speed Torque Converter.
This was an amazing car.
Unless you are an expert on the Torino what you won’t know is that the 351 V4 Cobra Jet for 1974 was only one of 300 engines made that year. It took me nearly two years of research to find this out.
I sold this car to a nice guy up in Green Bay. Here is a before shot:
1974 Grand Sport Torino
Here is what the fellow up in Green Bay created:
After
Engine hasn't been touched.
Great looking hood.
It’s good to see that she’s looking so good.
Thanks for reading.
Tim
I have a 74 Q code Gran Torino Sport
Green, tan interior, less than 100k miles.
I recently had to replace the old factory 4 barrel carb with a Holley to get it running again.
Developed a hole in the carb body and was pouring fuel.
I replaced the points distributor with an electronic ignition and matching coil.
In the process of putting shocks and brakes on it.
I am up in Canada and have a un restored Q code 1974 Gran Torino that I bought about 18 years ago with plans of restoring. When I bought it I didn’t know that it had a cobra jet until I contacted Ford. They sent me a letter confirming that it was a cobra jet. I am still hoping to restore it some day before the body totally decays. Thanks for the facts and story. Curtis in Alberta
Welcome!!!! Send some pics of your ’74 in the current condition.
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If you are referring to the factory-installed engine, you have a lot of erroneous information. The “Q”- code engine is indeed a 351 “Cleveland” engine. The “Cobra Jet” designation refers to a minor upgrade to ” high performance” status. No 10.5/1 engines were sold in 74.There were a lot more than 600 “CJ” engines sold.
Unless you had spent some time with this car you wouldn’t be a position to know the details. These facts were researched and supported by data directly from Ford and sources that are now in private hands. Selling of 1973 engines in 1974 wouldn’t be uncommon, 1974 actual production for CJ 351 were very low, relatively.
I like the original configuration better but hey, I’m old….
Steve the top was custom job. You can’t find in like. But Wayne has done a good job.
My uncle had the 351 Windsor Gran Torino ‘Elite’. What a nice car-faux leather high back button tucked seats and all. He bought it new in 1974 and sold it in the late 1980s with 234K miles on the clock. It burned two quarts of oil a day and leaked the other three, but it still ran.
FYI us teenage boys would sneak that car out and try to act like Starsky, but that smog suffocated 351 windsor would break a tire loose without a high rev and a neutral drop.
Those were the days, I guess.
Another good read!