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1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesStarsky and Hutch’s red-and-white Ford Gran Torino was a production choice that became one of television’s most recognizable cars. But the Torinos seen on screen were a changing fleet, not one fixed specification—and Ford’s 1976 factory Starsky & Hutch edition was a separate product. Here are 18 facts that distinguish the show cars, the factory package and later replicas.
How the Gran Torino became the show’s car
1. A Camaro was considered first
Creator William Blinn initially wanted a green-and-white Chevrolet Camaro convertible, according to Lancaster Insurance. After General Motors could not assist, Aaron Spelling asked transportation chief George Grenier to choose a suitable car.
2. Ford’s TV-car program helped shape the choice
Spelling-Goldberg Productions used Ford’s Studio-TV car loan program. Grenier considered Ford’s lineup before settling on the Gran Torino, Lancaster reports.
3. The pilot featured two 1975 Torinos
Lancaster identifies two 1975 Gran Torinos in the pilot, filmed in spring 1975. Both had 351 Windsor V8 engines.
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4. The show’s cars were not all the same model year
Fraser Engine Co.’s 2020 account describes filming cars from 1974 through 1976. The familiar red-and-white look therefore does not mean every car on screen shared the pilot cars’ year or specification. Fraser estimates seven to ten filming cars, but that is an estimate rather than a confirmed production inventory.
What made the cars look distinctive
5. The stripe was added for the production
Lancaster describes a Wimbledon White stripe over Bright Red paint. That production description is distinct from the factory 1976 package: the Torino Project says factory-edition cars were paint code 2B red, applied over white paint. The factory paint process should not be assumed for every television car.
6. The nickname was “The Striped Tomato”
Lancaster says David Soul’s co-star gave the cars that nickname. It became a memorable shorthand for their bold appearance.
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7. The stance and wheels were altered
Lancaster lists modified rear shock absorbers and Ansen Sprint five-slot alloy wheels on the pilot cars. The Torino Project also describes show-car wheels, wider rear tires and air shocks—changes that helped create the cars’ recognizable rear stance.
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8. One pilot car carried a roof camera
The cars had different jobs: Lancaster says one pilot Torino carried a roof-mounted camera, while the other was used for exterior shots. A camera-equipped work vehicle was not simply interchangeable with a car used for ordinary driving scenes.
How filming affected the cars and cast
9. A stunt professional drove the pursuits
Lancaster reports that Paul Michael Glaser drove in normal scenes, while a stunt professional took over for pursuit sequences.
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10. The bench seat made cornering awkward
Glaser recalled the practical problem of the original seating: “It took us a year to get them to put bucket seats in it so David wouldn’t slide all over the place whenever I took a corner”. Lancaster reproduces the recollection.
11. The engines varied across cars and seasons
The pilot cars had 351 Windsor V8s, but Lancaster says Ford supplied two second-season cars with 460 Lima V8s and mentions a 351-powered backup. Fraser likewise describes a range of engines among filming cars. There is no single engine specification that applies to every Torino seen in the series.
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Random freezes, missing sound and display glitches usually trace back to one bad driver. Find and replace yours safely.Free scan · under a minute12. One car reportedly had a 50-mph warning
Fraser says a second-season car carried a dashboard warning reading “Do Not Exceed 50 MPH,” attributing it to drivetrain tuning oriented toward acceleration. That is a report about one vehicle, not a general specification for the show fleet.
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How the show reached viewers and fans
13. The car prompted audience questions
Lancaster says viewers phoned the production company to ask, “What kind of car was it?” and “What model is it?” The article also reports the request, “Can we get the stripe?” These are examples reported by that source, not a survey of all viewers.
14. The series had a large UK audience in late 1976
Lancaster reports that 19 million viewers watched on BBC1 in late 1976. That is a dated UK audience figure, not a worldwide total.
15. Corgi made a die-cast replica
Lancaster says Corgi produced a die-cast version for younger fans. That confirms a historical collectible, but does not establish its scale, present-day availability or price.
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Ford’s 1976 factory edition was a different car
16. The factory package was based on the 1976 Gran Torino
The Torino Project describes a limited Starsky & Hutch package based on the 1976 Gran Torino. It was a factory offering, separate from the cars used during filming; a red Torino that resembles the television car is not automatically one of the show cars or a factory-package example.
17. The package had its own identifying equipment and engine options
The Torino Project lists dual sport mirrors, deluxe bumpers and special paint among the factory package’s shared characteristics. It gives a 351 V8 as the standard engine, with 400 and 460 options.
18. Published factory-edition totals do not agree
The Torino Project gives a total of 1,000 factory editions, including 100 for Canada. Fraser Engine Co. says the exact number is unknown and offers a range of 1,000–1,300. These are conflicting secondary accounts, not a settled production count.
How to assess a claimed factory edition
The Torino Project discusses PS 122 and DSO identifiers ending in 0022, with a different ending for Canadian-market cars, but cautions that authenticity can be difficult to establish. Treat identifiers as clues to investigate, not proof on their own.
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