There is no single surviving “original” Starsky & Hutch Torino that can be named with confidence. The television production used several 1976 Gran Torinos for camera, driving, stunt, tow and other work, and Ford also sold a factory-built red-and-white package to the public. The most recent public appearance documented for the screen-used car known as TV Car 1 was the Starsky & Hutch 50th anniversary display at the Carlisle Ford Nationals, June 5–7, 2026. Carlisle Events names Joe and Roxanne Caldwell as the owners of that car. No public record places it anywhere else since that show, so its current whereabouts should be treated as unknown.
Which car people mean when they ask
Most confusion comes from the phrase “the original.” Readers may mean a specific numbered television car, any Torino that appeared on screen, a car from the 2004 film, or a factory-built package car that looks like the show’s car. Each has a different story, and the evidence for each is different.
| Vehicle | Role | Most recent public record | Ownership or provenance |
|---|---|---|---|
| TV Car 1 | Camera car, according to a post-event report | Carlisle Ford Nationals, June 5–7, 2026 | Owners named as Joe and Roxanne Caldwell in Carlisle Events’ listing |
| TV Car 2 | Used for on-screen driving sequences, according to the same report | Shown at the Carlisle display, June 2026 | Not stated in the sources reviewed |
| Bucket Seat Car | 1976 television car | Listed in the Carlisle display, June 2026 | Not stated in the sources reviewed |
| Hero 1 | 1974 movie car listed as “Movie Car Hero 1” | Listed in the Carlisle display, June 2026 | Not stated in the sources reviewed |
| “Car #1” at the Petersen Automotive Museum | Identified as a Starsky & Hutch Torino | On display in February 2023, per a February 2025 article; the museum’s Hollywood Customs exhibit ran through March 1, 2026 | Not established as the same vehicle as Carlisle’s TV Car 1 |
| Gran Torino at the Hollywood Cars Museum, Las Vegas | Described as a Starsky and Hutch Gran Torino | Museum collection page; current display status not confirmed on the page | Not enough provenance to link it to a numbered television car |
| 1976 factory package car | Production package car, not shown to have been used on the show | Sold at RM Sotheby’s in 2022 for $60,500 | Auction description cites an Elite Marti Report and original build sheet |
The best-documented recent appearance: TV Car 1
TV Car 1 is the screen-used 1976 car that most recent coverage refers to. Carlisle Events’ listing for the June 2026 display includes it as part of the Starsky & Hutch 50th anniversary exhibit, and a post-event report describes it as the camera car. The same report describes a second original television car, TV Car 2, used for on-screen driving. The series ran for 93 episodes, according to Carlisle Events’ press material for the event.
A public appearance proves that the car existed in a documented display and that its owners were publicly attributed. It does not show where the car is kept, whether it has been moved, or whether the owners will show it again. Anyone repeating a location for this car should attach the June 2026 date to it.
What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
#1 Best Overall
- 1/43 scale car
- Metal
- Detailed and faithful reproduction of the original vehicle
- Car screwed to base and presented in a display box
Museum displays: what they show and what they do not
Museum listings are useful evidence of where a car was shown, but they rarely prove which specific car was on the show.
Petersen Automotive Museum
A February 2025 article says a car described as “Car #1” was on display at the Petersen Automotive Museum in February 2023. The museum’s own page for its Hollywood Customs exhibit says the show ran through March 1, 2026. That page does not say where any Starsky & Hutch Torino went after the exhibit closed. The Petersen car is also not established as the same vehicle as Carlisle’s TV Car 1, so the two should not be merged.
Rank #2
- Revell Model Kit #14534, Skill Level 4, Contains 128-Parts, Recommended for ages 12 and up
- Big-block 429 Cobra Jet V-8 engine. High-back front bucket seats. Shaker hood scoop.
- Optional rear-window louvers. All-new expanded decal sheet with factory-stock markings and Twister Special stripe option.
- Molded in white, transparent red and clear with chrome plated parts and soft black tires. Paint and glue required(not included).
Hollywood Cars Museum
The Las Vegas museum maintains a collection page for a Starsky and Hutch Gran Torino. The page does not give enough provenance to tie the car to a numbered television car, and it does not confirm that the car is on display today. It is a collection listing, not a confirmation of TV Car 1’s location.
Factory package cars and what Ford sold in 1976
Ford’s Division news release dated February 9, 1976 announced that U.S. Ford dealers would offer a production Starsky/Hutch Gran Torino. The release described a bright red two-door hardtop with white vector stripes, a standard 351 CID V-8, and production beginning in March 1976. Ford said it would build about 1,000 of them. That was the company’s announced plan, not a confirmed final count.
Rank #3
![Hot Wheels Torque 5 Pack ['72 Ford Gran Torino Sport, Riveted, '69 Dodge Charger 500, Custom '67 Pontiac Firebird, Muscle Bound] 1:64 Scale Diecast Toy Vehicles](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51sJa3P1ICL._SL160_.jpg)
- Hot Wheels Torque 5 Pack
- Includes: '72 Ford Gran Torino Sport, Riveted, '69 Dodge Charger 500, Custom '67 Pontiac Firebird, Muscle Bound
- 1:64 Scale Diecast Toy Cars
Ford’s release also includes a quotable line. Douglas T. McClure, Ford Division merchandising manager, said: “The Starsky/Hutch vehicle has that performance car look, and it’s exciting a lot of young people.” Preserve the speaker, title and date if you quote it.
A 1976 package car can be authentic and still never have appeared on screen. RM Sotheby’s 2022 lot for one such car, sold for $60,500, describes it as one of 1,305 package-equipped examples. That count comes from the auction listing and refers to the factory package, not to cars used in filming. It is a different figure from Ford’s earlier 1,000-unit plan. The lot also cites an Elite Marti Report and an original build sheet. Enthusiast material discusses special-order identification codes, including DSO numbers ending in 0022, as one kind of factory-package evidence. A code of that kind does not prove that a car was used in filming.
Rank #4
- Scale: 1/64
- Material: Die-cast
- Warning! Not suitable for children under 14 years
- Brand: Greenlight
- Material: Metal
The 2004 movie car and dealer claims
The Carlisle listing identifies a 1974 car as “Movie Car Hero 1.” Separately, a dealer has offered a 1974 Torino and claimed that it appeared in both the original television series and the 2004 film. That is provenance supplied by the seller. Treat it as an unverified claim until the car’s documentation has been checked independently.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How to check whether a specific Torino was on the show
Paint, stripes, a model year and an auction headline do not establish screen use. A careful check looks at four things:
Best Value
- A CLASSIC KIT FOR EXPERIENCED MODELERS: AMT’s 1/25 scale 1969 Cobra Fastback is a great project for any experienced classic-ride modeler who likes options. Add it to your collection today!
- FEATURE PACKED: This 1969 Cobra Fastback kit is ready to roll! Fully paintable, it features a NEW colorful sheet of detailed water-slide decals. Build it 1 of 3 ways: stock, custom or racing. Includes: multiple engine builds, hood scoop, pad printed Goodyear tires, wheel options, bucket seats, and more. Wrapped up nicely in vintage-styled packaging!
- QUICK SPECS: 1/25 Scale, 126 Parts, built size: 8 x 3 inches. Parts molded in white, clear and clear red with black vinyl tires. Some parts chrome plated. Plastic model kit paint and cement required (Testors or Tamiya brands recommended). Paint guide included in kit. Skill Level 2. For ages 10+
- PERFECT PRESENT: Don't know what to get dad for his birthday? Or maybe you have an avid hobbyist or collector in your life. This model kit makes an ideal gift for any occasion!
- TRUST AMT: We at AMT are modelers ourselves and we sweat the details, to make sure every kit produced is top quality in every way! Product Description
- Ownership chain: a dated sequence of owners that links the car to the production or to a known studio disposal.
- Chassis and factory records: the vehicle identification number matched against factory build records, including any package or special-order codes.
- Contemporaneous photographs: images from the production period that show the same chassis, with visible identifying details.
- Production or studio records: documentation that connects that specific chassis to filming, rather than to a similar car.
Once a car is established as screen-used, restoration history matters. Compare what remains from filming with later repairs, replaced panels and modifications. A car can be a genuine television car and still have had substantial changes since the 1970s.
For the Starsky & Hutch Torino, the most reliable public answer is therefore narrow: TV Car 1 was shown in June 2026 under the ownership of Joe and Roxanne Caldwell, and there is no public record of where it has been since.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
