| Pilot film: Used 2 identical "2B Red"(Ford color code) 1975 Ford Gran Torino 2 doors. The cars had the following equipment: 351 cubic inch "Windsor" V8 engines C4, possibly FMX "Cruise-O-Matic" automatic transmissions No factory air conditioning Black vinyl bodyside protection moldings Black vinyl bench seat interior Front & rear bumper guards Dual chrome outside rearview mirrors(one car had dual manual control; the other had driver's side remote control) California emissions equipment White "Starsky" stripe runs above vinyl bodyside moldings and ends at the front edge of the front marker lights. It bears an uncanny resemblance to the stripe used on the factory "Limited Edition" cars. |
| 1st season: Used 2 identical "2B Red" '75 Gran Torino 2 doors. The cars had the following equipment: 400 cubic inch "Midland" or "Modified" V8 engines according to Spelling-Goldberg Productions(Gordon W., former 2nd owner of one of the 1st season cars, claims his had a 351"Midland/Modified" V8) C6 or FMX "Cruise-O-Matic" automatic transmissions(Gordon claims his had a FMX) Air conditioning Bumper Protection Group Color-keyed sport outside rearview mirrors w/remote control Black cloth bench seats California emissions equipment Full power equipment "Starsky" stripe ran directly across the front wheel lip moldings and on the natural line cast into the sheetmetal, and ended at the edge of the header panel(the part that contains the grille & headlights). |
| 2nd to 4th season: Used 3 or 4 identical '76 Gran Torinos, plus a backup known as "Unit 129". "2B Red" was a special order color this year, so the Torinos had silver bumper-to-body sight shields, this being normal Ford practice for special paint cars. The Torino that was the exception was a "Limited Edition" factory replica, "Unit 129", which Spelling-Goldberg Productions leased;; that one had body color shields. This car is now owned by Chris B. The cars had the following equipment: 460 cubic inch "Lima" V8 engines, except for Chris B.'s 351 cubic inch "Midland" V8 in Chris B.'s originallly; currently equipped w/429 cubic inch "Lima" V8 The following equipment applies only to Doug's cars: C6 "Cruise-O-Matic" automatic transmissions Automatic climate control air conditioning Black vinyl bodyside molding Dual chrome outside rearview mirrors with remote control(Chris B.'s had them, but now has color-keyed sport mirrors) Power windows Power door locks Single control power seat Visibilty Light Group Tilt steering column Speed control AM/FM stereo w/8-track tape player Heavy-duty electrical system Heavy duty suspension California emissions equipment Black vinyl bench seats Bumper Protection Group Electric clock Deluxe seatbelts Low vacuum warning light Automatic seatback release Appearance Protection Group Anti-theft package Luggage Compartment Dress-Up Passenger side visor vanity mirror Possibly "Traction-Lok" limited slip rear axle During the series run, one of the Torinos that Doug now owns had the front bench seat replaced with buckets to keep the stars from sliding into each other during stunt driving scenes. The Torinos were factory equipped with dual exhausts, except for Chris B.'s(as shown by exhaust vapors from the Torinos used in "Targets Without A Badge-Pt.2"; vapors are shown coming from both sides of Starsky's car in the opening scene when he & Hutch are leaving Starsky's apartment, and various rear shots of Torinos used in "Starsky & Hutch Are Guilty" are clearly showing dual tailpipes). According to Ford dealer microfiche which I've personally seen, dual exhaust was standard equipment on all 460-engined Torinos and not available with any other engine. Unit 129, however, would have been equipped w/single exhaust due to it being equipped with a 351 V8. The "Starsky" stripe ran under the vinyl bodyside moldings and ended like the 1st season cars. Doug's Torinos are featured on Disc 5 of "Starsky & Hutch: The 1st Season" DVD set under "The Third Star" featurette. |
| The facts shown here were taken from John Quirk's S&H Torino website (which also contains "Fairlaner" articles on S&H Torinos including Doug Stevenson's article), and the author's memory. |
| Doug says that the Torinos were modified with "lower ratio"(numerically higher) rear axle gears for better acceleration during speed scenes. |
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| Welcome to DM Starsky's facts page for the TV show Torinos |
| All links are from John Quirk's website..without him, this wouldn't have been possible. Thanks. |
| The plate used during the show was "537 ONN"; but on the pilot episode, the plate number was "849 ASB". And here's something else that I found interesting...the plate on the "mistaken identity" Torino was also "849 ASB"! Obviously SOMEBODY wasn't paying attention! |
| Note: Main Torinos used were leased by Spelling-Goldberg Productions from Ford Motor Company under special television and movie lease program. |