The word “nice” can be used in a number of different contexts. It can be used as an expression of sarcasm, and it can be used to denote something positive and pleasant. This 1976 Ford Gran Torino seems to fit into the latter category, but as always we need to take a closer look. For sale here on Craigslist and located in Wise, Virginia, this comes with a clean title and an asking price of $5,500, but the seller is also looking at possible exchanges for a number of different vehicles. My thanks goes out to Barn Finds reader Ian C for referring this one to us.

First glances can be so deceptive. This is why clear photos can be our friends. As expected of a car of this age, in spite of first glances it isn’t perfect. What we can see in the way of cosmetic damage to the outside of the Torino is nothing catastrophic, but it’s important to factor the cost of rectifying these faults into the total investment (especially if you are aiming at having a pristine car). There are some marks and blemishes on the tailgate of this wagon. None of them are too severe, and it is possible that most owners wouldn’t bother about them. The filler panel for the bumper really stands out, and if this was my car I would definitely want to fix this. Apart from that the panel and paint appears to be quite reasonable on the remainder of the car.

The interior really is a case of the good, the bad and the ugly. Most of the upholstery seems to be in good condition (the good). The carpet appears to be displaying some significant fading in some places, and would require replacement if it can’t be dyed back to a consistent color (the bad). The driver’s seat is quite badly torn up on both the seat and the back and will need re-covering (the ugly). We don’t have any shots of the dash, so we can’t establish the condition of either it or the pad.

Apart from the wonderful two-way tailgate, this Ford has another nice surprise up its sleeve. It features a third row of seats, so it is a seven-seater. This is definitely a bonus for a larger family, so I see this as a plus for this car.

The 351ci “H” code under the hood has been given a bit of a tickle. It now sports an Edelbrock 4-barrel carburetor and intake. This is backed by an automatic transmission. The owner has recently replaced the radiator with an aluminum unit with twin electric fans. He has also rebuilt the rear brakes, fitted new rear shocks, new rims and new tires.

This is a car that has a lot of potential. All of the basics are there for it to be a stand-out car. There doesn’t appear to be any major issues with it, and those faults that are present could be addressed as time and money permitted. To me the big attraction of buying this car is that I could go to the buyer, hand over the cash and drive it home. If on the way home I needed to park it somewhere while I popped into the store, I wouldn’t be paranoid that someone might damage my priceless classic car while I was away. This is a daily driver designed to be enjoyed, and that’s a big part of what owning a classic car is all about.