Stroked Cleveland! 1972 Ford Gran Torino Squire
Oxford defines a “squire” as one of “high social standing” who “owns…an estate in a rural area.” In 1972, Ford brought a redesigned mid-sized station wagon to market named after the stately squire. This 1972 Gran Torino Squire in Deer Park, Washington seems altogether suitable for myriad land owners. Sunburned wood grain marks its age, but this classic boasts a nicely kept interior and a V8 stroker motor to make urban squires Starsky & Hutch proud. Eight bidders here on eBay have raised the long roof’s value above $9000.
While the (presumably original) 351 cid (5.8L) “Cleveland” V8 enjoys a rabid following in stock form, the 408 cid (6.7L) stroker kit should pack a punch in lower RPMs to help this wagon tow your boat or haul that stack of plywood. Indeed the seller reports that, with two seats folded flat, this Torino will swallow full sheets of plywood with the tailgate closed, a feat that bests most modern pickup trucks, thanks to the virtual demise of the eight foot bed. Tip your hat to whoever refit the air conditioning parts after the engine build, a step often skipped by gear heads who can’t wait to twist the key and burn rubber. Power-hungry wagon buyers could have ordered up a 429 cid (7.0L) four-barrel V8 in ’72 for $227. Thanks to lov2xlr8 for some details.
Durable vinyl upholstery seems to have held up well. Power front disc brakes and power steering make driving a breeze for estate owners of all sorts. The air conditioning works, but only if you hold the lever with your hand, so factor a control unit repair or replacement when calculating your maximum bid.
The large central grille framed by quad lights differs dramatically from the outgoing Torino’s full-width grille with optional hidden headlights. Below the Gran Torino Squire, Ford offered Torino and Gran Torino wagons, denoting their diminished suitability for masters and mistresses of grander estates.
The 3-Way Magic Door Gate opens tailgate style or as shown here, offering flexibility for loading and unloading living and inanimate cargo. Third-row passengers get to wave goodbye to tailgaters when Mom or Dad uncorks the 408.
Blackwall tires on chrome “mooneys” and dual exhaust add a sporty flair to the high trimmed Squire. As wagon designs go, this Ford looks well-penned from every angle. Though hard to imagine today, buyers who felt this Torino was too small could step up to the LTD Country Squire. That’s right; this plywood-swallowing nine-passenger monster was Ford’s mid-sized wagon in ’72. Is this 408-stroked Squire suitable for your estate?
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Comments
Is the alleged performance difference between a Cleveland-built and Windsor-built engine based on any facts, or is it just more Cars + Coffee chit-chat? I can’t picture a mass-produced engine having any difference in design or components no matter where it was built. Henry would not have approved.
It, of course, isn’t just a build location, there were three designs of 351 engine, and the Cleveland had the best flowing heads, and strongest factory crankshaft. Google lists dozens of articles about it, but this one seems accurate to my recollection, and less biased. https://www.moderndriveline.com/whats-the-difference-between-a-ford-351-windsor-cleveland-or-modified-engine/
The “H” in the VIN code provided in the ad shows that it was built with a 351C-2V engine. 2 barrel carburetor Cleveland, so it has the poorer flowing cylinder heads, and lower hp cam. Those extra cubic inches don’t get to breath fully, unless the heads and cam were also upgraded when the stroker kit was installed.
Still a nice cruiser, would be fun for a drag and drive event. Take the whole family.
BTW, already showing as “SOLD.”
I reread the ad, the upgrades include Edelbrock aluminum heads, so this Squire should haul a$$.
Windsors and Clevelands were 2 different engines like the GM 350’s were all different from each other. Windsors came out first the Cleveland in 1970 Windsors had more torque which is why they stayed around primarily as a Truck Motor but Clevelands breathed easier and were quick revving and had more HP. Even a base 351 C 2V in a Mustang or Cougar was a faster car than you would think and the 4V version was 50 HP more and in a whole different league. Basically in the early 70’s if you bought a Mustang, Cougar, Torino or a Montego with a 351 it would be a Cleveland everything else Ford made with a 351 then would be a Windsor. If you have ever seen the movie Mad Max his car was an Australian Ford Interceptor and it was a 351C
Not true. I have a ‘72 Montego with a factory and numbers matching 351 Windsor. Both Clevelands and Windsor were available.
Beautiful wagon, mean face!, fix air conditioner switch ,go find a drive in movie and relax.
Learned to drive in one of these, well sorta my older brother had a green one when I was 14 and it would start without the key so I used to steal it after he went to bed and go cruise around, gas gauge didn’t work so he thought it just got bad mileage
Then you must really know how to parallel park! How long is this car?
211.5 inches according to
http://classiccardatabase.com/specs.php?series=6658&year=1972&model=32388
Wow, awesome wagon !, great car, form and function,,
annnd ya, already SOLD
Why oh why don’t they sale stuff like this anymore
because it would cost $80,000+ and no one would buy it against a suburban or a similar size SUV thats easier to see out, seats the same, and considered more upscale for that money. same reason the Charger based wagon didnt sell enough to stay around
lots nice here, even asa ‘ford guy” but – don’t like the nose. “Majic gate”? gm’s ’71/9 clam shell (orig gm called it ‘glide away”) was the real majic.
A net car guy had the 429 (in exact same livery) on ‘everywhere’ a yr or so ago. He knew how to market !
There are folks out there that put Cleveland heads on a Winsor block stroke it to 427 inches and have the best of both worlds.
https://www.proformanceunlimited.com/shop/ford-engines/427ci-351w-based-sbf-stroker-engine-575hp/
Cool motor in that link JimmyinTexas. But the heads on that motor are windsor designed. Cleveland heads would have splayed valves, not all aligned in a row. it would be nice to see what kind of power they could pull with a set of cleveland design heads!
Nascar ran that set up for years. Windsor block, Cleveland heads. But nascar is a pale shadow of it’s once great self now. A story for another day.