Summary

Re-creation of "Striped Tomato" from "Starsky and Hutch" TV series. Autographed by stars Paul Michael Glaser and David Soul. Equipped with a 351ci V8 engine and automatic transmission. Includes Marti Report. From The Dr. Stewart A. Berkowitz Collection.

Details

This 1976 Ford Gran Torino is the No. 3 "Striped Tomato" from the "Starsky and Hutch" television series, airing on ABC from April 1975 through May 1979. Aaron Spelling's popular "Starsky and Hutch" TV series thrilled viewers with exciting and gritty police drama. During the show's prime-time run, Paul-Michael Glaser and David Soul portrayed the show's streetwise title characters, who helped keep Bay City clean with the help of informant Huggy Bear played by Antonio Fargas, while trying to stay onside with their tough but lovable Captain Dobie. Arguably, the biggest star of the show was Starsky's ride, a big red mid-1970s Ford Gran Torino two-door hardtop with a bold white stripe running across the roof and down each flank, plus slotted mag wheels. Tire-squealing action was assured with each call to "Zebra 3" from Bay City P.D. dispatch. This 1976 Ford Gran Torino is a collector-grade re-creation of the unforgettable "Striped Tomato" from the immensely popular "Starsky and Hutch" television series, filmed from 1975 to 1979. Produced on November 11, 1975 - eight days ahead of schedule at Ford's Chicago factory - the Gran Torino was finished in Dark Blue Metallic paint over a blue vinyl bucket-seat interior and equipped with a 2-barrel 351ci Windsor V8 engine, column-shifted C4 automatic transmission and 2.75 conventional rear axle. Delivered via Ford's Philadelphia, PA, DSO (District Sales Office), the Gran Torino's officially documented history begins when its first title was issued in Pennsylvania on December 12, 1975, at 33 recorded miles. The first named owner, Michael Terzano, received a Pennsylvania title to the vehicle on May 3, 1985. Subsequently, the Gran Torino was owned in Arizona (October 1985 - September 1999), New Jersey (September 1999 - January 2010), followed by brief ownership in South Carolina, where the car was disassembled for restoration and then resold to the prior long-term owner, followed by acquisition by a couple in Oklahoma from January 2010 to June 2014, when Dr. Berkowitz added the Gran Torino to his growing movie and TV car collection. While an engraved tag underneath the hood and mounted to the radiator support reads "20th Century Fox Studios B27410780," studio use is unlikely. As offered, this striking Gran Torino's features an interior color change to black with a front bench seat, an AM/FM radio, power brakes, power steering and slotted aluminum wheels, plus a period-style Motorola police radio beneath the dash. Autographs of Paul-Michael Glaser, who played Starsky, and David Soul, who portrayed Hutch, grace the trunk. Included is a Marti Report documenting the car's original features and data, a list of past owners with timeframes and copies of their respective title documents. Now it's your turn to get funky, boogie down to Huggy Bear's and get ready to hunt down Bay City's bad guys in this museum-quality 1976 Ford Gran Torino. The windshield visor was autographed by actors Paul Michael Glaser, who played Det. Dave Starsky, and David Soul, who played Det. Ken Hutchinson. From The Dr. Stewart A. Berkowitz Collection.