1973 · Ford · United States
Invoice Prices Instead of Retail
The 1973 Torino kept the 1972 body behind a heavier bumper; the Gran Torino Sport fell to 51,853 SportsRoofs and 17,090 hardtops while the 351 Cobra Jet remained the performance engine.
United States · researched through 2026-09-23
Wikipedia, citing the Standard Catalog lineage, describes 1973 as a successful year with 496,581 Torinos sold, behind a heavier federally mandated bumper on the carried-over 1972 body. The Gran Torino Sport fell from its 1972 counts to 51,853 SportsRoofs and 17,090 hardtops, per Ford-Torino.de's production overview, a figure Curbside Classic repeats independently within the same lineage. One production row for the year is flagged as a likely error: the Gran Torino four-door pillared hardtop is printed with exactly the same 37,524 figure as the plain Torino four-door, and adding all nine rows with that figure in place yields 435,701, not the reported 496,581 total, so this record carries the row as printed while noting the probable copy mistake rather than substituting a guessed correction.1,2,3
The 351 Cobra Jet carries two figures in the sources consulted: 246 hp at 5,400 rpm and 312 lb-ft from Ford-Torino.de's engine overview, against 248 hp with no rpm or torque figure as printed in the 1973 dealer price schedule. The 429 four-barrel shows the same pattern, 198 hp and 320 lb-ft from the engine overview against 208 hp from the price schedule; this record carries both figures for each engine rather than treating one source as authoritative over the other. Beyond those two, a 400 two-barrel offered 168 hp, a 302 two-barrel standard equipment offered 137 hp, and a 460 four-barrel Police Interceptor V8 at 269 hp was restricted to the police package alone, unavailable to retail Torino buyers.2,4
Every price in this record for 1973 comes from a dealer invoice "trade" column on an abbreviated fleet price schedule dated September 22, 1972, months before the actual 1973 model year it covers, rather than from a retail list; no 1973 retail price list was located in the sources consulted, and this record's own production notes state that gap directly rather than substituting the invoice figures as if they were retail prices. Those invoice prices ran from $2,433.87 for the Torino four-door pillared hardtop to $3,045.95 for the Gran Torino Squire wagon, with the Gran Torino Sport hardtop, in either its SportsRoof or formal-roof configuration, priced identically at $2,728.12.4
The price schedule's own engine option rows print yet a third set of horsepower figures alongside its dealer-invoice prices: 248 hp for the 351 four-barrel at $98.97, 208 hp for the 429 at $176.89, 171 hp for the 400 two-barrel at $75.34, and 156 hp for a 351 two-barrel not otherwise listed in the engine overview, plus a 95-hp six-cylinder credit of $72.78 deducted from the 302's price rather than added as a separate charge, and not available on wagons. The four-speed manual, restricted to the 351 four-barrel, ran $155.83, actually cheaper than the plain three-speed automatic's $172.93 despite being the more specialized transmission, while that same automatic cost $189.64 when paired with the 429 specifically.4
The data plate decoder lists eleven body codes for 1973, two more than the year before, adding 53K and 65K for the newly named Gran Torino Brougham sedan and hardtop alongside the returning Torino, Gran Torino, Gran Torino Sport, and Squire codes. Axle and transmission codes carried over the same structure as the prior year, running 2.75 to 3.91 axle ratios and four automatic transmission codes including the police- and towing-oriented C6 Special. Interior trim expanded further still, with Brougham-specific cloth trims in black, blue, green, beige, and tobacco added on top of the vinyl and cloth-and-vinyl combinations already spread across the other four trim levels.2
Fact sheet · 1973 · United States
The numbers
1973 Ford Torino — The 1973 Torino kept the 1972 body behind a heavier bumper; the Gran Torino Sport fell to 51,853 SportsRoofs and 17,090 hardtops while the 351 Cobra Jet remained the performance engine.
Coverage: Partial — researched sections are shown; missing ones are not yet sourced. Researched through 2026-09-23.
Every figure is labeled with how sure we are. Reported means a manufacturer, registry, or reference figure we cite but have not reconciled against factory records ourselves. Disputed means credible sources disagree and both are shown. Rows are separately scoped; don't add them together unless the note says they make up a total.
Production
| What was counted | Count | Basis | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Torino line, all series1 as published Source wording is sold. | 496,581 | sold, model-year | Reported |
| What was counted | Count | Basis | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gran Torino Sport 2-door SportsRoof2,3 Gran Torino Sport · 2-door fastback · as published | 51,853 | built, model-year | Reported |
| Gran Torino Sport 2-door hardtop2,3 Gran Torino Sport · 2-door hardtop · as published | 17,090 | built, model-year | Reported |
| Gran Torino 2-door hardtop2,3 Gran Torino · 2-door hardtop · as published | 138,962 | built, model-year | Reported |
| Torino 2-door hardtop2 Torino · 2-door hardtop · as published | 28,005 | built, model-year | Reported |
| Torino 4-door pillared hardtop2 Torino · 4-door pillared hardtop · as published | 37,524 | built, model-year | Reported |
| Gran Torino 4-door pillared hardtop (as printed)2 Gran Torino · 4-door pillared hardtop · as published Printed with the same figure as the Torino 4-door; with it the nine 1973 rows add to 435,701, not the 496,581 line total, so this row is probably a copy error. | 37,524 | built, model-year | Disputed |
| Torino wagon2 Torino · station wagon · as published | 23,982 | built, model-year | Reported |
| Gran Torino wagon2 Gran Torino · station wagon · as published | 60,738 | built, model-year | Reported |
| Gran Torino Squire wagon2 Gran Torino Squire · station wagon · as published | 40,023 | built, model-year | Reported |
Rows are separately scoped.
Body counts come from Ford-Torino.de, one of which is evidently misprinted. No engine or package installation counts were found; a Marti Auto Works summary would close this gap.
The body-count rows above come from Ford-Torino.de; the Sport counts agree with Curbside Classic (same lineage). Prices here are dealer-invoice figures from a fleet price schedule, not retail list prices; no 1973 retail price list was found.
Prices when new
| Model | Price | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Torino 2-door hardtop, formal roof4 | $2,459.49 | dealer invoice, 'trade' column (used car involved), including factory and dealer preparation; not retail, 1972-09-22 |
| Torino 4-door pillared hardtop4 | $2,433.87 | dealer invoice, 'trade' column (used car involved), including factory and dealer preparation; not retail, 1972-09-22 |
| Gran Torino 2-door hardtop, formal roof4 | $2,625.59 | dealer invoice, 'trade' column (used car involved), including factory and dealer preparation; not retail, 1972-09-22 |
| Gran Torino 4-door pillared hardtop4 | $2,609.19 | dealer invoice, 'trade' column (used car involved), including factory and dealer preparation; not retail, 1972-09-22 |
| Gran Torino Sport 2-door hardtop, SportsRoof4 | $2,728.12 | dealer invoice, 'trade' column (used car involved), including factory and dealer preparation; not retail, 1972-09-22 |
| Gran Torino Sport 2-door hardtop, formal roof4 | $2,728.12 | dealer invoice, 'trade' column (used car involved), including factory and dealer preparation; not retail, 1972-09-22 |
| Gran Torino Brougham 2-door hardtop4 | $2,757.85 | dealer invoice, 'trade' column (used car involved), including factory and dealer preparation; not retail, 1972-09-22 |
| Gran Torino Brougham 4-door pillared hardtop4 | $2,741.45 | dealer invoice, 'trade' column (used car involved), including factory and dealer preparation; not retail, 1972-09-22 |
| Torino 2-seat wagon4 | $2,735.27 | dealer invoice, 'trade' column (used car involved), including factory and dealer preparation; not retail, 1972-09-22 |
| Gran Torino 2-seat wagon4 | $2,849.09 | dealer invoice, 'trade' column (used car involved), including factory and dealer preparation; not retail, 1972-09-22 |
| Gran Torino Squire wagon4 | $3,045.95 | dealer invoice, 'trade' column (used car involved), including factory and dealer preparation; not retail, 1972-09-22 |
Prices are the nominal dollars of the day, not adjusted for inflation.
Engines
| Engine | Factory rating | Availability | Built |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q · 351 Cobra Jet V8 4-bbl (Cleveland)2,4 351 cu in · 4-barrel | 246 hp @ 5,400, 312 lb-ft @ 3,600 (as listed (source does not state; 1973 Ford ratings were net)); 248 hp (as printed in the 1973 dealer price schedule) | 2-door models only | Not yet sourced |
| N · 429 V8 4-bbl2,4 429 cu in · 4-barrel | 198 hp @ 4,400, 320 lb-ft @ 2,800 (as listed (Ford-Torino.de)); 208 hp (as printed in the 1973 dealer price schedule) | optional | Not yet sourced |
| S · 400 V8 2-bbl2 400 cu in · 2-barrel | 168 hp @ 4,000, 310 lb-ft @ 2,000 (as listed) | optional | Not yet sourced |
| F · 302 V8 2-bbl2 302 cu in · 2-barrel | 137 hp @ 4,200, 230 lb-ft @ 2,200 (as listed) | standard | Not yet sourced |
| C · 460 Police Interceptor V8 4-bbl2 460 cu in · 4-barrel | 269 hp @ 4,600 (as listed) | police Interceptor package only | Not yet sourced |
Ratings are the manufacturer's advertised figures under the standard shown (SAE gross before 1972, SAE net after). They are not dyno results, and gross and net ratings can't be compared directly.
Options and packages
| Code | Option | Price | Installed |
|---|---|---|---|
|
351 4-bbl V8, 248 hp as printed (2-door models only; requires power steering with air conditioning)4 | $98.97 | Not yet sourced |
|
429 4-bbl V8, 208 hp as printed (requires automatic, power steering, power front disc brakes)4 | $176.89 | Not yet sourced |
|
400 2-bbl V8, 171 hp as printed (requires automatic)4 | $75.34 | Not yet sourced |
|
351 2-bbl V8, 156 hp as printed4 | $34.29 | Not yet sourced |
|
250 six (deduct from 302), 95 hp as printed4 | — | Not yet sourced |
|
Four-speed manual (351 4-bbl only)4 | $155.83 | Not yet sourced |
|
Three-speed automatic4 | $172.93 | Not yet sourced |
|
Three-speed automatic with 4294 | $189.64 | Not yet sourced |
|
Air conditioner4 | $313.74 | Not yet sourced |
|
Power front disc brakes4 | $53.26 | Not yet sourced |
|
Power steering4 | $87.41 | Not yet sourced |
|
Radio, AM4 | $50.21 | Not yet sourced |
|
Radio, AM/FM stereo with rear speakers4 | $162.62 | Not yet sourced |
|
Roof, vinyl4 | $72.25 | Not yet sourced |
|
Suspension, heavy-duty (non-wagon)4 | $17.53 | Not yet sourced |
|
Mirror, left remote and right manual (standard on Gran Torino Sport)4 | $19.79 | Not yet sourced |
|
Wheel covers, deluxe, Gran Torino Sport4 | $41.32 | Not yet sourced |
Paint
| Code | Color | Built |
|---|---|---|
2B |
Bright Red2 | Not yet sourced |
3B |
Light Blue2 | Not yet sourced |
3D |
Medium Blue Metallic2 | Not yet sourced |
3K |
Blue Glow2 | Not yet sourced |
4B |
Bright Green Gold Metallic2 | Not yet sourced |
4C |
Ivy Glow2 | Not yet sourced |
4P |
Medium Green Metallic2 | Not yet sourced |
4Q |
Dark Green Metallic2 | Not yet sourced |
4S |
Light Green2 | Not yet sourced |
5A |
Light Pewter Metallic2 | Not yet sourced |
5H |
Medium Brown Metallic2 | Not yet sourced |
5L |
Tan2 | Not yet sourced |
5M |
Medium Copper Metallic2 | Not yet sourced |
6E |
Medium Bright Yellow2 | Not yet sourced |
6F |
Gold Glow2 | Not yet sourced |
9A |
White2 | Not yet sourced |
Color names are the factory's. We don't show color swatches, because a screen color is no guide for a restoration.
Interiors
| Code | Trim | Built |
|---|---|---|
AA |
Black Vinyl; Torino; exterior colors All2 | Not yet sourced |
AB |
Medium Blue Vinyl; Torino; exterior colors 9A - 3B - 3D - 3K2 | Not yet sourced |
AR |
Medium Green Vinyl; Torino; exterior colors 9A - 4B - 4C - 4P - 4Q - 4S - SA2 | Not yet sourced |
AT |
Beige Vinyl; Torino; exterior colors 9A - 2B - 4C - 4Q - 4B - SA - SH - SL - SM - 6E - 6F2 | Not yet sourced |
DA |
Black Sport Cloth; Gran Torino 2-Door Hardtop; exterior colors All2 | Not yet sourced |
DF |
Ginger Sport Cloth; Gran Torino 2-Door Hardtop; exterior colors 9A - SA - 5H - 5L - SM - 6E - SF2 | Not yet sourced |
CA |
Black Pleated Vinyl; Gran Torino; exterior colors All2 | Not yet sourced |
CB |
Medium Blue Pleated Vinyl; Gran Torino; exterior colors 9A - 3B - 3D - 3K2 | Not yet sourced |
CR |
Medium Green Pleated Vinyl; Gran Torino; exterior colors 9A - 4B - 4C - 4P - 4Q - 4S - 5A2 | Not yet sourced |
CF |
Ginger Pleated Vinyl; Gran Torino; exterior colors 9A - 5A - 5H - 5L - 5M - 6E - 6F2 | Not yet sourced |
CT |
Beige Pleated Vinyl; Gran Torino; exterior colors 9A - 2B - 4B - 4C - 4Q - 5A - 5H - 5L - 5M - 6E - 6F2 | Not yet sourced |
EA |
Black Cloth and Vinyl; Gran Torino Sport; exterior colors All2 | Not yet sourced |
EF |
Ginger Cloth and Vinyl; Gran Torino Sport; exterior colors 9A - SA - 5H - SL - SM - 6E - 6F2 | Not yet sourced |
FA |
Black Vinyl; Gran Torino Sport; exterior colors All2 | Not yet sourced |
FB |
Medium Blue Vinyl; Gran Torino Sport; exterior colors 9A - 3B - 3D - 3K2 | Not yet sourced |
FR |
Medium Green Vinyl; Gran Torino Sport; exterior colors 9A - 4B - 4C - 4P - 4Q - 4S - 5A2 | Not yet sourced |
FF |
Ginger Vinyl; Gran Torino Sport; exterior colors 9A - 5A - 5H - 5L - 5M - 6E - 6F2 | Not yet sourced |
FT |
Beige Vinyl; Gran Torino Sport; exterior colors 9A - 2B - 4B - 4C - 4Q - 5A - 5H - 5L - 5M - 6E - 6F2 | Not yet sourced |
GA |
Black Vinyl; Gran Torino Squire; exterior colors All2 | Not yet sourced |
GB |
Medium Blue Vinyl; Gran Torino Squire; exterior colors 9A - 3B - 3D - 3K2 | Not yet sourced |
GR |
Green Vinyl; Gran Torino Squire; exterior colors 9A - 4B - 4C - 4P - 4Q - 4S - 5A2 | Not yet sourced |
GF |
Ginger Vinyl; Gran Torino Squire; exterior colors 9A - 5A - 5H - 5L - 5M - 6E - 6F2 | Not yet sourced |
KA |
Black Vinyl; Gran Torino 2-Door Hardtop Bucket; exterior colors All2 | Not yet sourced |
KB |
Medium Blue Vinyl; Gran Torino 2-Door Hardtop Bucket; exterior colors 9A - 3B - 3D - 3K2 | Not yet sourced |
KR |
Medium Green Vinyl; Gran Torino 2-Door Hardtop Bucket; exterior colors 9A - 4B - 4C - 4P - 4Q - 4S - 5A2 | Not yet sourced |
KF |
Ginger Vinyl; Gran Torino 2-Door Hardtop Bucket; exterior colors 9A - 5A - 5H - 5L - 5M - 6E - 6F2 | Not yet sourced |
KT |
Beige Vinyl; Gran Torino 2-Door Hardtop Bucket; exterior colors 9A - 2B - 4B - 4C - 4Q - 5A - 5H - 5L - 5M - 6E - 6F2 | Not yet sourced |
NA |
Black Cloth; Gran Torino Brougham; exterior colors All2 | Not yet sourced |
NB |
Medium Blue Cloth; Gran Torino Brougham; exterior colors 9A - 3B - 3D - 3K2 | Not yet sourced |
NR |
Medium Green Cloth; Gran Torino Brougham; exterior colors 9A - 4B - 4C - 4P - 4Q - 4S - 5A2 | Not yet sourced |
NT |
Beige Cloth; Gran Torino Brougham; exterior colors 9A - 2B - 4B - 4C - 4Q - 5A - 5H - 5L - 5M - 6E - 6F2 | Not yet sourced |
NZ |
Tobacco Cloth; Gran Torino Brougham; exterior colors 9A - 5A - 5H - 5L - 5M - 6E - 6F2 | Not yet sourced |
MA |
Black Vinyl; Gran Torino Sport; exterior colors All2 | Not yet sourced |
MB |
Medium Blue Vinyl; Gran Torino Sport; exterior colors 9A - 3B - 3D - 3K2 | Not yet sourced |
MR |
Medium Green Vinyl; Gran Torino Sport; exterior colors 9A - 4B - 4C - 4P - 4Q - 4S - 5A2 | Not yet sourced |
MF |
Ginger Vinyl; Gran Torino Sport; exterior colors 9A - 5A - 5H - 5L - 5M - 6E - 6F2 | Not yet sourced |
MT |
Beige Vinyl; Gran Torino Sport; exterior colors 9A - 2B - 4B - 4C - 4Q - 5A - 5H - 5L - 5M - 6E - 6F2 | Not yet sourced |
Identification
- Body codes (data plate BODY), 1973
- 53B = 4 door sedan, Torino; 65B = 2 door hardtop, Torino; 71B = 4 door station wagon, Torino; 53D = 4 door sedan, Gran Torino; 65D = 2 door hardtop, Gran Torino; 71D = 4 door station wagon, Gran Torino; 71K = 4 door station wagon, Gran Torino Squire; 63R = 2 door fastback, Gran Torino Sport; 65R = 2 door hardtop, Gran Torino Sport; 53K = 4 door sedan, Gran Torino Brougham; 65K = 2 door hardtop, Gran Torino Brougham2
- Axle codes (data plate AXLE), 1973
- 2=2,75; K=2,75 traction loc; 6=3,00; 0=3,00 traction loc; 9=3,25; R=3,25 traction loc; A=3,50; S=3,50 traction loc; V=3,91 traction loc2
- Transmission codes (data plate TRNS), 1973
- 1=3-Speed Manual; 5=4-Speed Manual; 6=4-Speed Manual; W=C4 Automaic; X=FMX Automatic; U=C6 Automatic; Z=C6 Special Automatic (for Police & trailer towing)2
Identification
Read a 1973 Ford VIN
The VIN decoder runs in your browser and never sends the VIN anywhere. How the factory numbered this year's cars:
Same model year
Also in 1973
- AMC AMX The Javelin AMX's best year. 5,707 were built, a quarter of them with the 401, alongside the Trans Am Victory decal and the Pierre Cardin interior.
- AMC Gremlin X and Spirit AMX The V8 Gremlin X continued, with new stripes and an available Levi's denim-look interior. No production split has been found.
- AMC Javelin The SST name dropped away and new twin 'TV-screen' taillights arrived. Javelin production reached 25,195, alongside the Trans Am Victory decal package.
- Buick Riviera Stage One (260 hp net) joined a separate GS handling package; 1,234 Stage Ones and 3,933 GS cars of 34,080.
- Buick Skylark Gran Sport, GS and GSX On the new Colonnade A-body the GS became a Century Gran Sport package; 6,637 were built, 728 with the 455 Stage 1.
- Chevrolet Chevelle and Malibu SS The Colonnade Chevelle's only SS year: RPO Z15 on the Malibu coupe and, for the first and only time, the station wagon, with a 245 net hp 454 available.
- Chevrolet Chevy II and Nova Hatchback appears in the source body table; SS offered with any engine per the source. Enthusiast-compiled production: 369,509 cars; Super Sport 35,542.
- Chevrolet El Camino SS The new Colonnade El Camino could still be ordered with RPO Z15 SS equipment; no El Camino SS count was found.
- Dodge Challenger The six was gone: every 1973 Challenger hardtop had a V8, the 318 standard and the 340 optional, with the Rallye now sold as a package.
- Dodge Charger The Charger's best-selling year of the original era, 119,318 cars, came as the 440 lost its Magnum name and the car moved toward personal luxury.
- Dodge Dart GTS, Swinger and Demon Renamed Dart Sport, the fastback's 340 model sold 11,315 in the 340's final year.
- Ford Maverick Grabber The 200 six became standard as the 170 was dropped; Classic Industries counts 32,350 Grabbers.
- Ford Ranchero GT The Ranchero GT continued on the 1972-76 Ranchero; 15,320 GTs were built, per reference-site counts in the Standard Catalog lineage.
- Ford Thunderbird The 429 4V was standard and the 460 4V optional in the sixth generation's best-selling year.
- Mercury Cougar The last Cougar convertible and the last 351 Cobra Jet year, with production up to 60,629 as buyers shifted to the XR-7.
- Mercury Montego GT The Montego GT fastback's second and last year; a vehicle profile reports 4,464 built.
- Oldsmobile Cutlass, 4-4-2 and Hurst/Olds On the new Colonnade Cutlass the 4-4-2 was a W-29 appearance and handling option, and the Hurst/Olds came in white or, for the first time, black: 1,097 built.
- Plymouth Barracuda and 'Cuda V8 only: the 318 became standard on both Barracuda and 'Cuda, the 340 moved to the option list, and production rose for the only time after 1970.
- Plymouth Duster 340 and 360 The 340's last year in the Duster produced 15,731 cars with power front disc brakes now standard, and the Spacemaker Pak fold-down rear seat joined the line.
- Plymouth GTX, Belvedere and Satellite For 1973 the GTX name survived only through the Road Runner's optional 440 four-barrel, which came with TorqueFlite only; Mueller's Muscle Car Source Book counts 749 of them.
- Plymouth Road Runner A secondary count puts production back up to 19,056, the highest of the 1971-1974 Satellite-based years.
- Pontiac Firebird and Trans Am The Super Duty year: 4,802 Trans Ams, 252 of them SD-455s.
- Pontiac GTO A GTO option on the new Colonnade LeMans, with the 400 standard and a 455 optional; 4,806 built.
- Pontiac Grand Am Pontiac's Colonnade GT with an Endura nose and a 400 or 455; 43,137 built, the Grand Am's best year, with 1,058 four-speeds.
- Pontiac Grand Prix The Colonnade-body Grand Prix arrives, with the 400 standard and the 455 in the SJ.
- Pontiac Tempest and LeMans The Colonnade LeMans arrives, with GTO and GT options for the two-door models and a Super Duty 455 listed for the LeMans in Pontiac's dealer book.