There was no single original Starsky & Hutch Torino: the pilot used two 1975 Gran Torinos, and the television production used additional cars in later seasons. One later-season car commonly identified as Torino #1 was reportedly sold to a Texas collector in 2015 and restored, but its current owner and location have not been established.
Why there is no single “original” Torino
The familiar red-and-white Ford Gran Torino was represented by multiple cars. In a 1998 account, Doug Stevenson says the pilot used two 1975 Gran Torinos, as did the first season. He distinguishes those from the 1976 cars used in seasons two through four: two that he later owned, plus two or three others, according to a source he cited at Spelling Productions. These are historical counts from Stevenson’s account, not a definitive inventory of every car used across the series. Fairlane Club of America
The later cars were not all interchangeable replicas. Stevenson’s account concerns screen-used vehicles, while factory special-edition Gran Torinos and cars from the 2004 film are separate categories.
What happened to the later-season cars?
Stevenson says the later-season cars were supplied through Ford Motor Company’s Studio-TV car loan program. After the series, they were returned to Ford and sold at a dealer auction in Salt Lake City. His own two cars had different histories after that sale. Fairlane Club of America
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#1 Best Overall
- Scale: 1/64
- Material: Die-cast
- Warning! Not suitable for children under 14 years
- Brand: Greenlight
- Material: Metal
Torino #1
A separate ownership account traces the car it calls Torino #1 from an Ohio owner to the Cars of the Stars Motor Museum in the UK, then to Dezer Car Collection in Miami. Dezer reportedly sold it privately to a Texas collector in January 2015. The account says the car was largely unrestored at the time of sale and that the collector later completed a sympathetic frame-off restoration. It does not name the collector or establish where the Torino is now. Internet Movie Cars Database
Torino #2
Stevenson reports that Torino #2 was badly damaged in an accident, declared a total loss, and sent to a junkyard before being rebuilt with salvage parts. It was repainted in the wrong shade of red, with an incorrectly painted stripe, and had a Mustang V-6 in place of its original engine when he acquired it. His Torino #1 had rust and needed mechanical work. These details describe the two 1976 cars Stevenson owned, not the pilot cars. Fairlane Club of America
Rank #2
- Hollywood Series Collectible – 1:24 scale diecast replica of the iconic 1976 Ford Torino from the television series Starsky & Hutch.
- Official GreenLight Release 84221 – Part of the GreenLight Hollywood Series line of licensed film and television replicas.
- Display-Grade Model – Designed for adult collectors and classic television memorabilia enthusiasts; ideal for shelf or showcase presentation.
- Premium Diecast Construction – Heavy diecast metal body with detailed interior, chrome accents, and realistic wheels.
- Authentic Screen-Inspired Details – Features the signature red finish with white vector stripe, accurate badging, and period-correct trim.
Where is the original Starsky and Hutch Torino now?
If “the original” means the later-season vehicle called Torino #1 in the ownership account, the documented trail reaches the 2015 sale to an unnamed Texas collector. Its present location is unconfirmed by the available ownership record. The pilot cars’ later whereabouts are also unknown to Stevenson; his article mentions rumors but does not confirm them. He wrote, “I do not know what happened to the two Torinos that were used in the pilot film or the two that were used in the first season.” Fairlane Club of America
Other surviving Torinos that are easy to confuse
Steve Bordi’s television car
In June 2018, AutoCentric Media reported that Steve Bordi owned a 1976 Torino used in the original television show, describing it as one of three cars used to portray the Striped Tomato. The feature says C&R Cars performed a frame-on restoration, using stock components where possible. The report does not establish that this is the Torino #1 in the separate ownership account, so the two should not be treated as the same car. AutoCentric Media
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Greg Korfe’s factory special edition
A 2023 Pioneer PBS WHEELS segment profiles Greg Korfe and his factory 1976 Starsky & Hutch special-edition Gran Torino. Korfe says he bought it new from a Ford garage after a test drive; the segment shows a bill of sale and build sheet. It is a factory special edition, not evidence of a car used by the television production. Pioneer PBS
The car from the 2004 movie
A 2016 Carlisle Ford Nationals guide identifies Steven Bordi with “Hero Car #1,” a Gran Torino described as having 2,250 original miles and having been driven by Ben Stiller and Owen Wilson in the 2004 movie. That is a film car, not one of the original television cars. Carlisle Ford Nationals guide
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How to identify a claim about a “screen-used” Torino
Because several vehicles, factory special editions, and film cars are associated with the franchise, a specific claim is more useful when it identifies the car and its evidence. Look for:
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Limited edition. Brand new box. Detailed exterior. Real rubber tires. True-to-scale detail. Authentic decoration. Comes in a blister pack. Officially licensed product. Custom themed packaging. Die-cast metal body and chassis. Dimensions approximately L-3.25 inches long.
- Production role: pilot, first-season, later-season, or 2004 movie car.
- Model year: the documented production accounts distinguish 1975 pilot and first-season cars from later 1976 examples.
- Provenance: named owners, dated sale or museum records, and documents connecting that particular vehicle to production.
- Restoration history: whether the car retains original components or has been rebuilt, and what the source says about the work.
- Factory edition versus screen use: a factory Starsky & Hutch special edition is historically relevant but does not, by itself, prove television use.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
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