1972 Ford Gran Torino Sport 351 Cobra Jet

Muscle car powered by Ford 351 Cleveland Cobra Jet V8.

Red 1972 Ford Gran Torino Sport SportsRoof; exact-year body and trim context, not proof of the Q-code engine

Body Gran Torino Sport SportsRoof or two-door hardtop

Engine Q-code 351 Cleveland four-barrel Cobra Jet V8

Output 248 hp SAE net and 299 lb-ft reported

Sport production 60,794 fastbacks and 31,239 hardtops across all engines

Story

1972 Ford Gran Torino Sport 351 Cobra Jet

Ford offered the redesigned 1972 Gran Torino Sport as both a SportsRoof fastback and a two-door hardtop. The 351 Cobra Jet was the Q-code engine path within those Sport bodies, not a separate body style or appearance package. The VIN decoder identifies body serial code 35 for the Sport fastback, 38 for the Sport hardtop, and Q in the engine position for the 351 four-barrel Cobra Jet.

Reviewed references report 248 SAE-net horsepower, 299 lb-ft of torque, 8.6:1 compression, and four-barrel carburetion. Four-speed manual and C6 automatic paths are documented. The 351 four-barrel application used a Ford 9-inch rear axle; 3.25 and 3.50 ratios and Traction-Lok paths are recorded, but the door label, axle tag, invoice, and build sheet must establish an individual car's combination.

Reported 1972 Gran Torino Sport production totals are 60,794 fastbacks and 31,239 hardtops across all engines. Neither figure is a Q-code subtotal. Exact 351 Cobra Jet production by body, transmission, axle, paint, trim, or plant remains unresolved in the reviewed material.

Sixteen model-year paint codes and the major Sport interior, stripe, hood, wheel, brake, and suspension paths are recorded below. Authentication begins with the VIN and door label, then reconciles factory paperwork with engine, transmission, axle, paint, trim, and component dates. A hood scoop, laser stripe, Magnum 500 wheels, or Cobra Jet identification cannot establish a factory Q-code car by appearance alone.

**Red 1972 Ford Gran Torino Sport SportsRoof rear view; exact-year body and trim context**Caprice 96 via Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0

Price history

Values

Nominal dollars from original price sheets, auction archives, and approved value references.

Original Price

A verified original price is not yet available for this car.

Market Observations

Price guide value $24,300

Jul 28, 2026 · Hagerty Valuation Tools · Current guide point
Current #3 Good guide value for a 1972 Gran Torino Sport two-door hardtop with the 351cid/248hp four-barrel Cobra Jet. · unknown · good Hagerty lists $24,300 for the exact 351cid/248hp four-barrel Cobra Jet configuration in #3 Good condition. The selected guide entry is hardtop-specific, build state is unknown, and the amount is a guide estimate rather than a completed transaction or a SportsRoof value.
1972 Ford Gran Torino Sport 351 Cobra Jet values
High bid $24,500

May 23, 2026 · Bring a Trailer
Factory Q-code SportsRoof 2A35Q327848 extensively modified across its engine, transmission, axle, chassis, brakes, body, and cabin. · modified · fair Bring a Trailer records a $24,500 reserve-not-met high bid for VIN 2A35Q327848. The archive documents an overbored engine with aftermarket heads and induction, Tremec five-speed, later rear axle, revised suspension and brakes, replacement body panels, rust and paint flaws, donor-car seats and dashboard, and several functional faults. Modified/fair prevents comparison as a stock Cobra Jet car; a no-sale high bid is not a completed transaction.
1972 Ford Gran Torino Sport Q-code 2A35Q327848
Auction sale $44,000

Jan 15, 2026 · Mecum Kissimmee 2026
Q-code automatic Gran Torino Sport 2A35Q283090 classified modified by CLASSIC.COM. · modified · good CLASSIC.COM records a $44,000 Mecum sale for VIN 2A35Q283090 and identifies the Gran Torino Sport as a Q-code automatic modified car. Its 2023 sale and 2025 no-sale are excluded as repeat-chassis observations in favor of this latest completed sale.
1972 Ford Gran Torino Sport 2A35Q283090
Auction sale $50,000

Jun 16, 2025 · Bring a Trailer
Factory Q-code SportsRoof four-speed 2A35Q275022 after refurbishment and documented mechanical and cabin changes. · modified · good Bring a Trailer records a $50,000 sale for VIN 2A35Q275022. The archive and Elite Marti report support its factory Q-code SportsRoof and four-speed configuration, while the repaint, body repair, retrim, 1970-specification heads, aftermarket intake and carburetor, replacement wheels, dampers, exhaust, gauges, and audio support modified/good classification.
1972 Ford Gran Torino Sport Q-code 2A35Q275022
Auction sale $40,700

Jul 30, 2015 · Mecum Harrisburg 2015
Q-code four-speed Gran Torino Sport 2A35Q173495 with a rebuilt drivetrain, converted transmission, and Marti documentation. · modified · good Mecum records a $40,700 sale for VIN 2A35Q173495. The archive represents a matching-number Q-code 351, rebuilt engine and drivetrain, conversion to a correct four-speed assembly, factory air conditioning, and a Deluxe Marti report. Modified/good separates the transmission conversion and refurbishment from an original-car comparison.
1972 Ford Gran Torino Sport 2A35Q173495

Values move with paperwork, originality, options, condition, venue, and body style. High bids and guide values are labeled separately from completed sales.

Reference records

Options, Colors & Components

Source-backed details for trim, chassis, production, and authenticity.

Engine Details

Bore 4.002 inches · 1972 Ford 351 Cleveland engines in NHRA technical specifications · engine assembly / specification
Stroke 3.500 inches · 1972 Ford 351 Cleveland engines in NHRA technical specifications · engine assembly / specification
Rod length 5.780 inches · 1972 Ford 351 Cleveland engines in NHRA technical specifications · connecting rod / specification
Compression ratio 9.40:1 · 248 hp 1972 Ford 351 four-barrel row in NHRA technical specifications · engine assembly / specification
Four-barrel automatic-transmission carburetor identifiers D2ZF-AA, D2ZF-CA, D2PF-TA · 248 hp 1972 Ford 351 four-barrel row; NHRA table marks automatic transmission · carburetor / engineering number
Alternate automatic-transmission carburetor identifiers D2ZF-BA, D2ZF-DA, D2ZF-BB · 248 hp 1972 Ford 351 four-barrel row note 7; NHRA table marks automatic transmission · carburetor / engineering number
Holley manual-transmission carburetor identifiers D0OF-N, D0OF-R · 248 hp 1972 Ford 351 four-barrel row note 7; NHRA table marks manual transmission · carburetor / engineering number
Intake manifold identifier D1ZE-BB · 248 hp 1972 Ford 351 four-barrel row in NHRA technical specifications · intake manifold / engineering number
Alternate aluminum intake manifold identifiers D1ZX-CA, D1ZX-AA, D1ZX-DA · 248 hp 1972 Ford 351 four-barrel row note 8 in NHRA technical specifications · intake manifold / engineering number
Rocker ratio and lifter type 1.73 rocker ratio; hydraulic lifters · 248 hp 1972 Ford 351 four-barrel row in NHRA technical specifications · valve train / specification
Cylinder head casting references D1ZE-DA, D3ZE-AA · 248 hp 1972 Ford 351 four-barrel row head-code L in NHRA technical specifications · cylinder head / casting number
Combustion chamber volume 72.6 cc · 248 hp 1972 Ford 351 four-barrel row in NHRA technical specifications · cylinder head / specification
Piston type and volume Flat with eyebrows; 2.7 cc · 248 hp 1972 Ford 351 four-barrel row in NHRA technical specifications · piston / specification
Cam lift 0.481 inch intake; 0.490 inch exhaust · 248 hp 1972 Ford 351 four-barrel row in NHRA technical specifications · camshaft / specification
Valve sizes 2.198 inch intake; 1.717 inch exhaust · 248 hp 1972 Ford 351 four-barrel row in NHRA technical specifications · valve train / specification
Valve springs Outer with damper · 248 hp 1972 Ford 351 four-barrel row in NHRA technical specifications · valve train / specification

Transmission

Factory transmission Ford Toploader wide-ratio four-speed manual
Factory transmission Ford C6 SelectShift automatic

Options

351 Cobra Jet reference for the 1972 Ford Gran Torino Sport 351 Cobra JetClassic Muscle · Reference illustration

Rallye Equipment Group Rallye Equipment Group optional · performance · Reference source describes high-output 351, four-speed, competition suspension with rear anti-roll bar, G70 Wide Ovals, and Instrumentation Group; exact Ford order code not verified in reviewed references.

Paint

**Blue 1972 Ford Gran Torino Sport hardtop; exact-year body and trim context**sv1ambo via Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 2.0

2B Bright Red factory · factory
2J Maroon Metallic factory · metallic
3B Light Blue factory · factory
3D Medium Blue Metallic factory · metallic
3H Dark Blue Metallic factory · metallic
4B Bright Gold Metallic factory · metallic
4C Ivy Glow factory · factory
4P Medium Green Metallic factory · metallic
4Q Dark Green Metallic factory · metallic
5A Light Pewter Metallic factory · metallic
5H Medium Brown Metallic factory · metallic
6C Medium Yellow Metallic factory · metallic
6E Medium Bright Yellow factory · factory
6F Gold Glow factory · factory
6J Gray Gold Metallic factory · metallic
9A White factory · factory

Production

Factory Transmissions reference for the 1972 Ford Gran Torino Sport 351 Cobra JetClassic Muscle · Reference illustration

1972 Gran Torino Sport fastback by body · 60,794 · reported
1972 Gran Torino Sport hardtop by body · 31,239 · reported

Authenticity

Ford 9-Inch Rear reference for the 1972 Ford Gran Torino Sport 351 Cobra JetClassic Muscle · Reference illustration

VIN body serial code 35 identifies the Gran Torino Sport fastback and 38 identifies the Gran Torino Sport hardtop · VIN and factory records · trim correctness
VIN engine code Q identifies the 351 CID four-barrel Cobra Jet V8 · Fifth character of the VIN; corroborate with invoice, build sheet, or Marti report · fraud detection
Door data-plate body code 63R identifies the Sport fastback and 65R identifies the Sport hardtop · BODY field on the door data plate · trim correctness
Transmission and axle agreement Transmission and axle codes, tags, ratios, and dates should agree with factory paperwork · Door label, transmission tag, axle tag, invoice, build sheet, and Marti report · numbers matching
Paint and trim agreement Paint, stripe, roof, and interior codes should agree with the door label and factory records · Door data plate, hidden original finish, invoice, build sheet, or Marti report · trim correctness
Safety Standard Certification Label integrity Passenger-car certification label is on the lock face of the left front door or door pillar; tampering, alteration, or removal causes destruction or the appearance of VOID. · Safety Standard Certification Label on the left front door lock face or door pillar · fraud detection
Public VIN tab cross-check Vehicle Identification Number is also stamped on a metal tab riveted to the instrument panel and visible through the windshield from outside the car. · Instrument-panel VIN tab visible through the windshield; compare with certification label and factory records · fraud detection
Certification-label code fields The label carries build date, body code, color code, trim code, rear axle ratio code, transmission code, DSO code, assembly plant code, model-year code, and unit number fields used for identification and parts ordering. · Safety Standard Certification Label; compare with build sheet, invoice, Marti report, drivetrain tags, and inspected components · numbers matching

Still Researching

engine Q-code identity, major specifications, and NHRA 1972 Ford 248-hp 351 technical rows now record selected bore, stroke, rod length, carburetor identifiers, intake-manifold identifiers, cylinder-head casting references, piston, valve-train, and cam-lift specifications; complete Ford parts-catalog numbers, emissions parts, date windows, distributor/fuel-pump/oil-pan/harmonic-balancer/water-pump identifiers, and car-specific inspected identifiers remain unresolved.
transmission Four-speed and C6 paths are recorded, but exact tags, ratios, shifters, and compatibility combinations are incomplete.
rear axle The 9-inch, 3.25/3.50, and Traction-Lok paths are recorded, and a factory power-team chart now resolves the standard 3.50:1 non-Traction-Lok rear-axle ratio for the 351 CID 4V V-8 with four-speed manual transmission; the complete axle-code, limited-slip, air-conditioning, California timing, and build-specific compatibility matrix remains incomplete.
brakes Front-disc and rear-drum specifications are recorded, but complete component identifiers and power-assist combinations are not.
suspension Standard and competition suspension layouts are recorded, but spring, shock, bushing, and stabilizer identifiers are incomplete.
option packages Rallye Equipment Group and major options are recorded, but factory order codes, prices, and the full compatibility matrix are not.
production Gran Torino Sport body totals are recorded, but exact Q-code production is unresolved.
paint colors Sixteen model-year paint codes are recorded, but Q-code frequencies and individual combinations are not.
trim and appearance Major Sport cues are recorded, but every stripe, wheel, tire, hood, badge, and molding combination is not.
interior Bench, bucket, console, and instrumentation paths are recorded, but the complete trim-code and option matrix is not.
authenticity markers Certification-label location/integrity, public VIN-tab cross-check, and certification-label code fields are now documented, but the complete engine casting, drivetrain tag, emissions, and date-code matrix remains unresolved.