I usually cannot relate to SEMA show cars, high-profile builders, or anything over an 18-inch wheel on a musclecar, but I’m anxious to see Steve Strope’s 1972 Torino project in a few weeks at SEMA. FordMuscle was expecting to see this at SEMA 2006 when Hot Rod Magazine hinted at the build early last year, but for some reason the project didn’t make it.

Anyhow, the car is definitely going to be there this year and I’m happy I took some time before the trip to listen to a 1 hour interview performed by www.v8tvshow.com with Strope himself. Quite honestly, listening to the interview helped erase my ill-conceived prejudices about cars that appear to be built with nearly limitless budgets.

It was interesting to hear Stropes’s perspective on a SEMA project car even though his Torino is as far from attainable for the everyday guy as a Ford musclecar can be. I can go on about the “wow” features like the Ford Racing 514 crate motor, the 8-Speed Transmission (Top Loader with Gear Vendors unit) and the Art Morrison Triangulated 4-link Rear Clip, however, it’s the builder’s killer attitude and what he preserved from the original 1972 Torino design that really impressed me.

Strope seemed intent that this build would serve as a flagship project to pave the way for larger aftermarket support for the full-frame Torino, especially in the areas of suspension and braking. The interview was pretty long, so I created a nice bulleted list of “takeaways” and insightful statements from Strope. Here they are:

• Considering to the weight and size of the Torino, Strope expressed that this project was as much a “visual design exercise” as it was a performance project because of the Torino’s excellent body lines and aggressive shape.

• Strope is fond of taking relatively lesser-recognized cars and showing what can be done with them. With respect to the 1972 Torino he understands that there is “no flagship car for these cars”. He’s hopeful his SEMA 2007 project will be the one.

• With a clear appreciation for grass roots do-it-yourselfers, Strope specifically said “I’m excited to hear from the Torino-specific guys when the build is complete”. Apparently, the Yahoo Torino Club has been steadily watching this project’s evolution and progress.

• Ahh, this was one I really liked to hear as a guy with a lot of respect for the full-frame Torino’s OE chassis design. Strope claims that while he thinks tubular chassis SEMA cars can be cool… “tubular chassis show cars don’t help joe-ford enthusiast”. For this reason much of the front-end on his project uses stock geometery and add-on components (ie Fat Man spindles, Wilwood Brakes, Factory Control Arms, OEM frame stub).

• Referring to the Torino’s stance and wheel well size, Strope says “big rims and tires were a visual necessity”

• Again, hinting at the 72 Torino’s reputation as a non-collector, “this car is gonna surprise a lot of people who never gave this body a second look.”

• According to Strope, one of the signs of a successful build is when his finished product “ignites the fuse of anybody who’s got one at home”

For more on this car see www.purevisiondesign.com or to hear the entire interview visit www.v8tvshow.com. FordMuscle will follow-up with photos from SEMA 2007 on November 1st.

– Jon Mikelonis