Why the star of Starsky & Hutch despised the show's iconic red Gran Torino

Entertainment · Published 3 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Paul Michael Glaser, who played Sergeant Starsky, famously loathed the bright red, white-striped Ford Gran Torino that became the series' most recognizable symbol. He dismissed the car as a childish, ugly, and unrealistic vehicle for undercover police work, even nicknaming it the striped tomato—a label that eventually made it into the script.

Starsky & Hutch, which aired on ABC from 1975 to 1979, followed two California police detectives: the street-wise, Brooklyn-born Sergeant Starsky and his intellectual, Minnesota-native partner, Sergeant Hutch. The series was produced by Spelling-Goldberg and became known for its unique chemistry, as the leads displayed a level of physical affection and mutual trust that challenged the emotionally restrained masculinity norms of the 1970s. Some industry insiders even used derogatory labels to describe the pair's close bond, a sentiment actor David Soul later confirmed in a 1999 interview.

The show's production was marked by significant behind-the-scenes tension, particularly regarding the series' tone and the lead actors' frustrations. Glaser, in particular, grew jaded with the show's violence and repeatedly sought to exit his contract. By 1977, concerns about television violence forced writers to pivot toward more socially themed storylines and emphasize the buddy-buddy dynamic. Despite these shifts and Glaser's public desire to leave—which led to the temporary creation of an officer character named Linda Baylor and plans to introduce a wayward brother named Nick—the show maintained steady viewership before eventually concluding in 1979.

Central to the show's aesthetic was the Ford Gran Torino, which was supplied via a lease program. While the car became a beloved icon of the decade, Glaser remained vocal about his dislike for it, often smashing the vehicle into curbs during stunts. He refused to drive the car for years, though he eventually made peace with its legacy, even posing in a replica during a 2012 charity event. The cars themselves evolved throughout the seasons, with producers modifying the white vector stripe design and swapping engines to accommodate the high-speed stunt driving required for the series.

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