Update: 1978 Ford Pinto Cruising Wagon

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UPDATE – This 1978 Ford Pinto Cruising Wagon has been cleaned up a bit and is listed for sale again on two sites: here on craigslist showing that it’s located in the Columbus, Ohio area, and also on an auction site called Clasiq shown here. Although, on the auction site it’s listed as still being in Westlake Village, California. They’re asking $12,000 on the craigslist ad but the auction is currently at $3,700 – and for some reason, it’s still being referred to as a California Edition rather than a Cruising Wagon. Check out the new photos and let us know your thoughts on this one since it’s been dragged out of its former hiding spot and cleaned up a little bit. Thanks to Gunter K. for sending in this updated tip!

FROM 02/04/2022 –

Most Barn Finds readers dream about finding a hidden, perfect-but-dusty, Hemi Cuda, AMX, Mustang 428 Cobra Jet, or Chevelle SS. I’m “that guy” who dreams about finding a perfect-but-dusty 1978 Ford Pinto Cruising Wagon hidden away. This decidedly not-perfect example can be found listed here on eBay in Westlake Village, California – home of yes, Westlake Lake, or half of it as adjacent Thousand Oaks owns the other half. The lake is so nice they named it twice. The seller lists a $12,300 buy-it-now price or you can make an offer.

I bet that a lot of Barn Finds readers dream about finding a dusty-but-otherwise-perfect 1960s or 70s pickup, short bed, of course. What vehicle do you dream about finding hidden away looking great but just dusty and in need of recommissioning from being in storage for a few decades? For me, it would be something like this Pinto Cruising Wagon, or one in nicer condition as this one has seen better days as you can see.

An unusual part of the listing is that the seller refers to this car as a “California Edition of 250”. I’m not quite sure what that means but I’m wondering if they read both lines of the build sheet above, thinking that California Emission Equipment went along with the Cruising Wagon Option?

I would normally comment on the quality of the photos but this wagon is crammed between other vehicles in a big garage or shop building. The story goes, sadly, that these vehicles were owned by a car restorer who recently passed away and it’s not easy to push, pull, and otherwise get stored vehicles out of tight spots to take great photos of them. The seller has provided a good range of photos given the storage conditions.

The Pinto Cruising Wagon was made beginning for the updated 1977 model year and they are really cool with a sedan delivery look to the rear portion and added round windows on each side in the back. Our own Adam Clarke showed us a really, really, REALLY (sorry for shouting) nice similar car that sold at a Mecum auction for $350 more than the seller is asking for this rough example. As they say, it’s usually cheaper to buy a restored vehicle. The interior needs a lot of work almost everywhere as does the exterior. The seller will be upside down in a hurry on this car, sadly.

The engine is Ford’s 2.3L overhead-cam inline-four which had 88 horsepower and 118 lb-ft of torque. This one starts but they haven’t driven it. Any thoughts on this one? The “California Edition” part, condition, asking price, etc?

Auctions Ending Soon

Comments

  1. angliagt angliagtMember

    For that kind of money,I’d expect it to be in Excellent condition.

    Like 56
    • Bluetec320 Bluetec320

      Agreed!

      Like 14
  2. Bob_in_TN Bob_in_TNMember

    I’m with you Scotty, finding a mint condition economy car Barn Find would be fun for me. This Cruising Wagon needs lots of work but the foundation probably isn’t bad. The “250 California Edition” makes no sense and, to my knowledge, has no basis in fact. Four-speed is a plus. $5814 sticker price equates to about $25,000 today. Yes, overpriced as it stands. But would be cool if spruced up.

    Like 13
    • Richard Jensen

      My mom always wanted a cruising wagon, I was the mind that a 460 would fit but then I’m weird.

      Like 0
  3. Big Mike

    That is a lot of work for the $$$. Looks like a $2500 car at best to me.

    Like 23
  4. Richard Jensen

    Turn it into the ultimate sleeper, drop a 460 in a top loader in it, and a 9 inch out back lol.

    Like 8
    • Richard Jensen

      Oh, almost forgot, wheel tubs, back half it, can’t forget the Mickey’s lol.

      Like 1
  5. Sam Shive

    Whiskey Tango Foxtrot. $12.300.00 ROTFLMAO

    Like 14
  6. Mike

    Work is Love. Sure money….Find one….Show me another in this condition and half the price…Aint gonna find it. Im a mechanic for a reason, when I buy a barn find I look for the best condition I can find for a reasonable cost….Recently went to the Turkey Rod Run in Daytona, yup, there were about 3500 cars there. Prices, condition, styles, types all up to you. You build it with just the same idea everybody else has, Your own personalized rod. Thats what this Barn Find site is for, gives you that opportunity. Whether you buy the car or not…I brought my 62 Falcon Sedan Delivery to the speedway. Four or five people knew what a sedan delivery was the rest, thought it coulda been a hearst.
    CONTRAST…..When a car is done right it aint cheap. Otherwise rip the top off and make a planter out of it.

    Like 8
    • Scotty GilbertsonAuthor

      While I tend to agree with you on that, Mike, I have a link in the 5th paragraph of the article about one pretty close to this one, although with an automatic, that sold at a recent Mecum auction for just $350 more than the seller is asking for this project. Much nicer, cheaper ones are out there somewhere.

      https://www.mecum.com/lots/CT1021-483296/1978-ford-pinto-cruising-wagon/

      Like 7
    • Richard Jensen

      Always did like deliveries, don’t know if you have seen the movie “The Hollywood Knights” but Newbomb Turk (real name Robert Wuhl, I think lol) he drove a 56 delivery, the yellow 57 “Project X” is in the movie too.

      Like 4
      • David Scully

        Richard, next time you watch “Hollywood Knights, watch that yellow ’57 Chev explode it’s motor racing the Cobra…’caught on camera’.

        Like 3
      • Doc

        great movie with some great looking cars in it one of the funniest movies I’ve ever seen. There are some actors that were on regular tv in the 80’s and 90’s with their own shows .

        Like 0
    • RH

      Recently bought one in equal or maybe a little better condition for $2500. Guess it was a good deal.

      Like 3
  7. Brad460Member

    These are very cool. I’m on the side that I prefer the odd stuff that you never see anymore but were popular in the day. 92 escort glx, for example would be the kind of thing I would ooh and ah over more than a mustang gt etc.

    Like 4
  8. Karl

    The “perfect pinto cruising wagon” has NEVER been created and is a true impossibility! It’s a pinto!

    Like 2
    • 370zpp 370zpp

      Karl, perhaps you never actually owned one. For me it was the only Ford I have owned, and I was very happy with my Pinto Wagon, and for many reasons.

      Like 19
      • Karl

        370 no intent to offend, sorry about that and I have only ridden in a pinto never owned one.

        Like 0
    • Richard Jensen

      It’s like a Yugo GT :P

      Like 1
  9. William R McDonald

    Good luck getting that kind of money!!!!!!! Definitely not worth that much, for what has to be done!!!!

    Like 2
  10. scottymac

    Just a guess on the California edition, could the tangerine paint be the “special part? Don’t recall many orange Pintos. As far as an offbeat, seldom seen dusty garage find (which I would never buy, unless I hit the lottery) would be a ’88 Ford EXP. Ford finally cleaned up the looks, and I think they might have been available with a turbo. Stepfather to the Probe?

    http://momentcar.com/ford/1988/ford-exp/

    Like 1
  11. Tom S.

    Original owner paid more for the AC option ($479) than they did for the Cruising Wagon package ($378).

    Like 1
  12. Ronbo

    Maybe everyone has overlooked the provenance of this Pinto wagon?
    Checking the fine print on the window sticker you’ll find that it was sold to “Griswold”. Like Clark Griswold? That would make it worth big bucks!
    Seriously.. I have the window sticker from my new 1973 Plymouth Roadrunner 400 cid, four speed, buckets, console, full instrumentation, HD suspension and posi differential… $4354.72.
    Either inflation went rampant over five years or Ford was laughing all the way to the bank in ‘78.

    Like 1
    • Bob_in_TN Bob_in_TNMember

      Inflation was indeed high those years, ranging from 5.8% to 11.0%. Then it got worse from 1979 to 1981, as much as 13.5% Feels a bit like today.

      Selling dealer was Griswold & Wight Ford, Modesto CA.

      Like 3
    • Richard Jensen

      73’s still had the wrap around front bumper that went all the way up to the hood didn’t they?

      Like 0
  13. BleedNRed

    I’ve only ever seen one of these on the road about 25 years ago. Oddly enough, it was in the San Fernando Valley (next door to Westlake Village) and it was orange. Perhaps it was the same car?

    Like 3
  14. Lee

    Early pintos didn’t have the funky front grill and the big bumpers. I had a black ’72 wagon. I shaved the emblems, put Koni’s, and wide slotted aluminum wheels and 60 series tires on it. I put lots of miles on it and the only thing that gave me a problem was the timing belt. (Keep the oil off it) Drove it till it rusted out. Wish I had it back.

    Like 2
  15. Bunky

    I owned two Pinto Wagons. One was a bright orange ‘74. They were a blast to drive! They handled like a sports car on ET IV mags and 195x70x13 tires. Lots of room to carry whatcha got in the back, and with some cushions made handy camping/get away rigs. I’d love this one! Not willing to pay the asking price- but maybe someone will. 🤷‍♂️

    Like 0
  16. Christopher Gentry

    Had a 86 EXP back in 1990. I loved it. But it was 1 a lemon and 2 it was slow as molasses. Mine has a carb and auto. Friend had a 87 with fuel injection and a five speed. ( those were the only 2 in my SMALL home town ) It was better but no rocket . Never knew of a turbo. But may have been. Thier cool little cars that vanished

    Like 0
  17. JonA

    Loved to drive it but the cam developed flat spots at 36,033, just out of warranty … I think it was $1,600 back then to fix it …

    Like 0
  18. Joe

    curious why the wing nuts holding the air cleaner are missing (and maybe the studs they screw onto???)

    Like 0
  19. PRA4SNW

    Relisted, and the seller lowered the price by $300, out of the goodness of their heart.

    Like 1
  20. Stevieg

    I wanted the one Adam featured! This one? Too rough for the price.
    I had an orange & woodgrain 1977 Pinto wagon with and orange and white plaid interior. Was it tacky lol! I LOVED it!
    Had a 4 speed shifter that screwed into the trans, but the threads were stripped so it would pull out…made speed shifting difficult.
    It was a $75.00 beater back around 1986. I liked it. I was kinda nervous back then lol.

    Like 0
  21. Big C

    I’ve had my eye out for a Pinto wagon, at a reasonable price, for years. They’re either 3,000 miles away, or a rust bucket flood car. In the 80’s, I bought and sold these things like candy. Where does the time go?

    Like 2
  22. Scotty GilbertsonAuthor

    Auction update: the highest bid price was $5,050 so I don’t know if the seller will ever get their $12,000 asking price, will they?

    Like 0

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