We’ve seen some nice Pintos here on Barn Finds over the years, but I don’t know if we’ve ever seen one for sale for $32,500 or not, especially since it isn’t a particularly low-mile example. The seller has this 1974 Ford Pinto Runabout posted here on craigslist in Yadkinville, North Carolina, just west of Winston-Salem. Here is the original listing, and thanks to Roger for the tip!
We’ve seen low-mile Pintos, some with a fraction of 50,000 miles. Some were very nice original cars, and some were even restored cars. Some were early cars with much nicer, small bumpers. Some were wagons, even a nice woodgrain Squire wagon or a later Cruising Wagon, but I don’t know if any of them have been over $30,000, were they? I’m not saying this “showroom condition inside and out” Pinto isn’t worth the asking price; that’s up to the seller to set the price.
This ’74 3-Door Runabout has the Sports Accent Group package and is striking in Pearl White and Orange, with matching wheel covers. The big bumpers are unfortunate, but that’s what happened in the 1970s due to safety regulations. The photos aren’t the best, which is a little unusual for a $32,500 asking price. I would have expected some professional photos, not to mention seeing a Pinto on craigslist for $32,500 is a bit unusual, too. Yes, that’s a white vinyl top, by the way.
Speaking of photos, or a lack thereof, this is the only photo that gives a hint of the interior. No, really, there are no other photos, other than this one of the side. Since this car has the Sports Accent Group, the interior should be orange vinyl and cloth seats because of the orange exterior, but it would have been nice to see them. Another thing you would have seen is the Cruise-O-Matic transmission selector between the front seats. This car doesn’t have a four-speed manual, bummer.
The engine looks like it’s brand new and is Ford’s 2.3-liter OHC inline-four with 82 horsepower and 113 lb-ft of torque. Backed by the three-speed automatic sending power to the rear wheels, it also has air-conditioning, a new timing belt, new tires, and new brakes. I love the seller’s bravado asking over $30,000 for a Pinto, no matter how nice it appears to be. Any thoughts on this high-priced Pinto?
I’d maybeoffer $3250. This guy is out of his mind
Burn Pinto Burn :(
April Fools already passed
April Fools already passed
I don’t know….. If someone told any one of us in oh, say 1982, that good clean used Pintos would be going for this kind of money, I know, for me, I’d never believe it. But here you go. Although I will say, this is a nice clean well optioned example for sure. But 32,500? Thats a very steep price. It’ll be interesting to see if it sells and for how much
They still aren’t going for that kind of money, not until someone actually pays that much. It’s an asking price, nothing more.
Just because a few people looked at it at a coffee and cars doesn’t make it valuable. Prices for Pintos have risen over the years, but to claim it’s a good investment for anyone other than the seller is delusional, at best. Likewise, the idea that’s it’s only worth $3,250 is also ridiculous.
Steve R
Steve R. For the most part, I generally at least partially agree with your opinions, but in this case I’m afraid that we are on opposite ends of the spectrum. I happen to believe that $3,250.00 is the absolute ceiling for this car. I’m not convinced that you could find a less desirable car anywhere. These things were meant to be a disposable car when new and the passage of time has not changed that. If someone even momentarily considered this thing, even at half the price, I’m afraid that Mr. Ts favorite saying would be appropriate, “I pity the fool.”
The market sets value, not individuals. Someone out there will pay more that $3,250, to get a trouble free car in good condition to take to shows.
I don’t get why so many people think what they are willing to pay should be its market price? It doesn’t.
Steve R
Most people who seriously think a car like this is only worth that little haven’t bought a car in this type of condition for years and years.
I thought the 32,500 was the asking price for the house it was parked at.
one zero too much.
My thoughts too! One too many zeros.
Hope it comes with the house…
Love Pintos..but not beyond 15K for a quality Cruising wagon..which this aint.
Guy must have a really “good” dealer!
A steal!
I had to jump on the Craigslist add and mark this add best of, I figure the people who run that site needed a good laugh for the day
And the seller probably bought it for $500.
Rare doesn’t automatically equate valuable. Certainly not this valuable. ThunderRob mentioned 15k as a ceiling. I think I agree. Of course, if it sells for 30 then I’ll be wrong. Wouldn’t be the first time.
Ok let’s see for $32,500.. 6 photos no interior shots… it’s a Pinto.. automatic transmission… 4 cylinder.. and it looks like a popsicle!… Hell no to the investment!! Sorry if you got hit in the head. And we never know what you will find in Barn Finds!! Keep it coming!!! 🐻🇺🇸
Come on guys, after spending $30,000 for a new frame, all the body panels and mechanical parts the guy is just trying to get something for his time.
Yeah, it’s incredibly well-preserved, down to those fragile, color-keyed wheel covers. Yeah, it would get a lot of attention at cars & coffee. It would just be absolutely no fun getting there and back.
Must have gold bars underneath the seats.
Pinto or No car 🤔 ?
A friend of my aunts had one of these. Same model color etc. When she went to trade it in on a dodge colt in the early 90’s it had never seen snow and I guarantee you it had less than 50,000 miles on it. The dealer told her he’d sent it straight to the wreckers and suggested he’d make her a better deal if she did the deed herself.
Pintos have not come up 30 grand in 30 years I don’t care what shape it’s in.
Familiar with the GIF of Bette Davis as Baby Jane walking into the bedroom, slamming the door & laughing hysterically after giving Blanche dinner?
Insert GIF here.
Take it to Austin, Texas and get some UT fan drunk and he decides to buy it.
Or Tennessee
Must be some good dope in his ‘hood. He’ll be lucky to see $3,250
The only reason it’s for sale at that price is his wife said get rid of it and he said “I’m trying!”
You took the words out of my mouth. Of course, the downside to this is when his wife decides she can’t be with a guy who covets Pintos (and I’m assuming Vegas, Monzas, Gremlins, Pacers, etc.) she’s going to say “He said the car was worth $34k, so he can keep the car, just give me my half…”
That’s not necessarily true. I’ve met a lot of people when I worked in the automotive industry who actually believe their bland generic car is something special and valuable.
Steve R
Hmmm? If I had $32,000.00 to buy the one car from my wish list that I always wanted what would I buy?
With those BIG bumpers it wont explode that fast at least….
The Pinto will sell to someone that wants to reflect on their past possibly. It might of been a first car owned or a family second hand car. I am sure this car will not bring the ask but will be more of what the market will bear. I am not a person for this purchase as I prefer 1960’s to early 1970’s muscle cars that have more ponies than the pinto. I do wish the seller good luck with the my little pony size Pinto. I was curious and did a cursory look online to get some ideas of prices and saw this write up last May. “How much is a 1974 Ford Pinto worth?
22-05-2024 by AHG Auto Service
Value of a 1974 Ford Pinto
The average recorded value of a 1974 Ford Pinto is $14,044.67 (USD). This is also the average auction sale price for this vehicle.
If you have a 1974 Ford Pinto, you can expect to get around $14,044.67 (USD) for it. However, it’s important to consider the specific condition and other factors that may affect the actual selling price.
In a recent auction, a 1974 Ford Pinto Wagon with 59k miles was sold for $9,100, while another 1978 Ford Pinto with 77k miles was sold for $4,500.
It’s worth noting that a 1974 Ford Pinto with only 4,780 original miles was listed on eBay with a current bid price of $8,100 and no reserve.
Conclusion
Based on the available information, the average value of a 1974 Ford Pinto is approximately $14,044.67 (USD), but actual prices can vary based on factors such as condition, mileage, and specific market demand.”
That doesn’t add up, Jeff
Wademo: I concur. Seems to me to be some “fuzzy math” going on.
Hard to imagine a more unremarkable ride than a 74 pinto with an autobox.
Reminds me of the one Kate Jackson’s character, Sabrina Duncan, drove in Charlie’s Angels.
Hagerty lists this car at….just kidding. Hagerty has no listing for the Ford Pinto, presumably because they aren’t a collector vehicle.
Here’s another seller that has been cruising the classic car dealers on line. You see crazy prices on bone stock Pinto coupes and wagons. The key to this is, you see the same cars listed for months and months, with no takers. Is it rare? Yes. You don’t see these Runabouts ever day. The color combo is sort of unique, and it looks like it’s in decent shape. But the 2300 and the automatic are an anemic pairing. Ford strangled the hell out of the engine, trying to appease the EPA. My bone stock ’74 coupe had the 4 speed, and my dad’s ’73 wagon with the 2000 would stomp it on acceleration. The seller has a nice $8,000 Pinto. That he’ll get to enjoy for a long while, at his asking price.
I do like Pintos and Bobcats. I would choose automatic transmission and air conditioning and the hatchback version. But there is no way that this car is worth 32k. The commentators all agree on that.
I’d pay $325.00 cash money and not a dime more. Best include a fire extinguisher in that beast if it will be driven.
It’s really nice, and I was at least emotionally interested, until I saw the automatic. The way the torque converter is set up in these just sucks all the power out of them. As for $30k+, this is “Merica. You can ask it, but I don’t think it’s gonna happen.
Well, it’s not worth $30k (although a Squire sold at Mecum’s Monterey Auction in 2018 for $32,000). But, 3 door Pintos seem to be anywhere between $4500 and $15,000 at recent auctions. Not my cup of tea, but, there are some folks who seem to have some interest in them, but certainly not at the number being asked for this one. The wagons are an exception, and they seem to change hands at higher numbers.
The engine could make good power for a log splitter though. In about 1980 or so I worked at SJP in Washington state and we use a pinto engine to build a great log splitter for a customer from Montana who had a contract to cut wood for the Chet Huntley Ski Lodge. Plenty of power.
Seems the thumbs up key is working better. I looked through today’s ads and for an extra 5k you could get both the Stude Hawk AND the Packard. Or, get either the Hawk or the 57 T Bird and have enough left over for a dream vacation. They’re not fun to drive, they don’t look cool, and their only historical significance is a grim punchline.
I. Just drove all the way to Great Falls Montana and picked up a 1973 All original ford Pinto sedan and I love the lil car. Gonna fix it up really nice and make every one of you guys Eat your words , all ready sent it out to air ride FBSS I know none of you knows what that means. But when I was I kid in LA they would make lil Lowriders out of them and I’m going to low ride the heck out of this one. $30,000 yea way to much but mine will be worth $20,000 all day long when finished. Wish I knew how to show pictures…for you guys not liking it there sure a lot of you making comments.
Wait, we’re dumb for not knowing what FBSS air ride means, but you can’t post photos?
Front, Back, Side to side.
Steve R
I will list another comment here. Maybe they are watching too many barrett jackson or mecum auctions and even those auctions would stop at 5grand max!!
I had a yellow 72, 2 door with a trunk, 1800/4 speed. It actually was a great little car. you couldn’t get i stuck here in central Mo. not snow or mud would stop that little car. Later i had a 74 Squire wagon with a 2000/auto/ac and it was the slowest car i ever had. Great for hauling my bass gear to gigs and such though. The 72 i just plain wore out and it went to the junkers but i did eventually sell the wagon for $500.I’d love another coupe again for fun and cheap running about but at this price, i’d have to have several of them. Nobody’s gonna pay that for this, as nice as it is. Haha, the color is butt ugly too.
I got a thousand $$$ that says that the Log Splitter is still running Today…
The seller says its a great investment! What is it you people don’t understand!
Remember-Always Be Closing.
The seller says it’s a great investment! What is it you people don’t understand!
have a few more drinks and fire up a blunt there mr seller. 32.5k never
Come on guys, after spending $30,000 for a new frame, all the body panels and mechanical parts the guy is just trying to get something for his time.
This is a “honey, I TRIED to sell…” price if I ever saw one.
I thought the ask was for the house where it’s stored.
$7,500. On a good day. Theres almost nothing built by Ford in 1974 that would bring this $32,500 except a decent Bronco or concours F150. It makes for plenty of fodder here though!
You can buy a decent Mustang for that price. It has to be a misprint. Not being smart, but I have never seen one of these sell for close to $15,000.00 either. NICE Pinto Beans can be had for 5 or 6 thousand at the most. Not guessing, that is just what I have seen out there. Nothing has been presented to show why this car is worth 10 thousand more than any other like it.
Kudos to Big Steve on the Front , Back , Side to Side ….And I didn’t. Say anyone was Dumb… I just said I can’t figure out how to send Photos from my photo library, and I still can’t…
I think you gotta be a paid member to post photos. But I agree with you on those Pinto’s. I’m looking for my 8th. I thought I had found a nice a ’71 on FakeBook Marketplace. But as usual, a scammer.
I believe that you have to be a member to post photos.
Car is worth 3.000 at most
It’s not a bad looking car but $32,000.00
Quite costly.
Brian: “Quite costly” is a dramatic understatement.
You’re kidding me right. That car wasn’t worth $500.00 brand new. But i do have a 1974 Mustang with 300 miles on it, and only asking $25,000. Maybe Barrett-Jackson will be interested.
Listing expired after 30 days and he just reposted it with the same ludicrous price.
Incredible!