The automotive world is fascinating, and many knowledgeable people have written millions of words on manufacturers’ various design, engineering, and marketing approaches. Some of their creations become instant classics, while others are considered cheap and reliable daily transport. This 1979 Ford Pinto Runabout fits into the second category. It is a rock-solid and unmolested survivor with 60,000 miles on the clock. Barn Finder Pat L. spotted this little survivor, so I must say a big thank you for that, Pat. It is listed here on Craigslist in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Affordable classics are becoming harder to find, but this Pinto qualifies with an asking price of $4,500.
The first thing I noticed about the supplied photos in the listing was that the seller could have chosen a better location. Photographing a car with a massive area of grease and oil on the ground beneath will do nothing to inspire confidence. It doesn’t appear to emanate from this Pinto, but it doesn’t look good. The seller confirms this classic is a survivor ordered by its first owner in dazzling Bright Red. Its overall presentation is respectable for a vehicle of this type and age. It isn’t perfect, but performing a light cosmetic restoration would be an easy and inexpensive task for the next owner to tackle. The panels are straight, and the original owner’s decision to hand the Runabout to the good folks at Ziebart when it was new means it has no significant rust. The damage-prone hubcaps are in good order, as is the glass. The trim is complete, and its condition is acceptable for a driver-grade vehicle.
The Pinto’s interior isn’t perfect, but it is serviceable. The new owner could replace the worn and ripped front seatcovers, faded carpet, and cracked pad. However, I would question the wisdom of that approach because the cost would probably outstrip the potential value increase. A dash cover would cost $50 and would hide that problem from prying eyes. A set of slipcovers would camouflage the seat issues, but spending $180 on a carpet set could prove worthwhile, considering how significantly it would lift the interior. A perfectionist might opt for a complete retrim, and I wouldn’t criticize them if they did. It isn’t dripping with factory options, although most potential buyers will welcome the factory AM radio with an aftermarket FM converter.
We received no engine photos, but the seller confirms this Pinto is powered by a 2.3-liter four that sends 88hp and 118 ft/lbs of torque to the rear wheels via a three-speed automatic transmission. This configuration was considered the least potent in the Pinto range. Still, it is fascinating that Ford quoted identical ¼-mile ETs of 19.1 seconds for both auto and manual-equipped Runabouts powered by the four. The seller confirms this Pinto is in sound mechanical health and has a genuine 60,000 miles on the clock. They don’t mention verifying evidence, making that a question worth asking. It fires into life at the first turn of the key, running and driving extremely well. It would be perfect for a spot of weekend classic motoring, although it could also serve as an affordable daily driver.
The Ford Pinto has received plenty of criticism over the fifty-two years since the first one rolled off the showroom floor. However, it proved to be the right car at the right time for a market focusing more on fuel-efficient alternatives. Ford produced the Pinto as an affordable daily driver with a limited service life. Most of these cars made their final journey to the scrapyard years ago, but a few hardy survivors still prowl the streets. This 1979 Pinto Runabout is one of them, and it is undeniably affordable. Are those thoughts enough for you to pursue it further?
Did the gas tank recall apply to these or was that issue redesigned into these models? These cars were nothing special in their day and that is what they were meant to be – cheap transportation. I had a few friends with these and they did what they were supposed to and not a lot more. One could get these with a small V-6, I never rode in one, but the I-4 was pretty gutless. Still, like an old episode of a 70’s TV series, fun to see….
The gas tank fix applied to the 1971 through 1976 sedans and hatchbacks. None of the station wagons, sedan deliveries or the Cruising Van were affected due to their different tank and filler design.
The 1977 through 1980 models had the update built in at the factory.
My mother had a 75 in turd brown. You could measure the zero to 60 time with an abacus. But the best feature by far was the engine randomly stalling at 50 MPH on the highway. Luckily, a turd brown Pinto was a real babe magnet.
No car – then or now – do well in a rear end collision where gas tanks are normally installed. Nader was on Big Oil dark money is all I can assume. He has a long history of going after the cars that were made to stop wasting gas. Pinto and Corvair upset oil pumpers. Maybe the Saudis. Would make a lot of sense. If you’re worried about getting rear ended, pull up your panties and stop bending over.
The V6 was really frisky. I drove one and it barked the tires with ease.
My only issue with the V6 (the 2.8L “Essex” V6 if my memory serves) was the nylon timing gears that had a nasty habit of stripping themselves when the nylon got old and brittle. The good news is that these engines used meshed timing gears with a set of idler gears instead of a timing chain, so no worries about the timing chain stretching. I think that all-metal timing gears were available as replacements in the aftermarket. The Essex V6 was quite popular at the time, showing up in the Mercury Capri in both the captive German import version as well as the Fox-body Mustang clone version, in addition to the optional motor in the Pinto. I saw Edd China do a timing gear replacement on that motor on “Wheeler Dealers” when they were upgrading a British Capri.
This is not a 79, it’s a 77 or 78. 79 and 80 had square headlights ans different tail lights, and a completely different gage cluster.
The entire front end, including the grille was totally different for’79
Newly tooled hood, fenders, bumpers and front valance. It was quite an expensive facelift for what was fast becoming a fundamentally obsolete design sold on price and (after the ’79 gas crunch hit) availability. New instrument panel too!
I’m surprised nobody at famously tightly cost-controlled Ford recongnized any money spent on freshening the old ’71 design that was never meant to be sold more than 5 years would be futile in a world increasingly filled with Rabbit clones, told Styling to black out the center grille section and switch the turn signal lenses from clear to amber and call it a day.
Only the 1980 had the square headlights. I had one, my first car…LOL
Incorrect.
http://www.lov2xlr8.no/brochures/ford/79pi/bilder/1.jpg
79 also, I has one, and an 80 also, and they were the same. 77 and 78 shared same style.
My ’79 had square headlights, same with my ’80. Maybe this one was wrecked and rebuilt with ’78 front end?
I had a1976 I bought when I was 15. It was a good little car, my Pinto was blue. This brought back soom good memories.
I had a 78 and loved it. It was a great, trouble free car for a girl just starting out. Mine was Jade and I wish I still owned it.
I agree Tim. Tough little car and right for the time. A rather large friend had one as his daily to and from work car. It developed a lean to the driver side over the years but Bob was never missing from or late to work. Put a lot of miles on it and was still driving it til the day he left the office.
Not a bad Pinto. The fuel tank issue had been taken care of by this time. In today’s era where it seems every old car is expensive, here is one which is not at all expensive. Maybe upgrade the interior and whatever else might be wrong. Would be a fun car to run errands around town, or to take to Cars & Coffee. Just remember to allow time for the “haven’t seen one in years” conversations.
Over twice the price of new is affordable? Ridiculous, says I.
I bought a brand new 78 pinto loaded up with deluxe interior, stereo, full back glass and manual trans for $3658.43. It was blue with gold stripe package. Great little car and fun to drive.
Ridiculous also says I!
I drove these when I took Driver’s Ed in 1976. The auto school ordered them with manual steering, to teach you how to do three-point turns without power steering by only turning the steering wheel when the car was moving. I car pooled to college when I was a Sophomore (1978-79) with a guy who had one as his daily driver. I actually liked driving the Pinto better than my Mom’s 1972 Maverick. It handled better, with more road feel through the steering wheel and better brakes (power-assisted front discs) than my Mom’s Maverick (four-wheel manual drum brakes).
I’ve owned a couple Pintos. Drove them hard, and they served me well. Don’t care for the vacuum cleaner nose on the later models, but I could live with it- red is nice. Automatic? Yeah. No. I don’t know the specs on the torque converter, but it seems like half the torque doesn’t make it any further. Abysmal “acceleration” with the automatic. Forget “Stopwatch”. Switch over to “Calendar” mode. 😬
This is a case where investing a few hundred bucks in a nice interior / exterior detailing would result in at least double your money back.
this never gets old……… https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ngtALzDAIcU
Is it the camera? Or does the drivers side front fender look faded out, along with the scarred up headlight bucket. Have to see this one in person.
My first car. I bought an orange ’72 Wagon 4sp stick, in ’86, for $600. Terrific car. Always started, shifted easy, strong runner, easy to maintain….
These were popular as cheap used cars in the ’80s.
Orange Pinto Wagon – endorsed by the Illinois Nazi Party.
Thanks, now I’m going to have “Flight of the Valkyries” in my head.
“They always loved them!”
You could use that rear bumper for a workbench! 🤣
That rear bumper saved my Marshal amp from falling to the ground when the liftgate on my 75 wagon suddenly flew open at a stoplight.
I don’t want to ruin the Pinto party but guys it’s a Pinto! I can appreciate any old car in good condition but…..
I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again, nostalgia does strange things to people!
4500$ is this a JOKE?.seriously that’s a 50$ car 75 if it’s really clean.
Are you OK usa?
You’ve seem to collectively have lost your minds.
A PINTO ?
Instant I saw the pic I thought I bet their asking 5k I was close.
Max and I mean MAX 50 bucks and it better run GREAT!
most ironic thing about the price ? It costs more than 50 bucks to fuel it up.
Not only is it a death trap of a car super thin sheet metal no crush zone & hit by anything other than A VW BUG is instant death it’s also SLOW and a Road hazard by its under powered engine.
Pintos in nice condition, especially wagons, are now five figure cars.
Another Rip Van Winkle commenter – just woke up from a 40 year snooze.
Obvious troll is obvious…..
Might be “ONLY” 60k miles. But the college sticker in the window could indicate very hard college kid miles.
And an econo box is only worth maybe 2 or 3 thousand.
People need to get out of the thinking… Anything from the 60s or 70s is a COLLECTOR PIECE. Yeah these are a piece ” a piece of 💩 car.
A Pinto that hasn’t rusted into a pile of dust? That’s amazing!!
Great little drag racers back in the day. Plenty room for a small block.
Who cares, at least you can sit on the rear bumper when you are tailgating! Lolol!
460 in it.