For 1971, the Pinto was Ford’s first serious attempt to combat the subcompact imports from Germany and Japan. They had tried it 18 months earlier with the Maverick, but it turned out that was more of a Nova or Valiant fighter. In 10 years of production, Ford sold more than three million Pintos – but with that success also came controversy. This 1977 edition of the Pinto hails from St. George, Utah and the seller calls it true barn find, although we don’t see a barn anywhere. It’s available here on Facebook Marketplace for $1,400.
The Ford Pinto was introduced in late 1970 at the same time that Chevrolet launched the Vegas, so they both set out to duel with the imports. The Pinto generally outsold the Vega throughout its production. Mercury got their version of the car to sell in 1974 and they both lasted through the 1980 model year. Midway through its run at Ford, the Pinto got into trouble over the car’s safety record which then led to controversy in Ford’s responses. Pinto’s fuel-tank design and placement attracted media and government attention after several deadly fires occurred related to the tanks exploding during rear-end collisions. Even though small car sales were on the increase in the mid-1970s after the OPEC oil embargo, the Pinto’s were actually falling, so the damage had been done to the car’s reputation.
This 1977 Ford Pinto is likely the Runabout edition because of it being a hatchback model. The seller describes the car as rare due its color, but since more than 74,000 Pintos sold that year were Runabouts, it would only be rare because it has somehow survived. We’re told the car has the 2.3-liter inline-four which was common to these machines, but there’s no word if it runs. The car has new tires and some brake work has been done, but more is needed and possibly there are issues with the rear end. It has an automatic transmission, condition unknown.
The bottoms of both side doors are rusty, so that would lead us to believe there is likely rust in other places, as well. For example, these hatchbacks were known to develop leaks and if this one did, there may be rust in the back, too. The glass and chrome do look good, but the interior with its matching orange pattern on the seats may need redoing. One door panel is off, but it looks to be in the back area.
The seller suggests this as a restoration project for a Pinto collector, although I have to say I’ve never come across one. While priced in the market as used cars, really nice ones can go for high four figures. In condition similar to this one, $1-2,000 is more likely. The seller isn’t bound to make a huge profit on the sale if she gets her asking price.
It’s a Runabout, Russ, not a Roundabout. You must be thinking about a highway intersection design, or maybe a song from the Pinto’s era by the group Yes.
Can you imagine a car today with orange plaid upholstery? On second thought, maybe such an expressive interior would liven up the sea of white/ silver/ gray/ black cars.
Thanks for the catch, Bob. Must have had a brain fart. Corrected it to be Runabout!
Appreciate your work Russ, and the work of all the other staff writers.
But has it seen all good people?
Is that a Camaro grille stuffed in the Pinto grille opening?
I thought the grill looked out of sorts too.
That Camaro grille should be good for at least another 20 horsepower . .
Agree on the grill. The front end actually looks like a Vega.
That was a great catch!
I was thinking the same thing..
This example looks like a baby Starsky and Hutch car. Maybe some of you remember Ford’s way of “resolving” the gas tank issue. They welded a piece of steel behind the tank and it curved partially underneath. Did it work? Can’t answer that.
It was also an issue on the early Pintos only , not the ones with the 5 MPH bumpers
Why would anyone want to take on a project like this?
Ru kidding? I’d buy it in a heartbeat if I could. Had four of them, starting with a 72 sprint as my first car in 1983. Though I’d rather have the cruisin wagon beggars can’t be choosers
i had a 73 i bought from my mother who bought it new. never really had any issues with it and it was driven very hard. seeing me drive it you wouldhave thought it was a precursor to the dukes of hazard. i will admit i did not make jumps as grand as the general but it did take some flight. 2.0 with a4 speed, and i was able to take alot of bigger cars off the line and even beat a 6 cyl nova in a drag. it was a great 1st car for me as i bet it badly
I like Pintos, but this thing looks lame without at least a set of wheelcovers on it, if not the optional mag style wheels also used on the Mustang II. Oh, that that grille is correct, the eggcrate is indeed very similar to a Camaro of the same era but it’s all Ford! I like the Pinto style that came before and after this mishmash of 5 mph bumpers and sloped “safety” front fascia.
A couple of years ago, I came across a 77 Mercury Bobcat with the big rear window. It was in a private collection in the back of a Car Auction Yard in Denver. It looked just as bad as this one. The guy wanted $300. I think I offered him $100 being that I would have to pay to tow it which would have costed me $300. He declined my offer. He ended up selling it to a junkyard.
I have never seen a Pinto with that grill. To me, it looks custom, or aftermarket, but, you can see the bumper also has a slight beak to it, so maybe it is factory. It’s pretty fugly if you ask me. But no one asked.
The Illinois Nazis would like it.
As for the “rare” color, just Google 1977 Pinto and look at the dozens of pics of orange ’77 Pintos. Rare? I don’t think so.
Sabrina Duncan, Kate Jackson’s character on Charlie’s Angels drive this exact car… but new and with a correct grille! 😂. The others had Mustang ll’s.
The grill on the Pinto was straight between the turn signals, not pointed like this one. This is something custom.
“Custom” like they went to a pull-a-part and found something that would work in the space. I could see that. And WOW, what a difference it makes on the front of this turd. SMH
Its a Camaro grille , but similar to the one the car came with originally . the Pintos grille fit squarely with the parking lights and didnt protrude out like this one.
I agree that there is something off with the grill. I can’t tell from the pictures if it is a Camaro grill wedged in there or a Pinto grill sitting funny.
I had a orange 1977 Pinto wagon, woodgrain, the same tacky orange & white plaid interior. It had the top loader 4 speed behind the 2.3 engine. The threads that held the shifter into the transmission were stripped out a d the shifter would pull out every time you would shift. It was a real headache to drive, and to a 15 year old kid in the mid 1980’s, it was embarrassing to be seen in. I would love to have it now!
The grill is from a 1979 Camaro. Top half.