The Pinto was Ford’s first subcompact built in the U.S. Between 1971 and 1980, more than three million copies rolled off the assembly line. Yet you seldom see one anymore because they were cheaply-priced, disposable automobiles. This 1979 edition is a hatchback, so it’s a bit more versatile than the 2-door coupe. It may be a survivor, though we wonder if some work has been done on the driver’s side rear quarter panel. Located in Barberton, Ohio, this should be a driver when cleaned up. The little Ford is available here on Facebook Marketplace for $3,200 OBO. Kudos to JDC for the tip.
Ford and Chevrolet both got into the subcompact game in 1971. Chevy’s Vega was rushed to market and became known for premature corrosion and engines that overheated and warped. On the other hand, the Pinto soldiered on for three additional years (the Vega was done in 1977) and spawned the Mercury Bobcat from 1974 to 1980. In later years, the Pinto caught some negative press for the placement of the gas tank, which might (that’s the speculative word) explode in a rear-end collision. Replaced by the Escort in 1981, the Pinto still sold well as late as 1979 at nearly 200,000 units.
This little Ford has probably served its owners well over the last 47 years. The odometer has turned over, so the Pinto has traveled 110,000 miles with an inline-4 (probably 140 cubic inches) and a 4-speed manual transmission. We’re told the car runs and drives with no problems, but there are cosmetic issues the seller refers to. These cars had some of the biggest bumpers ever seen on U.S. cars back then, with the rear one being as large as a picnic table.
The interior looks good, but the seller would have better luck if she’d taken out all the personal stuff and run a vacuum through it. The Ford could stand a tuneup, and the seller says the parts to do so come with the sale. While the car is located in Ohio, it has a Pennsylvania title; we assume from the Pinto’s prior owner. If the cosmetic issues won’t get you in too deep into fixing, is this a good $3k car?
This thing will needs a lot of body work.
You can see the bondo just about falling off.
All along the bottom edges, it’s either rust, bondo, or fiberglass filler. Living in Ohio, I “repaired” many a car using this method back in the 70s and 80s. I’m actually surprised the filler on this one has managed to stay intact for so many years.
These iron engines (and heads) were solid runners. My boy went through several cars while finally growing up a bit but he couldn’t kill his Fox bodied Capri with this drivetrain. :-) Terry J
A Kamikaze rear flamer ……worth half the listed price.
Well, by this model year, that issue was fixed.
Well, by this model year, that issue was fixed.
Wrong. That was an issue with the earlier models, not these
Cut out the filler, get some fiberglass panels, drop a 302(5.0) in it, and have a blast.
To Eric O.K. 1/3 the price listed ……not as an exciting car now . Ho hum…
Ka-BOOM. You know, of all the Pintos I’ve come in contact with, dozens easy, I never saw one that was burned. Many were hit in the back, but the study was so flawed, I never believed it anyway. An industrial journalist named Mark Dowie, led the investigation in 1977 called “Pinto Madness” for Mother Jones magazine. It had huge repercussions. They claimed over 1,000 people died that way, when it was really more like 27. The Pinto was no more prone to fires than any other car. It was a standard position for gas tanks then. People weren’t fooled and 3 million Pintos sold, almost 200,000 in ’79 alone, one of their biggest years. They were good cars, and so was the Corvair. Great find.
You tell ’em, Howard! 🤘
Everyone thinks my nickname is because of these. I have never actually owned a Pinto. Drove a few as rental cars. At the time I had a 71 Stang for a DD and I DIDN’T FEEL LIKE GIVING HER UP EVEN WITH THE GOSH AWFUL GAS PRICE OF 80 CENTS A GALLON. (stupid cap lock) My 71 was a simple 302 2bbl 3sp, so not all that bad on gas. The 68 I drove on weekends was, but I didn’t care (still have that beauty. 2 engine builds and 2 repaints, but 50 years plus and still going.) When I finally gave in when the gas price topped a buck, I bought a new Escort. Unexciting, but heck, it was just for the commute and the air in it worked fine. Oh yeah, the nickname, from an old Western movie I used to quote from. Pinto was the wise cracking side kick in that flick.
I had a 79 Pinto hatch in dark blue. During the early monster truck era someone took off my drivers’ side mirror and left a rubber skid mark along the door.