SOLD
Asking Price: $15,000
Location: Morgan Twp, Pennsylvania
Mileage: 102,275
Title Status: Clean
VIN: 8T10Z108141
Seller’s Description: Up for auction is this 1978 Ford Pinto, finished in red with a white vinyl top over a red interior, powered by a 2.8 liter V6 running through a 3-speed automatic transmission, and 102,275 miles on the clock.
This is a great example of when a regular, everyday car benefits from an owner that takes care of it, making it a rare survivor. The Pinto was Ford’s first foray into the subcompact market, a smaller rear-wheel drive hatchback that arrived in 1970 and stayed for a full decade. While many were made during that ten-year span, not many survived, or had enough fans that considered them worth keeping.
This example was originally a fully loaded “dealer demonstrator”, bought by the current seller from the original owner. It was equipped not only with the bigger V6 engine, but features considered luxury items in the ’70s, rarely even available on smaller cars in this era – Power steering and brakes, automatic transmission, a/c, remote mirrors, and upscale trim, making this a true unicorn in its time.
Exterior
The exterior of this Pinto is in good condition. It was refinished in its original colors, and the paint is glossy with a consistent tint. There are areas of orange peel visible in sections.
In front, the nose of the Pinto shows some minor stone chips and pitting. The lenses and the grill are in very good condition, properly mounted and aligned.
The bumper shows some peeling of the chrome around the license plate holes and scratching right at the edge of the centerline, but the rubber trim is clean, and the bumper is straight and shows no contact damage.
Out back, the bumper is clean and free from nicks, with good chrome and clean rubber bumper strips. Taillights are clean with good chrome, and the badging is in very good condition and properly placed.
On top, the white vinyl roof is in good condition, taut with no rips or pulling seams. Chrome along the windows are all in good shape.
Along the sides, there are some door dings present, but the paint is intact, with white contrasting rub strips intact and clean. The door handle chrome is in good shape, and the sport mirrors have good finish. The lower rear edge inside of the driver’s door jamb does show some rust but otherwise is clean and intact. Wheels are steel in body color with full hubcaps that are original, in very good condition.
Interior
The interior of the Pinto is in decent condition, with some wear visible. The driver seat has some cracks and tears visible in the seat bottom, and some dark discoloration on the seatback surface. All other seats are very clean with no visible issues. Touchpoints like the steering wheel, shifter handle, and armrests show some darker discoloration as well but are intact and free from damage.
Carpeting is intact and clean, though some sun fade lightens the color along the transmission tunnel. The dash top has three cracks running front to back, but the consistent color and no sun fade. Instrumentation and controls are all original factory equipment and work properly. Some chrome edging along the dash is worn, as well as some damage to the wood applique in front of the passenger, but all parts are intact and present.
Mechanical
The 2.8 liter V6 and three-speed automatic transmission are in very good operating condition, with no drivability issues. The engine compartment is tidy, with some road grime but no observed problems with leaks or drips.
Underneath, the chassis is clean with some issues to be addressed. Corrosion is noted on unpainted parts like leaf springs and suspension components. Floor pans have some areas of rust that would need to be addressed.
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