While Lee Iacocca is widely revered as the father of the Mustang and the driving force behind the K-Car that saved Chrysler from financial oblivion, it seems that history has looked less favorably upon his beloved Pinto. Until recently, it is a model that remained largely ignored within the classic market, although it was a groundbreaking design for Ford. It represented the first subcompact produced by the company in North America, and while it wasn’t perfect, it was still warmly welcomed by a buying public reeling from the impact of rising fuel prices. Many Pintos have long ago made their final journey to the scrapyard, but this 1974 Station Wagon has avoided that fate. It is a solid classic that features fresh paint and a rebuilt engine. Located in Pheonix, Arizona, you will find the Pinto listed for sale here on eBay. The owner has set a BIN of $7,000, although he leaves the option for interested parties to make an offer.

The photos that the owner supplies of this Pinto are pretty limited, but they paint a generally positive picture. The Wagon wears Medium Yellow Gold paint, and the seller reveals that the paint that graces this classic is relatively new. It holds an impressive shine, with few noticeable flaws or defects. The panels are also pretty straight for a vehicle of this type and vintage, although there is a ding visible on the driver’s side front fender near the pinstriping. It isn’t bad, and addressing it should not be a major undertaking. The best news for potential buyers is that it appears that this Wagon has spent its life in Arizona. That means that its lack of rust is no great surprise. There is nothing visible in the supplied photos, and the owner mentions no issues in the listing. The exterior trim is in excellent condition, including the damage-prone original hubcaps. The chrome roof rack is a practical addition, while the glass appears flawless. Once the slight imperfection in the front fender is addressed, it seems that this Pinto will need nothing externally.

Opening the doors reveals an interior trimmed in Brown vinyl and Plaid cloth. The overall first impression is pretty positive, although some imperfections are worth considering. The most obvious of these is deterioration in the steering wheel and a missing horn button. Replacement buttons are easy to find for under $40, but the physical condition of the wheel may prompt the next owner to source a replacement. Locating a new wheel could be challenging, so they may need to hunt around on the usual online resources for a good second-hand one. The cover over the dash means that we can’t see the state of the pad. It could be hiding some cracks and deterioration, which would be common on a vehicle located in Arizona, or it may be there purely as a protective measure. It would take an in-person inspection to confirm this one way or the other. The remaining trim is in good condition, and the car features an aftermarket radio/cassette player and gauges mounted under the dash. The original owner ordered this Wagon with air conditioning, and the owner indicates that this requires a new belt to blow cold once again.

If I am disappointed by any aspect of this Pinto, that honor falls to the presentation of the engine bay. Considering the owner states that the motor was recently rebuilt, I expected things to look a lot nicer once we lifted the hood. Looking beyond its presentation, the news appears to be positive. The Wagon features the 2.3-liter four-cylinder engine that produces 82hp. That power finds its way to the rear wheels through a four-speed manual transmission, and while this is no muscle car, it should still cover the ¼ mile in around 19.7 seconds. Okay, I know that will hardly get your pulse racing. However, when you consider the circumstances prevailing in 1974, it was still regarded as good enough for plenty of buyers to park a Pinto Station Wagon in their driveway. The seller doesn’t indicate how well this little gem runs or drives, but considering he actively encourages inspections by interested parties, it suggests that he has nothing to hide.

In the automotive world, timing can be everything. When Ford introduced the Pinto, it sold in very respectable numbers. However, 1974 proved to be its glory year. The Oil Crisis had an enormous impact on the approach of the buying public, and Ford reaped the benefits. That model year marks the car’s most successful, with 544,209 buyers slapping down their cash to park one in their driveway. Of that total, an impressive 237,394 were the Station Wagon derivative. Sadly, many were considered to be disposable items. Once they had served their useful purpose, owners usually scrapped them as they sought the latest and greatest that companies displayed in their showrooms. While they aren’t seen as the most desirable classics, the Wagon remains a practical vehicle that has recently experienced some welcome value increases. It isn’t unusual to see tidy examples top $10,000, which must almost seem unthinkable for a car that would have cost its original owner less than $3,000. This one has a few shortcomings, but the BIN remains well below the magic five-figure territory. It leaves room to move if the new owner wants to lift its overall presentation to a higher level. That’s why I won’t be surprised if it finds itself heading to a new home pretty soon.