So the best things in life are not always free. And sometimes, free is not good at all. Despite the fact that the seller of this handsome 1980 Ford Pinto wagon received the car as a gift, he is not interested in taking this project Pinto any further. You can find it here on craigslist in (where else) but Washington State, where all the weird cars of the world seemingly live out their retirement with owners who drive them as dailies, not collector vehicles. He’s asking just $300.
I always tend to notice these Pintos, as you don’t see too many of the later models with the rectangular headlights and blacked-out grill slats. While we all wish this was the super desirable Cruising Wagon, those are tough to find in any form, especially late-model guise. Despite some moss growing on the exterior (another hallmark of Washington State), this Pinto appears to be suffering more from dents than rust as it pertains to its cosmetic condition. 1980 was the final year of Pinto production with the fewest cars made.
The seller does fess up that the interior has seen better days, and frankly, it looks like it’s doing double-duty as a storage container on wheels. The dash is cracked and the seats don’t appear to match, but that sweet sport steering wheel is nice to have. You won’t have to worry about shifting, as this Pinto has an automatic transmission. And with the measly 2.3L four-cylinder under the hood, I’m not sure a manual transmission would have made much difference in outright acceleration.
“Hold for Lathan” is written on the back glass, which is usually junk yard speak for, “I bought the car before it went into the pick-and-pull section.” So perhaps this isn’t a case of unwanted inheritance but more a quick junkyard flip. I don’t really care about the original acquisition, just that this honest Pinto makes its way to an owner that wants to actually restore and drive it. For $300, if it’s as rust-free as it seems, I don’t see how you can go wrong. Anyone feel differently?
I’m guessing “fired back up” is a play on words here? :)
I wish I was that clever
Now THAT’S funny right there. . .
That moss will buff right out, Jeff!
You sound as if you’re speaking from experience!
Maybe it’s the long lost Blues Brothers neo-Nazi Pinto wagon movie car!
I thought that one was buried under Chicago…?
It’s a two door! That has to add some value to it, right?
That’s not Moss…that is the ultra rare two -tone ECO coating…
Original owner
Ran when parked
Never seen rain or snow
Rust free
Worth zillions when restored
1 of 1 according to Smarti Report
Hurry, won’t last, sooo many offers
May trade down for new Corvette
Lost title, but easy for you to get
take the 300 bucks go get drunk with it! and sober up and you will thank me later! how do you take junk sit on it for 20 years and now its a rare classic!!! this fall into that rusty bronco that blow hard on wheeler dealers paid 8 grand for and then had to buy another on to fix it the rust bucket and he found a fool to pay 40 grand for it! p.t barnum said it all”there’s a sucker born every minute”!!!!
I guess if you were restoring one of these $300 would seem reasonable just for the parts.
$300 bucks! You could have a lot of fun dreaming up ways of turning this car into something interesting. I’d leave the paint the way it is. There’s NOTHING but new cars in my city😜
30 years ago you could by a nice car for 300 bucks.i was a teen in the 1980s
40 years ago you could buy a nice car for $50. My father worked in Pittsburgh as the guys would move up the corp ladder they would buy a new car. Knowing they would get nothing on trade they would keep the old one. The police would then tell them without a plate it would start getti g tickets. Since they knew dad played with cars they would ask him if he wanted to buy. Bought a lot of cars out of Pittsburgh for $50. Good times.
$300 to much
They do have mini derbeys that have 4bangers could be fun .And yes I wheel give me a Thumbs down.
Don you are correct and the local track I ran at had 6 cylinder stock car races called soccer stockers, they were a blast.
Chop the wagon top….matching Pint-chero to go with the diesel El-Chevette-amino!
What happened to the Brown Car Society? They would be real busy these days.
I would buy that at that price. Drop a 302 V8 in. My first car in High School was a pinto coupe. Green.
Oh, to be in Washington with a trailer…unfortunately I’m 3000 miles away.
I think this was Hermann Goring’s grandson’s car…worth millions.
Rust free??? From the looks of the front fender angles it is either rusting badly at the firewall or hinge pillar area.Had a 79 2.3 4sp wagon…wasn’t a bad daily driver.Sorry but this one doesn’t seem worth saving…for any reason.
Salvage the engine and drivetrain from a 80s Mustang with the 302. No paint job and some quiet mufflers for a cool little sleeper.😎
yeah. Just crush it.
I like the odd cars, wrong coast, I agree with Tim, didn’t Car Craft soup one of these up? ( back in the day, when it was new, or newer) maybe a turbo 6? also wish it had a 4 speed, but an auto is OK
I had the hatch my dad bought me for $300 in 1988 for a summer driver also in WA state. So basically I could’ve kept driving it for 30 more years with no depreciation?
Nobody has mentioned the seller’s Turbo reference; I can’t tell if it’s installed, included, or he’s merely mentioning that there was a turbo version of the 2.3 and he knows little about it. Probably the latter. But if it’s the former they would call you “Unk(le) Horsepower” for sure!
Did you ever see one of those complete beaters filled to the headliner with old newspapers, bicycle wheels, empty cat litter buckets, fast food wrappers, and more old newspapers? Usually piloted by an “eccentric” driver smelling like halls cough drops and whisky. Well, his next car is ready to be picked up.
Are you folks done? I like it and think it’s a great deal. My old man bought a bunch of these with body damage, and had them repaired and resold them. He did 3 or 4 a year ( there were plenty of Pintos in the 80’s) I drove several and they were good cars. I’m looking for a small wagon like this, they just aren’t around the midwest. Drivers door sagging, so it’s clearly 154g’s, and the Pinto I buy will have to have the 1600 pushrod engine. I’ll NEVER own another car with a timing belt.( don’t even try) It sure is refreshing to have a seller not asking $10,000 dollars for something like this,( several examples come to mind) has no use for it, but honest enough to say they got it for nothing and maybe someone wants it. If I wasn’t so burnt out on repairing things, I’d get this and swap a 1600. For under a grand, and a few knuckles,( and some red duct tape for the dash) you’d have a decent Pinto.
Knew someone who covered his car in galvanized mesh and planted grass. Don’t wash it. Comb it.
A fellow from work bought one of these new in 1980. It was the same color too. He drove it 200k miles in six years last I heard. It could be the same car as both he and I hail from Washington, the Ever(turn)green State.
BTW, I did not see any mention whether or not the car ran or not. I presume that it did not. Also, the car is sold.
I would totally buy it for 300.