Even before gas prices began to rise in the 1970s, American car builders realized that smaller might be better. The imports – led by the VW Beetle – were cutting into sales, so GM and Ford responded in 1971 with two all-new automobiles, From the Ford camp came the Pinto, a little runabout that would find more than three million customers in its 10-year run. This 1974 edition is said to wear an older restoration and still presents quite well. Located in El Paso, Texas, this nice gas sipper is available here on craigslist for $7,995. Bravo on the cool tip, Jack M.!
Ford sold more than a half million Pintos in 1974 alone, thanks to gas prices that had risen to more than 50 cents a gallon (wow!) thanks to the first OPEC oil embargo. The hatchback version was quite popular, including the seller’s version which also has a vinyl top. The seller says this car was previously restored, but we don’t know what that entailed. Was the work just cosmetic, mechanical, or both? The true mileage isn’t indicated, so we assume both.
A small four-banger sits under the hood and this Pinto has a 4-speed manual transmission, so factory options may have been few. The car looks super clean inside and out, which you don’t find much anymore because most of these cars served their original purpose and ended up in auto graveyards when their days were done. Few other details are offered about the car suggesting the seller isn’t a long-time owner.
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and the buyer will have to agree if a 50-year-old Pinto is worth $8,000. We’ve seen them go for much higher than that, assuming the deals were consummated. This little car won’t deliver the kind of gas mileage as a Toyota Prius, but it will give you something to show off about how automobiles were built before technology began to consume everything we drive.
I think we saw this one recently…hard to believe no one scooped up this chick magnet already
I had a ’72 lime/gold hatch back, because it had the rack and pinion steering it had good response in a drift. Oh yeah there was a 4 SPD. Transmission.
Another nice Pinto, in the common-to-Ford baby blue. I prefer this one because it has a manual transmission, which makes them kind-of fun to drive.
Yes, Scotty wrote up this one in November. The price then was $9500. Given the overall good condition, I wonder if it is getting close to a reasonable price. Especially since nice Squire wagons can fetch twice this amount.
And, it’s a hatchback. Nice looking Pinto.
odometer: 1,974,197
Considering top wage was like $4.50 an hour in 74, 50 cents a gallon is a lot. 8K is not a bad price for this, considering it’s a stick.
It may have originally had a vinyl top, but in the the next to last photo in the ad, the top is shiny. I think they made it a two tone. Looks good and will be easier to maintain.
Back in the days where a vinyl top was a look of luxury, in states where vinyl tops would disintegrate quickly in the hot sun it wasn’t uncommon for car companies to paint the roof instead of vinyl , this ad is from Texas so its very possible its always been painted.
No mention in the ad if the air conditioning system is operational. I would think for $8000 they would have painted the rusty air cleaner as well as the radiator.
Strange that there are no pictures of the area behind the hatch-back.
I had a 1971 Pinto , paid $280 for it in 1981. Great car , bullet – proof. I would change the oil every month and it would keep running. I sold it and bought a 1974 Toyota Corolla for $75. Needed a drive shaft U-joints but ran and drove fine.