Ford joined the growing U.S. subcompact market in 1971 with the Pinto. They found a lot of sales success over the 10 years the Pinto was sold, but also some bad PR due to its design when impacted from the rear. Of the body styles offered, they included a 2-door station wagon and a 2-door sedan delivery, but no “Ute” or utility vehicle or pickup like the one here. This looks to have been a nicely-done conversion although the timing of the transformation isn’t known. This “Pinchero” is in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and is available here on eBay for $18,500 (or Make Offer). Thanks for this interesting tip, Dr Ron!
From 1971 to 1980, Ford factories cranked out more than three million Pintos. This was more copies built and for a longer period than Chevy’s Vega which was born the same year. The car was largely unchanged over the duration, the most noticeable difference being the added-on cowcatcher bumpers to meet changing safety standards. And Mercury got into the act mid-way by launching its badge-engineered version, the Bobcat. The popularity of the car was enhanced by the shift to smaller vehicles in 1973-74 in the wake of the first OPEC oil embargo. The Pinto was replaced by the Escort in 1980.
In the same vein as the Ford Ranchero of the late 1950s, this Pinchero (or Ranchinto, if you prefer) probably began life as a 2-door wagon (or panel delivery). Photos of other conversions like this are floating around the internet, but no references were found to any company specializing in these conversions. So, we assume this is a one-off and we hope that it was done well when part of the back half of the vehicle was cut off.
The seller says the interior is new, including leather seats. That implies that either the conversion took place long ago and the materials have since worn out. Or the work was done more recently and the interior was the last to get done. The body and paint look to be in good shape and the mileage is said to be under 45,000, indicating its been lightly used in the past 48 years. As a nice touch, the back of the small pickup has been coated in Rhino (Rhino-Shield?) to help protect it should you be hauling anything of substance. With an inline-4 and an automatic, don’t expect the payload of an F150.
Well this is something different. From some angles it looks kind of awkward, but from other angles it isn’t bad at all. It does look like it has a degree of professionalism in the fit and finish. The interior looks good. For sure you won’t see yourself at Cars & Coffee.
I just don’t see $18500. I don’t see $8500 to be honest. Just saying.
Nailed it , $6,000 a high maybe.
Hmmm.. I’m thinking $4,000. No wait, $2,500 would be better. How about free? Would free work?
Have to agree, has something strange about the proportions. No tailgate, go fast net instead. 18.5K nope, clean but hey their allowed to go fishing.
Why does it seems that in every small Ford (Pinto, Mustang II, etc.) that crude emergency brake handle is always jacked up toward the sky?!
Perhaps the parking brake is on so it doesn’t roll backwards into something. Like a ball of fire?
The wagons did not have a fire issue.
Probably to remind you to release it before driving. Studebaker had a long, pointy lever that blocked your right leg when engaged. I thought it was poor design, but quickly realized it prevented driving while engaged.
Usually because the parking brake has never been adjusted. Those cables stretch over time. The lock nuts are probably rusted in place by now
Because the Parking Brake is Applied!!
I saw another one of these a couple of years ago at a local car show. But, this one had a tailgate, and a 302 V-8. It made it to Fee Bay, too. I think it sold in the mid teens.
Ha, I bet no one can build one of these for the same $18k the seller is asking. Need more pics but it looks great.
Looks like a nice job but I don’t know about removing sheet metal in the back of a car known for gas tank incidents during wrecks.
Only the 1971 through 1976 Pinto sedan and hatchback had the recall. The 1977s through 1980s had the updates when they left the factory. The regular wagons, the Cruising Wagon and the sedan delivery had a different tank and filler configuration and weren’t affected.
Give it a rest. Wagons weren’t even affected by that “problem”.
Ah, the “gas tank” hoax streak continues.
I like it because its utilitarian but wish it had a tailgate and was about 8500 cheaper.glwts.
This looks good.
Would look better with a lift gate.
It looks well done, except it needs a tailgate. That would make it look finished. I imagine that was the last thing to do and the builder was ready for it to just be done, so he threw on the net. I could relate to that thought.
Just right for hauling my art stuff from show to show. Would also make a great vehicle for Door Dash as some of the things we deliver are on the bulky side. I saw a Vega version in the mid ’80s. It belonged to a young man I knew who had a learning disability. He used it to deliver most anything from pizzas to car parts. I recall he had a pager with him so the auto parts stores could reach him when they needed him. You’ve gotta hand it to the kid though, life gave him lemons and he made a lot of lemonade as a delivery driver.
In a country where they don’t teach cursive writing, long division, probably the ability to add 3 numbers and spelling, are you really concerned about punctuation? When was the last time you saw a script nameplate on a car? They don’t do it anymore so that the Gen X, Y, Z and alpha car owners will know what they are driving!
It appears to be powered by the 2.3 litre Lima 4 cylinder, the same 4 cylinder that was the basis of the turbocharged SVO Mustang, Merkur XR4ti, etc.
That truck could really haul with one of those under the hood.
No need for a GM LS swap. (Yeah, that was trolling.)
Allen,
While it appears identical to the Lima 2300 engine this is a fairly rare (By 1973) Cologne 2.0 engine which is the grand daddy of the 2300.
I used to dyno tune the 2.0 with Esslinger Engineering internals and side draft Webers to over 200 HP…
We were sticking them in Formula Ford cars and a few VW Buses and Karmann Ghias..
The 2.0 was designed for high RPM all day long Autobahn duty and the high nickel content of the iron block made that engine a very capable Autobahn engine.
The 2.0 was an interim engine between the 1600 British Kent engine and the 2.3 Lima engine.
Ford had the Pinto designed before they had a proper 4 cylinder, hence the British and German engines before 1974.
And thanks for the credit Russ!
Allen..
I stand corrected…
I confused this Pinto with another one I’m watching on eBay!!!
This one is indeed the 2300 Lima engine.
Duh!
But the progression was 1600 Kent, 2.0 Cologne and 2.3 Lima…
The pun is will anyone “Pony-up” to the $18.5 opening bid.
Like to see more pics overall.
Had a white sunroof bobcat at 19…
Then git a blue wagon…
I thought the “moom” bubble window wagons that looked like van where cooler than my wagon…delivered pizzas in it….
That looks like a wagon cut out and modified…like to see more picks
Had a 89 ranger i wanted to restomod with cab cut out back n fiberglass top n backseats like a lil bronco my brother had
So get yourself a Vega wagon and cut it into a 5th wheel and paint it to match. Not sure what you would do with either one but you would add to the number of people asking why
If you want to see a similar idea from Ford, do a google search for “Ford Durango”. It was a Fairmont wagon converted to a Ute, done by a California outfit whose name l can’t remember do FMC. They made a fair number of them…at least 100 l think.
I saw a Durango in the car corral at the Carlisle Ford show a couple of years ago. I was hunting Mustang parts, or I might have inquired. Cool car.
nope, some say 212 others closer to 300.
We have one near us in Cent. MA.
There are groups in our nation that prefer to keep the population uneducated, thereby making them easier to manipulate.
Dodge Rampage comes to mind. WHY I don’t know since I saw so very few of those badged from a manufacturer.
put in a ranger motor? Kent x-flow? rest0mod in SCCA livery (breaks, suspension 1 of those hotter motors, etc?)
Yes I like it along w/rampage/scamp, brat, 60s ‘chero, ve dub p/u, and many of the same. Got a bud who’d make the gate but I could just take bottom 1/4 of the liftgate/hatch’ turn it up-side-down, mig in the lill window area that’d B in it, and B 1/2 way there… Y he did not might B personal tast, mistake that this is more energy efficient or more. Good on ya mate fer tryin!
Found On Road Dead. Performance Is Not The Objective
Acronyms for Ford Pinto
I know someone who did this same build, but 302 w/4spd, much better. They are asking way too much for this one
freshly painted with the overspray on the tail pipe and leaf springs . i wonder what’s underneath the shiny white paint ?
Yes, I’ve read all the comments that this one was exempt from the gas tank issue conspiracy, but for the sake of the stigma, do you think they moved the tank to behind the front seats in “Classic” pickup style? Lol
Regardless of how folks feel about the Pinto and its’ many configurations. They were a vehicle that filled a niche for the public, just like the Rambler, Vega, Gremlin, Pacer, Valiant, Duster, etc. A small, less expensive vehicle easy on fuel consumption, that people would buy. Personally, I like the Pinto, made a lot of money, flipping them, some are actually still on the road today (1 that I know of positively, and its’ not mine, either). This is way overpriced in my opinion, but there may be someone out there with more money than brains who will spring for it, to be different. Look at the prices at televised auctions!. BTW, that auction has 16 more days to run!
Henry Davis, The Ford Durango was indeed based on the Fairmont.
216 Units were built before the axe swung because people kept driving them with the tailgate down. (even though there was a sticker on the drivers lock pillar warning not drive with the tail gate down) And for those who don’t remember Fairmonts (and Zephyrs) the whole back end of the car was tail light. So with the tailgate down, no tail lights or brake lights visible. I have one of these and the really nice thing is that they are a Fox body car/ute, so all the hot Mustang stuff fits! (Except the sub-frame connectors because of the 5.5″ longer wheelbase. I’m making my own connectors) I love Utes and this one’s body lines are almost correct/ (MHO) I also agree with the lack of an actual tailgate is a big minus to me.
That rear window is definately the rear hatch. Probably explains they had nothing to us to make a tailgate with. Learned to drive in a 74 Pinto Wagon. I do have fond memories of it.
Hahaha, 18k for a hacked up Pinto. Seriously??
I miss my 76 Mercury Bobcat.Sold it 4 years ago I bought it in Phonix Arizona I put new white wall tires on it ,drove it to Oregon. We did a road trip to Yellowstine and back to Oregon. Very dependable.
All it needs is a smallblock and a 5 speed!
I had one once. A pinto pickup truck. I was told a rich attorney had converted a pinto station wagon to the pickup truck. Mine was orange and ran like a top cheap on fuel. Stick shift on the floor. Regret ever selling it. Traded it back to the guy I got it from for a 91 Pontiac Firebird. Loved the firebird too. Those were the days. Muscle cars were everywhere.