Do you often wonder what happens to the cars that we feature here? I have occasionally received notice from some readers that they actually acquire whatever we have just reviewed, but often they go off into the great unknown. Every now and again, however, one that was published will resurface years later, with different owners and now in a new locale. Today, we have a 1971 Ford Pinto for your consideration and it’s the same car that was reviewed back in December of 2015 – seven years ago! That’s before my time here and likely predates many readers too, so let’s see what, if anything has changed in all of that time. Located in Bowling Green, Kentucky, this second chance Pinto is being offered here on eBay for a current bid of $3,625 with seventeen bids tendered so far.
If anything lasts long enough, regardless of its original inadequacies, it gets a second go-around with renewed interest. A perfect example is a Ford Pinto or a Chevrolet Vega. Derided for years, they have become curiosity items that stir up, once again, both positive and negative feelings. And if you weren’t present for a car’s debut year (I keep forgetting that 1971 was as long ago as it was!) then it could become a modern, teachable moment.
In 2015, said Pinto was stated as being a one-family-owned California car but it now is a Kentucky resident (still wearing CA tags, however) though there is no mention made of its familial lineage. The mileage recording, at 43K miles, is unchanged, and this freshman year Pinto is still wearing its dented rear bumper – but a new one is included in the sale. It shows as if wearing its original paint and the seller states, “I tried buffing a little of it and it comes right up. There may be nicks, scrapes, scuffs dents, dings, and other imperfections. The car is dirty from sitting in storage“. The 2015 images definitely show a chalky-looking finish.
While the specific engine under this Pinto’s hood is not identified, the VIN indicates that it is a 75 HP, 1.6 liter, in-line-four-cylinder unit. It didn’t run in 2015 and it still doesn’t, though it will turn over according to this video. The seller adds, “The car is not currently running (I have never tried to put gas to it.). The engine cranks over easily (see video). The fuel tank seems to be leaking a little – not sure if it’s hoses or something else“. A four-speed manual transmission makes the connection to the rear wheels. And, not only is this Pinto not going, it’s not stopping either as the seller tells us that the front wheel cylinders are frozen.
Black, basic black, as Joe Pesci tells us is his preference in the 1983 film “Easy Money“, is what we find inside this Pinto. It’s about as spartan and austere a dark vinyl environment as you’ll find. That said, with the exception of a split driver’s seat bottom, it doesn’t look too bad. The dash pad, carpet, and door panels all check out though the red trash bin from 2015 has been removed…
I can’t tell you what this “Little, Long Distance Car“, as Ford’s ’71 sales brochure opined, sold for in 2015 because there is no accessible record. I suppose it will find a new owner as this is a no-reserve auction. My only question is, will I be reviewing it again in 2029?
We had one when I was a kid, just like this one only mustard yellow. I’d say I’ve had my fill of Pintos.
That’s a 1600 Kent crossflow engine,so I’m guessing it’s
a basic Pinto,& the radiator looks like it’ll need to be recored
soon.That said,looks like a decent car,if the price doesn’t go
too high.
I hate it when there’s little information about the car on
ads like this.From the cars in the background,I’d say this is a
dealer/flipper.
Given that Pintos were very prone to rust, it’s always good to see one which survived, thanks to its California upbringing I assume. Doesn’t look bad at all. Mine was a 1.6 4-speed, like this one. Of course it wasn’t fast, but with the manual transmission, it did make it a bit sporty-feeling. It was nine years old with 92,000 miles when I sold it (I had it seven years), still running fine.
I hope whoever gets this one will give it some love and make it car-show-worthy. If so, I can almost guarantee the car will draw loads of attention and the owner will have many fun conversations, as people reminisce about the one they had, or their mom had, or their friend had.
I had a blue ’71 with a 4 speed.(I was 16) It was not a fast car. It never had any problems with it. Traded it in, bought a green ’72 Mach I. Loved that car, I had a part time job. So I paid for it myself. Good times!
I bought my 71 4 speed wagon in 76 with 41K miles for $900 and drove it 3 years. It wasn’t pretty. Previous body work, but that didn’t matter. Hauled my band equipment on weekends and other things occasionally, like kegs.
It also was a great “socializer” for those impromptu times that came up back then. Also kept a car blanket and my set of tools in the back for anything else. One of my favorite vehicles. No regrets.
You Pinto haters, continue to enjoy your “Journey” tapes.
I spy a ’76 Cossie in the background! I’ve owned both (’71 notchback Vega, ’76 Cosworth and a ’75 Pinto Squire). The Pinto had a nicer interior, although the subject car’s reminds me more of my ’71 Vega’s base interior. The Vegas were great handlers compared to the Pinto, and pretty much anything else on the market at the time.
I owned a very rare 72 Mini Boss. They were Orange with Boss graphics and front and rear spoilers. They also came with Ansen slotted Al wheels. I bought it in 73 and upgraded the shocks to Koni’s and a a turbo system from Ak Miller. The turbo supplied was too big and lag was terrible but it sure looked cool.
Looks like it already took one hit to the rear. A near fireball miss…
A pale green 1970 was the very first car I ever “attempted” to drive and I promptly backed it into a ditch, much to my fathers horror who was setting in a lawn chair in our yard watching me. Must be why I have a fondness for these.
You rarely see these in the northeast anymore. GLWTS
1971 was the first year for these.Maybe yours was a
pre-production model.
That I am not sure, I do know Dad’s was titled as a 1970 with the DMV. Still have the owners card.
Out car shopping at 16 with my father, he was smitten with the new Pinto and wanted me to buy one. We drove one and it was OK. We then went to drive a new Capri. He still wanted me to buy the Pinto until I forced him to drive the Capri. He totally agreed with my decision to buy the Capri!!
30 years ago the local racetracks were full of these in their Pony Stock class. I suspect a lot of them got used up in that service.
We all know about the exploding gas tank, but is it true that Pintos had a tendency to fishtail? My aunt owned a ’71 and her biggest gripe was how the back end slid out when she cornered on slick roads. That, and bottoming out on bumps.
This one is a real gem (if you’re into Pintos).
I had a ’71 Pinto in high school for 1 year. It was the 2 liter with a 4 speed. It had pep but thew rear suspension was crap. Any small pothole or bump in the road would send the rear of the car sideways. I heard they fixed that problem in ’72. Perhaps that’s what your Aunt was referring to. On smooth roads it was a pretty good handling car.
All rear wheel drive cars will oversteer (rear wheels slide out) on slick roads with too much throttle application. If the driver overcurrent, then yes it will fishtail. Not unique to the pinto but possible with any rwd vehicle
Put some gas in it and crank it up!! It’s not a planter!!
Ive had two. A brand new 73 1.6 4 speed runabout. Big glass hatch. My first new car. Like 2100 bucks. The engine was awesome. I slapped fog lights , stripes , and porsche like wheel covers on it. Tried to be euro. Drove it 4 years. Then i bought another in 2008 from Oklahoma. Rust free. Yet another kent 4 speed for restoration. Sold it. Folks don’t understand when the gas crisis hit you were limited to 5 gallons. Period. Cars were lined up for miles at stations. Those million dollar muscle cars you see now were useless. Pintos , vegas, were the only Americans on the street. Mercury bobcat. But secretly i wanted the capri 2300. Or like my friend the venerable 240z. I finally ended up with 200sx. A wierd looking thing with a 240z engine and my first 5 speed. I ended up stationed in the airforce in Phoenix. 500 bucks got me a rust free 1956 ford town sedan with factory air and 292 thunderbird v8. Ive been a collector ever since. I taught myself to drive a stick in my old pinto. I loved it as much as i hated it. Alot. But as the old cowboy told me once, ” ya dance with the girl what brung ya”. Thanks for the dance little pinto.
While Pintos were no automotive prize, they were certainly better than the Vega. And this car has the English-built 1.6, same engine used in the Capri that year. Good little motor. If only the thing ran, I’d be interested.
When I graduated college in December, 1970 I needed a car. So my father and I saw a billboard showing a brown 1971 Pinto which I bought thanks to my father putting down $400 down payment since I had about $25 to my name and no job yet. Had automatic transmission. Terrible suspension and no power steering. Horn got stuck in the early days of owning it and could not start the car when it rained shortly after I bought it. Dealer fixed both situations quickly. Living in Chicago and then Michigan and New Hampshire, all heavily salted roads in winter, had a my share of rust. The trunk eventuall leaked when it rained so I had to pull out the drain on the bottom of the trunk floor and keep the trunk open on sunny days to evaporate the water. Had the car for 6 years and only work done besides maintenance was it had a leaky head gasket. I sold the car at 63K mileage in 1978 for $400 to a teenage who eventually totalled the car. Did not miss the brown turd.
Once Around….was more than sufficient !
Sort of like most GF’s.
Well said about X-girlfriends are like the Pinto:
not so good looking, and the ride wasn’t the best.
I’m surprised at least on the trunk version of the Pinto, like on the Maverick, the trunk floor is NOT the top of the gas tank …
https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/5AkAAOSwFwdjlIpe/s-l1600.jpg
Ford had money to engineer that, but not the <$20 fix for the flammable tank?
(That sunken full size spare was a darn good idea!)
I would think tho that the other Fords(falcon, mustang, etc) with the tank top as the trunk floor would be even MORE dangerous than the Pinto! Guess not.
Tho imagine if the Pinto had the tank top as the trunk floor as well!
If this car was brown it would be the exact car I had as a 16 year old.
You couldn’t kill that 1.6L engine no matter what you did.
I wonder if he’s given any thought to selling the Vega in the background?