Update 3/27/2024: There seems to be some confusion with this post. Yes, the truck shows seven Pintos but the listing (click on the Facebook Marketplace hyperlink) states that six are for sale. They are initially referred to as 1974 models but the seller goes on to mention various model years are available. Most look alike but there is some variety, at least according to the seller. Which ones are which year? I’d be the last one to be able to successfully answer that question. JO
What’s more fun than a 1974 Ford Pinto station wagon? How about a half-dozen that are mostly identical? I ain’t lyin’; I don’t know what motivates one to collect six identical cars that don’t exactly have the most sterling reputation, but here you go. Rocco B. owns this discovery, and all six of these erstwhile Fords are located in Hacienda Heights, California and are available, here on Facebook Marketplace for $16,000 a piece.
I am not going to impugn the Pinto’s reputation, nor will I sing its praises. They were cheap compact cars and their timing was right. We can debate all day long about their marketplace competitiveness with other marques (they sold 544K in ’74 so Ford must have been doing something right!) but my focus is why would someone collect six identical 1974 Pinto station wagons? Some collect Mopars (the Wellborn collection), some go for split-window Corvettes while others prefer Shelby Mustangs, and classics like Dusenburgs were collection pieces too in another time, but 1974 Pintos? To each his own I guess.
The seller states, “just got have half of them running and driving, all the cars interior are really clean, all cars are manuals, and all cars have 23,000 to 70,000 original miles“. He also states that he has all different years but they look like ’74s to me, though one does resemble a ’73 model – the images are a bit limited and the text isn’t that forthcoming. If I interpret the statement in the listing, literally, it tells me that half, or only three of the cars actually run. Power across the board is likely an 86 net HP 2.0 liter, in-line four-cylinder engine though the 2.3 was introduced in ’74 so that could figure into the equation too. All cars feature four-speed manual transmissions.
As for exteriors, all are finished in what looks like Code 6C, Medium Yellow Gold (maybe?), or something similar and it was a commonly selected hue in the ’70s. In the few images provided the finishes appear to be fair with body panels that are free of rust or crash damage. I do rant and rave a bit about federally mandated five MPH bumpers and it’s primarily because of cars like these Pintos, or similar-era Mavericks. They may do what they were designed to do but they’re just so outsized with poor body integration.
The seller adds, “All the car’s interiors are really clean” and they may be but there’s not an abundance of listing detail to back up that claim. They’re basic, no-frill environments, outfitted in a rubbery black vinyl upholstery but from what can be spied, I would agree, they do appear to be clean and tidy.
The seller sums up his listing with, “asking $16,000 for each one or best offer on each one“. Hmmm, $16 large for a ’74 Pinto wagon? I’m not feelin’ that one. Considering the “best offer” suggestion, maybe a package deal could be arranged but then you’d need to find a buyer who was jonesing for a Pinto station wagon collection but how many more of these can there be?
Just when I thought I’d seen everything. What are the odds that someone would collect 6 Pinto wagons. But to actually find 6 in the same color? And see all 6 at once loaded on a car carrier? I could be wrong here, but these dont look like repaints to me. They look original in what I can see in the pictures provided. I think the price is a bit optimistic ( Im being polite here). Maybe theyre hoping for an early retirement and theyre “cashing in” on their investment???
Dont get me wrong, they look pretty solid from what I can see, maybe some dents and dings bit I still think the price is a bit steep.
According to the facebook add, these were listed a year ago. They would really need more pictures if theyre serious. And get them all running.
The fact that they’re still listed after more than a year proves the seller is not serious. They are in the Los Angeles metropolitan area, surrounded by 13+ million people, if you can’t find any buyers there they don’t exist. As demonstrated countless times on this site, good deals don’t last.
Steve R
Truckload of beans!
Must have sold one, since there are 7 on the carrier.
Yep….this horder just beat my stash all to heck…..wait until I tell everyone and show a picture !!!!!
From the few pictures, there are at least a couple different model years.
It does illustrate that people will collect anything. “Let’s see, I wonder if I could put together a collection of yellow manual transmission Pinto wagons.” It becomes one’s personal quest.
For the Pinto fans this might be worth further investigation. From what we can see they don’t look bad.
The seller may have bought them in one lot from a courier company or other similar delivery business.
You are correct. In the pictures I see a 76 and what I believe is a 79. Unless someone changed the front ends, but they look original.
They definitely are different years, what a nutty collection! If only I had a place to park them all…
They could’ve been “Taxis” in an alternare universe!
I think you meant Pinto fan … singular.
I learned to drive in my families 74 Pinto wagon. And of course it was this yellow. I did like it. I guess it meant a little bit of freedom.
The front end pictures aren’t what I remember. Also the interior was also yellow. I’m pretty sure fabric inserts were plaid.
Built a cheap car, sell at a cheap price. Whatever they sold in 74, that’s what it’s worth!!
I think $16 for all 6 is a tad optimistic. I remember these when they were new and their only benefit was better fuel mileage when gas prices were climbing. Other than that and their propensity to go boom in a rear end collision they weren’t really notable.
The wagons didn’t catch fire in a real accident
This is not a 1974 model it’s a 1977 with those turn signal lights and updated grille.
My parents purchased a 1972 Pinto squire white with black houndstooth interior and paneling with air conditioning they only had two air vents on the dash.
Later they would add to four air vents.
I HATED this car what a lemon! Zero horsepower and you could not vacuum clean the ultra wool carpet. Horrible!
Kevster, you could/can still! vacuum real good if you had/have an all steel electrolux super J tank vac from the ’70s.
Keep to the Mopars. You’ll be safe.
Here we go again with mis-aligned propensity…
$16,000 EACH ! A bit optimistic.
I was thinking 16k for all 6 was way to much 😂 They’re crazy!!
4000 each would still be optimistic unless they are running, driving, and road legal
Seeing as this is in California, is it possible that a Movie Producer originally bought them to be in a car chase movie that was never made?
Pinto in a car chase?
Didn’t you see the Blues Brothers?
Uhmmmmm Uhmmmmm Uhmmmmm ok?
I wonder if this guy was trying to corner the market on yellow Pinto station wagons. If you really want one “ya gotta see him , nobody else got one”. The only thing that really come to mind is were these maybe fleet vehicles for some company? Maybe forgotten about in a warehouse somewhere and he bought the whole lot of them? But 16k a pop that ’65 Stude posted earlier is looking real good.
Could have been from a company that provided cars for movies or TV productions. They often need multiple cars that look alike, as an example over 300 Chargers were used during the filming of The Dukes of Hazard.
Steve R
Bingo!
I wish I could say I’ve never seen so many Pintos at one place, but I have. In the early 70s, American car buyers were I’m a bit of a daze. A lot of the females in my family loved them. When Ford announced them, Americans suddenly wanted them. They were very low priced, and Ford Chrysler and GM were scrambling to put something out there that not only got good mileage because that’s all the people wanted, but the American small cars had to compete for the market that the imports ruled. Actually it was easy in the whatt. The Big did what they had to do. Make them small, with small engines, and then decorate them with all the bells and whistles that the big cars had been doing all along.These 6 breakfast yellow Pinto wagons are not proof of how nice they could be. My girlfriend had a 1976 Pinto Squire. Yeah, Ford put woodgrain panels one them, Ford put tiny little aluminum wheels, wider tires and they were built with quality materials in the interiors. High back bucket seats, thicker carpet, air conditioning, AM/FM 8 Track stereos in them and you were good to go. They did get good mileage, and the styling and accessories made them a much easier sell, and the did. My girlfriend’s was just too damn cute.The Pintos looked like baby Ford Country Squires.The Pintos did what Ford invented them to do. Ford sold millions of them. GM had the Vega which sold well, and Chrysler had a few imported brands and hung Out American car names on them. In any event, I knew a lot of Pintos, more than Vegas and whatever Chrysler was bring in. Detroit rushed everything to get these cars out the door. So they did and it didn’t take long for the poor quality to surface.It was a very dark time in America, and not just for the Auto industry. Pintos blew up and Ford knew they could The Vega turned out to be GM’S ‘s icon on how not to build a car. That said, all things considered, the little Pintos werent half bad.I never knew of any of the ones that blew up.I would think these breakfast yellow clones were probably used as a fleet of delivery vehicles. At the end of the day I liked them, they did what Ford expected of them. If you could keep it from blowing up, they were good cars.
I think this is likely. I bought a Saab Sonett from such a company… they had four of them that had been purchased for film and then left to rot for a couple decades. If one of these people had four Saab Sonetts, six Pinto wagons seems downright likely.
@Billy. I never saw one blow up either, that’s because in reality, not that many actually did, the only thing that blew up was the media. Plus the early models were recalled, and what little issue there was, was fixed
It seems like the “focus” car is a little newer than a ’74. In addition I counted seven yellow Pinto wagons. Oh well, $16Gs each? Maybe the whole kit and kabootle.
Seller has bonked their head, with a strong case of Barrett-Jacksonitis.
And they’re probably also suffering from Mecumania.
191 RNS is a 1977 or ’78 model, and it has the all-vinyl version of the upscale Pinto interior.
I see a ’73 and a ’75. The slanted-nose profile is a 1976 or 1977. A few on the truck could be 1974s – hard to tell from the rear shot. The 1973 is on the rear of the carrier, with the slim bumper.
He doesn’t know what he has, and that’s a red flag for a buyer.
I see in his FB ad he says they are of various years.
He’s still not saying much. Nor is he differentiating between them – there’s a lot of difference between 24k and 73k miles. If he wants to sell them, he’s going to have to put up individual ads. Otherwise…he may be wanting something else.
In different circumstances, I might be interested in a pre-bumper, pre-Lima-engine, ’73 2.0 litre wagon. Pinto in its original form – relatively light and peppy. Because I have memories of that year Pinto.
NOT for one of those emissions-choked late-1970s models with power steering and a V6. Just, no.
Not 74 there 77
$16k for a Pinto? Bah hahaha. This really shows you how messed up the classic car scene is right now.
Crazy! But don’t forget, askin it and fetchin it are two very different things.
Steve got it. I can say with reasonable assurance, that’s exactly what this is. As I’ve quietly mentioned before, I have an “in” with Hollywood, and you wouldn’t believe the shows made, that never make it to the screen. It’s a gamble, and the ones that DO make it, more than make up for the money spent on the ones that don’t. It’s how Hollywood works.
As Steve mentioned, these were probably “ordered” by a production company, where a yellow Pinto wagon was destroyed, and could have easily taken several “trys” to get it right. Accuracy is not important, they usually have a very short part.
The good news is, 7, not 6 Pinto wagons will once again grace our highways, and I’d love to have one.
But, if they were special ordered, why would they not all be the same year?
Because, they weren’t “factory” ordered. Like Steve sez, and Dukes of Hazzard is a perfect example, Hollywood has special companies that have scouts that scour the country for a particular vehicle. It doesn’t have to be exact, and the company has them painted all the same, hoping the general movie watcher won’t notice the difference. Many are destroyed for a certain scene filmed over and over. The movie “Drowning Mona”, it took the producers months to line up all those Yugos, many the same car filmed over and over. Who knows, maybe they ordered 100 Pinto wagons. Some mighty big warehouses in L.A. I’ve seen them.
Doing the “thing” again, Jesse. Since my comment needs to be “approved”, I’ll be brief. I see 7 Pinto wagons, and clearly from a production company.
Can’t you guys find what’s wrong?
I released your comment. I’m not sure what’s up with the spam filter – seems the “squelch factor” is turned up a bit too high.
And yes, there are seven on the truck but the seller is advertising six for sale.
JO
Thanks, JO, you know how I feel about the site. It’s always a bit of an admonishment for me to be “moderated”, I feel a “member” in good standing, at least I think I am, shouldn’t have to be “reprimanded” with a “moderation” deal. It’s part of my frustration with todays ( computer) world. I’ve been a member for lo these 8(?) years now, clearly I’m not a risk, but no matter. I know I’m not alone here, still, all the writers do a great job. That should be the focus, not what some old crabby malcontent thinks.
Thanks again for all the great posts.
I’m sure he’s keeping one of those babies for himself..
Yeah, that’s the ticket…
JO
Yeah the desirability of these is on par with the 1970 SS Chevelle ls6.
The pinto in the picture on Barn finds is a 77 or 78 because it has rubber fender extensions around the head light’s and different bumpers than a 74.
There’s also a ’76 pictured. I’d love to check them out, but again, 3000 miles away.And for those questioning the mid teens prices? Have you seen what the wine and cheese set is asking for their Porsche 912’s?
Have you seen the difference between a Pinto and a Porsche? ;)
You’re right. But for less than a used Kia? That Pinto will run just about as fast as the $80,000 V-Dub powered wanna be 911.
In a period correct setting with a period correct semi-truck like a DD400 car carrier, this could replicate the ’70 vibe. Bring on the polyester suit, bell bottoms and mini-skirts…
Strangely enough I kind of like this post.
This would be a fun buy, I wish the seller luck at his price but in this day and age he is better off considering selling them to a movie car warehouse or selling them individually. Who needs that many of the nearly identical car?
There’s 7 on the car hauler…. lol
They may be reproducing . . .
Like someone else said, 16K for all six is more realistic. I thought maybe the guy used to run a taxi service with them but they are all manuals. Someone put some miles on them.
This makes me feel less that my car history has been mostly wasted time
$16k each 😂😂😂😂😂
Isn’t there a cliff someplace close ?
That’s right about the years , I was in the service in the 70”s and I had to trade my big block, pistol grip 4 speed Road Runner for a new 77 pinto wagon. My brother in law had the 74 wagon . Things were different,
Yes Richard, there is always a cliff, but try and resist the urge.
Get your pintos here. Get your pintos here. On sale today. First come first serve. No rain checks. 6 for 96,000 dollars. Better hurry. Braaaaaaaaaa Haaaaaaaaaaaaa
[Feverishly looking for yellow Pinto wagons on the IMCDB to beat everybody else here…]. The only yellow Pinto in a recent movie that I can find is “The Losers” from 2010 and that wasn’t a wagon. There was another yellow runabout that made a few appearances in the 80s.
The back story here is a lot more intriguing that the items themselves.
If I was a billionaire, I’d give them away to my friends as April Fools gifts.
There was red pinto station wagon in blues brothers. Other than that, these may have been in the background in different movies and tv shows.
Not to be picky, but that was technically “International Orange.”
$16k for ALL the pintos. Then use them for a ’70s theme demolition derby night at the raceway. Wear your Nomex suit.
I don’t know, a simple car that you can work on yourself, good fuel mileage as gas prices climb, with no rust. Might be better then going to the dealership for a 2024?
$16k a piece is the “honey, I TRIED to sell them, nobody’s interested!” price.
LOL $16K each! There’s a glitch in the matrix……
Pintos sure seem to show up here out of all proportion to what I would expect. And that other site having something to do with trailers. Based on the high number of comments, I’m sure that correlates to lots of extra clicks on the popups lurking all around.
The bumper mandate hurt the looks of a Pinto? Have you seen a 280Z?
I would take a 2.3 intercooler turbo from a Tbird along with the 5 speed it came with and upgrade other parts as necessary. That would be a fun Pinto. The turbo 2.3’s were made in Brazil, hand assembled, 4 bolt mains and were unappreciated, but would surely be noticed in a Pinto.
Or from a wrecked SVO Mustang, LOL! Don’t mess up a running example of an SVO, but if it’s been totaled, then go to town!
I thought the T-Bird Turbo Coupes got a turbocharged V6, the SVO Mustang got the 2.3L Turbo four-cylinder, but I could be wrong. Comment?
I looked it up, the T-Bird Turbo Coupe (1983-88 MY) used the same Lima 2.3L as the SVO Mustang. The later T-Bird Super Coupe (1989-95 MY) was equipped with a supercharged, not turbocharged 3.8L V6. Source: Wikipedia. Hence the source for my confusion. I apologize for any confusion I may have caused.
The ’87-88 T-bird Turbo Coupe had a turboed and intercooled 2.3-liter 4. ’89 was the first year of the Super Coupe with the supercharged 3.8L V6 (Ford V6, not Buick’s). Ford also built Turbo Coupes from ’83 to ’86, but without the intercooler.
T-Bird Turbo coupes 2.3 L. T-Bird Super coupe 3.8 L V6 super charged
Yes Atkinson, I would love to comment. You should do your FORD research ‘before’ you put out inaccurate information. I can appreciate you wanting to come over to the Blue Oval side but, do please do your research first.
The t-bird v6 was the super couple. Supercharged. The turbo bird was the 2.3
Well fellas, two things: 1974 Pintos, per Motor Trend, were most popular seller that year. Hence, Jim’s figure given of 544,000 units sold. Secondly, spring has sprung & baseball season has started sports fans! Perhaps the Savanah Bananas would be interested……Jus’ sayin!!!
If Pewee Herman was still around he would take them . I drove a pinto wagon for about a month as a loaner and it was great on gas for its time
Three reasons. The wagons could have been used as a small fleet by a merchant to deliver pizzas, groceries, Chinese food or auto parts. The collector could have used parts and panels if one of the other Pintos was wrecked or needed mechanical parts on a discontinued model. The wagon might have sentimental value such as first car, taken on a honeymoon or prom date and similar wagons were purchased as they came up for sale.
Is it me..or did I actually count 7 of them on the hauler???? Could be the new math being taught today..
Or reading. It’s you dude. Read Jim O’Donnell Staff comment above. Scroll a few times. It’s up there.
Looks as though they were belonging to some sort of business that went capoot. Someone probably bought the entire lot for $100 a car. NO WAY WORTH WHAT THEY’RE ASKING. IMHO
Running or not, I could have some fun with these as restomod candidates! As others have suggested, a Turbo 2.3L four cylinder from an SVO Mustang, or the 2.8L V6 from a T-Bird Turbo Coupe should be nearly a bolt-in, since the Pinto used both motors in base form. The other option would be a crate Ecoboost mill. Add a rear subframe with subframe connectors or a full frame, to upgrade the rear suspension with either a four-link rear suspension or a full IRS setup! Before you say I’m crazy, someone’s already done it, they put a full Art Morrison Chassis under one, and bolted an Ecoboost motor into the engine bay!
The T-Bird was 3.8L, not 2.8L
True, my bad. I noticed the mistake after I posted, but there’s no “Edit” function on this site. Good Catch. It’s always nice when someone has your back, LOL!
Hello, the Beach Boys called! Someone stole their surf wagon collection! Seven cars, one for every day of the week, LOL!
Just what are they smokin’ out there in California anyways?That should be more like $16k for all 6 or best offer.I’m sure the seller is the only one that sees the novelty in having a collection like this and might be influenced by that in the asking price for each one.I just see six potential V8 swap projects….
Dude has Ford’s total production of Yellow. 4-speed Pinto Station Wagons.
What a turnout for the Pinto.
My comment is the # 71.
Well, there is a pic of seven on the trailer, and two are ’73’s and five look to be ’74’s. This guy waited too long to sell them since they’re obsolete both from a parts perspective and fuel efficiency. You would do much better finding a late 90’s Honda. 🙂
Cadillac Ranch is a public art installation and sculpture in Amarillo, Texas, US. It was created in 1974 by Chip Lord, Hudson Marquez and Doug Michels, who were a part of the art group Ant Farm. The installation consists of ten Cadillacs buried nose-first in the ground.
How about Ford Pinto Ranch somewhere in California to remind future generations of Californians what existed before Teslas and other EVs ???
Oh yes! I’m surprised the Pinto Museum hasn’t snapped these up already.
I’ve been to Cadillac Ranch. It’s quite a site. While standing there looking at them, I couldn’t help but to wonder how much work went into building that. I was just thinking about those Cadillacs just the other day, I wondered if they were still there. Now I know they are.
Be fun to drive just to get looks and drive to car shows. My bro had a Pinto, I think it had the bigger 4 banger and 4 speed, handled good and not bad power.
Personally I wouldn’t give 16,000 for the truckload , scrap is only $ 200.00 a ton .
Better than a truckload of Vega’s
Too bad they aren’t all cruising wagons.
Pull the side glass in the rear and weld sheet metal into the holes, cut a hole in the sheet metal for a porthole window, and Presto! Instant Cruisin’ Wagon!
100 comments! In the last four and a half years, I’ve only encountered a triple-digit count once before and that topic was a restoration-needed Superbird or Daytona – I can’t remember now.
Anyway, many thanks to all who thought a six-pack of Pintos was worthy of comment!
JO
I just saw that as well! Very unusual and a good reason to keep bringing on the oddballs…
In a case more money than brains that would explain me if I had $50,000 to offer for all 6(7) but I would enjoy each one for what it is and they would all be top notch turnkey automobiles.
Here’s the real story behind this collection of yellow Pinto wagons:
They were originally a fleet of company cars owned by Pestana Construction in San Jose, CA. The owner, Ernest Pestana had big Ford LTD wagons for his sales staff initially. Apparently, these salesmen were taking advantage of free gas so to teach them a lesson in frugality, Ernie sold off the big gas hog wagons and replaced them over several years with the Pintos, most of which do not even have A/C!
The company closed years ago and the Pintos were stored in the company warehouse which still exists on Old Oakland Rd. in north San Jose.
Eventually, the family sold the collection to an individual in Stockton and my close friend bought all seven and in turn sold them to the individual who now has them for sale. Total sale price at that time was not much more than he is asking for one Pinto!
Thanks, Larry for revealing the real story of these poor neglected Pintos.
They could’ve been “Taxis” in an alternate universe!