During the 1960s and 1970s, Ford developed a reputation for producing new models in an almost unbelievably short timeframe. The Pinto was a perfect example, with the car going from concept to the showroom in forty-three months, which was well short of the industry standard of forty-eight months. Although it allowed the company to hit the ground running and often steal a march on the opposition, it also allowed significant design flaws to find their way into the finished product. When this 1979 Pinto rolled off the line, those problems were a memory, but the stigma lingered for decades. This little survivor recently emerged after twenty-five years in storage, and its overall condition is impressive for a vehicle of this type and age. It needs a new home, with the seller listing it here on Craigslist in Grand Rapids, Michigan. They set their price at $5,000, and I must say a big thank you to Barn Finder Pat L. for spotting this sweet survivor.
For me, the Pinto has always been a mystery machine. The company essentially developed the car from a blank piece of paper, a process that involved significant financial investment. I have often wondered why it didn’t adopt the European Escort platform, adding sheetmetal that appealed to American buyer taste. There was little to separate the two models when the measuring tape came into play. It would have been far cheaper and may have allowed the Pinto to avoid the design flaw that sullied its name. However, the decision will long be debated, and most of those involved have since retired or departed this world. The owner indicates this Pinto has spent the past twenty-five years in dry storage in a heated garage, which helps explain its preservation. Its panels wear Bright Red paint that presents well for its age. It isn’t perfect, but the condition is easily acceptable for a survivor-grade car. It cloaks panels that show no significant bumps or bruises and no evidence of rust. Its cause was aided by the original owner’s decision to have the Ford rust-proofed when new, a wise strategy that the buyer will welcome. The trim is in good order, as is the glass. It looks like the hatch struts have lost pressure, but with replacements selling for under $100, addressing that fault is an affordable task the new owner can tackle in a home workshop. Otherwise, this little gem has no pressing needs.
The supplied photos aren’t the best, but they paint a relatively positive picture of this Pinto. The seats feature Red vinyl and patterned cloth covers, with the driver’s seat showing a significant split. The passenger seat looks okay, but the state of the back seat is unknown. Buyers could spend $560 on a new cover set if they seek perfection. Alternatively, aftermarket slipcovers would hide the problem from prying eyes for a fraction of the cost. The carpet on the transmission tunnel has faded, but the remaining upholstered surfaces and dash look respectable. It isn’t loaded with luxury equipment, but the factory AM radio should reduce boredom on long journeys.
The drivetrain combination of this Pinto is the most conservative and least potent offered by the company in 1979. The 2.3-liter four-cylinder engine punches out 88hp and 118 ft/lbs of torque. Those stampeding ponies find their way to the road via a three-speed automatic transmission, blessing this classic with the ability to cover the ¼-mile in 19.1 seconds on its way to 96mph. It might not be fast, but it sips daintily from its tank, easily returning figures of 28mpg. A light right foot can push the consumption beyond 30mpg, reinforcing the company’s aim to market the Pinto as an affordable and economical commuter option. This one may have spent twenty-five years in storage, but it is a roadworthy classic ready to drive into the sunset with a new owner behind the wheel. The seller indicates it has a genuine 60,000 miles on the clock but doesn’t mention verifying evidence. However, the overall condition makes the claim seem plausible.
It would be easy to dismiss this 1979 Pinto out of hand, and to do so would be forgivable. Ford produced these sub-compacts as affordable and efficient second cars in a two-car household that owners could treat as disposable items. Once they reached a point where they required significant work, many ended their days at the local scrapyard. This 1979 Pinto avoided that fate and has done so triumphantly. It has no immediate needs and could still serve admirably as a daily driver. All it needs is the right person to give it a new home, but could that person be you?
Looks like a nice Pinto. The apparent condition (though the pics and verbiage are sparse) seems to support the mileage and storage claims. Clean it up, make sure it is mechanically sound, and have some fun puttering around town. All for very little money.
That’s not a ‘79 Pinto… the ‘79 and ‘80 models had square headlights. This one is either a ‘77 or ‘78.
Owner’s manual in the front seat looks to be for a ’78.
You are correct, the 77 and 78 had this front end. 79 and 80 had square lights. I had a 78 with a v6 and a 80 Bobcat with a 4 cylinder. The Bobcat was a much better car.
With respect, Steven K, but is it possible that the lights were different with different trim packages, or the I4 versus the V6? I had a housemate who owned a 1979 (orange, 4-speed) and bought it explicitly for its round lights, the front grill, and year-specific running lights, which he preferred over the earlier design. He got in a front-end wreck which I helped him fix and I remember having to find “1979” parts because the earlier parts were different.
For a 79 that is low miles, posted 20 days ago.
I’ve owned over 8 Pintos, including a new 80 model, this is not a 79, it’s a 77 or 78. Look to be decent, but the automatic kills it for me.
Dash is just like the 78′ I had in highschool. 4 Speed, thought I got it to 100 once, probably speedometer error or a tail wind, strapped a big Sun Tach on the steering column, 130K miles before a drunk driver hit me head on, crumple zone crumpled.
My buddy had a red 79 or 80 Bobcat in hs . We were at a party and he parked behind my 73 chevelle but it was really slippery that winter night and he plowed into me.73 chevelle won nary a scratch..Bobcat hood grille bumper smashed pretty good. Ford knew about the design flaw and decided paying lawsuits for people burning to death in the future they knew would happen was cheaper.Gotta love bean counters.These cars do nothing for me but to each their own.
Ah, the fabled gas tank story attached to every Pinto ad on this site. Thanks again. Owned eight(8) of these things. Never once blew up.
Did any of the 8 you owned get plowed into from behind? Just curious.You’re welcome.
No, never got “plowed” into, in my Pinto’s, or any of the other 60+ vehicles I’ve owned. Thanks for asking!
This is a 77 or 78 Ford Pinto, I should know since I still have my 78, since new. Thanks
That is not a strut problem. That is the rare and sought after O-Cedar hatch option.
And if it is period correct, it will have the shag carpet end piece (sometimes called the “mop” by hipster gearheads).
During the 80’s I owned Far West Rent a Car. I had over a dozen of them. Everybody hated them but I loved them since they were built right and had the 2300 engine which was bullet proof. The engine with a turbo was used on Mercurys and flew.
I mistakenly replaced them with Ford Escorts which blew head gaskets and took the whole engine due to overheating. Horrible cars.
I wish the Pinto a good place in history
The first car I ever bought with my own earnings. Love this
My first car was a 1979 Pinto. That’s a 1978. I don’t know how someone can sell a car and not even know the right model year. It’s not like it’s a typo. He had to type in 1979 three times for that ad.
What is the bottom line , to send this car to a good home ? It would take me a chunk to get it to me in VA .
I clicked on the reply in the ad to send a phone number and couldn’t get it to open. Shipping, a rough “guesstimate” would be about $1500.00. If you can, would be cheaper to drive up and rent a U-Haul and bring it back. I would make a daily driver out of it, or long trip car, for the mileage aspects. I have an AM/FM cassette out of a 73 LTD that will fit, would just have to put some speakers in the doors. To me it is worth close to asking price. However waiting to hear back on an 80 model Olds tornado for about 1/2 the price, and it has A/C!
This car was brought to market in a record 26-28 months. For the love of God, read the Mother Jones Pinto article, you know, that famous magazine article that forever branded these loveable little cars as rolling BBQ pits. My first ever car was a newly released 72 Pinto Run-a-Bout in a very fashionable at the time Harvest Gold. Hot black vinyl seats, rubber floors, and a quick to overheat 1600cc Kent 4 and 4 speed stick. Quarter panels got rust holes in them before my eyes. God, I miss that car! BTW, the first American hatchbacks did not have gas filled struts to hold up the hatch, they had properly engineered rods and spring assemblies. BTW, this is a 77 or 78 model. I think the 76 Pinto’s had the prettiest one year only grilles, stolen from their Canadian Mercury Bobcat sister.