The Pinto was Ford’s response to the invasion of Japanese and European imports in the late 1960s. Since Ford had been building small cars across the Pond for many years, the Pinto was an evolution of that prior experience. It was a rear-wheel-drive subcompact powered by an inline-4 engine that would provide good gas mileage, even before the cost of fuel would become an issue. This 1978 edition looks like a Plain Jane daily driver built toward the end of the Pinto’s run (1980 would be the last model year). It’s had some recent work done and we’re told it drives well. Located in a garage in St. James, New York, the Pinto is available here on Facebook Marketplace for $5,000 (negotiable). This car was discovered for us by Barn Finder Dennis House!
For over a decade, more than three million Pinto’s would be built, despite some negative PR it accumulated over gas tank fires. The heyday of the automobile was in the mid-1970s when everyone was moving to econoboxes to save money at the gas pump. The most noticeable changes would be larger bumpers fore and aft to accommodate increasing Federal mandates for crash protection. 1978 Pintos were pretty much the same as 1977 Pintos which received slanted back urethane headlamp buckets, parking lamps, and a new grille that year.
The seller’s aqua green ’78 Pinto may have seen little use in 43 years, accumulating just 55,000 miles in the process. But that might not be accurate as we’re told the 4-cylinder engine and manual transmission have been replaced at some point. The body and paint present well enough although there may be a little rust at one of the wheel wells. And the seller says the floors have been repaired. It appears to be one of many cars the seller has in his large garage, and it needs to go to free up scape. Recent repairs/improvements include new brakes, rotors, and brake hoses. Add to that new tie rod ends and a fuel pump. By today’s standards, is this Pinto a good buy?
Wow, two mint green basic Pintos in two days!! This one certainly isn’t as pristine as the previous one, but it still looks good. And with the mechanical upgrades, perhaps it would be a low-stress collector car to own, for not much money. If nothing else, when you stop in at the grocery store while you are running errands, you don’t have to worry about an inattentive kid getting too close to it and causing some damage.
As is often the case, sure wish the seller would put more effort into the sales presentation….
Wow, I was thinking the same thing Bob_in-TN, and, they’re both trunk models. Would of been nice to post some interior pics. If I had my choice, of course I’d choose the ‘77, but this could make a nice low budget project.
It’s in New York and NOT rusted away ?!?!
I’ve never seen a mint green Pinto ever. Now in two days there are TWO mint green 1978 Pintos?!
Good point, S. I have seen a bazillion Pintos over the years even owned a dark green one but do not recall ever seeing this color, until these.
My neighbor had a 78 wagon in this color, and I’ve seen quite a few others back in the day, pretty common.
Seems to me no one is complaining about the price on this yet. Is it just the inflation? I had my 78 Mercury Bobcat coupe with hatchback featured here by someone a couple of years ago, and I had it listed for 5k. There were a lot of gripes about the price being way too steep. Part of the reason for my price was I had the little 2.3 engine rebuilt with a Ranger head and only about 500 miles on the rebuild. Usually, when we sell these ‘old cars’, we are trying to get some of our money put into them back. And normally, we don’t get all of it back or even half. Mind you I bought that Bobcat for $1400 in 2014, and a year or so later I bought a 76 Pinto with 2.8 engine for $1000; however, I decided to keep the Bobcat instead. I noticed the decent ones seem to be going for 3k to 5k these days! And there is nothing different about them. It’s usually still the same factory car! Still a $1000 car (or a little more) in my mind unless we get new stuff on it or its showroom condition.
It’s ripe for a turbo coupe swap five speed and completely easy bolt in rear axle 3.74 posi. Simple sleeper, trust me I’ve. Done it before
It’s ripe for a turbo coupe swap five speed and completely easy bolt in rear axle 3.73 out of a king cobra posi. Simple sleeper, trust me I’ve. Done it before. That was a fun car and Big Surprise to the 5.0 mustangs. They got a bit worried whe I opened the dump tupe and spooled it up at the light😇
Posted 7 weeks ago, no interior photos.
So cheap, Ford didn’t even chrome the bumpers!
They’re aluminum, just like the mid 70s Camaro .
This car is ALOT worse than it looks. When you blow up the pics the wheel wells look like they’re loaded with mud and wavy. Theres no interior pics because its probably toast. If you blow up the one through the drivers window it shows the dash and its just crap, not a little crap but sh*t. The rest is most likely sh*t.
The guy should be truthful, how would you like to buy a decent looking pinto to go get it or pay for shipping and recieve a pig in a poke.
Don’t know why my last comment was taken off? Anyway, when I sold my 78 Mercury Bobcat back around 2018, the guy over in Utah was quite pleased when he received it. And he got it with a rebuilt 2.3 engine with a Ranger head and 500 miles for 3k. I lost a lot of $ whaat I put into it, but it got more upgrades by him in its new happy home:)
This guy probably saw the posting here on B/F a couple of days ago for that 77, and figures, if he can get over 10k for his, mines gotta be worth half, NOT! After closer inspection, I agree with Matt, this thing has been rode hard, then put away wet! I don’t buy the 55k mile claim. I would have to think the entire interior is roaches, not to mention being from New York, probably not a whole lot of floor or undercarriage left. I’m a Pinto fan, but hard pass on this one.
1k car at best.
not oe color? a shinny update I’d say but no matter (unless pushing that it is oe) its the rig itself. Lub the Lima motor, swap to later head, the 1 w/D shaped ports (Ranger). Carb same, nuttin like the 2v 32/26 progressive…