“But it looks so cute sitting in that garage,” is a declaration you might make after seeing the ad for this 1974 Ford Pinto hatchback. Go ahead. Try measuring your own reaction by looking at the ad here on craigslist. Perhaps you’d be tempted further, to make a drive to Winston-Salem and have a look for yourself. But could you justify an asking price of nearly $30 G’s to make this your new ride? Or is the seller just shining you on with an over-the-top figure that he or she knows is going to place the car in the “unobtanium” category? That’s for you and your wallet to decide.
People throw around a lot of language in the collector-car world. “All original,” “Rare,” and “Collectible” are examples of this. So often, we pass these words by as we peruse ads, giving credit for qualities that are, at times, in the mind of the seller more than in the sheet metal and chrome of the cars themselves. It’s just kind of funny how this Pinto tries to be so many things. Luxe. Look at those paint-accented full wheel covers. Stylish. Look at that white vinyl top, and would you ever think to complement that with a matching lower-body accent stripe? No, maybe not, but it works. What this Pinto isn’t is powerful, with whatever get-up-and-go surely held back by an automatic transmission and AC, though those are nice options in their own right. So driving might be a bit sluggish, but then again, your mission here is less to get places that to look good doing so, and to preserve a bit of automotive history in the process.
Certainly, Ford’s sub-compact had an impact on the market. In an era when Japanese cars were starting to take over with their fuel efficiency and reliability, the Blue Oval sold over half a million of these in 1974 alone, the biggest single Pinto sales year in a run that stretched from model years 1971-80. Over that span, three million Pintos found happy new owners, a remarkable number and one that tops Ford’s domestic rivals in the segment—combined.
So what to do? There’s not a lot to go on in the ad. You Barn Finds Pinto experts can weigh in on what you see, perhaps, but there are some questions remaining even if this car is as pristine as it is claimed to be. Is this collectible? For the right price, maybe it is. It’s the fanciest Pinto you’re ever going to see, arguably, and not half-bad looking in its color, style, and proportions. Is it useable? Sure, why not? It’s claimed as a low-mileage car, if what’s presented is to be believed. But it’s not hermetically sealed from the factory, having traveled 50,000 miles already. So buy, use, and enjoy. But don’t get anywhere near the asking price, unless you just have to have this one and are convinced that there’s nothing else in the market that can make you happy. Even then, buying with the expectation of getting the money back in this half-century is probably a fool’s errand. You’re too smart to overpay, aren’t you?
Overpriced by about $24k. Yikes…
Expensive Pimento… Also called wishful thinking!!
Of course it is overpriced, and that is as far as many people will go. But considering the car, what an example of a mid-70’s Pinto. Loud colors inside and out, vinyl roof, two-tone paint, color-keyed wheel covers. Too bad the pictures are so meager– none of the interior.
Thanks Brian K.
Nice work, Brian, and what a steal!! (crickets) That’s $2,000+ cheaper than it was in April 2025.
https://barnfinds.com/50k-miles-and-32500-1974-ford-pinto-runabout/
Maybe another $15,000+ discount, and a serious buyer could be found.
Barrett-Jacksonitis strikes again
Some have barrett -jacksonitis and some have tds , none of them being good !
Even though many of “muscle cars” are way overpriced, at least they have a decades long history of being highly sought after. I have no idea where the owner of this car and other niche cars come up with their pricing. The sellers of 68-70 Chargers and 67-68 Mustang fastbacks could learn a lesson from this seller. This seller couldn’t even put together a decent ad.
Steve R
$30K for a PINTO? This is obviously some strange new usage of the phrase “Very good investment” that I was not previously familiar with. I don’t think I want to touch whatever that seller has been smoking.
The highest stock Pinto sale I can find was $21,700 on BaT in October 2024, and it was a 27,000 mile mint Pinto Squire with a 4-speed. Nice coupes and hatchbacks trade in the 5-7k range, with wagons maybe a couple grand above that. Manuals tend to be much more desirable, which makes sense given the huge performance difference.
This automatic version is probably towards the lower end of that range in value, just using my gut.
Nice very common cheap car in its day. Now, the seller’s price is sky high for this over 50 year old, 50k mileage car. I would think this seller is on super good drugs to come up with a $30 K price!!
The reason the price is so high? That question is answered in the second BF ad picture. See the old man sitting on the porch with his walker propped up in front of him? He told his grandson sell the car and I’ll split it with ya.
$29,995 Why! Why!Why! for a Ford Pinto that explodes when it gets rear ended!! 🤦♂️🤦♂️🤦♂️🤦♂️ … whats next $39,995.00 for a Vega!!! 🤯
In 1978 I was a repair tech at a Ford dealership when the Pinto gas tank recall campaign began. If there’s any doubt as to whether the fix has been performed on a 1971 through 1976, remove the gas cap and look at the filler neck fasteners. If there are Torx fasteners, that’s the first sign the job has been done. If there’s a plastic shield on the front side of the tank, that’s the second sign. There were also shorter bumper mounting bolts and a longer filler tube but they would have to be compared to the originals to discern the difference.
I have seen a few Vega’s go for around $30K but those were concours low milage Cosworth’s. Sold my 76 all original Cosworth with 43k miles for $10,000 3 years ago.
The exploding Pinto was a load of hooey, engineered BS. If you don’t know that at this late date, I’d say you don’t know much about car history in general.
Love the colour of this Pinto, and I know what the interior should look like, but the price is going to leave this Creamsicle untouched.
The gas tank issue was real… but it was exaggerated and sensationalized in the press… what really did the damage to Ford was when the “Pinto memo” was leaked to the public… the infamous internal cost-benefit analysis done by the bean counters and legal team that determined it would be cheaper to pay out the burn injury and death law suits than actually fixing the problem.
Notice how the “expose” on the square body Chevy trucks, with their dangerous saddle tanks, never, ever gets mentioned when one of those rolls thru…GM squashed that tidbit ASAP.
The gift that GM got regarding the “exploding saddle tanks” was the rigged testing that the TV show “Dateline” did… where, when they couldn’t get the tanks to explode in a normal collision, they then strapped model rocket motors to the frame to act as ignitors to guarantee a dramatic explosion on impact. GM got wind of what went on and went public with it… then threatened a massive defamation lawsuit, forcing a very public and embarrassing apology out of NBC…
I knew a detective agency once that used cars like this in their fleet and provided them to the investigators. I was just a little kid but I do recall my dad had posters of the investigators in our basement, all of them were female. I thought how strange, he must know them from somewhere.
“…But I took them all away from that. I’m Charlie, and these are my Angels.”
That was a Pinto in disguise called a Mustang II on Charlies Angels.
Hahahaha, my sides are splitting reading this one!
Yikes
hopefully the seller will see these comment and amend his behavior, and thoughts. the atty who won the pinto case used to be a friend in fort lauderdale and thanks to this car, jon got very rich. pass unless he reprices at 10% of his current asking. then I will think about it.
And significantly lower the price to go along with it! That price is ridonkulous! And yes, I meant to spell it that way, just in case anyone was wondering. 😜
Yeah, the car’s overpriced, but who puts little cafe curtains and blinds in their garage?
Someone with a $30,000 pinto
Lot of land there to grow something that would justify the HIGH asking price
Must have had sticky keys turned on and added an extra 9. That’s got to be it. This car is almost as expensive as a see-ment pond here in Beverly.
Hills, that is.
Flammable!
If there’s any doubt as to whether the Pinto gas tank fix has been performed on a 1971 through 1976, remove the gas cap and look at the filler neck fasteners. If there are Torx fasteners, that’s the first sign the job has been done. If there’s a plastic shield on the front side of the tank, that’s the second sign. There were also shorter bumper mounting bolts and a longer filler tube but they would have to be compared to the originals to discern the difference.
Quite simple, really. Wifey says sell it. Or Perhaps it’s the husband who is tired of the embarrassing thing, And then there’s someone who doesn’t want it sold, and thus the absurd price. Bottom line, it’s like that you go perhaps quirky and interesting but a junkie car that’sno fun to drive.
About 8 years ago I bought the sister to this the Mercury Bobcat. A ’77 blue hatch with same miles and a 4 speed. Paid $2000. Guess I shoulda hung on to it a few more years I woulda 15X my “very good investment” HA! What a crock of a price this Pinto is.
That’s funny! Okay, when is the man from Candid Camera going to walk through my door?
It’s high-option for a Pinto, perhaps that’s reasoning for the sky high ask in the seller’s mind?
Say no to drugs kids!
I bought my 1980 Pinto in 1998 same color, maroon vinyl interior for $500.00… weird factory options, sunroof, AC, 4 speed, 8 track player… I drove it for 3 years without a big issue.. I still think I paid too much!
this seller must have seen the 1 on B/J pull 30k and they think this is worth 30k. be lucky if the pulled 5k. some sellers really have bad case of overpriceitis.
Ridiculous price, but that’s fine. Anyone can ask any price for their car- and that’s how it should be. Cute car. Unfortunately, once you back it out of the garage the admiration will wane. To be clear: I like Pintos. Owned a couple back in the day and actually enjoyed them. Now, the issue. Pintos with automatics are painfully slow. Think geriatric sloth slow. I think it has something to do with how they set up
the torque converter. Best not to switch on the AC unless you’re heading downhill.
Maybe the seller will put a realistic price on it… no matter.
I don’t want it at any price, but I appreciate that it still exists in pretty nice shape.
There will be someone that wants it, but it’s pretty clear that person does not exist at its current asking price. Just as the sellers asking price is unrealistic, so is $3,200 (10%), or less of the asking price.
Complaints about unrealistic pricing tend to go in one direction, when it should be both directions.
Steve R
But honey… I’m trying to sell it… really… I am.
I Could See Foster Brooks Waking up & Saying; ‘I Did What?!!!!’
Or Erkel.
“Did I do that?”
Well, it does say “Very good investment.” At $30K, it would certainly have been a good investment for the current owner.
If I put curtains in my garage windows will the value of my cars climb to insane levels?…
How do you accidentally hit the 5 after typing $2999?
Couple of extra zeros on that price.
I never consider an automatic an upgrade, it’s always a downgrade, and in a small car, it’s an absolute show stopper.
I would love to have a Pinto, but not for any desirable options or for collector value, if any. I’d want one to make the closet copy I could to a Mark 1 Escort Mexico or RS2000 as I could, performamce-wise. We got cheated here in the States by not getting the 70’s rear drive Escort.
30 million happy Pinto owners? I never met one.
Well TC, since you have never met a happy Pinto owner, I’m quite sure there aren’t any.
I am going to call Donnie, he may really have the handle on this investment deal?
I have respect for Ford. Pinto’s were pretty reliable and economical. In my opinion they beat out Gremlins, Pacers and Vegas hands down. This car deserves preservation. It really pre Japanese invasion. It offered more American comforts than a bug, definitely less economy and nimble handling. It’s in great shape .
30,000 is a joke
They had a great little engine but were ugly and didn’t handle near as good as the Vega with the GT package. A friend in school put a 302 in one and I refused to ride in it LOL.