It’s hard to imagine returning to an era where woodgrain trim becomes standard equipment again. This 1978 Ford Pinto wagon sports very old-school Missouri license plates and is said to have been in storage for seven years. The body looks reasonably straight in the dust-covered photos, but the seller does note it will need the windshield and left door glass replaced. It’s a manual transmission car, so it could be worth a look. Find it here on craigslist for $1,500.
It’s difficult to get a clear red on this Pinto’s condition, but the woodgrain applique is certainly doing better than I’d expect for a car of this vintage. These were not exactly robust materials, often times just a glued substance that can be peeled off with your fingers and some heat when it gets old and brittle. I’m guessing this is the rare “Runabout Squire” which came standard with the woodgrain finish, but certainly would defer to our Pinto experts to confirm.
The seller says there is less than 100,000 miles on the four-cylinder mill, which still turns freely. The manual transmission doesn’t turn this Pinto into any sort of a rocket ship, but it’s still better than an automatic. The engine bay does look a bit tired but not torn apart; seeing the air cleaner assembly still attached inspires some mild confidence that the wagon wasn’t halfway torn down before sitting for seven years. Expect modest output, with under 100 b.h.p. on tap.
The biggest issues seem to be the glass. The seller says the windshield should be replaced, but it’s hard to see why in this photo which looks to show an intact front windscreen. The left door glass is down and presumably completely shattered if the seller advocates replacement. This isn’t a huge issue if the loss of glass occurred while the Pinto was stored inside. Some pictures of the interior are a must for confirming the absence of water damage. Overall, these woodgrained Pintos don’t pop up too often and this one could be worthy of rescue.
It requires some imagination to get past the wood grain into something more interesting. Looks like a future drag racer to me. I guess we all have a bias in life.
Well first off it’s a Pinto. And it appears to be at least partially torn down, the front accessories are off and the timing belt is exposed.
The timing belt is indeed exposed, perhaps the result of a shadetree belt replacement, but the front accessories are still on. I spy an alternator and the secondary air pump. Not much else in the way of accessories to go on the front. It wasn’t uncommon to see these cars without air conditioning or power steering. Power steering really wasn’t necessary on a light car like this, and air conditioning was still considered somewhat of a luxury in the mid to late ’70s, especially on an econobox.
Uhh. Isn’t that a big square hole of nothing in the middle of the windshield? You can tell because the glass around it is covered in dirt. Also, I believe the “Runabout” moniker was dropped by the time this wagon was built. It was on the earlier cars to designate a liftgate instead of a trunk. I had a 71, and the Runabout badge was on the sail panel and the liftgate had vertical chrome stripes down the back, similar to an old Nomad!
I believe the “Runabout” moniker was dropped by the time this wagon was built. It was on the earlier cars to designate a liftgate instead of a trunk. I had a 71, and the Runabout badge was on the sail panel and the liftgate had vertical chrome stripes down the back, similar to an old Nomad!
I love it. I will take ten.
Front glass has huge hole in it, unless I am am a wipe?
In 1980s at the local wrecking yard they had more pintos than any other car, and turned many away for more, Just an econo car of its time. But I have very fond memories of a Pinto station wagon and Im a Chevy guy! Thank you Desi for taking my virginity in the back of your moms car that night.
I see a potentially nice inexpensive beach car. GLWS
Just a little thing, but a grill will need to be sourced as I see a hole in it! Overall tho it Looks like a Straight forward fix up to me!
Wrong Way, after years of being a perfectionist, I have finally come to a place where a small hole in the grille wouldn’t bother me.
I would drive it like it is, unless I found a grille cheap and close to me.
It is tiring trying to get and keep every car perfect.
I agree but little things like this just bug me! I actually bug myself trying to be correct about everything I do! LOL, you would think that at my age I could ignore the little things but I just thought that I would point it out! :-)
I’ve got a complete SVO motor/trans package just waiting for a place to live…
This could clean up nicely, although I would be concerned about rust, especially in the floors. The “Runabout” name was use on the regular coupe hatchback models. This is simply a “Pinto Squire Wagon”. In 1976 Ford did offer a “Runabout Squire” that was a hatchback coupe with the woodgrain on the sides. They were only offered that one year and very few were made.
“…appears to be at least partially torn down…”
I think that’s how they came. I C 1 on the smog pump’n alternator & that top gear’s-posed 2 B that way. correct me if wrong.
“…at my age…”
yes – as a teen everything just so, perfect! (& struggling to do so).
Now? “Ahhh, as is is good enuff!”