I was a kid in the 70's but I can tell you how much I Loved the Ford Pinto my dad bought after years of owning Beetles for one major reason. There was actually heat in a car for the first time in my life.
@thehopelesscarguy
3 жыл бұрын
There is a reason the Beetle was more popular in the south.
@briansquire8825
3 жыл бұрын
My beetle’s heater melted my shoe. Idk people say the heat didn’t work
@thehopelesscarguy
3 жыл бұрын
@@briansquire8825 I would imagine that at least some of them had to have worked. I think the one my cousin had did, but I will have to ask her about it.
@mylanmiller9656
3 жыл бұрын
@@thehopelesscarguy The only heaters in the beetles that worked in cold weather was the ones that had Gas heaters, they burned more gas than the Engines! Every body that owned a beetle also owned a window Scraper and a Good warn jacket!
@wyomingadventures
3 жыл бұрын
@@mylanmiller9656 I agree with you my mom had both of these cars. We lived in the midwest. Froze my butt in the bug. Was glad when my mom got the Pinto.
@williamhill7312
3 жыл бұрын
I had a 79 Pinto, great car, wonderful time in my life
@thehopelesscarguy
3 жыл бұрын
Nice to hear.
@jokeroneninesevenzero
3 жыл бұрын
My first car in 1986 was a 79 Pinto. I was in highschool and it was a free car. That thing got us to the beach almost every day in the summer of 86.
@stall-u-rated1986
3 жыл бұрын
Got one sitting on the side of my house.....
@waynelowe4478
Жыл бұрын
@@stall-u-rated1986 still runs?
@robvancamp2781
3 жыл бұрын
My first car was a '72, lemon yellow Pinto. I bought it at a yard sale for 50 bucks.
@thehopelesscarguy
3 жыл бұрын
I presume you got your moneys worth out of it.
@rsprockets7846
3 жыл бұрын
I learned to drive on a 71 pinto in Jan 72 with no drivers license. And it was a rental
@thehopelesscarguy
3 жыл бұрын
@@rsprockets7846 I guess that is one way to do it.
@michaelflores2318
2 жыл бұрын
My brother in law's nephew had a Pinto Runabout and he loved it
@franciscodanconia45
3 жыл бұрын
Our family car in the 70’s was a Pinto. I didn’t know it was a piece of crap because it was our only car. I was amazed when I grew up and bought my own first car and it had adjustable seats on the passenger side too! We were a happy family because we didn’t have people telling us we were poor, so we didn’t know or care.
@thehopelesscarguy
3 жыл бұрын
My first Pinto had dual adjustable seat but the drivers one was broken so I swapped them. This created a problem as the lever rubbed the center hump so I raised the seats using lug nuts as spacers and this made the car much more comfortable to drive.
@BuzzLOLOL
3 жыл бұрын
They weren't bad cars except for the timing belt and rust...
@thehopelesscarguy
3 жыл бұрын
@@BuzzLOLOL Neither of mine had rust issues.
@clarkhull7546
3 жыл бұрын
very true
@junglejim5785
3 жыл бұрын
@@BuzzLOLOL But at least Buzz you could slap on a new belt. Check and set the timing and you were off again. Unlike today's zero engines that grenade themselves.
@bagley11
3 жыл бұрын
My first brand new car was a 1980 red Pinto. Sunroof, the works. Loved it and have great memories.
@thehopelesscarguy
3 жыл бұрын
Very cool!
@mlss1229
3 жыл бұрын
@@thehopelesscarguy I owned an 1980 pinto it was a great starter car. Never left me stranded on the road
@derekcrymble9085
3 жыл бұрын
My friends Pinto was on Firestone 500 tires .......Great combo !
@thehopelesscarguy
3 жыл бұрын
Puns aside, Ford and Firestone were married.
@boataxe4605
3 жыл бұрын
Yep, the tires that had a design flaw that killed many. Imagine if he had a blowout, hit the breaks, then got rear ended and blew up.
@junglejim5785
3 жыл бұрын
@@boataxe4605 Never had issues with Firestone tires. But I keep watch on my tires.
@davidanderson2973
Жыл бұрын
Yep, I Gave My Ex a Pinto with a Set of Firestone Tires, As an Anniversary Gift !!
@xltoffroadbear
3 жыл бұрын
Great video! The Pinto, despite the scandal, was a good car. My parents each had a Pinto and later I did too. I also owned a Chevy Monza. It's funny, I'm old enough to actually have driven most of these cars and can relate to a lot of what you said.
@thehopelesscarguy
3 жыл бұрын
It is interesting to see how a cars reputation can change over the years.
@reyzapata9375
3 жыл бұрын
Yup.!. I’ve owned 3 pintos back in the 70’s and in the 90’s. which I turned them into low riders. 2 hatchback and a station wagon custom. 😎😇👍
@thehopelesscarguy
3 жыл бұрын
Surprised I haven't seen more lowered Pintos.
@624radicalham
3 жыл бұрын
I love looking for mistakes in videos like this, since 99% of them make horrible mistakes or completely omit, don't know, or forget facts from the competition, but this video is a pure GEM. Everything is covered here. Super accurate and actually truly educational. Rock on!
@nlpnt
3 жыл бұрын
The only note I'd have given is the body-style timeline. The trunked fastback coupe (always referred to by Ford as a 2-door sedan) was the only one offered at 1971 new-car intro time in fall '70. The hatchback (Runabout), part of the original design program, followed a few months later in early calendar '71. The wagon didn't appear until early spring '72 as a mid-'72 launch, presumably after a crash program to match the Chevy Vega in a segment (station wagons) that Ford historically dominated.
@thehopelesscarguy
3 жыл бұрын
It is this kind of sharing that makes this channel worthwhile to me.
@thehopelesscarguy
3 жыл бұрын
Thanks, I'm not sure how that could have happened. When I go through to edit my hour long ramble into something coherent I can post, I often wonder if I'm even aware of what I'm saying.
@willythewave
3 жыл бұрын
@@thehopelesscarguy Lol I`m the same way. :)
@KDoyle4
3 жыл бұрын
It is an excellent video in many ways. The only mistake I spotted has to do the the AMC Gremlin. When they first offered a 4 cylinder engine it was not a GM engine, but a crummy VW / Audi engine licensed to be built by AMC.
@majorfrost8206
3 жыл бұрын
I had a friend who was given his aunt's Pinto wagon when she had to stop driving. It was a standard and the gas tank was in a safe spot. He drove it for years.
@thehopelesscarguy
3 жыл бұрын
They did tend to stick around, whether you liked them or not.
@gertvanderhorst2890
3 жыл бұрын
@@thehopelesscarguy The wagons were the best, luggage space for four and better mileage
@thehopelesscarguy
3 жыл бұрын
@@gertvanderhorst2890 I like the wagons.
@rayemanuel7460
3 жыл бұрын
I remember 1975 well. I was 12 years old and my father purchased a brand new, white 2 door Pinto Mpg with tan vinyl interior from S & C Ford in San Francisco. MSRP was $3995! Drove that car through high school.
@thehopelesscarguy
3 жыл бұрын
I presume it was fairly well optioned at that price.
@thehopelesscarguy
3 жыл бұрын
@Peter Evans Or any color.
@liams.5971
2 жыл бұрын
They call it "vegan leather" now LOL.
@leeberge6928
3 жыл бұрын
Had a 71 . Worked at a auto shop. Put a beefy cam, dual webers, and 4 into 1 header pipe. Then beefed up the clutch. At just under 2000 lbs this car screamed. I would love to have her now.
@thehopelesscarguy
3 жыл бұрын
Cool. I know a number of people that hot rodded Pintos. Been awhile since I've seen one though.
@rogerwilcojr
3 жыл бұрын
I still have my book on How to Hotrod Your 2.0L OHC Ford, which I did. Those cars and engines were easy to work on with lots of aftermarket parts. Put on some wider tires and slotted wheels under those wide fenders and it looked pretty cool. But I still gotta give props to the Datsun 510 (which wasn't even mentioned).
@thehopelesscarguy
3 жыл бұрын
@@rogerwilcojr The 510 was a bit more upmarket.
@rogerwilcojr
3 жыл бұрын
@@thehopelesscarguy MSRP in 1971 was $1990, so pretty close. Granted, 10 years later when I was buying one of each the Datsun was about twice the cost of a Pinto.
@glennnickerson8438
3 жыл бұрын
It's amazing how much influence the pinto had! It's front suspension and steering would fuel a cottage industry for hot rods for decades (and still does) and the 4 cylinder engine would influence the Ranger pick up years later.
@thehopelesscarguy
3 жыл бұрын
If nothing else, the Pinto is one 70s car even non-car people know.
@marzsit9833
3 жыл бұрын
i had a 1972 pinto runabout hatchback (no trunk), 2 liter with c4 automatic and it was a great little car. i did the modifications needed to prevent the fuel tank from being punctured in a rear collision and always felt safe driving it, although it was not very good in the snow or on ice.. the rear end was a little light. but it was extremely reliable and always got 20-25mpg. eventually the engine wore out with over 300k miles on it, i couldn't find another 2 liter engine for it and didn't want to overhaul the old one so i sold it to a guy who wanted the front suspension for a street rod project. sometimes i wish i had held onto it, it was a simple basic car that was very easy to work on.
@thehopelesscarguy
3 жыл бұрын
The simple, basic car, which they still made something like that.
@michaelwilliams4410
3 жыл бұрын
The 1977 & 1978 Ford Pintos had a front-end which looked rather sporty, and I really like the 3-door models from those years! Although the Ford Pinto was described as unsafe, it has been said that the models built from 1977 through 1980 are "safe".
@thehopelesscarguy
3 жыл бұрын
The front styling from those years were better looking then the early ones for sure and I always thought the hatchback looked kinda like a AMX from certain angles. I knew a guy that rear ended a pinto in a Chevy pickup with saddle tanks and neither vehicle exploded and I've seen a Volvo catch fire in a collision so luck seems to play a big part in "safe".
@lvsqcsl
3 жыл бұрын
Of the "thousands" that supposedly died in Pinto fires the NHTSA investigation revealed that 27 people actually died. Given the cars production numbers which was over 2 million, the Pinto was no more fire prone than any other car of the time and had a better rate than cars like the Datsun 1200 and the Toyota Corolla. The placement of the gas tank was commonplace at the time in many cars.
@thehopelesscarguy
3 жыл бұрын
@@lvsqcsl Are you suggesting the media may have exaggerated things for a story?
@lvsqcsl
3 жыл бұрын
@@thehopelesscarguy No. The media would never do that.
@thehopelesscarguy
3 жыл бұрын
@@lvsqcsl Of course not.
@buxxbannerspov30
3 жыл бұрын
I had two Pintos...a '73, non-hatchback, shocking purple, the small 1600 motor, slot mags, hooker header and twin weber carbs, Indy tires...a real nice running and looking car, the second a stock '77...both really good cars
@thehopelesscarguy
3 жыл бұрын
Many people modified and raced them.
@bradkrekelberg8624
3 жыл бұрын
My parents' '74 Pinto wagon was my first favorite car. To this day, I'm a Ford man in part because of it. Looking back now, the Pinto was at least remarkable in the fact that it was for sale in the mid '70s, and it wasn't super ugly. You name just about any car from that time... fugly.
@thehopelesscarguy
3 жыл бұрын
I like 70s styling. Let me rephrase. I like some 70s styling.
@rhigh100
3 жыл бұрын
I have a 71 Pinto. Number 628 of the first ones built. 75850 actual miles.
@thehopelesscarguy
3 жыл бұрын
Do you know if there are any earlier ones still on the road?
@rhigh100
3 жыл бұрын
@@thehopelesscarguy Thousands of them. Check out some of the Pinto groups on Facebook. Ford Pinto&Mercury Bobcat for sale is a good one.
@cm1133
3 жыл бұрын
My mom had a lemon yellow Pinto n the mid 1970s. I miss those days. I miss my mom.
@thehopelesscarguy
3 жыл бұрын
Oh, I'm sorry.
@johnwehrle7206
Жыл бұрын
I had a 1972 with a vinyl roof in a cream color. It was outstanding- drove 230k miles with no motor problems and sold it on.
@thehopelesscarguy
Жыл бұрын
Not uncommon I think.
@DinsdalePiranha67
3 жыл бұрын
I just HAD to watch this video. My first car was a '74 Pinto 2-door.
@captainkirk4514
3 жыл бұрын
I had 74 Pinto, this baby had the 1600cc with a 4 speed manual, a single barrel carburetor which put out an earth shattering 74 horsepower, a true gutless wonder! Great gas mileage though. With today's speed limits on the interstates, I think it would be a bad idea for highway traffic.
@DinsdalePiranha67
3 жыл бұрын
@@captainkirk4514 Are you sure yours was a '74? If memory serves, the standard engine for that year was the 2.0L four (which my '74 had, along with the 4-speed). I'll agree with you that these cars weren't suited for modern interstate speeds. On my trips between home (southern CA) and Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, mine couldn't even crack 50 mph up the Grapevine - and that required dropping into third.
@thehopelesscarguy
3 жыл бұрын
I think most 4 cylinder cars of the period only passed as highway cars thanks to the double nickel, and then only on a flat surface.
@thehopelesscarguy
3 жыл бұрын
I do believe '73 was the last model year with the 1.6 but in those days many states registered vehicles by sale date instead of model year which has created many arguments over the years over what is what.
@captainkirk4514
3 жыл бұрын
@@thehopelesscarguy Yes, that is true, but the car was produced at the beginning of the 1974 model year, sometimes manufacturers will use leftover engines and transmissions from the previous model year that are no longer in production to get rid of them, so essentially, my Pinto was a 74, but the engine and transmission were from the 73 model year.
@jimfreeman8991
3 жыл бұрын
We had several including a Bobcat. None of the ever caught fire. One of them burned oil so fast that we would "fill the oil and check the gas". It never failed to start, unlike other makes that we had.
@thehopelesscarguy
3 жыл бұрын
Ah, one of those.
@Johnoines
3 жыл бұрын
What I remember most about the 71 Pinto that I bought new was that it's lack of arm rest/door pulls caused me to replace a couple of latch handles that broke off because the driver's door had to be slammed to get it to latch properly (I could had adjusted the striker-duh). Also, it was extremely hard to start in the winter (should have installed an engine heater). What I liked about it was that it would cruise at 75 mph down the interstate on my daily 50 mile drive to work with no problem. Overall, I thought that it was OK and I liked its looks (a yellow hatchback, 2 liter automatic)
@thehopelesscarguy
3 жыл бұрын
Pintos were not great cars, but neither were they terrible.
@BuzzLOLOL
3 жыл бұрын
Unless you live in Alaska or Canada, it should have started fine with a proper tune up...
@thehopelesscarguy
3 жыл бұрын
@@BuzzLOLOL Never under estimate the importance of proper maintenance.
@Johnoines
3 жыл бұрын
@@BuzzLOLOL We often get to -20 F (or colder) at night here in the winter. My 63 Chev with a 283 2 barrel would start, the Pinto wouldn't.
@BuzzLOLOL
3 жыл бұрын
@@Johnoines - Gets that cold here as well... our Pinto always started...
@LyleBialk
18 күн бұрын
I bought a brand new '72 Pinto Runabout. LOVED that car, the only one I ever had that I wish I still had. It was a great car! Looked good, totally dependable, fun to drive, extremely economical. Comfortable ride, considering it's size. I drove it cross-country several times. I liked it so much, I later bought a used 1980 Pinto wagon - it was also a fantastic car, though I much preferred the looks of the original.
@thehopelesscarguy
18 күн бұрын
I wouldn't say I "loved" mine, but I enjoyed it.
@tntanto
3 жыл бұрын
How I remember from my childhood the days of Pintos (my older brother’s was baby blue), the Vega (one of my friend’s mom had an orange one), VW Bugs (Dad’s was red, brother’s was tan) & Gremlins (didn’t personally know any owners). Nice video.
@thehopelesscarguy
3 жыл бұрын
Cool. Thanks.
@g-mang-man7924
Жыл бұрын
We had a few Pintos in the family. Had a 73 wagon, with an automatic, and with good snow grips, and 3 bags of sand in the back was unstoppable in the snow. Also had a 74 hatch back, 2.3 4spd, and a wind open sunroof. Both were fairly reliable. Still have a soft spot for them
@thehopelesscarguy
Жыл бұрын
Understood.
@jpolar394
3 жыл бұрын
I help build those cars and the Mercury Bobcats at Ford's assembly plant in New Jersey. (Metuchen)
@thehopelesscarguy
3 жыл бұрын
That's cool.
@brendanliamgill99
3 жыл бұрын
Like what years im curious because im trying to find info on a small batch of mercury Bobcats that had a unique blue that was only on 424 of them in 1980 the last model year for the car. You remember anything on them like the color description or at least a place too find a add campaign they had for it so i can figure out the color name anything like that would be huge for me
@thehopelesscarguy
3 жыл бұрын
@@brendanliamgill99 I'm afraid I wouldn't have anything like that, sorry.
@jpolar394
3 жыл бұрын
@@brendanliamgill99 ....There was a decal inside the drivers side door jam that had the color code for that cars color. I sure wish I can help you more but I worked on the main line(finish line), we had to read manifests that corresponded to the car number. Every day the number begins with 1 and ended with something like 490 or 500. That's how many cars that the shift put out for the day. Maybe someone who worked in the paint shop or the body shop will see and read this message and can help you better than I can and provide you some better information.........Good luck.
@jpolar394
3 жыл бұрын
@@brendanliamgill99 ........Hello, it's me again. I was thinking and for that year I remember they made a run of Pintos for that year of approximately 5000 cars for the U.S. Postal service that had a special color to them. Maybe you have one of them or are you sure it's a Mercury Bobcat.
@debrawood8262
Жыл бұрын
I adored my little red 1977 Ford Pinto. I drove it until 1980 without any problem at all. I still miss it. ❤
@thehopelesscarguy
Жыл бұрын
That's nice to hear.
@ronniedelahoussayechauvin6717
3 жыл бұрын
I never owned a Pinto, I did own two Volkswagen Jetta’s though. I miss my Dodge Challenger RT💔
@thehopelesscarguy
3 жыл бұрын
I think a Jetta or two might make me miss a Challenger R/T as well.
@fieldinglover
3 жыл бұрын
now that is a car to miss ! most people don't really miss selling a Pinto ! I had a v8 vega and had fun but I used it and got rid of it , don't miss it I used it for all it was worth , the car I miss is my first car , a 1967 firebird ! I restored it in the 80's then sold it ( like a dummy ) then saw it two weeks later TOTALLED ! I just about cried , took me two years to restore it ! I miss that car !
@thehopelesscarguy
3 жыл бұрын
@@fieldinglover That is heartbreaking.
@garyovermyer1050
2 жыл бұрын
I ordered a 1980 Ford Pinto Wagon for my Mom. Dark Brown with the 2.3 and the 4 Speed, Air Conditioning, Power Steering and Front Disc Brakes. I have 4 Brothers and ALL of us drove this car on and off for 10 Years. Reliable and roomy. Best of the Sub Compacts at the time...
@thehopelesscarguy
2 жыл бұрын
I did like the wagons.
@ztruth84
3 жыл бұрын
Your knowledge of American automotive history is truly apparent, and refreshingly informative. Keep it up, the youtube algorithm will catch up to your content quality!
@thehopelesscarguy
3 жыл бұрын
You are too kind. Hopefully the videos are getting better as I go along.
@insolentstickleback3266
7 ай бұрын
Pinto was|is a fantastic car. If you look at the race pedigree of all the cars you mentioned the Pinto is by bar and away the KING of motorsports, my first car was a 74 Pinto, I have owned many Pinto's, and at 58 I still own a very nice 71 Pinto.
@duaneivey6090
3 жыл бұрын
myself and my co-workers (ironically worked at a gas station) witnessed a rear ended Pinto fire. We ran with fire extinguishers, nothing could be done, the Pinto and it's occupants were fully engulfed. The scene haunted us, even to this day, I sometimes think of the horror.
@thehopelesscarguy
3 жыл бұрын
I have seen more than my share of horrific crashes. Some have been more gruesome than can ever be described in words, but the hardest to see is people trapped and panicking.
@duaneivey6090
3 жыл бұрын
@@thehopelesscarguy I still see their silhouette, helplessly trapped.
@thehopelesscarguy
3 жыл бұрын
@@duaneivey6090 I'm sorry to hear that.
@robynperdieu3434
3 жыл бұрын
Was this in Winamac Indiana? The famous trial was held there after young woman was killed when rear-ended, setting it on fire.
@duaneivey6090
3 жыл бұрын
@@robynperdieu3434 no, windsor ont. canada
@dz1sfb
2 жыл бұрын
Loved the Pinto and owned many different ones. Thanks for all the detailed sales information. I started out with a 72 Runabout with the 1.6 liter engine. Not a real goer. Our family soon added another 72 Runabout that was a 2 liter with a manual transmission. That one was a little rocket and eventually ended up in my brothers hands. I ended up putting a V8 in the first one which was involved in an accident that destroyed the body (fortunately no fire), which put me on a search for a new body. That led to 72 Station wagon with a blown motor, which was perfect for the V8 drive train removed from the wreck. I then purchased my first new car, a 78 Pinto sedan which had nearly every option except air. That was a V6 model. A few years later my then wife and I would purchase a 77 wagon, then we got another , a 78 Cruising Wagon. Had another 3 Pinto beaters that were used for just getting around that ended up in other folks hands. When you get used to servicing a specific vehicle and know the ins and outs it becomes easy to stick with it. They were easy to work on and fun to drive. However owning one now would be more nostalgic and difficult to maintain.
@thehopelesscarguy
Жыл бұрын
Some people say it is best to stick with what you know, which seems reasonable. And the Pinto could be quite the performer when done right. I wouldn't go out of my way to buy another Pinto but I wouldn't be against owning another one. And I do have a 5.0 Ford in my garage with no plans.
@williamforlines9724
3 жыл бұрын
Drove the living hell out of a Pinto while Army recruiting. Thousands upon thousands of miles. Insane mileage. Owned 3 Vegas too
@thehopelesscarguy
3 жыл бұрын
I think Pintos were often driven to death, but that was kind of the point of them. It wasn't the car you kept in the garage with low miles, you used it.
@boataxe4605
3 жыл бұрын
That must have been some tough recruiting, ( Hey look! If you join the army then you can drive a Pinto too!”.)
@sly2392
2 жыл бұрын
i had a 1971 ford pinto, the first year of production. with a low production number. i purchased it used in 1989 for $400.00, and it was in excellent condition. i must say it was a very reliable car as long as you know how to work on cars, just general maintenance. i sold it in 2012 for $1,250. there are a lot of vehicles that also explode if you hit them in the correct area. but you dont hear about them. like with any other vehicle, if you do not maintain them they will fail.
@thehopelesscarguy
2 жыл бұрын
I turned a profit on both my Pintos as well. Maintenance is key, something manufacturers seem to be forgetting, increasingly creating a need for specialized tools for even simple repairs.
@nickhill8612
3 жыл бұрын
Hey I just found your channel and I immediately liked and subbed. Great memories of the pinto with my dad.
@thehopelesscarguy
3 жыл бұрын
Thanks, that is awesome.
@jeffking4176
3 жыл бұрын
I had a ‘74 Pinto wagon. Converted into a Camper [ complete with 110 electric outlets, mini, gravity fed sink, wit water “tank “ made out of PVC pipe, mini refrigerator, 12 inch TV, and an electric fan. I cut a hole on the inside of the back hatch, so I could open it from the inside. I used contact paper on the back windows and cut out smaller Diamond shapes for “ windows “ . I made wood framed screens for the pop-out windows, and passenger side door window. ( the roof rack was partially used for the water tank, and storage. - additional storage, under rear seat flap, with seating removed.) TOMMY, my cat, and I traveled the US for about 3 years in it, working in Ocean City MD, and Eureka Springs Arkansas in summer, and Florida in winters. 📻😁‼️
@thehopelesscarguy
3 жыл бұрын
That is certainly not the average Pinto experience.
@MensAsses33
3 жыл бұрын
During the OPEC oil crisis, Pintos were selling like hotcakes. My Dad bought the last one on the lot. The only problem was, it was pink, with a black vinyl top. My father was firmly heterosexual, he couldn't have cared less what people thought. My brother and I, however, were teenagers and we were mortified and refused to ride in it, whenever possible. After about nine months, my Dad took it to Earl Schieb for a 99 dollar repaint--red.
@thehopelesscarguy
3 жыл бұрын
I must admit I have never seen a pink Pinto. If it was a vinyl top I would guess an early fastback model? A friend of mines mom had a pink '63 Skylark and she said the best thing about it was her boys never ask to borrow it. I also have a friend that collect Imperials and he as a pink '59, but he will tell you it isn't pink, it's "Desert Rose". I guess it is no wonder that mid-80s trend of hot pink wiper arms and matching BBS wheels didn't last long.
@MensAsses33
3 жыл бұрын
@@thehopelesscarguy I'm pretty sure that it was a '73 Pinto that he bought in late 1973, when the '74's were coming out. It had a "third door" hatchback with the large glass window. It was also a manual transmission, with air conditioning. Bubble gum pink was on the Ford color list, I remember seeing pink Mavericks and pink Mustangs. He retired in 1977 and moved up to an Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme Brougham--soft yellow with beige velour interior and beige vinyl roof.
@thehopelesscarguy
3 жыл бұрын
@@MensAsses33 I don't know that I've seen a hatchback with the vinyl top. At least not that I've noticed. That is quite the combination. In the early 70s a lot of small cars didn't come with AC and those that opted for it usually chose the auto. That is a serious move up market to Cutlass Supreme Brougham but they were some of the most popular cars of the period.
@zephyr332
3 жыл бұрын
In 1976, my mum bought a brand new Mercury Bobcat from her local dealership in Toronto. But this wasn't any ordinary Bobcat - it was a rare "sport" edition called the "Super Bobcat!!" Oh yeah! My mum's 1976 Mercury had earth shattering features like a V6 engine, race car steering wheel and a sun roof!! Actually, she drove that car until 1985. The only big issue she had with the Bobcat was shortly after she bought it - she was driving on the highway and the engine stalled while she was doing like 90km/hr! She had it towed back to the dealership and they said there was some defect with the carburetor, and it was still under warranty so they fixed it free of charge. After that, she never had any more problems with it. Finally, in late 1985 (when she found out she was pregnant with ME), she got rid of the Bobcat for a larger family sedan - and that larger sedan was.........the 1983 MERCURY ZEPHYR!!! ...with the inline straight 6!
@thehopelesscarguy
3 жыл бұрын
I'm sure it seemed like an upgrade at the time, but in retrospect it probably wasn't. Still, I've seen worse trade ins. I had a neighbor that traded his '69 Daytona for a new Thunderbird Super Coupe in '89.
@Jackalski57
3 жыл бұрын
Wow, the Mercury version of the Fairmont. Too bad you were just a babe, or you could have hooked her up with Esslinger Engineering's straight six performance goodies. At least it was reliable. Lowest cranking amps needed to turn over that engine and you couldn't kill the straight sixes!
@zephyr332
3 жыл бұрын
@@Jackalski57 Yes sir! And my grandfather (my dad's father), had the Ford Fairmont at the same time mum had the Zephyr. I remember the Fairmont was white with lime green pint stripes, the Zephyr was red with white pint stripes - both 4 door, and both with the straight 6. And I can tell you first hand, the Zephyr took a BEATING! That car went from Toronto to Newfoundland and back TWICE, back and forth a few times from Toronto to Quebec, all up north on rugged roads in northern Ontario in the cottage country, plus the regular daily commutes. She had the Mercury Zephyr from '86 - '97, but in it's last couple of years, she didn't run so well! By that time, it was all rusted and rotted out and it couldn't even make it to the end of the street without stalling... if my poor mother was even able to get it started!! I tell ya, my mum ran that Zephyr right into it's grave! But it was a good little car in it's time.
@luvr381
3 жыл бұрын
I knew someone who had a 1976 Rabbit that rusted to scrap before she had it paid off.
@thehopelesscarguy
3 жыл бұрын
In some parts of the country that was considered normal.
@luvr381
3 жыл бұрын
@@thehopelesscarguy I live in the rust belt, not too many late 70s/early 80s cars lasted too long.
@thehopelesscarguy
3 жыл бұрын
@@luvr381 I just got back from the Oregon coast and saw several 90's cars that were not surviving so well.
@clarkhull7546
3 жыл бұрын
Now that's funny 😊!!
@bobplyler8057
3 жыл бұрын
I bought a new 71 Pinto runabout in early 1971. I got the optional 2 liter engine (50 bucks) and the Luxury Decor Option, with knit vinyl seats and some chrome. I put over 160000 miles on it, then sold it to a friend. The only things I had to replace were the clutch(once), brakes(several times), u-joints(once) and timing belt(several times). It only broke down once, in 1979 when the timing belt broke (that one had over 60000 miles). I pulled over to the side of the road, diagnosed the problem, crossed the street and hitch hiked to the closet Ford dealer. I got a new belt, and hitch hiked back to the car. After getting the belt back on I was on my way. Took a total of about 1 1/2 to 2 hours.
@thehopelesscarguy
3 жыл бұрын
A fairly major repair in 2 hours on the roadside is very much a thing of the past I think.
@535tony
3 жыл бұрын
The Pinto is said to be such a terrible car yet over 3 million were made.
@thehopelesscarguy
3 жыл бұрын
I suppose it is all a question of what you are comparing it to.
@535tony
3 жыл бұрын
That is just not true.
@rickloera9468
3 жыл бұрын
I've owned two 1972 Pintos. First was a loaded brand new Runabout that I got as a hand me down from my parents. Loved that Pinto. After I sold my first 72 in 1981, I returned to the scene of the crime and bought another 72 Pinto in 1983. Drove it til 1990 when I sold it to the same person I sold my first Pinto to. I really miss my Pinto. My second Pinto also a Runabout was a strippo model. I put seats from a 1982 Mustang in it, which raised the seat level to a much better position, also giving me reclining seats as well. New carpeting with sound deadner made it a very quiet car. Painted it Dove Gray, a late seventies Ford color, This color has made come back on Fords, Kias, Hondas, Dodge and other cars using slightly different shades and names. So it would look fairly modern on the road today. Added a console from a Mustang II, newer door panels and a steering wheel from a1976 Mercury Cougar. My only regret was selling it. I have discovered that finding a four leaf clover is easier to find then a Pinto. Nit because it's a bad car, but back then they were considered a disposable car.
@thehopelesscarguy
3 жыл бұрын
Wow, you really personalized it.
@impalaman9707
3 жыл бұрын
The Pinto? I remember seeing more Mavericks on the road where I grew up! I didn't get why the Maverick was so popular. The thing was shaped like a "duck" on wheels!
@thehopelesscarguy
3 жыл бұрын
I know how we ended up the the Maverick as a Falcon replacement, but it sure seemed like a downgrade to me.
@gertvanderhorst2890
3 жыл бұрын
@@thehopelesscarguy People told themselves the Maverick was a coupé and that's was make you look sporty and young. Well, it looked ways better than a 2-door three box sedan.
@jn1mrgn
3 жыл бұрын
All I could ever figure with the Maverick is, the person wanted a Mustang but not stylish. Why it existed baffles me.
@thehopelesscarguy
3 жыл бұрын
@@jn1mrgn I think the Maverick was a way to replace the Falcon with something with less direct market crossover with the Mustang.
@jn1mrgn
3 жыл бұрын
@@thehopelesscarguy The first generation Falcon was the most perfect car ever made. Never was any need to replace it.
@michaellowe17
3 жыл бұрын
The 2.8 liter V6 was first offered in the Pinto in 1975, I bought one brand new that year. It did reduce gas mileage, but allowed it to accelerate to highway speeds and cruise effortlessly. The mileage was still better than larger, heavier cars of the time. The seats were improved as of 1974, you no longer felt like you were sitting on the ground. You are right, they were not great cars, but they were "less bad" than a lot of their competition. People joke about the Pinto, but I was very proud to buy a brand new car with my own money at the age of sixteen. I still think that a V6 Pinto was the best new car choice that I could have made within my budget at that time. Good video.
@thehopelesscarguy
3 жыл бұрын
Thanks. I can't imagine a very high percent sold with the V-6 as I have been around lots of Pintos and never seen one, and I've seen at least a dozen with V-8s swapped in them.
@michaellowe17
3 жыл бұрын
@@thehopelesscarguy The brochures of the time said that the V6 was only available in the Runabout (hatchback) or wagon, but it was not accurate. Mine was a two door sedan. Over the years I've seen two other 75 sedans with factory V6s, a couple of wagons, and one runabout. They are rare. It really was a cool car for a teenager.
@thehopelesscarguy
3 жыл бұрын
@@michaellowe17 It was the mid-70s when they started restricting special orders for dealers, before that the factory would do almost anything you asked for.
@lvsqcsl
3 жыл бұрын
That 2.8 V-6 was available from 1975-79. Except for 1980? the Pinto was available with 2 engines. 1980 the 2.3 liter was the only engine.
@kierancurtis8545
3 жыл бұрын
I'll take the Gremlin 😀
@thehopelesscarguy
3 жыл бұрын
It certainly had a personality.
@jamessimms415
3 жыл бұрын
Would love to have a Gremlin X to tool around town in
@thehopelesscarguy
3 жыл бұрын
@@jamessimms415 Levi's Edition.
@lvsqcsl
3 жыл бұрын
The Gremlin was actually was a 96 inch wheelbase version of the AMC Hornet. They were a bit bigger and had a V-8 engine available on some years.
@Hoomi2
3 жыл бұрын
The 2 liter Pinto engine was one of the easiest engines I've ever had to work on. The cast iron block was practically indestructible, and most everything on the engine was accessible. The down side was, its reliability was such that I had to work on it much too often. When my job was transferred from California to Tucson in '93, I had a '73 Pinto Runabout that had been resurrected from sitting in a yard for years. It had the vinyl roof that was dry-rotting away, and I restored it to running condition with an assortment of junkyard parts (including seatbelts from a Honda, because I absolutely hated the shoulder harness buckles the Pintos came with at that time). We dubbed it "Frankenstein's Pinto," and that car made the drive between Tucson and the Hesperia area of California almost every weekend for some eight months. Some of the looks I received from other drivers on I-10 were hilarious.
@thehopelesscarguy
3 жыл бұрын
Imagine the looks you would get now.
@bolt4694
3 жыл бұрын
My first car was a 1972 Pinto with the 2 liter motor, automatic. A bunch of little things went wrong with it, but I loved it. It was quick, would lay rubber and handled well. Wish I still had it. My brother drove a 64 Beetle. I drove his car from time to time. When I got back in my Pinto, it felt like I was driving a Cadillac.
@thehopelesscarguy
3 жыл бұрын
Perhaps a slight exaggeration, but understandable.
@celticsanster
3 жыл бұрын
My mother had a 1972 Pinto hatchback, yellow with black interior. My sister took that car to college. By the time I took driver training in 1976 I trained in the Datsun B-210, which I loved. I borrowed the Pinto to take my driving test. I loved both cars, they were easy to drive. Plus, I was only 5’3” but could see easily out of both cars. I fell in love with the Toyota? Versa Note after renting one a few years ago, but they were hard to find. It was the only car that fit me in the same way the two 1970s car did. Eventually I bought a 2017 Ford Fiesta which is not as comfy or view-friendly as the other three, but I really like it. Except for my brief foray toward the Versa Note, I’ve been a Ford gal all my life, thanks to that sunny yellow Pinto. But I didn’t know about the gas tank problem until many years later.
@thehopelesscarguy
3 жыл бұрын
Few modern cars are view friendly. With cameras replacing all the mirrors perhaps the wind screen should be replaced by a view screen. Sounds like what you need is one of those big old cars with the power seat that goes up forever and the tilt/telescopic steering.
@g-mang-man7924
Жыл бұрын
I have owned 3 of them. A 71 1.6l hatch, with a manual sunroof, a 74 squire wagon 2.0 auto, and a 75 wagon 2.3 4 speed. All had their issues, but always got me from A to B without ever leaving me stranded.
@thehopelesscarguy
Жыл бұрын
Seem they kept drawing you back.
@g-mang-man7924
2 ай бұрын
They were cheap, and available for sale by neighbors!
@docdeth904
3 жыл бұрын
I bought an '80 Pinto Pony 2.3 4 speed in '87 after I joined the Navy.. After a rod froze and caused the cam to be eaten up, I traded the head for a lightly used Mustang SVO head, an Isky cam and dual Weber side drafts with a modified intake, a Borg Warner 5 speed and 3.73 rear (from the same SVO) and 4/2 headers with 2.5 inch pipes and Cherry Bomb "mufflers".. I ended up with 240 HP and still got 27MPG.. I loved that car. Had it until it got hit by a pizza driver in '98 and totalled.
@thehopelesscarguy
3 жыл бұрын
Making lemonade.
@Jackalski57
3 жыл бұрын
That was an issue with the hydraulic lifters that started with the 2.3L. If the car sat too long, or you waited too long between oil changes, etc. one or more lifters would "freeze up" and take out the lifter(s), followers and the cam. Fortunately, the cam came out the front, though to do it all "right" you'd need to take off the head. I still have a Hedman Header for the 2.3L in storage that was never installed in a car.
@docdeth904
3 жыл бұрын
@@Jackalski57 I was lucky. The mechanic had an SVO that the owner didn't want to pay for the repairs, and was curious to see what he could do to a Pinto.. started with just the head, then found out that the transmission and rear wouldn't take the strain, the rest was history... fun fun history.
@thehopelesscarguy
3 жыл бұрын
@@Jackalski57 Seems I recall the Toyota 3.0 having a similar issue.
@allencrider
3 жыл бұрын
Looking back, the first model with the 1.6 liter Kent engine and a 4 speed would have been the ideal Pinto. That engine was very reliable and not having an automatic was essential!
@thehopelesscarguy
3 жыл бұрын
Not having an automatic is essential in many cars, particularly small ones.
@nh.3188
3 жыл бұрын
I had that pinto. 71 with Kent. Great little car !
@Jackalski57
3 жыл бұрын
That 1.6L Kent engine was the base for one of the Cosworths. The BDA, IF I remember correctly. I still have some of my Pinto manuals, though I think I got rid of my factory manuals back in the early 2000's.
@thehopelesscarguy
3 жыл бұрын
@@Jackalski57 That's too bad.
@corvetcoyote443
3 жыл бұрын
I had a 72 Pinto back in 1990 it was a terrific,stable,and reliable car,never had a single problem with it.
@thehopelesscarguy
3 жыл бұрын
That is nice to hear.
@DavidSmith-fs4nt
3 жыл бұрын
At one time we had 3 Pintos and a Mustang 2 at the same time. The first was a 74 that Dad bought in 12/73. This was my car. Being a hatchback with a 4 speed manual it was a daily driver I could use to haul all kinds of stuff in it like a truck. I eventually moved on to a Datsun 240Z and gave the Pinto back to Dad who put 140k miles on it. He sold it for $300 less than he paid for it. It was a great little car for it's time and great value
@thehopelesscarguy
3 жыл бұрын
Lots of advantages to sticking to a platform.
@bds4me874
3 жыл бұрын
My first car was a 1976 Ford Pinto, cost me $400 in 1985. I did my own oil changes and tune ups.. It was a great car. Rear Wheel Drive. Manual Transmission. A wonderful combination for an engaging drive versus front wheel drive with an automatic. Had a hatchback, which for some reason Americans do not like, which offered awesome storage space. I drove it from SF to LA every two weeks for a year. Never broke down. Got over 30 mpg. I rolled it in the desert wearing just a lap belt (no shoulder belt in the car). The car did not explode nor catch fire. I was taken to a hospital and examined and walked out with just a pulled muscle. Car had rolled end over end twice and over sideways once. I went out and bought another Pinto for $425. For the time period, it was a great car, you just needed to look underneath it to make sure the fix was done by the recall. Now a 9 year old car cost $4000 not $400.
@thehopelesscarguy
3 жыл бұрын
It is a myth that Americans don't like hatchbacks. Americans love hatchbacks, just not ugly ones, like the late 70's Cutlass.
@cindylou3942
3 жыл бұрын
I had a ‘72 Pinto, & loved it. I worked with a girl who traded her VW in for a Gremlin cause her boyfriend said it was a much better car than the Pinto. After about 6 mos. she got rid of her Gremlin as she had a lot of problems with it. She ended up with some used car. I felt bad for her...
@thehopelesscarguy
3 жыл бұрын
The Gremlin had its . . . gremlins.
@packingten
3 жыл бұрын
I Worked @ Aamco transmissions in the 70s as a rebuilder.The Pinto had 2 types transmissions a C-3&C-4 the C-4 one of the best transmissions Ford ever built other than C-6 Used in Trucks&Big engines. If the rubber band was replaced Pintos were great cars,If you could stand the bomb stories😁
@thehopelesscarguy
3 жыл бұрын
I was not aware you could get a C4 in the Pinto.
@Jackalski57
3 жыл бұрын
@@thehopelesscarguy Yes, my first Pinto, a '73 station wagon with the 2.0L German-designed overhead cam engine had a C4 tranny in it. I remember it well, since I did virtually all the tuning and maintenance on it and had a complete set of factory manuals for it. Decoded the vin and stamped tags, etc.
@johne6081
3 жыл бұрын
Our first car was a 1976 Pinto Squire wagon. We bought it 1 year old from a friend, a Ford service manager who had factory ordered it new. We kept it 18 years until it as stolen(!) and never recovered. 1976 was arguably the best model year, with a whopping 88 horsepower. The rear hatch opening of 48.5" allowed us to carry plywood and drywall, hanging either over the rear bumper and using bungie cords to tie down the hatch. Worked great! Our only scary moment came when the timing belt snapped at 40K miles, at night in the rain on the freeway, of course, with my wife driving and with me on the opposite coast on a business trip. Non-interference engine, $35 repair (1980 dollars). Those were the days. :) Rear seat accommodations were dreadful, but adequate for smallish people. We subsequently bought a new 1988 Dodge Aries K wagon, which was a considerable upgrade in many ways, and which shared the Pinto's endearing >48" rear hatch opening. That car lasted 22 years through two subsequent owners, until some idiot snagged the front bumper and pulled the whole front end off the car. It was repairable and still driveable, but my friend couldn't get the headlights to align to DMV's satisfaction, so he donated it to charity.
@thehopelesscarguy
3 жыл бұрын
Wow, and wow again.
@johne6081
3 жыл бұрын
@@thehopelesscarguy I had fun when the Pinto got stolen from a local park-and-ride lot. I had bought a new 1989 Dodge Spirit a couple of years earlier, and I drove my carpool buddies in it. 1) When the Sheriff came by to take my theft report, he made me put down $200 for the value, even though I told him $100, because of the cracked windscreen, peeling paint, leaky steering rack, and passenger door that would not close all the way because of a rear-end collision. 2) Since we all used park-and-ride lots, I mentioned the car theft to one of my buddies, letting him assume the Spirt had been stolen. When I finally stopped leading him on and told him the Pinto had been stolen, he was in total shock. I strongly suspect and hope that the Pinto was driven into Mexico, because my worst fear was that it would be recovered and I would be stuck with impound fees exceeding its vanishingly small value. When I was on jury duty a couple of years later, fully 1/3 of the prospective jury panelists said that they had been victims of car theft, which was rampant in San Diego County in the 1980s-1990s.
@thehopelesscarguy
3 жыл бұрын
@@johne6081 I have had to deal with impound fees exceeding the value of the vehicle, not fun. Wow, 1/3. I didn't drive when I was stationed in San Diego (personal vehicles that is), that seems like a wise choice now.
@allenwatkins4972
3 жыл бұрын
They were tough little cars. I drove the back roads all over the western US and Mexico for years in one.
@thehopelesscarguy
3 жыл бұрын
They used to be everywhere.
@KO-pk7df
6 ай бұрын
My 72 Pinto (1600cc 4-speed) had the metal shielded gas tank that kept it from being ruptured by the rear diff & axle. We enjoyed our Pinto. I also had a 72 Gremlin badged as the P-38 not the "X" model with the 304ci V8 with 3 speed stick shift, it even had air-conditioning! It was fun to drive around the Arizona mountains.
@thehopelesscarguy
6 ай бұрын
Nice
@brunothepug8807
3 жыл бұрын
1977 Pinto with an 8 track and a crank sunroof was my first new car! I was so proud of it. The Ford of England derived 2300 motor proved very reliable. I drove it for ten years and handed it off to my brother and he drove it for several more years. It squeaked and rattled and clunked but it always ran. Mileage wasn't bad as it was a manual stick. I use to drift it even. Vega's were overheating all around the reliable Pinto.
@thehopelesscarguy
3 жыл бұрын
My grandfather always said you could tell a Ford by the squeaks, but I think he was referring to much older cars.
@lvsqcsl
3 жыл бұрын
I think that 2.3 liter engine was used in the Thunderbird Turbo Coupe and until 1997 in the Ranger?
@Jackalski57
3 жыл бұрын
The 2.0L & 2.3L OHC was of German design, compared to the 1.6L OHV, which was English designed.
@robs7246
3 жыл бұрын
My parents had a blue Mercury Bobcat,my mom picked up my friend and I from school one day and reverse did not work.She drove forward across the lawn.I believe early on it leaked oil.The driveway could verify that.It was an automatic and hatchback.
@thehopelesscarguy
3 жыл бұрын
Automatic?
@robs7246
3 жыл бұрын
Yes
@p.c.windhamparanormalroman4339
3 жыл бұрын
7:49 My mom had a 1976 Pinto Wagon just like that except it was yellow. I miss that little car. It got us back and forth from New Mexico to Florida to visit my paternal grandmother many times without a single hickup. I wish I could find one today. I myself used to own a Mercury Bobcat but the engine blew, (Not quality fault, previous owner just never took care of it.) When I went to rebuild the engine, every piston had the piston skirts broken.
@thehopelesscarguy
3 жыл бұрын
They are getting harder to find and although they are out there, most have been abused.
@mesatool367
3 жыл бұрын
My Dad bought the '71 Pinto hatchback. As a blooming mechanic, I drove the shit out of that car. It had a German built motor (2000 cc), and when I opened up the Ford 2 barrel carburetor... It said Holley on the inside. Weird thing...It had four studs holding the air cleaner on! Well, one day the motor got hot. I stopped at a friends house that was closest to home.... Which was 1/4 mile further.... But I stopped....After letting it cool, it was frozen Two friends got into the hatchback and stuck their legs out so another friend pushed us to my High School auto shop. Yes, they pushed against the push car, so bumpers never met! In auto shop, we pulled the motor and put it on an engine stand. First thing out were the spark plugs... And we looked into the hole.. One of the studs that held the air cleaner was lodged into the top of one of the pistons.... Now makes all sorts of sense! Shop teacher looks. "Well you can bet that the intake valve is bent, so you have to a least redo the head"... Makes sense! We tore down the head and ID marked all the valves... SOB... Not one of the valves were bent... We inspected the valve seats. We put it back together with new gaskets and drove it for many more years So later on, those were put into dune buggies... And still the Pinto still has a bad name!? OK the later ones were crap, but '71/'72 were great!... Well, just don't put an automatic trans on a 4 cylinder,
@thehopelesscarguy
3 жыл бұрын
Seems the individual parts of the Pinto were more popular then the Pinto as a whole.
@Jackalski57
3 жыл бұрын
I had the C4 auto on my first one with the 2.0L. Made enough power. Only hot it to 100mph once going downhill (possibly with a tailwind), but she'd reliably sail down the road for long stretches at 80-90mph! Oh yeah, that 2bbl carb was a Holley/Weber 5200. Great carb, unless the outer screws that held the idle air jets in came loose and you lost the jets themselves. It just wouldn't idle right and you'd need to have a foot on the gas and one on the brake to keep from stalling.
@Jackalski57
3 жыл бұрын
@@thehopelesscarguy The 2.0 and 2.3L engines were cannibalized for dirt track racers, dune buggies and kit cars. The rack and pinion steering that it ended up sharing with the later Mustang II was used in many a kit car or to upgrade a classic car's steering.
@thehopelesscarguy
3 жыл бұрын
@@Jackalski57 Yep.
@michaelstewart5548
3 жыл бұрын
I loved my Pinto. I had a 1973 Ford Pinto Runabout. Monster Green with a white vinyl top and wide BF Goodrich tires. It was one awesome looking little car.
@thehopelesscarguy
3 жыл бұрын
That is an unusual combination.
@michaelstewart5548
3 жыл бұрын
@@thehopelesscarguy She was a beaut!
@Jackalski57
3 жыл бұрын
I had a 73 Pinto wagon in Ginger Metallic. I did the research and put the widest tires that would fit correctly on the stock steel rims, which were 195/70/13 BF Goodrich Radial TAs, if I remember correctly. I may even have the receipt from back then, lol. Combined with the standard rack and pinion steering, which I don't remember being touched on in the video, by the way, it handled beautifully!
@seanmcgivney7631
3 жыл бұрын
Growing up lots of people had a pinto. They just seemed to run and run. Never heard of any problems with them. Usually just got traded for a new car.
@thehopelesscarguy
3 жыл бұрын
But now, all people know about them is the over dramatized explosions.
@nealsidor1323
2 жыл бұрын
I've owned two wagons and a Bobcat coupe. As small cars go, it was sporty compared to it's competition.(4 speed) Vegas were crap in comparison. A family friend bought a new one in 73, it was showing rust bubbles around the windshield when she brought it home. She was so proud my Dad didn't have the heart to point it out to her...
@thehopelesscarguy
2 жыл бұрын
I had a coworker once with a 76 Vega and she put a "Friends don't let friends drive Chevy's" sticker on it. I drove it once, after owning a Vega of my own that I liked, but if mine had been like hers I think I would have felt the same way.
@sergiol.aponte13
3 жыл бұрын
After learning to drive in a Maverick, my first owned three cars were Pintos (1979 - 1986).. The best was a wagon that took my family everywhere and a hatchback V6 that had quite the power for such a light car. I loved them but in the late 80's had to move on to newer models. It is sad that all that can be remembered now is the stupid gas tank.
@thehopelesscarguy
3 жыл бұрын
Often by those that were not there.
@moriver3857
3 жыл бұрын
I had a Pinro with the 2.0L engine in the early 80s, and drove most of those other vehicles shown, during my 70s teen years. The pinto was great on gas, and it was under $0.50 A gallon back then. This great videos brought back some great memories. Thanks
@thehopelesscarguy
3 жыл бұрын
Thank you.
@richardadams4928
2 жыл бұрын
I had a 79 Pinto back in 1980. After their final redesign, it was an attractively sporty looking little car, but a POS mechanically. I had various garages unsuccessfully try to simply TUNEUP the little monster, and the steering eventually failed ON THE ROAD, leading to a collision with a HOUSE. I'm very lucky the damned thing didn't literally KILL me.
@thehopelesscarguy
2 жыл бұрын
I've heard a couple of stories about untuneable Pintos.
@richardadams4928
2 жыл бұрын
@@thehopelesscarguy Seems implausible, but there's a lot of evidence to support the idea....
@jefffriedmann1482
3 жыл бұрын
Took my driving test at 16 in a '74 Pinto, 2300cc, 4 in the floor, AM radio, piss yellow with this light green interior, about a year later I broke both motor mounts doing donuts on a dirt road. Goodbye Pinto, hello 1980 Plymouth Arrow. Anybody remember those?
@thehopelesscarguy
3 жыл бұрын
Car & Driver described the Arrow as "spirited" and as I recall, had a picture of it throwing gravel on a dirt road.
@lvsqcsl
3 жыл бұрын
Those cars were called the Mitsubishi Lancer Celeste in Japan. I had a customer with a yellow one. Lasted many years.
@thehopelesscarguy
3 жыл бұрын
@@lvsqcsl Seems Mitsubishi in the 70s could have saved money by not having so many designations for one car. I don't just mean for different countries, I mean a half a dozen different badges on one car.
@lvsqcsl
3 жыл бұрын
@@thehopelesscarguy You are right. However, at the time Chrysler owned a portion of Mitsubishi and that connection may have had something to do with that.
@howardkerr8174
3 жыл бұрын
I owned a Pinto and even though I have driven 10-15 thousand miles a year for around 50 years, I never saw a flaming Pinto...not even on a half dozen trips to junkyards.
@thehopelesscarguy
3 жыл бұрын
I presume you have seen at least some flaming cars of one type or another. Not exactly a rarity overall.
@davidkrueger3584
3 жыл бұрын
I had a 1976 Pinto. 2.3liter 4 speed. Great little car.l paid $200.for it in 1987. Kept it for a year and sold it to c co-worker.
@thehopelesscarguy
3 жыл бұрын
It seems that Pintos often when to someone the owner knew.
@stevejohnson1321
3 жыл бұрын
I bought a new pinto in 1979. By then all the pet problems were worked through. I remember it was $3439; had no radio, and no one stocked the template to install a DIN radio. Even with a four-speed, it was among slowest off-the-line car in production. It was easy to keep fixed though, and usually got around 24 MPG. Years later I had that same model engine in 1994 Ranger. Fuel injection helped the engine last a lot longer, but it was still a dog power-wise. Like the pinto, I needed a running start to get up the driveway and some other hills. That was a long run for the 2.3 engine, as ford-mazda chose not to redesign the Ranger through year 2011. I understand the 2.3 was dropped around 1997
@thehopelesscarguy
3 жыл бұрын
If it aint broke . . .
@thomastrout9997
3 жыл бұрын
Picked up a '70 Yellow 2 door in October of that year about a month after introduction. My 1st new car & I bought it for my 20th birthday. Drove it from Los Angeles to Vancouver BC without a care, put a cassette deck in the glove box, got great gas mileage for the day and cornered pretty well for those narrow little tires. Traded it in on a new '75 Civic. Wished I hadn't done that then and feel pretty much the same way now. Fine little car.
@thehopelesscarguy
3 жыл бұрын
I don't remember every driving mine in the snow, but light rear-wheel-drive with skinny tires isn't a recommended winter combination. Many were sacrificed for street rods.
@Beth9228
3 жыл бұрын
My mother had one. It was my grandfather’s car and my parents bought it from my grandmother on my father’s side of family. It was a brown one with tan interior. It was a 2 door coupe or hatchback. I remembered climbing all the way back in the car with my sister. Luckily my mother never been in an accident in it.
@thehopelesscarguy
3 жыл бұрын
I think nearly as many were destroyed demonstrating their flaw as were in actual accidents.
@michaelruff6538
2 жыл бұрын
I had a 72 Pinto wagon. Green with brown interior. Automatic wth air cond. Loved it.
@thehopelesscarguy
2 жыл бұрын
Nice
@millardiii
3 жыл бұрын
My family had a 1971 Pinto which was purchased at the end of the model year as a stripper for the sticker price of $1919. It was an decent car. After we got through some carb problems the first two year of ownership, it was reliable and it was fun to drive. When I learned to drive in 1978, I much preferred the Pinto to our 1978 Dodge Aspen (what a turd). When it got to be around 10 years old, it had issues with the camshaft lobes wearing and the engine was replaced. Rust was always a problem and we were always fighting to keep in under control. Overall, I would call it a good car. Not great but good. It was cheap, reliable and fun to drive.
@thehopelesscarguy
3 жыл бұрын
It is odd how we often seem surprised that a companies cheapest offering isn't their best.
@bwyou812
3 жыл бұрын
As a kid ,I was working in a body shop and bought a yellow 72 Pinto. Our boss let us have access to the shop on Saturdays as long as we threw him a few bucks. So I completely changed the color to silver metallic , added a sunroof, large mud flaps . I was cruising !!! lol
@thehopelesscarguy
3 жыл бұрын
Bold choices.
@stuarthirsch
3 жыл бұрын
Pinto was a good car for its day. If it would not have been for the gas tank issue it would have been a great car. Simple, great looking, inexpensive, reliable. As was the Maverick. Too bad they can't make an electric version today, of course with updated and upgraded safety. Pinto, like the Model A was real back to basics car. The type of car FORD is famous for.
@thehopelesscarguy
3 жыл бұрын
True
@cliffordbrown13
Жыл бұрын
I bought a 1973 pinto pony with the 1.6 liter engine , 5 speed trans, leather interior and a vinyl roof, lol 😂 one of the best cars I’ve ever owned and all the while I got 31 miles to the gallon which was great during the gas crisis! Unfortunately it died when someone hit me in front end 😢
@thehopelesscarguy
Жыл бұрын
Wow, I didn't know you could get them with leather. Might be collectable now.
@willythewave
3 жыл бұрын
I had two Pinto station wagons, a gremlin, a rabbit, a Datsun B210, a Toyota Corolla, a Celica, and they were all good cars.
@thehopelesscarguy
3 жыл бұрын
But which was your favorite and do you wish you still had any of them?
@willythewave
3 жыл бұрын
@@thehopelesscarguy That`s kind of like apples and oranges, I liked them all, I guess the Pinto wagons were most useful. But yeah, I wish I still had them all.
@craigmclean8260
3 жыл бұрын
Informative documentary on this icon of the '70s! My family had owned Datsuns, from the early-1960s to the late-'70s; the early ones were small and narrow, until the 510 came out (we had three of these). They seemed pretty reliable, but tended to eat water pumps...We also had a used 1972 Vega "Kammback" for 3-1/2 years; it was burning oil copiously, even at 60K miles, and the rust around the windshield frame let water into the front footwells. Fortunately, since it was a silver example, duct tape sealed up the rust holes quite nicely, and it matched the paint! I knew two college students who each had moss-green 1974 Pintos; seemed to be reliable transportation for them.
@thehopelesscarguy
3 жыл бұрын
In the 60s & 70s Datsun did a better job of appealing to Americans than other Japanese brands.
@craigmclean8260
3 жыл бұрын
@@thehopelesscarguy Yep; my Grand-dad had one of the earliest Datsun dealerships on the East Coast, in Washington, D.C. (where I grew up)...some of the old Datsun slogans I recall were "Drive a Datsun, Then Decide", and "Datsun Saves" (ca. the oil embargo of 1973-74).
@thehopelesscarguy
3 жыл бұрын
@@craigmclean8260 The "Datsun Saves" ones were huge. It is the Salvador Dali ads that stick out in my mind.
@pattyeverett2826
3 жыл бұрын
Never owned a Pinto, but did own a Ford Ranger with the 2.3 liter engine. Went over 200,000 miles. A good engine.
@thehopelesscarguy
3 жыл бұрын
My Ranger has about 200,000 miles, but it is the 4.0 and is on its second engine.
@pattyeverett2826
3 жыл бұрын
@@thehopelesscarguy I had a 2006 Ranger that had 170000 on the original engine(3 liter 6), but it was rear-ended and totaled. I now have a Nissan Frontier as Ford was not selling Rangers in 2017. (The new 2019 Ranger has a turbo-charged engine which I do not trust).
@thehopelesscarguy
3 жыл бұрын
@@pattyeverett2826 I had a Nissan pickup back in '95, it was a good truck before it lost a fight with a deer. I'm not a fan of the turbo for long term durability either.
@wallyinthebox1
3 жыл бұрын
my best friend had a Pinto ,he put a built 302 in it and went 14.50 in the quarter mile. Fun car to ride in.
@thehopelesscarguy
3 жыл бұрын
I bet.
@markhoffman5719
3 жыл бұрын
My aunt had a 73 pinto squire wagon. Green. My uncle had a 73 Ranchero Squire. Same green.
@thehopelesscarguy
3 жыл бұрын
I knew a guy that had a green 73 Ranchero that had been converted to 4-wheel-drive. It had a canopy and oversized trailer mirrors.
@donguthrie4151
2 жыл бұрын
My dad had a 1980 pinto and put over 360,000 miles on it. My dad passed away and I drove it to work for a couple of years.
@thehopelesscarguy
2 жыл бұрын
Thanks for sharing.
@GorillaCookies
2 жыл бұрын
I had a lime green / black interior 1972 Pinto with Baby Moon wheels a white " Pinto " lower side stripe, 2000 cc inline 4 with a Webber carb conversion & header pipe exhaust & a 4 speed. It really woke up with the webber and exhaust changes. It ran a mid 15 sec 1/4 mile if you can believe that. Fun car but I woke one morning and it had been stolen and never found
@thehopelesscarguy
2 жыл бұрын
Well the pinto weighed a ton, which makes it a light weight in the automotive world, so it didn't take much to make them scoot.
@i_am2685
3 жыл бұрын
It's odd that everyone remembers the exploding Pintos where 27 people died in a fire, but seem to forget the exploding GM trucks that killed over 270 people for the same reason.
@thehopelesscarguy
3 жыл бұрын
I have often thought the same thing.
@rogermolina1244
3 жыл бұрын
I remember when my parents got rid of our 71 Pinto because it was always at the Ford dealership for repairs that they couldn't fix, especially the leaking master cylinder. The next year my parents dumped that Lemon 🍋 and got a new 1972 Toyota Corona MK II four door sedan and never looked back! That Corona's 18 RC engine was indestructible. We had that car until 1989!
@thehopelesscarguy
3 жыл бұрын
Makes one wonder about the dealer. How long did they last?
@johnjobber2219
Жыл бұрын
My dads 78 pinto is the car I learned to drive with. I loved that car and beat the crap out of it with no issues.
@thehopelesscarguy
Жыл бұрын
I know how you feel.
@robbnutter4665
3 жыл бұрын
I had a 1974 Pinto - Great Car!
@thehopelesscarguy
3 жыл бұрын
Very polarizing for sure.
@improperbostonian6722
3 жыл бұрын
My 1975 Pinto wagon with 2.8L V6 rally wheels and Country Squire package was a blast to drive.
@thehopelesscarguy
3 жыл бұрын
I would think so.
@HerrFrankenstein
3 жыл бұрын
The Pinto was a real show stopper... Driving about in the station wagon model with the simulated wood grain was not just about being king of the road, or impressing the ladies... you could cram all of your friends in there and head out to a Meatloaf Concert... or a fish fry... I miss these bad ass Fords...
@thehopelesscarguy
3 жыл бұрын
Oh I'm sure there isn't much that impresses the ladies like a subcompact wagon with fake wood grain panels.
@Jackalski57
3 жыл бұрын
Exam week in college wouldn't have been the same without stuffing as many people in my Pinto Wagon as possible and making a 1am run to the diner for greaseburgers.
@Jackalski57
3 жыл бұрын
@@thehopelesscarguy Some dude wrote a song called "Rolling in my Pinto", if memory serves...it's funny.
@thehopelesscarguy
3 жыл бұрын
@@Jackalski57 I will have to look for that.
@HerrFrankenstein
Жыл бұрын
@@fatalbert6220 Sounds like you got a few stories on that trip... Any Lynyrd Skynyrd Concert around that time would have been a once in a lifetime experience for most folks... If you like Gibson Guitars like I like Gibson Guitars, Lynyrd Skynyrd had it all... And you were riding the future, Tesla won't admit it, but anyone can see that the Tesla Model 3 looks like the Pinto...
@jeffking4176
Жыл бұрын
I had a Pinto wagon. I turned it into a Camper, and Traveled around the U.S. for a couple years. It wasn’t a bad little car. I had the 2.3 liter, and Automatic. 🚗🙂
@thehopelesscarguy
Жыл бұрын
Seems a little snug, but if it worked.
@dmandman9
Жыл бұрын
I had a 1971 Toyota Corolla with a 1.2 liter. It was noisy and weak. And it had terrible brakes. But it was tough . And I did drive it regularly on the highway. But I owned it in the mid 1980s. And the speed limit was 55 at the time. It had a top speed of around 85 or so. But I wouldn’t drive it that fast for long. 65 was about as fast as I felt comfortable driving it for long periods of time. But I drove it on several trips of about 250 miles loaded with 4 college age guys. I actually drove it on a 400 mile (each way) trip, some of which was mountain driving. I had no problems. I got rid of it in exchange for a 1975 Celica. Daddy didn’t like the fact that the brakes were so lacking. I loved that car. My 3 sisters had pintos at various times. Decent cars.
@thehopelesscarguy
Жыл бұрын
Thanks for sharing.
@burlingtonbill1
3 жыл бұрын
We owned numerous Pintos - coupes and wagons, from about 1976-1992, all used. We loved them - RELIABLE, great gas mileage, cheap to buy & own, and easy to fix. My very 1st one had the little 1600 - best motor ever. I had a couple 2300's - much more power, but much not as great gas mileage. Most had the 2000 cc engine - NOT my favorite. Americans must have loved these cars to death -- you hardly ever see any on the road any more !
@thehopelesscarguy
3 жыл бұрын
Cheap cars have a tendency to not be very well maintained. There are exceptions but economy cars are typically driven into the ground and then disposed of.
@davidhewgley6006
2 жыл бұрын
My first car was a 1972 Pinto and later I had a 1980 Bobcat . I really like them
@thehopelesscarguy
2 жыл бұрын
I've had two Pintos and an Escort. I liked one of the Pintos.
@timmccreery3646
3 жыл бұрын
You commented several times about how slow and gutless many of these cars were- TRUE! But the industry was scrambling to clean up emissions which put a strangle hold on power. I had a cousin who bought a brand new Toyota Corolla about 1979- you had to turn off the AC to climb almost all hills... Like many other people I owned a Pinto- 1974 two door- I drove it for 285,000 miles before the engine seized in 1989. Bought a new Ranger- it had a version of the same motor that was in my Pinto. It ran for over 280,000 miles...
@thehopelesscarguy
3 жыл бұрын
I have made a couple of videos that cover what emissions and safety did in the 70's to reduce power, in both actual and perceived ways.
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