1971 Ford Pinto 2.0

Summary:

To me this car resembles what is was to be poor in the 1970's

Faults:

Some of the problems are: the doors jam shut when the hinges either bend or the bushings wear out. I have crawled across the seats in this car to get in and out many times over the years. The quarter panels rusted out when it was four years old, holes at six years, lost stuff while moving at ten years. The windows leak in car washes. This car is underpowered, in 1978 the rear tires froze in two inches of ice in grand forks, ND and could not break free. Literally almost froze to death that time. Happened several times, but ice melt helped. this was my dads car in the 70's. Dad parked blocks away so people would not see it. Lots of sad memories. on a serious note: I would pay thousands to watch each be crushed and melted. But not my dads, it just sits in the shed covered in bird droppings. Fitting really. But then we all have our opinions, don't we.

General Comments:

See above.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No

Review Date: 15th January, 2008

1971 Ford Pinto 1.6L

Summary:

The last good car Ford ever made

Faults:

Dash cracked at about 100,000 miles.

Seat vinyl cracked at about 150,000 miles.

Rebuilt engine at 190,000 miles.

Steering wheel spoke cracked at about 210,000 miles.

Various interior things broke after 100,000 miles (but were cheap to fix).

Front end needed rebuilding at 314,000 miles.

General Comments:

The first and most reliable car I ever owned. Wish I did not trade it in when it reached 25 years old. I know it would still be running today.

With manual trans it was plenty fast. Handled very well (one of first American cars with rack-and-pinion steering).

I always took very good care of the car, and rebuilt it inside and out at about 200,000 miles.

When I traded it in for a Honda Accord in 1996, I got $2,000 for it, more that it sold for new.

The blowing up thing was not unique to the Pinto, about 75% of all cars had the same problem that caused it.

Please note that this was really an import in 1971. German and UK parts assembled in the US. The 1600cc engine was a Lotus/Cortina engine.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Don't Know

Review Date: 12th May, 2006

15th May 2006, 17:58

Let's not romanticize this car. Sure, it was a serviceable automobile compared to the gas guzzlers prevalent at the time. But compared to today's cars, it was an inefficent, ugly, poorly built and conceived automobile that Ford rushed into production before it was ready for American roads.

28th Jun 2006, 10:26

Comparing a 1971 Pinto to today's cars is hardly a fair comparison. The Pinto only seems outdated now by present day standards.

Just like cars that are considered cutting-edge now, the Toyota Prius, for example, will be considered just as outdated and primitive 30 years from now.

1st May 2007, 15:57

I would take a Pinto over a Prius anyday. Most compact cars now are just as rushed and unsafe as the cars from back then anyway, and now they're just harder to work on and cost insane amounts to purchase.