24th May 2004, 21:19

I once owned a Ford Pinto. Bought it new in 1975. Worse car I've ever owned. Serious engine and transmission problems, and it spent more time in the shop than on the road. The next car was an Olds Cutlass 442. A real car.

15th Nov 2006, 15:42

I have a 1980 Pinto with 200,000 miles and it never asks for a thing but fuel. Yeah they have a bad rep about exploding, but that was the early models and every Ford up to current production Crown Vics have the same gas tank design. Early Pintos had no bumper to speak of and that is why they exploded. My Pinto is great and I'm now looking for an older one.

Square headlights look lame in the Pinto.

30th Jan 2007, 12:52

I, too, had the 1974 explode-able Ford Pinto Runabout, with the Firestone Steel Radial tires that were recalled no less! A truly lethal combination. The car broke down a lot, but fortunately times were safe in the mid-70s and it was perfectly acceptable to hitch a ride with a stranger to call the tow truck once again!

Baby blue. Aaaah, had a lot of good times in that car.

24th Feb 2007, 14:03

To be honest, I don't think anyone today even remembers the hoo-hah about the Pinto's fuel tank problem (or even recognises the car in the first place), so your notoriety must be coming from elsewhere.

24th Feb 2007, 22:34

Several years ago I went back to school to get my counselling degree, and I bought an old '79 Pinto with 180,000 miles on it to drive to school because of the thefts and break-ins in the school parking lot. The car was incredible. I drove it three years and spent a whopping TEN BUCKS on repairs!! (I replaced the leaking valve cover gasket). One of my most embarrassing moments came when a friend and I were driving to a camping trip. My friend had been using my Pinto all that week because he had flown into town and I let him use it so he wouldn't have to rent a car. We decided to go in separate vehicles to the camp site because he had to go someplace else afterwards. I was driving my brand new Ford Ranger with all the camping gear in my enclosed topper and he was driving my Pinto. On a stretch of rural interstate my friend kept getting faster... and FASTER...and FASTER!! I discovered (at that point) that my new Ranger had a limiter on it that started cutting the engine out at 105mph. I had to sit there in my brand new truck with the engine limiter kicking the engine on and off as my old Pinto with nearly 200,000 miles on it pulled away and began to vanish in the distance. Even at over 105mph it emitted not a hint of smoke and actually looked almost arrogant as it left my truck behind!!.

25th Feb 2007, 18:19

One of my neighbors owned a gorgeous 1975 Pinto hatchback that they had bought new. They drove that car until LAST YEAR (2006). It was red, and was in near mint condition. I was disappointed when I found out that they had sold it because I would have loved to have had a chance to buy it from them.

22nd Apr 2007, 07:07

Did you know that your Ford Ranger Pick-up has basically the very same engine that is in your Pinto? All True!!

25th Sep 2007, 22:28

I also prefer the Pinto's with the rounded headlights over the squared headlights myself, I actually think the Pinto's are a cute looking car, I know they did a moderate redesign in 1977 on the Pintos.

25th Feb 2008, 20:09

I had a 1974 pinto. White with green vinyl roof. Just like a turtle. My turtle. Yes they had a reputation of exploding (left over from the poor design of old mustangs) but everyone stayed way back of me... maybe because I was last in line. ha ha anyhow had great memories in that car. Wish car payments were still 60.00 a month...