1971-1980 Ford Pinto

The 1971 - 1980 Ford Pinto was another of Ford ’s " pony"cars . 12 of report have been written to memorialize Lee Iacocca ’s prevision in agitate for output of the Mustang , the jazzy powder compact that started the ponycar craze in the mid Sixties . However , there was another " pony " car during his tenure at Ford , and Iacocca is less freely associated with the nativity of the Ford Pinto . Perhaps he would opt it that agency .

Like the Mustang , this car was a marketing success in a Modern field . But along the direction , it had to weather some distinctly defective promotion that the Mustang did not . This other " pony " – Ford ’s 4th product line to keep an eye on the equine subject – was the subcompact car Pinto . There was nothing really fancy about the Pinto . Its primary goals were to provide sensible solace and decent performance for innovative superhighway while being economical to grease one’s palms and maintain . By all accounts , Iacocca watched over the birth of this car closer than he had with the Mustang , and was driven that it would not cost a centime more than $ 2,000 , nor count an apothecaries' ounce more than 2,000 quid . Ford come out play with the idea of a domestically produced smaller compact in the mid Sixties . As early as 1967 , there had been some consideration of an 85 - column inch - wheelbase car powered by something with less than six piston chamber . Iacocca , then executive vice president in charge of Ford ’s North American Vehicle Operations , reason that between the Volkswagen from Germany and the rising lunar time period of Japanese compacts , these importation would shortly trance the total subcompact car market in the United States , and Ford should produce a motorcar to play these foreign challengers head - on . After the successful launching of the Mustang and an up­swing in sales , many matte up Iacocca was next in line for the presidency at Ford . However , when Arjay Miller left the spot in late 1967 to become Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors , Henry Ford II surprised most everyone in the industry when he went outside the company to General Motors and bring over Semon " Bunkie " Knudsen . This created tensity between the Iacocca camp and those who got into Knudsen ’s recess . Cold shoulders were commonplace on the upper level of the big " glass house " in Dearborn . add together to the ill tone was the fact that Knudsen was altogether out of sync with Iacocca ’s plans for a small domestically built car . According to the unexampled chairman , Ford would get by just all right by concentrating on the current full - size of it , mid - sizing , and compact offerings . In Knudsen ’s view , Ford was already forrader of the secret plan with the 1970 Maverick , due out in early ' 69 as a surrogate for the aging Falcon . However , Iacocca argue that face the imports like a shot was the best course . His small " G - elevator car " might have been a little too small , but something belittled than Maverick was go to be necessary . That need only intensified after reports came in that the other U.S. auto manufacturer were be after to field smaller - than - heavyset car . Iacocca ’s doggedness paid off and in January 1969 , Henry Ford II give his favourable reception for Ford ’s first domesticated sub - compact . This licking , plus continuing pressure level from other areas of the company , lead to Knudsen getting the countersign from HFII that his efforts as president were " just not operate . " In due time , the presidency was Iacocca’s.(By some report , Knudsen did have a substantial part in the Pinto project . In an interview print in the April 1994 result ofCollectible Automobile ® , former Ford stylist Bob Thomas recall the outgrowth this style : " My design turned out to be the outside for the Pinto . I was amazed at the package for the Pinto … After they showed this manakin , Bunkie picked it – and that was it . Of naturally , Knudsen did n’t get any credit for the Pinto because shortly afterwards he left , not by his own choice . " )

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Bringing the Ford Pinto to Life

With the o.k. given in 1969 to move ahead on bringing the Ford Pinto to aliveness , a release particular date in less than 20 month , September 1970 , was set . guide up the plan , code - named " Phoenix " – wry , as it would turn out – was Frank G. Olsen , an experienced engineer who had form on several other project , including the Mustang and the upscale Ford Fairlane and Torino .

In an article published by the Society of Automotive Engineers , Olsen set out the write objectives from the " Phoenix Green - Book " that set up the schedule and developmental step for the labor . Among the goals was that the car would stage superior appearance , passenger ease , creature comforts , ride , handling , and performance . In February 1969 , a 32 - man chemical group , including the chief engineers from all areas of Ford ’s manufacturing partition , go on a three - solar day shakedown sail of cars already in the marketplace that the new trivial Ford would be broach . These included two Fiats , the 850 and 124 ; the Volks­wagen Beetle ; Opel Kadett ; Toyota Cor­olla ; and , from England , a Vauxhall Viva and a penis of the ship’s company ’s extensive family , a Ford Escort . Their goal , agree to Harold Freers , Ford ’s primary engineer , was to amount up with an " Americanized compact car . “Each psychometric test car was grade in a turn of areas to learn where the focal power point of Ford ’s entry should be . It was loosely check that Volkswagen would be the overall primary target . In term of quietness , Toyota was considered summit , while the Fiat 850 was deemed most well-fixed . The team also agreed that for ride and handling , the Opel could n’t be beat . Using unitized construction , an country where Ford had plenty of experience , new ways were attempt to make the package as light as possible , yet still retain rigidity . start with a stamped under - consistency platform , the structural members and outer sheetmetal were uniformly weld together .

allot to Ford , this would better hood , decklid , and door fit , thus reducing rattles , squeaks , and leaks from wind , rain , or dust . A " halo " ring concur the bodysides in situation , cutting down on weight unit , while providing extra rollover protection . This evolution did n’t happen overnight . Almost from the moment that Pintos begin to murder the trial run cut , major fault commence to appear . " Hardly a hebdomad went by when we did n’t call for the body applied scientist . We went through a turn of redesigns to make it pass , " Freers toldMotor Trend . Most of the structural - integrity problem revolve around on making the body solid and stiff , while using as little material as potential . Some of these problems were solved with new ways of using the front interbreeding member , the rearward end , and even the dashboard as a consolidative source . A major vault to overcome was containing passenger - compartment randomness . At the meter , high - dollar Lincoln sedans carried a total of 140 pounds of well-grounded - absorption material . Mavericks had just 28 hammering of the stuff , and with a prey weight of a quarter - net ton less for the forthcoming subcompact , only 12 pounds were available .

A new process of heat - curing vinyl sealing material was one of the innovations used with the Pinto . This custom - formed credit card hamper was practice to the full duration of the outer panel seams and articulation to help cut dissonance . Plastic was used extensively in the Pinto to bring down down on both free weight and monetary value , such as a number of inner components as well as the front wicket . Engineers tend to passenger comfort managed to extend the cabin to its absolute maximum , allow for six - and - a - half - walker to easily enter and expiration . All splasher controls , the gearshift lever , pedals , and gauges were laid out for easy control and monitoring . Servicing was also a precedence , as the main bunch trapping thespeedometerplus fuel , crude oil , and electric monitors could be murder in just a few minute with the use of a simple screwdriver . belike the most important ingredient for the Pinto formula would be the drivetrain . Looking to existing products from Ford ’s European operation , two likely candidates were found that would fill the measure . There was a little inline overhead - cam four - cylinder known as the Kentengine . introduce in 1959 , it had already examine its durability in a issue of British models , take off with the Anglia . Its introductory design had jump at just under one liter for use in Anglias , but had grown rapidly for use in Consuls and Zephyrs , finally strike 1.3 liters for use in the Cortina by 1962 . A couple of age afterward , displacement had grown to 1.5 liters , and there was still room to go .

As the horsepower race of the Sixties extend in England , though at a much deadening pace than in America , the Kent engine get another cost increase in shift , to 1.6 liter in 1967 , and was aim primarily for the Cortina GT example . So durable was the little Kent that its canonic designing served as the basis for engines used in Colin Chapman ’s Lotus road and race railcar . The engine ’s testify qualities made it a natural for Ford ’s new American - built subcompact car car . As used in the Pinto , it was rated at 75 horsepower at 5,000 rpm , with torque measured at 96 British pound sterling - feet at 3,000 revs . Induction get along through a individual - throat carburetor with an automatic choke for simplified operation . Cross - flow piston chamber school principal meliorate ability by nigh eliminating the combustion chambers . dub the Pinto 1600 ( for its displacement in cubic centimeters ) , this would be the base power­plant . Knowing that Americans sleep with power under the goon , engineers went shopping for a slimly larger railway locomotive that could be offered as an option . This meter it was Ford of Germany that add the trade good , another budget items - cammer with a proved racing heritage in Europe , the 2.0 - liter " Cologne Four . " It made 100 horses at 5,600 rpm , and was well stronger than the al-Qaida railway locomotive , generating 120 Irish punt - feet of torque at 3,600 rpm . It , too , had a cross - flow cylinder head with expectant valves and ported manifolds . great power was conducted through another proprietary component , a smart little four - speed gear box based on a similar social unit that had been successfully used by Ford of Britain for many years . Both engines would be outfit with the stickshift as stock equipment , but a Cruise - O - Matic three - stop number automatic was useable to those who prefer for the 2.0 - cubic decimetre railway locomotive .

Expectations for the Pinto

One of the most important demand for the Ford Pinto was that it provide ranking handling , and here again Ford engineers worked miracles to meet the expected value for the Pinto .

Steeringwas by rack and pinion . While this was still a relatively new feature for most U.S. drivers , it had become the banner of production abroad . Using a proportion of 22:1 , a compact steering wheel of just 15 inches in diam provided a summercater - car feel . Com­bined with the light weight of the motorcar , there would be no motivation for power assist . To smoothen out the drive , a compounding of short and tenacious A - arms were employed in an independentsuspensionthat was in effect a downsized replica of those used in other domestic Ford products . whorl springs were mount between the lower A - arm and springiness - pocket projections in the upper hybridizing member . three-fold - acting shock absorber were mount inside the curl outflow and were easily approachable for permutation , which met another design finish .

The rearward axle and suspension were very contemporaneous , take up with the use of 46.5 - inch - tenacious multileaf semielliptical saltation mounted to rubber eraser - insulated anchors that helped reduce vibration and road noise . Stag­gered cushion absorbers were used to subvert roulette wheel hops , plus assist with speedup and braking . Braking was accomplished via a quartet of nine - in barrel equipped with ego - adjusters . Optionally available were front disc brakes , a requirement when the larger engine was ordered . Initial plans squall for the Pinto to be issued in three distinctive body style : a two - door sedan , a " three - doorway " hatchback , and a two - door post wagon . However , as production neared , and continuing problems with consistency inflexibility chivvy the pattern and engineering team , it was decided that all efforts to sort out the job for launch would be digest on the groundwork sedan . sit on a 94.2 - inch wheelbase , overall length was just 163 inches . The railroad car ’s basic design featured a pro rata longer hood with a fastback rear design have a short decklid that begin at the stand of the rear windowpane . Pinto come standard with 6.00X13 shameful - sidewall diagonal - ply tire , though optional selections include whitewalls and radial . superfluous - cost flipper - case rear - quarter window provided better ventilation , and comfort , for rear - seat passengers . The front - end design have a simple chrome - plated plastic grille filled with vertical slats . At the far ends were combination park and tour - signal lights . go along costs at a minimum , only two headlights were used , mounted on the leading edge of the front fenders . A bare chrome - plated leaf blade bumper capped off Pinto ’s face . Rear - final stage styling was wide-eyed , too : a vapid board with taillight assemblies flat out of the 1970 Maverick catalog . Many within Ford , including Henry Ford II , made point of reference to the Pinto being the rebirth of the cable car that had really made a name for the company . It was for that reason that " Model T Black " was pick out as the name for one of the Pinto ’s available color .

However , if canonic blackness was not to your liking , there were 14 other colors , include some rather wild selections . Vivid " Grabber " color were adopt from the Maverick and Mustang lines . They undergo a name variety for the subcompact , though ; for example , Grabber Blue became Pinto Blue . Pintos were painted in a six - step physical process that begin by dip entire bodies in a undercoat answer . An static charge set aside lotion of blusher with near adhesion , finish , and durability . Color - keyed all - vinyl group seat trimming covered the two front pail seats and the rear work bench tush . In autumn 1970 , Pinto was one of several newfangled subcompact car on the market in the U.S. AMC eject the Gremlin a few months earlier as a 1970 manakin . Chevrolet unveil its new Vega just a sidereal day before the Pinto made its debut . Chrysler , meanwhile , was relying on so - call off captive signification , the Mitsubishi - build Dodge Colt and Hillman - derive Ply­mouth Cricket .

Still , the Pinto come along to be right on the mark , give originative force Lee Iacocca a proud father . briefly after the Pinto ’s stellar release , Henry Ford II made this papa of H.P. and sales the company president . On September 11 , 1970 , one week before the rest of the ' 71 Fords were let go of , the public got its first facial expression at Dearborn ’s small foal . Showrooms were n’t exactly mobbed by crowd just to see the fresh Pinto , but sales did take off at a brisk pace , consider just one model was available . By the end of 1970 , a total of 86,680 Pintos had already roll off the assembly lines . By comparison , only 24,295 Vegas made it off the line by December 31 .

However , in all equity , one has to commemorate that there was a 67 - mean solar day strike that lame all General Motors plants starting on September 15 , just before the new models went on sale . For more moving-picture show - tamp article about corking automobile , see :

1971 Ford Pinto

Sales of the 1971 Ford Pinto hold on piling up in the car ’s former days . On January 18 , 1971 , less than five months after its introduction , the 100,000th Pinto was delivered to one Marco Ojeda at S and C Motors in San Francisco , California .

Ford even marketed a span of tool kit for the Pinto , a beginner ’s solidifying for $ 28.75 , or the " master ’s " outfit at $ 44.95 . The latter include everything from wrench , to ratchets , to gauges , and even a torsion wrench . In theory , you never had to bring the Pinto back to the dealership for service . One of the most pop promotional particular Ford used was a little service headstone that not only acted as a screwdriver , but provided measuring for right gapping of twinkle plugs and points . While the Pinto was an economic starter railroad car , it did offer a wealthiness of accessories . Deluxe interior - decor packages , full bicycle binding , exterior dress - up kits , ( which could include a vinyl roof ) , and a variety of wireless could be find out on the order form . The 2.0 - cubic decimeter engine added $ 50 to the sum . With this larger engine , it was possible to add tune conditioning and , for $ 175 , Cruise - O - Matic .

Even a Rallye appearance chemical group was marketed , feature most of the interior decoration - software program particular plus blacked - out tough , taillamp bezels , and grille ; Boss Mustang - style fender stripes ; Rallye badges ; frontdisc brakes ; and A78X13 black sidewalltires . On February 20 , 1971 , the much - anticipated Pinto Runabout made its public launching at the Chicago Auto Show . Five day afterward , it endure on sales agreement , and , like the sedan chair , it was met with firm client demand . price at $ 2,062 , it was distinguished from the saloon by endanger chrome hinges for the liftgate and five decorative chrome strips on the back " door . “All other profiles and dimensions were nearly very to the sedan chair . Pneumatic rams assisted in enhance the hatch , and there was plenty of elbow room when the back seat was folded down . This feature article was also optionally available on the sedan , and provided up to 38.1 cubic foot of memory space . Assembly of the Pinto was bear at the San Jose , California , and Metuchen , New Jersey , plant , plus Ford of Canada ’s new St. Thomas , Ontario , facility . yield docket were tight , and two fracture function through most of the model year to keep up with the orders that were pouring in .

In its first year , 288,606 sedans and 63,796 Run­abouts were produced , piss for one of the best first - twelvemonth launches ever , trump only by the Mustang in 1965 and the Falcon for 1960 . What was even more surprising to Ford ’s marketing group was that the vast bulk of buyer opted for the more - expensive 2.0 - liter engine , and were also going for the automatonlike transmitting on those cars by a better than 2 - to-1 ratio . Even Henry Ford II appeared to wish the car . He was reportedly often get a line tooling around the Detroit and Grosse Pointe areas in his specially painted Candy Apple Red Runabout fit with custom wire wheels and a black leather interior . Of course , not everything at Ford , nor with the diligence as a whole , was rose-colored . More and more , the Union governing was getting involved in what was built into America ’s cars , establish on two keywords : condom and emissions .

In a 1971 extra report to Ford dealers and salesmen , a personal message from Henry Ford II address 10 point of dedication the society was make toward the environment . It also pointed out all of the rubber innovations Ford had pioneer , from its first safety package in 1956 to the Tot - Guard child - restraint organisation first offered in 1967 . It talked about protect passengers with safety - designed instrument and dash venire , plus the use of dispirited - profile encroachment - soak up vinyl coat hooks .

1972 Ford Pinto

On February 24 , 1972 , the third member of the 1972 Ford Pinto sept was bring out with the add-on of the station Plough . The basic body platform was shared with the be sedan and Runabout , but the rearward - quarter panels stretched this car to 172.7 inches , or virtually 10 column inch longer than the other Pintos .

Ford claim a totality of 60.5 cubic fundament of store space approachable through a one - slice liftgate similar in engineering science to the Runabout ’s rearward hatch . An extra - monetary value item for Pinto wagons were the flip - open rear - seat window , the only source of fresh air for those stuck in the back . Underhood , the 2.0 - literenginewas banner , back up with the four - speedmanual transmitting . Also standard on all Pinto Wain were front disc brakes . While it was an attractive small two - door wagon in its nucleotide anatomy , dress - up packages were available , including a decor radical similar to those offered for sedans and runabout . Though not considered a freestanding role model , the Squire version was very democratic with the wagon bent .

Borrowing a name that had been part of the Ford family for more than 20 years , the option give a woodlike finish accomplished through the function of fibreglass frame around a rich , dark walnut appliquà © , giving the compact station wagon an aviation of snobbery . Interior fittings let in plush padded bucketful seats ; emboss room access control board ; woodgrain appliquà © s on the dash , shifter console , and direction - wheel center ; and more . One major change to strike the diligence this year was in the method used to measure H.P. . Using a net figure based on engine power received at the rearward wheel rather than the gross issue get untethered on a test rack , the 75 - bhp paygrade of Pinto ’s 1.6 - liter engine dropped to 54 for 1972 , while the large 2.0 - liter four proceed from 100 horsepower in 1971 to 86 in ' 72.Ever since the Thirties , Ford had search to invigorate slow springtime showroom traffic by offering something particular for the time of year . For 1972 , Pinto was bestowed the honor of being a extremity of a trio of Ford Sprint vehicles along with the Mustang and Maverick .

Pinto Sprint sedans and two-seater were finished in white with down in the mouth hoods and lower dead body dialog box , wheels come with hubcap and bright trim band , and reddish pinstripe accents ran the length of the auto . star - and - grade insignia cuticle were applied to the front fenders , giving these cars a very loyal appeal . Interiors were done in white vinyl accented with blue and red . Pinto terms figure moderate increases in 1972 . bag sedans now started at $ 1960 , while the Runabout was nudged up to $ 2,078 . The first Pinto station waggon hit showrooms with a base terms of $ 2,265 – $ 20 less than the tablet for the Chevrolet Vega Kammback wagon . Production persist in to climb . With a full model year at its garbage disposal , the Runabout became the sales leader among Pinto buyers . A total of 197,920 hatchbacks were assemble , followed closely by 181,002 saloon . Being introduced latterly in the manikin year did n’t stop the Plough from a good showing , with 101,483 examples bring forth .

After just two model years , almost 833,000 Pintos were on the road . American carmakers ' entry into the subcompact area was start to have an effect on the Nipponese imports , as their market place share dropped from a high of 15.2 per centum in 1971 to 14.8 per centum in 1972 . This would prove to be just a irregular ebb in the tide , though . For Pinto ’s approaching third season , there would be some famed change , mostly reflecting new safety mandate and the changing tastes of customer . The most obvious update were vigor - absorbing aluminum front bumpers to impart the Pinto up to a five - miles per hour damage - resistance criterion call for by new federal laws . The young bumper stretched distance to 164.1 inch for sedans and 173.9 for wagon . Pinto ’s exterior - color palette included five fresh color . Forged metal wheels and a handling package were selection - list add-on . price continue to crawl upward ; the start Leontyne Price for a two - door sedan finally inched past $ 2,000 . Now it was the wagon ’s crook to take advantage of a full output year . Though it was the dear extremity of the Pinto family , the wagon would prove to be the most - popular body style , establish a pecking order of magnitude that would last for several days in which need for the Big Dipper would be followed by the Runabout and then the sedan . Across the nation , Ford dealer were having a field day sell the little Pinto . Several special and regional version were create by local agencies , but in all likelihood none were as potent or as expensive as thePangra , produced by Huntington Ford in Arcadia , California . It provided plenty of brawniness for the subcompact lot , and might be take the grandfather of today ’s sport - compendious " tuner " cars . With a full head of steam , Pinto went into the 1974 model yr sitting on top of the world . Before foresighted , though , the market was in upheaval . For more picture - throng article about neat railcar , see :

1973 and 1974 Ford Pinto

The 1973 and 1974 Ford Pinto were on the market at a turbulent time . In October 1973 , state of war flared once again in the Middle East . primal Arab crude - producing states , angered by Western keep for Israel , raised prices and eventually orchestrated an trade embargo by the Organization of Petroleum Export­ing Countries .

In the U.S.,gas pricesleapt from around 30 cents a congius to well more than half a dollar . shortage at fuel pump led to lines of up to a mil long as motorists began to panic , afraid of go to sleep with the fuel gage in the old roadster below the three - quarter - full mark .

Sales of full - sized Fords drop off like a rock ‘n’ roll in 1974 , from more than 854,000 the late manakin year , to about only 461,000 . In former 1974 , President Richard Nixon signed into law a new national speed limit of 55 mph in an effort to conserve fuel . For Pinto owners , this , too , was a ease , for while the little subcompact car could go quicker , it did quite well at the lowered highway swiftness . Ironically , just when the petrol crunch start to hit , Pinto ’s full-grown news for 1974 was the addition of a new , larger - displacement optionalengine . Unlike the previous Pinto powerplants , this fresh engine was design and produced in America , at Ford ’s Lima , Ohio , locomotive engine quickness .

An all - new conception , this 2.3 - liter operating expense - River Cam four - cylinder was rated at 85 horsepower . With its introduction , the behind - selling 1.6 - liter four was discontinued , putting the 2.0 - litre locomotive engine in as the standard powerplant .

amazingly , the new engine was rated at onehorsepowerless than the base engine , but was said to raise more torque and give birth respectable gas mileage . By the end of the year , most Pintos would carry the 2.3 , which added $ 52 to the base damage . outside design understand only small changes , aside from hefty unexampled bumpers that coincided with the arrival of federal five - miles per hour impact criterion for rear bumpers . The addition of the young bumper system , base - engine rising slope , and added wakeless insulation throughout the cable car had hike the weight of a Pinto sedan from 1,949 pounds in 1971 to 2,372 pounds in ' 74 – more than 21 percent . Prices continued to go up , too . While the sale of the high - profit big Fords get a nosedive for 1974 , Pinto seemed to reign supreme . Overall , 544,209 of them came off the course , another Modern high - urine bell ringer that convey total Pinto yield to within a stone ’s throw of 2 million railroad car . But not everything in the Pinto ’s world was rose-cheeked . Reports protrude to surface in both company memos and the press about a serious problem withrear - end collisionsthat resulted in impassioned explosions and deaths . Talk of lawsuits begin to aviate , and some serious undercover research was launched to discover out what corporate liabilities might exist . For more movie - packed articles about great cars , see :

1975 Ford Pinto

When the 1975 Ford Pinto hold out on sale on September 27 , 1974 , there was a lot more vehemence on the feisty little subcompact . outwardly , they were almost duplicates from the previous time of year , despite fractional profit in wheelbase to 94.7 inches for the wagon and 94.4 inches for the others . Intern­ally , it was a different tale as the fiddling car became even more " all - American . "

go from the lineup was the 2.0 - literengine , replaced by the 83 - horsepower2.3 - liter four . Pinto further up the power ante with a new V-6 locomotive . Patterned after a similar engine produced in Italy by Lan­cia , Ford ’s version displace 2.8 cubic decimeter . Officially rated at 97 net HP , it used an 8.0:1 compression ratio , with a two - barrel Holley carburettor on top .

With 60 - degree banking , uniform alternative firing , and gamey - shopping center mounting of the camshaft that contributed to the light weight of the valvetrain , its smoothness of performance was surprising . The locomotive engine ’s basic design would be used in a identification number of Ford products for more than 25 years . The V-6 was available only in the Runabout and wagon , and required the newly redesigned Select­Shift Cruise - atomic number 8 - Matic transmittal . For the first time , Pinto vendee could opt for powersteeringand brakes when the V-6 locomotive was ordered . By summertime 1974 , the national fuel emergency brake had come to an oddment . fossil oil was being transported to the United States at full intensity , and gas prices came back down a few pennies , so Americans once again feel they were getting a bargain . Still , fuel mileage remained very important to a large turn of driver . To lure them , Ford cooked up MPG translation of the Pinto and Mustang II .

Equipped with the four - cylinder engine , manual transmission , the new catalytic convertor emissions equipment ( which earmark engine to be retuned for better efficiency ) , and a 3.18:1 axle proportion in position of the 3.40 paraphernalia criterion in other Pintos , the MPG had a government rating of 34 mpg on the main road , 23 mpg in the city . ( Swapping the four - speed marijuana cigarette for an automatic earned a 30/21 highway / city evaluation . )

publicizing for the late - arriving MPG models used vast print to tout their highway - fuel consumption rate and base - price figures , both of which compare favorably – of course of study – with a list of foreign and domesticated competitor . All three Pinto body style were offered with MPG equipment . toll also reflect the ameliorate models , taking the cost of Pinto up closer to , and in some case , higher than the slimly heavy rebel . The saloon started at $ 2,769 ; the Runabout sold for $ 2,984 in understructure shape ; and the wagon tab begin at $ 3,094 . Those ordering the new V-6 were asked to pony up another $ 253 for it ; the machinelike transmission cost $ 202.Not all of Pinto ’s gamey cost were for former extras now becoming stock , or to pass over the costs of mandated emissions and safety items . Contributing to the manufacturer ’s costs were the skyrocketing prices of raw materials . One Ford official told a mathematical group of writer in early 1975 that the price of steel had risen 35 percent in less than a twelvemonth , rubber products were up 43 percent , aluminum by 61 percent , and credit card an average of 21 pct . rise price and an economy careen from the ripple effect of the 1973 - 74 fuel crisis murder the domesticated auto manufacturer heavily . Even the Pinto was a dupe : Just 223,763 of the ' 75s came off the meeting place lines , a whopping 59 percent drop from the premature model twelvemonth ! Ford built more 1974 Pinto police van than it did all 1975 Pintos . As a side note of hand , 1975 see the firing in the United States of the Bobcat , Mer­cury ’s upscale adaptation of the Pinto . Using the same basic designs as the Pinto Runabout and wagon , and in the first place create to fill a marketing gap for Canadian dealers , Bobcat sale were limited , but they were welcomed by Lincoln - Mercury trader otherwise saddle with slow - selling , gas - guzzling lavishness liners . For more picture - packed article about great cable car , see :

1976 Ford Pinto

The 1976 Ford Pinto had the first major changes to the car ’s physical show and its marketing scheme . For the first time since its unveiling , there was a really noticeable change to the front - final stage coming into court . A raw wicket featured a hunky-dory grid in place of the previous vertical slats . orthogonal parking / turn - signallights floated near the outer edges of the grill .

For those looking to really force back on the chinchy , there was a new Pony MPG sedan . By shaving $ 130 off the standard four - cylinder sedan ’s $ 3,025 base price , the Pony purchaser receive about as bare - off-white of a car as the government would allow to be sold . Inexpensive cloth arse , black rubber level lusterlessness , and a more economical 3.00:1 axle come in received . ( The 3.18 axle was now standard on all other four - cylinder Pintos , all of which were known as MPGs).Going in the other direction , a limited Stallion variant of the Pinto also appeared this year . As with the 1972 Sprint , this rather attractive package resemble similarly trimmed Mustangs and Mavericks . Features included eloquent pigment with blacked - out grille , window frame of reference , and headlight surrounds . A matte - inglorious finish was also applied to the hood and cowl .

The Stallion was topped off with a distich of disgraceful sport mirror ; special logo decals on the cowcatcher ; fashion aluminum wheels shod with A73313 erect - white - letter , wide - ellipse tyre ; plus a special handlingsuspension . This package added $ 283 to the basis hatchback ’s $ 3,200 base cost . There were a match of other minor variations that were novel for the year . The V-6 was now useable in the two - door saloon , and a Squire version of the Runabout was added . It included a all-encompassing band of impersonation - wood trim on the bodysides , plus shiny side - windowpane and drip mould - track trim . Pinto cavort some very interesting color combination , especially in its Interior Department , with a Ford - exclusive vinyl - weave cloth available in one of four colors , or several choices of a nylon - based plaid blueprint . An interesting origination was the use of a vinyl one-half top that covered only the area ahead of the rear roof pillar . No major mechanical innovations were herald for ' 76 , except that the home four was boosted to 92horsepowerat 5,000 rev and the optional V-6 to 103 horsepower at 4,400 revolutions . Within a generally improved automobile food market in 1976 , Pinto production perk up . A total of 290,132 – an increase of nearly 30 percent – were run off for the model year . For more picture - pack articles about smashing cars , see :

1977 Ford Pinto

Even though Henry Ford II had promised no annual changes just for the sake of alteration , the 1977 Ford Pinto did find an attractive nip and tuck . Up front , a narrow chrome - plate plastic grille composed of six wrangle of rectangle sat between vertically bisect parking andturn - signallamps . The grille ensemble was canted back toward the top between similarly angled body - color headlight bucket that look almost like the " frenched " light on custom-make cars of the Fifties .

Sedan and Runabout taillights were redone for the first time , expand with a sectional red plastic lens , plus a blank inset lens system for the back - up lights .

Another option clear to Charles’s Wain buyers was the Cruising Wagon , a $ 416 package that attempted to wrick the Pinto haulier into a miniature version of the custom vans that had become quite the rage in the Seventies . The computer software started with a makeweight jury for all rearward - side windows . A portholelike " bubble " window was tally toward the rear on each side . stay exterior touches let in a choice of several colorful bodyside tape­stripe selections , color - describe double racing mirrors , front spoiler , and polished aluminium wheels . indoors , a carpeted cargo field strain to the sidewalls in the rear compartment . Even with intensify price , Pinto vendee were still in the marketplace for a few extras for their motoring pleasance . In addition to several audio organisation including AM / FM with eight - track player and zephyr conditioning , Ford offered a whole treasure trove of add-on .

New this year for the sedan and Runabout was a bolt down - up glass sunroof that could be remove altogether . Runabouts could be given an even aeriform look via a solid - looking glass rear hatch that cost just $ 13 . ( One extra that fail to do back to the Runabout this year was the Squire trim option.)Interiors were rather snazzy with plaid fabric and striking colour combination in vinyl , featuring plush Ruffino leather - like graining , or exceptional stitching patterns . Available on both the saloon and Runabout were sheer accent - stripe decor groups , one of which even resembled the look of the red and white Ford Torino seen every week on theStarsky and Hutchtelevision serial publication . Television also play an important role in promoting the Pinto , not only through commercial message , but by appearing in a number of serial publication . Few regular TV audience of the original Charlie ’s Angels can forget Kate Jackson ’s orange and white Runabout . Despite the improved looks and celebrity rub - off , Pinto sales were start to fall dupe to the growing reports of explosive rear - conclusion collision . Ford blow improved padding of all fuel tanks and the massive reminiscence efforts it was establish , but this failed to build consumer self-confidence .

Resale time value of used Pintos was affected as well , falling far below the establish curve ball for other cars in its class . Just 202,549 of the Ford subcompact car rolled off the assembly production line this year , the fewest yet for any time of year . For more picture - packed article about outstanding cars , see :

1978 Ford Pinto

So close in looking at were the 1978 Ford Pinto models to the previous year’scarsthat sales lit really recycled a identification number of ' 77 photograph . About the only cosmetic tidings was the shuffling of a few exterior people of color and changes to a couple of the appearance packages .

1979 Ford Pinto

When the 1979 Ford Pinto opened its example year , it was manifest that the railroad car was in its wane days . In an seek to give the now eight - year - erstwhile aim a slight more market appeal , a front - end redo was mandated .

A new " European - inspired " ESS software system for the sedan and Runabout came with silvern paint and black idiom around the window trim , dual racing mirror , back panel , and bodyside moldings . The grille and headlamp buckets were fusain colored . Styled steel steering wheel and a frontstabilizer barcompleted the external portion of the package ( though Runabouts were also equip­ped with the all - Methedrine hatch).Inter­ior appointment observe the performance theme alive with a leather - enclose steerage cycle and shift pommel , plus an instrument cluster with a tachometer , ammeter , and coolant - temperature gauge . The Cruising Wagon continued with several different stripe outfit useable . To capitalize on the center appeal of this package , a similar outfit was newly tender for the Runabout . Like the Cruising Wagon , the $ 330 hatchback door package included amnesia passementerie in all the usual places , multicolor bodyside stripes , white-hot - paint styled - sword wheels , a sportsteeringwheel , and the calibre package .

There were still Cold War tensions , too . President Jimmy Carter announced a U.S. boycott of the 1980 Summer Olym­pics in Moscow to resist the USSR ’s invasion of Afghanistan . There was small joy in Detroit amid all these event . It seems that Henry Ford II add up up the American auto industriousness ’s feelings when he say , " The U.S. diligence is facing an economic Pearl Harbor . “Behind his scuttlebutt was the fact that due to what many felt were too - big trade concord , a originate plowshare of the machine mart was being gobbled up by Nipponese manufacturers . Their cars had add up to the prow among the significance during the Seventies , growing to 26.7 percent of the full mart , and had contribute to a $ 40 billion combined loss from American carmakers . In late 1978 , Lee Iacocca was send packing from Ford Motor Company for what many finger were the disastrous memoranda about the Pintogas - tank debaclethat led to his desk . Not only was Henry Ford II unhappy with the Brobdingnagian amount ante up in amercement and punitive damages , but he realized how this minus tidings could bear on all view of the fellowship business . It was no mystery that Henry and Lee did n’t see eye to eye anymore , and , in the end , the man whose last name was on the building deliver the goods out . For more film - packed articles about great cars , see :

1980 Ford Pinto

The 1980 Ford Pinto was still in the mixture when Ford unveiled that year ’s model lineup in capitulation 1979 . With the front - wheel - driveEscortwaiting in the wings , the Pinto was on its last go - rhythm , so virtually no money had been allocated for updates . In fact , the biggest technical news of the year might have been the deletion of the V-6 from the options leaning ; the 2.3 four would go it alone for ' 80.Even in the Pinto ’s expiry throes , selling was able to spruce up the littlecarwith several appearance packages . Runabouts could be decked out with the striped and bespoilered Rallye Pack , the Cruising parcel , and the ESS option group . The Cruising Wagon returned , too , this time with a Rallye chance variable . To the final stage , the price - conscious could still get Pony versions of the saloon and station wagon . The inflationary helix of the national economy was clear speculate in Pinto windowpane spikelet . Base cost had more than double in the car ’s 10 age on the market . Even a Pony sedan now started out at $ 4,117 . The Squire post wagon was tagged at $ 5,320 before extras – and there were almost always some of those total to the price .

Perhaps that explains why the the sedan again won the greatest share of Pinto club , and why the wagon saw the lowest product numeration in its history with just 39,159 made . With the net 185,054 unit produce for the 1980 model class , more than 3.1 million of the small ponies had come down the trail . For more picture - packed articles about expectant cars , see :

The Pinto Fire Controversy

One of the biggest keep automotive news stories in the latter part of the Seventies look at with tales of explode Ford Pintos and the considerable awards civic - court juries were present to dupe of accidents involve the cars . Was the Pinto fire controversy a lot of plug , or had Ford truly brush off human lives in fiat to save a few dollars?As early as 1972 , reports of explosions in low - speed hit involve Pintos assume from the rear get to fall in to the National Highway Safety and Trans­portation Admin­istration . Accident investigations in many of the typesetter’s case revealed that victims had few , if any , psychic trauma injuries as a result of the impacts , but had burned to death when the cars detonate into flames . Some had been trapped inside the cars due to the organic structure buckling and doors becoming jammed shut .

Fortunately , the machine driver ’s doorway was n’t damaged and Miller was able to get out relatively unscathed . He went on a crusade for safe fuel tanks , and worked with several provider for system that would control highly flammablegasolineand give motorists a wider margin of condom . He even take the stand before Congress about the importance Ford Motor Company placed on the topic . What go wrong with the Pinto , then?Records indicated that Ford had first conducted rear - end hit tests on the Pinto in December 1970 , months after it was already in production . Initially , 11 cautiously interconnected crashes were conducted , and in all but three of them , gas armoured combat vehicle ruptured and often burst into fire . In the threeteststhat did n’t result in fire , the car had prototype safety devices that railroad engineer had formulate while working with suppliers . Most effective was the enjoyment of a rubber bladder / liner produced by the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company . Despite rupture the exterior of the tank , no fuel was spilled , and no fire result . It was estimated that the social unit price of bladders would have amounted to $ 5.08 per car . The second method that had been employ was an excess sword plate attached to the rear of the railcar just behind the bumper , sequester the tank from direct inter-group communication during impact . It successfully warded off a blow at 30 miles per hour , helping to keep the storage tank intact . No company toll analysis was done at the time , but experts matt-up that this part could have cost up to $ 11 per machine to set up . Engineers find that the legal age of the ruptures were induce by two factor : 1 ) the filler cervix breaking off and allow fuel to rain cats and dogs out , where it could be exposed to an ignition source ; and 2 ) the armored combat vehicle being penetrate by middleman with the differential climb up bolt and right shock absorber . This is where a third successful location had been devised – a rather round-eyed plastic dielectric fitted on the differential coefficient that would keep the bolts from ever fix contact with the fuel tank . Cost of this token was less than $ 1.Several society memo present as grounds during the civil trials reveal that these remedies were discussed , with the end that to keep out down output and retool would be too expensive . Most prejudicious to Ford were memos found and published by author / researcher Mark Dowie in the muckraking powder store Mother Jones that detailed a cost analysis of corporate indebtedness in the consequence of having to compensate crash victim .

Experts reckon the value of a human animation at around $ 200,000 , while a serious burn injury was deserving about $ 67,000 . Using an estimation of 180 deaths and 180 serious Robert Burns , someone put on paper that the toll to redesign and retread the Pinto ’s gas tank would be close to $ 137 million , while potential indebtedness monetary value worked out to around $ 49 million . comparison were draw up between the Pinto and the spell Capri that was being sold by Lincoln - Mercury dealer . Both cars were of similar size and construction , but everyone consort that the Capri ’s fuel tank was in a much safer localization : up and away from the rear bumper , and less vulnerable in a rear - end collision . Ford engineers argued that to place the tank any higher up in the Pinto would plume the trunk of already meagerly reposition space , and that even a set of golf clubs would have a hard time being squeezed into the leftover space . Ultimately , 27 mass were determined to have been kill in rear - end - crash explosions involving Pintos . In one of the few cases brought to trial run , a California panel awarded a boy who had been seriously burned and disfigure a total of $ 126 million . The driver of the car had died from her injuries a few days after the chance event .

When the memoranda regarding the financial obligation assessments were entered into grounds , the case was as good as over . Even after a evaluator repress the amount to $ 3.5 million on appeal , this was far more than the fellowship had ever count on give . It was a real viewing - up call for Ford , whose legal teams went to form to assay and finalise as many of the pending case as potential out of court . issue were to get even more serious for the ship’s company . In 1978 , Elkhart County , Indiana , Prosecutor Michael Cosen­tino called for a grand jury take heed in the case of three girls who had died in a Pinto hit fire . As a result of the gilded panel determination , he filed criminal thrill of negligent homicide against officials of the Ford Motor Company .

Once again , Ford ’s corporate legal machine went to work . It was feel that the fortuity had occurred on a stretch of route that was notorious for being unsafe . Then , too , the driver of the speed van that rear - end the Pinto was in possession of alcohol and drug , which were deemed to have contributed more to the chance event than anything else . Ultimately , the trial jurist had to dismiss the felonious charges . However , this was another unappeasable warning not only to Ford , but to all of American industry regarding its responsibility for product safety . in conclusion , in September 1978 , Ford issued a recall for 1.5 million 1971 - 76 Pinto sedans and runabout , plus all similar 1975 - 76 Mercury Bobcats , for a base hit repair . Each elevator car received a new fuel - armoured combat vehicle filler neck that put out deeper into the cooler and was more resistant to breaking off in a rear - end collision . A pliant shield was installed between the differential and the armoured combat vehicle , as well as another to forefend contact lens with the ripe - rear blow absorber.(While not altogether immune from the hazard of rear - ending collision , station wagons – with their 10 extra inches of rearward - final stage sheetmetal and different conformation for the fuel filler – were deemed far safer , and were not a part of the recall notice.)Reflecting on the Pinto incident and Ford ’s attempts to control the legal injury at the risk of its public image , former Ford exec Lee Iacocca made this summation in his book Talking straightaway : " clam up is what we did at Ford in the late ' LXX when we were bombarded with suit over the Pinto , which was involved in a lot of flatulence tankful fire . The suits might havebankruptedthe company , so we kept our mouth shut out for fear of saying anything that just one panel might have construed as an admission price of guilt . deliver the goods in court was our top precedency ; nothing else count . And of course of study , our silence added to all the suspicions people had about us and the car . “For more picture - packed article about great cars , see :

The Ultimate Ford Pinto

It just seems like some people ca n’t leave well enough alone , especially with Ford product . Look at what Carroll Shelby did with the Mustang , or how Bill Stroppe juiced the Bronco . Then along came a tamed little subcompact , and some masses even seek to make the ultimate Ford Pinto .

At first , it only had a simple four - cylinderenginethat was economical and easy to sustain . Who could put any real zip in this piddling pony ? It would take another legend from the domain of Ford motorsports to arrive up with that response . One of the most - successful dealerships in marketing the Pinto was Huntington Ford , in Arcadia , Califor­nia . Huntington sell more than 400 of the little compact in its first year , and nearly another 550 in the auto ’s 2d time of year .

In 1972 , the franchise ’s cut-rate sale manager , Jack Stratton , approached possessor Clare Hoke with an idea to make the Southern California authority the reality home office for Pinto performance . To fulfil this goal , the talents of well - known Ford performance master Ak Miller were call upon . After a few month of secret excogitation , testing , and development , Huntington Ford annunciate that a raw super Pinto had been born and was ready to be marketed . Its name was Pangra . Immediately placeable from the exterior , this new minimuscle carwore an aerodynamic front snip that cover its length by a full 10 inches . Huntington Ford offered the Pangra in four reading , and outfit number 1 consisted entirely of the fiberglass front end let in the hood , fender , bonnet , and pop - up headlamp . outfit 2 included all of the appearance piece plus Recaro high - back bucket seat , a package of Stewart - Warner gauge , plus visually appealing custom cabinet and dash trim . Also supplied was a set of cast and machined " mag - changeable " wheels devolve on on the top - dividing line " fertile " tires of the day , 175HR13s up front and 185HR13s to the fanny . The third package took all the aforementioned equipment and added to it a Spearco " Can - Am " kit that employed shortened coil springs up front , heavy - dutystabilizer barsat both ends , and a full set of Koni shock absorbers . Then there was Kit 4 : everything , plus a Spearco turbocharger fit to the same 2.0 - cubic decimeter ohc four - piston chamber engine that served C of thou of manufactory - parentage Pintos in naturally aspirated frame . How did this sawhorse of a different coloration measure up to the contention ? At the time , Motor Trendhad also commissioned its version of a " super " Pinto , plus it got its mitt on a distich of Porsches – a base 914 , with a 1.7 - liter flat four - piston chamber ; and a 914 - S , with its larger 2.0 - cubic decimeter engine . In 0 - to-60 - mph running game , the Pangra average 7.5 seconds . The best any of the others could do was 10.5 second from the 914 - S.

Of naturally , the Pangra did have a few advantages , such as an estimated 285 horsepower from an engine otherwise rated at about 86 horsepower in stock trim . From the factory , the Porsche 914 - S delivered 91 gross SAE - rated H.P. . In handling , the Pangra ’s promote suspension and meaty rubber get wondrous grip . MT writers said the railcar " cling like Saranwrap . “The test results were n’t necessarily a subprogram of the axiom that " you get what you pay for . " The estimated cost of the Pangra , deliver in Arcadia , was $ 4,600 , while even the canonical Porsche 914 was listed at $ 5,300 , and the S rendering required another $ 288.By the end of 1974 , with the introduction of strong engines and further restriction on vary factory emission systems , the Pangra faded from view . Unfortunately , there are no accurate disc of how many of them were produce . For more photo - pack articles about great elevator car , see :

1971-1980 Ford Pinto Specifications

Despite safety concerns and pressure from foreign competition , the Ford Pinto held a particular stead in many driver ' hearts long after it was drop dead from the mart . We give you the goodness on this car for its entire life with these charts showing the 1971 - 1980 Ford Pinto specifications .

1974 Ford Pinto