Author Topic: Pinto (Read 7879 times)

Son of Pappy · « **on:** January 10, 2012, 10:23:37 AM »

So, who else has owned a Pinto? I had a '74, 4 on the floor 6 cylinder beast!! I would like to say I ran the wheels off of it, but I grenaded the clutch (my first clutch replacement) then I managed to puncture the oil pan at Lake Cushman (unknown to me), I drove back home and then over to my then girlfriend, now wifes house. After I left her place I was headed home, which has several really long hills, I started losing power on the second heill, managed to make it to the top before things went really south. I coasted to the bottom and as I came to a stop I sensed I was in trouble. The motor was quite seized up, I checked the oil and the stick was dry, which didnt make sense, I had checked the oil that Morning. I looked under the car and I saw this wet streak. She was done. My next car was even more memorable, an AMC Ambasador with the much famed 360, the trunk was the size of Rhode Island and the back seat was bigger then my first apartment. First car I ever (no, not that) did a 100 mph in. It was a nice shade of green, beat the heck out of the yellow Pinto.

DonB · « **Reply #1 on:** January 10, 2012, 10:32:06 AM »

In 1973 I bought my first Harley (AMF sportster) brand new and paid way more that I ever thought I would for a motorcycle. the closest dealer was 50 miles from my home and I did not make it home that first day. it quit on the way home and I had to hitch hike to get home and get my pickup to go get it. the next week the starter went out and the next week the generator went out. it would use a quart of oil in 100 miles. This was a brand new machine.
I traded it at the Chevy dealer for a used Pinto and drove it 100 miles to my then girlfriend and 100 miles home twice a week for who knows how long. it was a piece of crap but WAY better than the Harley I traded in

Strawboss · « **Reply #2 on:** January 10, 2012, 10:39:35 AM »

My dad had a '77 Pinto, silver with blue rally stripes and factory 4 spoke rally wheels. 2.3L 4 cylinder with a 4 speed tranny. Learned to drive in a 68 Montego but took my drivers test in that car. I also drove it a lot. Had many firsts in that car.........

George R. Young · « **Reply #3 on:** January 10, 2012, 11:52:57 AM »

Whilst on the subject of cruddy cars, I grudgingly admit that I once owned a Peugeot 304.

It had some advanced features for its day, front wheel drive, seat belts and comfortable fabric seats. Unfortunately you could only enjoy the comfort of those seats in the driveway, 'cause the car would hardly ever go.

An example of one weak link, it had a cast aluminum clutch throw out fork, for lightness. Unfortunately, the aluminum fatigued, cracked and broke in the cyclic clutch application. When you went to the dealer to get a replacement, they just reached into a bin they kept by the counter because demand was so high.

Worst car I've ever had, when it died I sold the remains for parts.

VirginiaJim · « **Reply #4 on:** January 10, 2012, 01:12:42 PM »

I had a Pinto station wagon sometime in the late 70's. Don't remember the year it was. It was white. I do remember that much.

Jim M. · « **Reply #5 on:** January 10, 2012, 01:32:47 PM »

My wife had a '72 Pinto in college and came with her when we got married. We later got a '76 that one of her co-workers had. We used that as a 3rd car if we had either of our main cars in the shop. They were both pieces of crap, but they wouldn't die. I never worked on either one. Ever.

kdm · « **Reply #6 on:** January 10, 2012, 02:21:42 PM »

I know my memory is going fast, But i don't remember a 6 cylinder Pinto!

Are you sure ?

Outback_Jon · « **Reply #7 on:** January 10, 2012, 03:34:26 PM »

Quote from: kdm on January 10, 2012, 02:21:42 PM

I know my memory is going fast, But i don't remember a 6 cylinder Pinto!

Are you sure ?

If you count the Mustang II, which was nothing more than a hopped up Pinto, they went all the way up to a 5.0L V8. The actual Pinto models had either a 1.6L, 2.0L, 2.3L I4, or a 2.8L V6.

I had a 1980 Pinto with the 2.3L I4. Bought it in 1992. Was a great car for the couple of years I had it. My parents owned one (1974? wagon) when I was a child. It was the last new car they ever bought.

gPink · « **Reply #8 on:** January 10, 2012, 03:50:23 PM »

I had a Mercury Bobcat. Didn't learn my lesson and got a Vega.

VirginiaJim · « **Reply #9 on:** January 10, 2012, 04:10:14 PM »

Shudder....

Son of Pappy · « **Reply #10 on:** January 10, 2012, 04:16:10 PM »

Quote from: gPink on January 10, 2012, 03:50:23 PM

I had a Mercury Bobcat. Didn't learn my lesson and got a Vega.

In the mid 80s my wife had a Bobcat, money was tight and no way was I going to give up my 70 Camaro. We ended up rebuilding the tranny and soon after the motor. Similar, yet entirelly differant cars they were (Pinto and Bobcat). When we left GA the Chevy and Merc stayed, we did have a 65 Stang on a trailer and a Toyota station wagon in the rental truck. Still have the Stang to this day, one of these days I'll finish up the restoration.

ZG · « **Reply #11 on:** January 10, 2012, 09:07:15 PM »

Wow...

Tactical_Mik · « **Reply #12 on:** January 11, 2012, 03:01:26 AM »

Back in lovely Ohio, drag racing was very popular both on the street and track. We chopped the heck out of a pinto and put a 454 in with a tci trans. I think the Pinto must have been bad luck because shortly after finishing it and playing some, we sold it to a racer lady in Cleveland. She had it for three weeks and wrapped it around a pole in the sticks. Bought back the motor and put it in a 66 step side chevy, sold it and it was wrecked within a couple months. Bought the motor back, put it on an engine stand and left it when I moved. Maybe it was the engine that was bad luck after all.

Now the Pacer my gf had was one great car.

stevewfl · « **Reply #13 on:** January 11, 2012, 06:51:44 AM »

I was a small child and my parents bought a Pinto.

Of course I saw this fine machine during a railing run through North Georgia on a Yamaha R1 with Aimee and her Duc-

VirginiaJim · « **Reply #14 on:** January 11, 2012, 07:38:43 AM »

Not a bad pic, Steve.

Son of Pappy · « **Reply #15 on:** January 11, 2012, 08:08:36 AM »

Quote from: stevewfl on January 11, 2012, 06:51:44 AM

I was a small child and my parents bought a Pinto.

Of course I saw this fine machine during a railing run through North Georgia on a Yamaha R1 with Aimee and her Duc-

Where's the model? Your'e slipping

Tremainiac · « **Reply #16 on:** January 11, 2012, 12:09:07 PM »

You new you were pushing your luck when entering a toll booth with a Pinto in front of you (Gas tank exploding and fire in low to moderate speed collisions), and an Audi behind you (sudden unintended acceleration linked to six deaths and 700 accidents.)

Conrad · « **Reply #17 on:** January 11, 2012, 12:45:15 PM »

Quote from: stevewfl on January 11, 2012, 06:51:44 AM

I was a small child and my parents bought a Pinto.

Of course I saw this fine machine during a railing run through North Georgia on a Yamaha R1 with Aimee and her Duc-

Funny that they mulched around that beauty.

VirginiaJim · « **Reply #18 on:** January 11, 2012, 01:08:12 PM »

I think it's just dead leaves from about 30 years of Falls...

Mister Tee · « **Reply #19 on:** January 11, 2012, 02:45:00 PM »

I had a '71 Ford Capri once, which shared the same drivetrain (2.0 L 4 cyl) and many common parts with the Pinto of the same year. Fun little car.

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Author Topic: Pinto (Read 7879 times)

Son of Pappy

Son of Pappy

Son of Pappy