At $19,000, Is This 1977 Ford Pinto Cruising Wagon A Bucking Good Deal?

One want solely have a look at at the moment’s Good Value or No Cube Pinto Cruising Wagon to verify that the disco period of the Nineteen Seventies was the best time to be alive. Let’s examine if this cool cat of a pony’s value is simply as groovy.

Acknowledging the onus of being the highest canine of the ruling class, Shakespeare wrote in Henry IV, Half II, “Uneasy lies the top that wears the crown.” There have to be only a few Shakespearean students at Toyota, because the model has named many fashions after royal diadems over the a long time. Corona, Corolla, and, sure, even Crown have all made their approach to Toyota sellers’ doorsteps. The corporate in all probability would have had a Coronet as nicely hadn’t Chrysler already conscripted the title.

The 1987 Toyota Corolla FX16 GT-S we checked out final Friday got here with its personal baggage, notably a flaky gas pump {that a} new proprietor would want to handle. That, and a weighty odometer studying, quelled curiosity within the automobile’s in any other case first rate look and controversial rarity. A $6,500 asking value introduced with the vendor’s assertion that it was non-negotiable did not do the automobile any favors both. In the end, that topped the Corolla with a 73% “No Cube” loss.

We have to get one factor out of the way in which earlier than we delve into this 1977 Ford Pinto Cruising Wagon. This mannequin—the wagon—didn’t undergo from the notorious problem of the gas tank rupturing in low-speed rear-end collisions as did the sedan and hatchback. That is as a result of the rear overhang is considerably larger on the wagons, thus providing larger crush house. As well as, by the point this wagon was constructed, 1977, all Pintos have been required to go a brand new Federal normal that required the gas tank to stay intact in rear-end collisions as much as 30 mph.

Regardless, when many individuals consider Pintos—in the event that they consider them in any respect—it is the comical evaluation that they go all Tremendous Bowl halftime present fireworks if merely kissed on the butt. The unfavourable press concerning the Pinto’s crashworthiness and Ford’s tone-deaf response to the allegations didn’t considerably have an effect on gross sales till late within the subcompact’s life cycle, because the automobile outsold the mixed gross sales of the competing Chevy Vega and AMC Gremlin. By the point the unhealthy press had begun to have an impact, Ford was nicely underway in designing the Pinto’s alternative, the American Escort. Till that automobile arrived within the early Nineteen Eighties, nonetheless, the Pinto served as Ford’s home small automobile providing, and its first American four-cylinder since 1934.

The Pinto was additionally Ford’s first American-built automobile to characteristic rack and pinion steering and digital ignition. As evidenced by this tidy survivor, it was additionally the primary (and apparently final) Ford automobile to supply the choice of porthole home windows. Ahoy there, matey!

The Cruiser Wagon was launched for the 1977 mannequin yr and remained out there by the Pinto’s demise on the finish of 1980. Out there solely on the properly proportioned wagon, Ford supposed the Cruiser bundle as a extra reasonably priced and fuel-efficient approach to be part of the customized van development that was all the fad within the late Nineteen Seventies. The bundle consisted of a metallic panel changing the wagon’s double facet glass, leaving only a porthole over all sides of the load space. Vinyl tape decals festoon each the panels and the decrease bodywork, which sat atop mag-style wheels. Within the cabin, the Cruiser acquired a full gauge bundle and out there low-back bucket seats. Whereas nominally a panel van, the Cruiser did retain its again bench seat, however as made apparent by the images in our automobile’s advert, claustrophobics haven’t any enterprise sitting again there.

This one seems to be fairly unique, with its Cruiser stripes and a cool entrance air dam beneath the bumper. The unique Magazine wheels have been changed by a set of alloy generators, fitted with period-correct raised white letter BF Goodrich Radial T/A rubber. The paint presents in wonderful situation, and whereas the brightwork seems a bit boring, a minimum of there aren’t any dings or dents to sully the automobile’s general look.

Within the cabin, this automobile options high-back buckets up entrance, and all of the seats seem to have been reupholstered in some unspecified time in the future. A 3-spoke leather-based (seemingly vinyl) steering wheel provides a sporty contact and is fitted with an oddball crest on the middle cap, one thing Ford was doing again when the automobile was new. One thing Ford wasn’t doing again then was becoming Pintos with five-speed manuals, so this automobile’s gearbox have to be from one thing later. Based mostly on the gear lever, it was seemingly donated by a Fox-body Mustang. That guide gearbox is mated to Ford’s stalwart 2.3-liter SOHC ‘Lima’ 4 cylinder, which on this mannequin yr made a scintillating 88 horsepower and 118 pound-feet of torque. In accordance with the advert, this 75,000-mile Cruiser is in “strong working situation, no cons to record,” and comes with a clear title. At current, the vendor says, it is used for brief around-town errands.

The asking value for this Seventies survivor is $19,000. That is barely larger than the Pinto’s unique price ticket, when adjusted for inflation. Plus, who would not need to present up within the #VanLife Fb group in one thing as weirdly fantastic as this? In its favor, there in all probability aren’t all that many of those left on the market, contemplating the Pinto’s semi-disposable nature, so it is an ideal alternative to one-up the neighbors as nicely.

What’s your tackle this Pinto at that value? Do you suppose $19,000 is the going price for one thing so uncommon? Or is that means an excessive amount of for what’s primarily a tape and decal bundle?

You resolve!

Good Value or No Cube:

Bend, Oregon, Craigslistor go right here if the advert disappears.

H/T to Don R, for the hookup!

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