The car that built Ford's reputation for fire hazards and cheap transportation. It was a subcompact with a simple V8 swap potential, but its rear-mounted gas tank made it infamous. Mechanically, it's a tank—but you'd better not get rear-ended.
Rear-wheel-drive, live rear axle, MacPherson strut front suspension. The early 1.6L British motor was gutless, but the 2.0L German-built EAO motor (later called the 2000) was a stout little overhead-cam mill with a 4-speed manual or a C3/C4 automatic. The 2.3L Lima engine (introduced later) became legendary—cast-iron block, belt-driven OHC, simple as a hammer.
Mechanically, these things were cockroaches. The 2.3L Lima would run forever with points and a carb. The C4 auto is one of Ford's best transmissions. BUT—and this is a massive but—the fuel tank was mounted behind the rear axle with zero protection. Rear-end collision = fire hazard. That's the fatal flaw. If you're looking at one today, it's a collector's piece, not a daily.
Every listing below is VIN-matched to your exact Pinto before it ships, backed by a 60-day replacement warranty:
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