Final Year Pony: 1980 Ford Pinto Station Wagon
For a car that caused quite a bit of fanfare when it was introduced in 1971, it’s kind of sad that the Ford Pinto is largely remembered for the detonating fuel tanks when somebody plowed into the rear. Be that as it may, timing was excellent and the car had a successful run through 1980, with the station wagon model making its debut in 1972. By the car’s later years, some updates to the front end and modern headlights had been added, but the car’s appearance overall stayed pretty much the same up until the end of the run. If you’ve been in the market for a final year example and like the idea of a wagon, this 1980 Ford Pinto Station Wagon may be a good car for you. It’s located in Great Bend, Kansas, and can be found here on eBay where the starting bid of $4,200 has yet to be placed.
Barn Finds reader Larry D. spotted this one, and we’d like to thank him for letting us know about it plus all his other great tips. Keep ’em coming, Larry! The seller tells us that this wagon has been stored inside a dry shed for the last 10 to 12 years, but was started and moved around periodically during this time, as stated in the walk-around video provided. The paint is said to appear original, and the body mostly looks really good, although there is some moderate damage to the right fender. No rusted-through areas have been found, just a few spots of surface rust.
The 4-cylinder engine runs and the seller thinks everything under the hood is original. A few minor repairs were made to get the car running and driving, but some more work will be required if you want to make a regular driver out of it, should the next owner choose to keep the stock drivetrain and make it completely roadworthy. The owner suggests that this little wagon would be a great candidate for an engine swap, but I sort of like it the way it is and might try to preserve it as long as possible as just a novelty around town knockabout vehicle.
The interior looks OK for a driver, and that red on red combo was quite popular back in the day. The driver’s side has some carpet and seat wear, and the dashboard is also cracked on top, but overall things inside don’t really look all that bad. What would you do with this 1980 Ford Pinto Station Wagon if you bought it? What do you think about the seller’s idea of it being ripe for an engine swap?
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Comments
Its only a little over a hour from the car wizard in Newton KS ship it to him get it road worthy then drive it home
According to the Car Wizard’s latest video, he’s booked like 3+ months out!
The autos were REALLY S…..L….O….W………I had a powder blue 4 speed manual, my First new car.
2nd new car was a 83 Ford Escort Pony 4 speed, actually kinda’ fun to drive with the European based “World Car” suspension.
Wagons had a different frame design and fortunately did not have the exploding gas tank issue
The exploding gas tank issue was fixed for the 1977 model year. All previous Pintos were recalled to be altered under a free repair by Ford. Of course not all returned for the recall so some exploders might still be out there (prior to MY 1977). There is a way to tell if a particular car was fixed or not. In fact a poster who had worked for Ford gave those details a while back. Like with everything these days, I have a hard time remembering what he said. I believe there was a way to tell by looking at how the gas tank filler was attached to the body, but I might be wrong.
We owned a 73 Pinto Runabout and received the recall from Ford. It consisted of a thick plastic shield affixed behind the stock fuel tank that protected the tank from the bolts and bodywork that could penetrate the tank if unshielded in a hard rear end impact. The Pinto got all the notoriety but many cars of the day had the same gas tank placement, assuming since they were larger cars these had just enough crush space to reduce the frequency of leaks and fires
I heard – not sure tho …
1. another clue the fix was applied by Ford was, oddly, a replacement CHROME gas cap.
2. the recall applied to ’71-76 pintos ONLY with a trunk – not hatchback.
Can i assume 1 & 2 above would also apply to Pintos sold or even made north/south of the border & overseas?
My ’74 had the plastic shield installed. That was the extent of the repairs. As I’ve said before. Any of the small tin cans that the car makers rushed out because of the energy “crisis ,” wouldn’t fair too well, when that Caddy Eldorado slammed into you at the stop sign!
70-74? Not exactly sure of the years but LTD’s had the fuel tank above and in front of the rear axle which made for a very deep trunk. I always thought it would be Pinto XLarge if they were in a bad rear hit accident.
Was that 80’ Pinto sold New at Tom’s Ford in Keyport NJ. Looks like the one I almost bought.
Did anyone order a Pinto wagon with a 4 spd. ? All we ever see is automatics . Was it an option for wagons ?
I’ve seen a few, they’re out there. For a few years in the mid ’70s it was the #1 selling wagon in America (“the wagon that outsells them all, big and small” Ford boasted), and accounted for around half of all Pintos, so at least in the day manuals only would’ve been rare relative to all Pinto wagons which were anything but.
Probably the majority of one-elderly-owner Pintos were auto wagons, though, which accounts for their survival rate.
I’ve got a 72 wagon. 2.0/4speed. Fun little ride
I had an 80 wagon with a 4 sp. Great car that outlasted all the neighbors “quality Asian brand” import that they thought were better. Fortunately for them, they all rotted out in about 3 years.
I had a 72 wagon with a 4 spd
I had a 78 Bobcat wagon with the 4 speed. They are around, but few and far between.
Yes, I had a powder blue 4 speed 1980 wagon I bought off the lot new.
By 1970, the percentage of cars with manual transmissions was well into the decline which has continued to today. Data I pulled showed only 10-20% for the decade of the 70’s, compared to 67% in 1950. So even for an economy car like the Pinto, manuals were becoming more rare, especially by 1980. Today, the percentage of cars sold in the US with manuals is around 2%.
Big C, you got be thinking – modern cars may be safe when you get hit in the side & front, with all the air bags & crumple zones, but the rear overhangs & trunk lids on most of them are so silly short & the back seat is so close to the rear of the car, i would think you would be a lot safer in the back seat of most ’60s or ’70s cars with big rear overhangs than in the back seat of most modern “cars” if the monster Eldo were to hit either vehicle in the back.
Why is it that most of the ebay listings here have already ended by the time we see them?
Because God is saving Barn Finds readers from buying something they’d later wish they hadn’t?
Working at a Ford dealership when these came out & remember the gas tank issue vividly. We did so many of them that we became very good at it & it was the “bread & butter” job at the time. They sold very well & with a few issues, were not too bad of a vehicle.
This poor car just looks sad, I think a nice set of wheels and a 2.3 Eco Boost is needed here…to start
I agree with the eco boost but it needs the shifting duties on the steering wheel
Eversince i had this on my mr2 and then my boxster, i wont press a clutch and can’t stand auto !
Loved the styling/utility of the small 2-door wagons back then. Kind of an American shooting brake. Bought a Vega GT wagon new in ’72. Yea….I know all about the problems, but owned it for 3 years and put zero in for repairs. Great car for hauling my stereo with the JBL 100s, my bike, and all of my stuff back and forth to college.
My early ’70s pumpkin-colored wagon did me quite well. The timing belt did shed some teeth one day though. I pulled the radiator and timing belt cover, climbed into the engine compartment, and literally sat down on the frame and replaced the belt. I recall my total $ outlay was less than five bucks.
Regarding the exploding gas tank, my 68 Falcon’s gas tank was the floor of the trunk, and similar issues would exist if the car was rear ended.
Having worked at a Ford Store in the Mid ’80s to ’90s. There were still a couple of recall kits on the shelf. It consisted of the fore mentioned plastic shield a cap or two to attach to a bolt sticking out that might puncture the fuel tank AND a longer fuel filler pipe. Evidently there were three issues with the rear end being modified by a rear ramming devise otherwise known as another car.
#1 The fuel tank would get shoved forward into the dear differential area get punctured by a bolt or two. (Shock bolt??)
#2 The fuel filler pipe would get pulled out of the fuel tank. (the filler pipe was so short that become easily dislodged from the tank and the amount of fuel leaking would depend on the starting fuel level.
#3 IF, hit hard enough, the body would jam the doors tight so that escape from the fire was impossible unless through the door window.
That problem aside, they were a very reliable car with few issues. I had a 1972 with a hot rod 2.3 with high compression pistons, stupid crazy cam and a 4 speed. Great little car and I wish I had it to this day. (wider wheels and tires, sway bars, good shocks, etc.)
Would be a good candidate for a Thunderbird turbo coupe engine and transmission swap
I bought a new Pinto wagon in 1974. Loaded with fake wood on the sides, deluxe interior, a/c, amfm stereo, auto trans. Had huge bumpers. Never any problems.Wife liked small size for a wagon.
Ended with zero bids.
Should have ran an authentic auction with the starting price much lower.