Nov 23, 2017  •  Uncategorized  •  17 Comments

Rare Factory Option? 1978 Ford Pinto Wagon

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Obviously this isn’t a factory option, but wouldn’t it have been fun if it were? We have featured lots of Pintos this year, but none quite like this! A quick Google search will turn up lots of similar beasts on various 4×4 platforms, but I have yet to see another with that fabulous faux wood grain side cladding! The seller doesn’t state what chassis this Pinto has been mated with, but it looks to be a good fit especially as compared to some of the others out there. Evidently, the wagon only had 76,000 miles on it when it met a 4×4 chassis! Find this homemade SUP (Sport Utility Pinto) here on craigslist in Iowa with a price tag of $2,450. Thanks to Rocco B. for sending this in! 

The seller has made sure to include blurry pictures taken at very close proximity to the area being photographed, but to be fair they do get the point across. When going to the trouble of making a Pinto into a 4×4 machine, one cannot simply just leave the original Pinto powerplant! With “go big or go home” in mind, the creator of this monster Pinto has also swapped in a 302 Ford V8 from a “mustang boss with heavy duty automatic transmission.”

There are three pictures of the interior included, and none of them actually show the whole interior. What they do show is that everything is in pretty good condition for its age, and given the low-mileage of the Pinto this is not surprising. How can you not love that loud plaid pattern? The seats are my favorite part! The dash pad is the worst part, showing cracking and fading but other than that everything else seems decent, just dusty and dirty.

I’m generally a fan of funky off-road creations like this, simply because they confuse people, turn heads, and are a whole lot of fun all at the same time. That being said, this Pinto looks like it was a little too nice to be relegated to this purpose and I think it would be fun to remove it and revert it back to a normal car! Talk about living multiple lives! If kept 4×4, which seems the more likely route for this car, there is no doubt that this will create lots of fun memories for the next owner. What would you do with it?

Comments

  1. grant
    Nov 23, 2017 at 3:18pm

    I usually hate these, but if it must be done why not a Pinto? Would also be cool to revert it to “normal” but leave the 302. These are a blast with a V8.

    Like 0
  2. boxdin
    Nov 23, 2017 at 4:34pm

    Boss 302, don’t they have special valve covers, screw in freeze plugs?

    Like 0
    • grant
      Nov 23, 2017 at 7:50pm

      Yes but anybody, anywhere will describe any small block Ford as a “Boss 302.”

      Like 1
  3. chad
    Nov 23, 2017 at 4:38pm

    e sez: ” 1970 Bronco” underneath it.
    Hey, I got 1 of those ’70 bronks

    Like 0
  4. John Newell
    Nov 23, 2017 at 4:42pm

    The only Pinto I’ve ever seen that I might be happy to be seen in dead or alive.

    Like 0
  5. Fred w.
    Nov 23, 2017 at 4:45pm

    Pinto + Bronco = “Bronto”. Or, if you take it to a monster truck rally, “Brontosaurus”.

    Like 1
  6. Metoo
    Nov 23, 2017 at 5:27pm

    You can roll a turd in sprinkles and dust it with powdered sugar, but it is still a turd. Same with Pinto’s.

    Like 1
    • Jay M
      Nov 23, 2017 at 8:04pm

      Well said.
      And I hope you are not a baker!

      Like 0
  7. Dick Johnson
    Nov 23, 2017 at 5:46pm

    A Brucking Bonco

    Like 0
  8. leiniedude leiniedudeMember
    Nov 23, 2017 at 5:56pm

    I like this rig. For a deuce and a half I think how much fun this thing could produce. Thanks Rocco B for the info. I would leave as is and give her some Wisconsin beauty marks. The guys at the Saloon would love it!

    Like 0
  9. GPMember
    Nov 23, 2017 at 6:43pm

    Where’s the snowplow? It’s almost December.

    Like 0
  10. Steve
    Nov 23, 2017 at 7:21pm

    Years ago in my hometown a guy used to plow snow with a 4 wheel drive pinto hatchback

    Like 0
  11. JW
    Nov 23, 2017 at 7:24pm

    I like it but I would have to fab some ground effects to hide the frame rails, it just looks like he threw the body on a Bronco frame and bolted it together.

    Like 0
  12. Fred
    Nov 24, 2017 at 2:44pm

    Love it. My 1st car was a1971 pinto 2door I was hit in the rear and lucky I didnt blow up . Then I had a 74 top of the line red and white bobcat glass hatch back. I’d leave the frame as is. Much safer love this vehicle!

    Like 0
  13. TakWang Chan
    Nov 24, 2017 at 3:16pm

    At least this one won’t blow up like a grenade if rear ended unless. Hit by a tanker or train!

    Like 0
  14. Wrong Way
    Nov 24, 2017 at 4:07pm

    I just might go look at this Monday! It’s pretty close to me!

    Like 0
  15. Shawn Baker
    Nov 25, 2017 at 2:10pm

    There ya go. Cheap entry requisit for Mud Fest.

    Like 1

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