Info für Besucher ohne Javascript

Premium

Ford Pinto - unjustly ostracized compact American?

This article was auto-translated. We apologize if some words are confusing or simply amusing. Would you like to help us improve?

Created on August 21, 2020

Reading time 9min

Written by:

Simon Kwasny

Photos:

Theodore W. Pieper - Courtesy RM/Sotheby's

16

RM Sotheby's

1

Archiv

4

Theodore W. Pieper - Courtesy RM/Sotheby's

16

RM Sotheby's

1

Archiv

4

Ford Pinto (1977) - es handelt es sich hier um eine spezielle "Charlie's Angels"-Edition

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Ford Pinto (1977) - kompaktes Auto mit einfacher Technik

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Ford Pinto (1977) - erinnert durchaus ein wenig an den Mustang

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Ford Pinto (1977) - nur 4,14 m kurz

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Ford Pinto (1977) - so fuhren ihn auch die drei Engel für Charlie

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Ford Pinto (1977) - die Heckklappe reicht nur bis zu den Schlussleuchten herunter

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Ford Pinto (1977) - immerhin 1,763 m breit

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Ford Pinto (1977) - das empfindliche Heck

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Ford Pinto (1977) - einfacher Einstieg

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Ford Pinto (1977) - durchaus wohnliches interieur

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Ford Pinto (1977) - einfache Instrumentierung, kein Luxus

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Ford Pinto (1977) - mit Radio und Klimaanlage

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Ford Pinto (1977) - der Reihenvierzylinder ist längs eingebaut

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Ford Pinto (1977) - robuste Motorentechnik

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Ford Pinto (1977) - ausklappbare Heckfenster

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Ford Pinto (1977) - der Typenschriftzug am Heck

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Ford Pinto Rundabout (1977) - kompakter Wagen mit 2,8-Liter-V6-Motor - Genfer Autosalon 1977

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Ford Pinto Runabout (1971) - mit grosser Heckklappe

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Ford Pinto (1970) in Gelb

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Ford Pinto (1971) - frühes Modell, versteigert durch RM vor einigen Jahren

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Ford Pinto Runabout (1977) - in der Fernsehserie "Charlie's Angels"

You have only

1 out of 21

images seen in high resolution

Summary

In this country, the Ford Pinto is primarily known for its engine, which provided impressive performance in the Ford Escort RS 2000, among others. For Ford USA, however, the Pinto was part of a defense strategy against the ever-increasing number of imported cars. The extensive vehicle article explains why the Pinto had to battle headwinds and why the compact car is often misrepresented.

This article contains the following chapters

Defense against the flood of imports
Aggressive development schedule
Traditional design
Almost like a rally car
Firebug?
The Mother Jones story
No more dangerous than the competition
Built for almost ten years
Television appearances
Wrongly condemned?

Estimated reading time: 9min

Preview (beginning of the article)

In this country, the Ford Pinto is primarily known for its engine, which provided impressive performance in the Ford Escort RS 2000, among others. For Ford USA, however, the Pinto was part of a defense strategy against the ever-increasing number of imported cars. However, this strategy did not work out as well as hoped, for very specific reasons. With the invasion of imported cars from Europe and Japan, namely the VW Beetle and compact cars from Toyota, Datsun and others, the American car industry had to prove itself in a new segment - the compact car. At the time, Ford had no vehicle in its range to counter this movement. Imported cars were threatening to become a real threat and Ford was forced to act quickly. The ball was set rolling for the development of the Pinto (Spanish for "little horse", a small Mustang, if you like).

Welcome to Zwischengas!

Continue reading this article for free?

Photos of this article

Source: