As I sit at my desk on lunch I have been thinking of the fact that I am going to be soon parting out my 77 Pinto due to severe cancer. I thought of the good times, but what has outnumbered the good times are the bad. It started back in late 2005 when I had the car towed home from the previous owner's house. I just bought the car & it wouldn't even drive due to transmission problems. This car was so trashed it had chip bag clips holding the vinyl on the door panels. It ran the day I got the car but it wouldn't move. I quickly fixed that & planned to go to Carlisle 2006. I got it going & took her to Carlisle after I fixed the brakes all around and took care of the interior. Also had to replace a badly leaking rear main seal.  On the way to Carlisle the transmission started to slip when I got on the entrance ramp from New Stanton for the turnpike... Not good. Did alright in Carlisle & I had fun. Left Carlisle & the car was ok until about 130 miles outside Columbus Ohio. Had to get the car towed from Dallas Pike in West Virginia to Ohio. The towtruck ripped off my exhaust so I had to fix that. Carb was shot so I replaced it. Tried to drive the car more but the transmission went south & soon wouldn't take the car up the driveway. Missed Carlisle in 08 after going to the Chrysler show in 07. Run out of time to fix the car in 09 due to car problems, at which I had to pull the car up the driveway with my Dad's Taurus. (make that 2008.. Taurus was gone in 09- 09 Dad & I drove his Impala to go to Carlisle)
 
While pulling up the car to replace the transmission I left the left door open. It caught the dirt besides the driveway & I proceeded to trash the door & hinge, not to mention rip off the bumper on the taurus. Not good. I fixed the door so it looked better & planned on going in 2010. Not pretty. Reinstalled the transmission but I had no luck. Missed 2010 due to a problem getting the transmission installed.
 
2011... I decided in January I was gonna go to Carlisle no matter what. It rained almost non-stop that year. If it wasn't raining or snowing it was too cold to be outside. Finally got good weather to fix the broken exhaust. Rigged it up & all seemed okay. I was able to drive the car to work a few times. Got it repainted & all was good. On the way to Carlisle I got pulled over just outside Washington, PA for only one headlight. Had two when I left Ohio so the other died. THe exhaust then decided to start falling off the car again. For the next 200 or so miles we had to keep repairing the exhaust when we stopped. Got a new headlight in Carlisle & fixed it but the adjuster screw broke. When we did get to the show someone pointed out grease on the car.. Burst a ball joint! Finished Carlisle in one piece & had fun. Thought the worst was over.
 
2012. Registered for Carlisle & planned on a good time. Fixed the exhaust & all was good with the rest of the car. Paint started to chip off the headlight buckets. Took them off a couple weeks till Carlisle & Maaco couldn't match the color. Nothing ever worked! Got the parts on the car on the day I was going to go to Carlisle & was running late. My Dad & I left & were driving along. Eventually he was driving & when we were at the New Stanton ramp he hit the brake to get on the turnpike. Brake light came on & pedal went to the floor. The dang brakes went out!! He got some fluid from a gas station about 1/4 mile back but it wouldn't work. We stayed the night in New Stanton & found it was a bad brake like. Replaced it & got back on the road.
 
The entire time I owned the car I knew it had rust but thought it was just the floor. The last few years I noticed it was worse than I thought. When I got to Carlisle this year I told a couple people how bad it was. They said it was time to let go. The car couldn't be saved. I decided to talk to Brian AKA Cookieboy & told him how extensive it was. He agreed it was too much & was time to let the car go.
 
It is now the day after I put some money on a 1980 Pinto to replace the 1977 & I have been thinking.. This car has been nothing but problems since I got it & am not suprised it ended this way. I am disappointed but know it is best to let the car die, for it has been nothing but one big headache.
 
1977 Pinto sedan, AKA Harold II.. The Pinto I thought could, but couldn't... Rust In Pieces.

Don't have any yet. I am picking up the car in a few days I will be taking lots of pics.

Good Pintos are like old dogs. you keep them alive as long as you can and enjoy them while you can. It's alright buddy. your next Pinto awaits.