if you read my thread on "red interior", you know I'm trying to identify my first car. I'm pretty sure it was a "Pony" (had decals with the pony on it), but I can't find anywhere that explains what the "Pony option" is/are/were. My guess is it was limited to certain years, so this might help me narrow it down?

The pony designation was used from 1977 thru 1980.  1977 and 1978 it was a 2-door sedan only. 1979 & 1980 there was a pony wagon also.  It was the base car as far as prices go. You can tell by the interior, they all had a black dash, steering wheel and column regardless of the color of the rest of the inside. Also no brite backlite, drip or belt moldings. They had a "Pony" decal on front fenders. The standard Pintos cost a littler more, but were completely color coded inside and had brite moldings around the windows and belt line. 

Hey dennll. 
   After going thru all the dealer advertising I have, the only mention of "mpg" is on the 1976 Pinto and Mustang II's. They heavily promoted this, even with separate advertising. It shows 5 different choices: MPG 2 door sedan, MPG 3 door Runabout, MPG 3 door Sguire Runabout, MPG 3 door Stallion Runabout and MPG wagons including Squire. Seems "MPG" was on most their cars. There is mention of the "Pony" model as a less expensive car. But it is not mentioned in their regular Dealer brochures. They dont show where MPG decal was. I think it was on the sides by the rear window.
   The Pinto Pony MPG was equipped with a 2.3L engine, 3.00 axle ratio. All other options were available EXCEPT Air, Automatic Trans, Power Steering and optional axle ratios.  38 mpg highway, 24 mpg city was the EPA estimates.
   I have an extra copy of this brochure you can have. let me know if you want.  Hope this helps ......... .......John

Thanks John, Dave! Here's a pic I found of a '76 that confirms that assertion.

John, you have a soft copy of that brochure? I'd sure appreciate it.

Thanks,
Dennis

My 78 was a pony model and came in the famous bright yellow with black interior, and pony decqls on the fenders where a Pinto emblem would be.

When it was new it had the 2.73:1 geared axle, 4spd transmission, 2.3l engine, "tinted" Windows, and stock steel wheels with full wheel covers.

Drivinging on the freeway was great with the stock axle, but i now have 3.00 gears in an 8" and its got more get up and go for city driving.

I'm almost certain it had the regular Pinto badges on the fenders. John

if this is true your car was a 76 or older, the 77 and newer models didn't have "Pinto" emblems on the fenders.

Not sure about how to track a car earlier than 1980 by VIN, always wondered if it was possible though...

Your car sounds a lot like mine! Mine had chrome drip moldings on it when it was new, but they were plastic snap on things in the late model Pintos. I did manage to find a prestine set of '74 metal chrome moldings for it though, which fit just fine and look great!. The only real "chrome" on the 78 other than that is the badges, wheel covers, window mold (front and back), and the bumpers (but they are polished aluminum).

Yes bright wheel moldings were an option then, and i believe it was the wide trim on pater years and narrow trim on early years. I personally like the narrow trim more. Both ate metal trim, not plastic.

Red is actually the color I want to paint mine when i drop the V8 in! I will keep my eyes peeled for you!