I was recently talking cars with my dad and he mentioned that ford gave away 4 or 6 (I can't remember) special edition Pintos for the bicentennial that had been modified with turbo charged 351 Clevelands with 4 bolt mains, reinforced chassis, the works. However, I haven't been able to find any information on these cars or what happened to them. I assume they would be highly collectible. His memory is spotty on the details as he was 14 at the time. If anyone knows anything about these cars (if they even existed) I would love to know. Thanks.

https://shop.advanceautoparts.com/r/car-culture/history-of-cars/celebrating-patriotic-cars

I found this article. It talks about the bicentennial cars, mentions Pinto's and 351 engines..., BUT not in the same car. The 351's were in Mustangs.

https://autowise.com/extremely-rare-and-cool-special-edition-packages-and-limited-run-models-ford-edition-part-ii/

I include this article, not because it has any Pinto information, but because it is absent. It does have a rather extensive list of Ford special products..., but no 351 Pinto's.

http://www.fordpinto.com/general-pinto-talk/351-factory-pinto/

Lastly there is the above from our own PCCA. Be careful many if no all are just joking about a V-8 Pinto.  Often stories get confused. People accept misinformation as fact. As one article above stated there were bicentennial Pinto's and 351 Mustang's and evetually the two can get b-L-e-N-d-E-d and take on a life of their own. There may have even been a "Yenko -ish" like dealer that proposed a 351 Pinto, but many people who were around at the time have no recollection.  Remember, it is incumbent upon the person stating a premise to support it, not our place to have to disprove it.

And I wonder how many confuse the Pinto with the Maverick (which did have a V-8).  Then there is the possible one off, self built Pinto V-8 that the guy intended to make a "kit" but it never came to be. 40 years ago the article made it sound like a sure deal. So today it MUST be true.


I have a number of cars by other manufacturers. It is amazing the Urban Legends that come into being. Studebaker built their OWN 289 engine back in the 50's/60's.  Studebaker also sourced engines from General Motors (esccentially a Chevy 283) the last two years they built cars in '65-'66. Suddenly Studebaker sourcing another manufactures engines and at one time having their OWN 289 engine has people saying Studebaker's have the Ford 289 in them.


 WHAT??? Such fowled logic.  On one episode of "South Beach Classics" Ted Vernon commented that a Studebaker he was selling had a "289, just like the Mustang." This caused all kinds of uproar on the Studebaker website. Vernon who sold classic cars for a living got it all wrong.


I also have a Sunbeam Tiger. A British car with a Ford 260 (and eventually a 289, - ahh Ford's 289, not Studebaker's). Interestingly Chrysler had corporate interest in Rootes (the parent company of Sunbeam). Eventually it became a controlling interest. Thus you had a British car with a Ford engine and a Chrysler pentstar on the lower fender. You can just imagine the urban legends that this creates.


So, not to insult the gentleman's memory but like I said before it is the responsibility of the party making the claim to present evidence. Not the part of others to prove that it isn't true. I realize his son came here simply asking "if" and rightfully doing the proper thing. It would be great if it was true, but so far no one has offered any proof. Thus at this time the answer seems "No," but the door is still open.