Author Topic: pinto crash survivors?? (Read 13527 times)

Jippah · « **on:** February 16, 2011, 01:08:48 AM »

so when i actually am driving Shelly around, i find myself checking the rearview mirror far more often then i do in my F150.... has anyone actually been in a rough collision with a one of these lil babies?
spose i can still take my Shelly to the local Ford Dealer and have them perform the recall maintenance? (haha yea right)

phils toys · « **Reply #1 on:** February 16, 2011, 10:35:41 AM »

recall no but a dealer may still do it.
i have met a few from going to car shows that were rear ended and fixed the car and drove it some more.

tinkerman73 · « **Reply #2 on:** February 16, 2011, 11:00:18 AM »

My pinto has been rear ended 7 times. Good thing I have 9 lives! ROFLMBO! No, seriously with driving the wagon, I find myself not worried. I have driven cars with known gas leaks! One, ford truck was known for springing a leak on the half way up weld. If I put too much gas in it, it would leak like crazy. I was worried then whenever I saw someone infront of me flick a lit cigarette out of thier window! I know there was a issue with these cars. But I have seen more deaths from people buying new tires that are already out dated and blow while driving! I have heard of the new Praus that is bad! I know Firestone had to recall because of the number of deaths. I think it was mostly the media hyping up the story because A ford person worded what he said wrong and they went with it! I know every vehicle made they find issues with and calcualte what would be more profitable. Look at the vega the frst year. They knew the car vibrated too much and the carb could come loose. They ran it anyways! Every decision they make revolves around number of the green kind! Do I feel as safe in it as apposed to my 93 GMC custom conversion van. NO!! But I feel safe enough in it. If its my time to go, I will go wether its in a ball of flame, or struck checking the mail box!! Heck, could happen sitting on the John for as much as I know! LOL.

beaner · « **Reply #3 on:** February 16, 2011, 11:29:58 AM »

Quote from: tinkerman73 on February 16, 2011, 11:00:18 AM

I feel safe enough in it. If its my time to go, I will go wether its in a ball of flame, or struck checking the mail box!! Heck, could happen sitting on the John for as much as I know! LOL.

well said

brad

cutelitlputtputt · « **Reply #4 on:** February 16, 2011, 07:53:26 PM »

My Orange Pumpkin had been rear ended at a stop light in Palm Desert several years ago! You should have seen the damage to the other car!!!!

And yes, I always look in my rear view mirror, especially at stop signs!!!!!

Jennifer

blupinto · « **Reply #5 on:** February 16, 2011, 08:21:11 PM »

The wagons weren't the Pintos involved in the gas tank-related recall. The space between the tank and differential is bigger, thus no issue like the '71-'76 sedans and Runabouts. Jippah, if there's a plastic flap between the front of your gas tank and the pumpkin (differential housing) then Shelly was already recalled and had the work done.

My '97 Isuzu Rodeo has been rear-ended 3 times!!! All three times while I was stopped at a red light.

As for being safe... if something hits you hard enough... no matter what you drive...it can turn into a ball of flame or otherwise kill you. All you can do is ye safe yourself and enjoy your Pintos!

dga57 · « **Reply #6 on:** February 17, 2011, 12:55:35 AM »

I actually survived a pretty severe crash in my original 1974 Pinto Runabout, although it did not involve the rear end being hit. I skidded off wet pavement on a curve and slid through someone's front yard, sideswiped a tree, went through a barbed wire fence, bounced off of a cattle loading shute, then back through the fence again and ultimately landed in the road! Quite a ride! Resulted in over $2000 in damages to the car (which cost only $2900 brand new) and the insurance company wouldn't total it. All the sheet metal on the car was replaced except the roof and the rear hatch. Neither I nor my girlfriend received any injuries. That happened in 1975.

Dwayne :smile:

Tercin · « **Reply #7 on:** February 18, 2011, 07:59:27 AM »

I was rear ended in a 73 trunk model in 1981. An F150 hit me at a stoplight. I had to get a new rear bumper and some body work to the rear valance. No flames death or dismemberment here.

earthquake · « **Reply #8 on:** February 18, 2011, 06:01:32 PM »

Also while not a rear ender,I was involved in an accident in 93.While traveling at 55 mph a car traveling the opposite direction made a last minute left in front of me.( In plain view of a state trooper)I hit their car just behind the pass door totally destroying their car.My little wagon didn't look so good either,But after the trooper looked my car over I was allowed to drive my car off.I did have to pull the fender away from the front tire some but it drove away.55 mph collision and no structural damage.

dga57 · « **Reply #9 on:** February 18, 2011, 06:34:59 PM »

I drove home after my 1975 mishap too. These little cars are tougher than you might think!

Dwayne :smile:

blupinto · « **Reply #10 on:** February 18, 2011, 06:36:28 PM »

They just don't make cars like they used to! lol :accident:

tinkerman73 · « **Reply #11 on:** February 18, 2011, 06:53:22 PM »

Quote from: blupinto on February 18, 2011, 06:36:28 PM

They just don't make cars like they used to! lol :accident:

You could say that again! When we bought this estate, it came with 8 vehicles. Only one was older then the 90's. Every single one of them with two exceptions was rusted out, wouldnt turn over and brakes were locked up and tires flat. The 98 was usable. The other had sat there for 20 years and was a 59 TR3. Blew its tires up and they help. Rolled out of the barn no problems. Nothing locked up or anything. We got that onto a trailer with nothing falling off. 5 of the others we had all we could do to get them loaded up. They were even falling apart infront of us! I think they used to make cars a lot tougher and more reliable back then. I honestly believe they make cars to fall apart and need repairs now! Also I believe they make cars that only the serviceman can repair with the proper(exspensive) tools! Thats why I like this little pinto. Most all of it is very basic and easy to understand!

blupinto · « **Reply #12 on:** February 18, 2011, 06:57:35 PM »

You hit it on the head!

Cookieboystoys · « **Reply #13 on:** February 19, 2011, 08:06:50 AM »

Quote from: cutelitlputtputt on February 16, 2011, 07:53:26 PM

I always look in my rear view mirror, especially at stop signs!!!!!

Jennifer

me too, used to be trucks that worried me, not anymore because you know why the Pinto blew up? it's cause the Toyota couldn't stop!

Haha! seriously though, while they can have issues when hit from behind, I have seen a lot of pictures of Pintos "crushed" in rear end collisions that didn't see flames. The demo guys really like them too as they hold up well, derby after derby. Tough little cars for what they are.

Fred Morgan · « **Reply #14 on:** February 19, 2011, 06:20:37 PM »

This is what my daughter's 73 looked like after being hit by a drunk driver going over 120 mph in 55 zone and yes there was fuel in the back seat. Only thing that could be saved was license plate and fuel cap. Fred

tinkerman73 · « **Reply #15 on:** February 19, 2011, 08:46:20 PM »

That thing looks totally messed up! But yet, I dont see any scortch marks!

Norman Bagi · « **Reply #16 on:** February 20, 2011, 08:59:05 AM »

Fred,

Forget the car, how was your daughter after that?

Fred Morgan · « **Reply #17 on:** February 20, 2011, 02:42:49 PM »

Well she did need stitches in a few places. #3 picture may be what happened to her head it was laying on drivers floor. She would get dizzy when she stood up that lasted about a month and a half. I had to drive her every day on the streets because she would cry if I tried to take freeway. Car went end over end then rolled 2 times to the right. Fred

Srt · « **Reply #18 on:** February 21, 2011, 03:18:50 AM »

I ran over a Vega at about 80 mph in one a while back. I took out the Vega from the right front headlight to the left front windshield pillar, then a traffic signal control cabinet then a traffic signal pole and lights (over 2 lanes of traffic) then the corner of a guys house then i knocked the guy off his couch onto the floor.

not a straight panel or any glass left in the Pinto and all 5 tires flat. i got a broken ankle, a broken left eye socket, and a broken sternum, BUT...... no fire or even smoke anywhere!

(boy was I stupid when I was young)

pinto1979 · « **Reply #19 on:** February 23, 2011, 10:23:34 PM »

I T-Boned a Taurus in my last Pinto, the guy ran a stop sign and I hit him at about 30mph.

Before:

After:

I walked away with minor injuries.

pintomagic · « **Reply #20 on:** February 24, 2011, 02:30:56 PM »

I can,t remember , I think it was the Chevy Malibu that had a rear end explosion problem that never was recalled . Why didn,t the media pick on them ? Certianly there were more pintos on the road but still . I guess its cool to die in a macho man car . Like a wrapped up fiberglass Corvette . I remember the story of James Deans Porche , the cursed Porche , he died in it and someone else restored it and got killed or almost in it too .

78txpony · « **Reply #21 on:** February 27, 2011, 10:03:04 AM »

My 78 sedan was in about 5 wrecks and totalled at least 3 times.

The first was in about 1981 when it was rear ened by an El Camino loaded with bricks. Actually there was another car in between that absorbed most of the impact. The Pinto had a mangled bumper with a hole in it, bent frame and bucked 1/4 panel.
It was repaired by their insurance.

My sis T-boned a Monte Carlo that ran a stop sign in 1989. Speed was about 15-20 on impact.
She was thrown into the steering wheel and got a bloody lip as she was not wearing her seat belt. Pinto had a bent front frame, broke grille and parking lights, buckled fenders and hood, roof slightly buckled, and the dash dented.
It was repaired with insurance $ although it was totalled.. She paid just for the frame repair and I did the rest, leaving the dents and crumples here and there. Bumper mounts, grille and p-lights came from a yard.

A year later, sis hit a big lab dog on the highway doing 60. Broke the grille and p-lights again and sent her into a spin. Luckily she stayed on the road. Dog was gone. The skin and fur all over the car was gross.

The next year she was backed into in a parking lot by a Suburban. 1/4 panel crumpled, door dented - car totalled again. We took what money we could and I beat the dent out the best I could.

Four years later I was on the highway and had to swerve around a car that had spun out in front of me. I was doing 50 and was rear ended by an '83 Cutlass, mangling the right rear bumper and bending the frame on that side. Cutlass had a dent on the lic plate. TOUGH car that was.
That impact tossed me out of the seat (no seat belt) and pushed the car into another lane where I was rear ended again by a huhnduh accord. Totalled his car - hood, fenders, lights, radiator were gone. That only scratched up the left side of my rear bumper and dented the tail light ring. I drove my car home. It was totalled again but we took the insurance $ and had the frame and bumper straightened. Not bad afterwards...

No more wrecks and car still drives okay, 15 years later. Frame and roof are still tweaked so restoration would be difficult. However, it still does good as a daily driver!

The latest joke I have heard is that the most paranoid driver is the one driving an early model Pinto with a run-away prone toyota behind them.
Heck I am even paranoid when one of those things are behind me when I am on my bike!

Jippah · « **Reply #22 on:** February 27, 2011, 09:11:07 PM »

holy cow 78txpony!!!

poor lil car has been through alot!

... but i did notice there wasnt a single mention of flame in those stories! all these stories make me feel a bit better about driving my Shelly around, although i'm sorry to hear about some members' losses

dave1987 · « **Reply #23 on:** February 28, 2011, 12:41:24 AM »

A week after my mom bought my 78 Sedan brand spankin' new she backed into a barrel barbecuer (a 50 gallon barrel cut in half with a grate over it). She destroyed the passenger side quarter panel. She rushed it back to the dealership before my grandpa got home to have the panel replaced and repainted, but the dealership repainted the panel the wrong shade of yellow and my grandpa found out! lol

Last summer I was leaving McDonalds after meeting up with a fellow Pinto owner and a guy in Nissan Pathfinder wasn't watching and we backed up at the same time. Only about 5 mph but he hit me with his bumper guard and crumpled the same passenger quarter panel all the way up to the taillight lens (you can see pictures in my 78's project log). He didn't have insurance and all I had was liability, but he was a really nice gentleman and paid the $360 in paint and body work to get it fixed for me, which I had a friend do the body work. I replaced his bumper end caps for $15.00 for the pair! Had he had insurance, I wouldn't have ever had the car fixed because of me just having liability, I got lucky for sure! That's the only wreck I have ever been in.

My 73 Station Wagon was retired due to the wreck the previous owner had with it. He rear ended a lincoln town car at 15 mph and crushed the grill, crinkled the driver's side fender and broke the headlight door. I was able to pop out most of the fender damage but I can't do anything with the headlight door until I pull the fender off to truly straighten it out.

I do check my rear view mirror a lot while driving, but I only ever really drive my Pintos. While driving the Saturn Ion I do the same, but I think it's more due to habit and obsessiveness of safe driving practices than it is out of nervousness.

78txpony · « **Reply #24 on:** February 28, 2011, 02:08:21 PM »

Quote from: Jippah on February 27, 2011, 09:11:07 PM

holy cow 78txpony!!!

poor lil car has been through alot!

... but i did notice there wasnt a single mention of flame in those stories! all these stories make me feel a bit better about driving my Shelly around, although i'm sorry to hear about some members' losses

Not even close to a fire. Car still has the original undented gas tank. The fires resulted from high speed collisions.
Of course then, any car is fair game to fire, depending ont he exact crash parameters involved.

Fred, those pictures are sad. Glad your wife was pretty much okay - I bet the lug wrench caused the injuries.
Any object inside becomes a projectile.
When I got hit from the back those two times, I was all over the place (no seat belt), radio came out (not bolted in), ashtray opened and change went everywhere...

I understand, through experience, that seatbelt usage is important.

tinkerman73 · « **Reply #25 on:** February 28, 2011, 02:55:25 PM »

The seat belt issue is one I still argue with myself on! I have personally seen a couple of people I knew get killed in accidents. One was decapitated. The officers had sai that these people would have probably still been alive if they had not worn thier seat belts because then they would have been ejected! The decapitated one was from a roll over accident. I am sure nothing else needed to say! The second one was a high speed accident due to a animal. Hit the ditch and rolled end over end. Got killed from the tool box. The third was from plain idiacy. My father in law works on the ambulance crew and he too has stated he has seen several accidient where the people probably would have been alive if they had not worn the belts. But then again, I have seen a fair share killed because they had not worn them! So I re interate my statement. If its your time, its your time! He above will dial only your number when he is ready to make that call!

2.3stangii · « **Reply #26 on:** February 28, 2011, 06:33:23 PM »

I've been hit by a Chevy S10 going at least 45 mph (well he did slam on his brakes so the actual impact was probably around 25 or 30) in my 78 wagon. Almost broke my neck and probably would have if I hadn't seen it coming and braced myself. The guy tried to claim he didn't see my turn signals but luckily my cousin was right behind him and he said he saw them just fine. Didn't hurt my car but his bumper had a pretty good size dent and a smashed bumper guard. Those 77-78 aluminum bumpers are stronger than one might think, though I did have steel angle iron holding the bumper on because it corroded and fell off so that's probably why it held on so well.

blupinto · « **Reply #27 on:** February 28, 2011, 06:43:37 PM »

Rob, that was Fred's daughter Ashley who was in the accident with the blue Pinto. I don't think Joy (Fred's better half) was ever in a Pinto accident. Fred, correct me if I'm wrong.

According to statistics, far more people die in accidents when they're not wearing seatbelts that those who die and do wear them. I lost a brother in May of '99 when the ATC he was riding collided with a 4X4 Ranger pick-up head on going approximately 40 mph. Naturally there were no seatbelts on the ATC. He got thrown over 50 feet and his body was mangled. Yes, decapitation is bad, but so is a heap of broken human. I'm an advocate of seatbelts. I'd rather rely on them than airbags. THAT might kill me... be being so darn vertically challenged that I'm right up to the steering wheel just so I can reach the peddles! lol

Fred Morgan · « **Reply #28 on:** February 28, 2011, 06:58:45 PM »

I will post up another picture of Ashley 2nd blue Pinto crash when this picture thing here starts working. Fred

78txpony · « **Reply #29 on:** March 01, 2011, 11:13:45 AM »

Quote from: 2.3stangii on February 28, 2011, 06:33:23 PM

Those 77-78 aluminum bumpers are stronger than one might think,

They sure are. I still have the rear one even after the two car rear-ending I got, AND I still have the original front one anfter totalling that MC!!
Being aluminum, they seem to have enough flex and give to make them springy.
Just dog-gone strong (pun intended - the dog my sis hit did not like that fact. :rolleye: )

Quote from: blupinto on February 28, 2011, 06:43:37 PM

Rob, that was Fred's daughter Ashley who was in the accident with the blue Pinto. I don't think Joy (Fred's better half) was ever in a Pinto accident. Fred, correct me if I'm wrong.

Helps if I read it right. I was in a hurry that day....

Quote from: blupinto on February 28, 2011, 06:43:37 PM

be being so darn vertically challenged

You're not short - you're fun-size! :lol:

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Author Topic: pinto crash survivors?? (Read 13527 times)