Pinto Car Club of America

Shiny is Good! => General Pinto Talk => Topic started by: 78squirewagon on March 17, 2009, 06:22:59 PM

Title: New find-Pictures
Post by: 78squirewagon on March 17, 2009, 06:22:59 PM
I found a new one today CHEAP. Long story short, I was talking to a guy at the Milwaukee Auto Show and he said his dad had a 78 coupe sitting in his garage. After pretty much giving up on hearing back from him, he e-mailed me this week and after looking at the car, i am getting it next week for 150.oo (or less if he can talk his dad down). it's a 2.3L with a four speed. There is a small electrical problem because it wont start but a simple fix I am sure.
The cool thing is that is was built at the same plant and close to the same day as my red wagon

I will keep you all posted on the progress
Title: Re: New find
Post by: pbean09 on March 17, 2009, 07:10:22 PM
nice find!!!
Title: Re: New find
Post by: 78squirewagon on March 17, 2009, 08:08:58 PM
interior. Just a couple of cracks on the dash and a small tear on thr drivers seat
Title: Re: New find
Post by: 78squirewagon on March 17, 2009, 08:10:49 PM
Back seat. the original spare is still in the back and has not been used. The rubber floor mat is mint as well as the headliner
Title: Re: New find
Post by: pintogirl on March 17, 2009, 08:20:06 PM
Very nice find, specially for that cheap and that good of condition!!!!!
Title: Re: New find
Post by: blupinto on March 17, 2009, 10:36:36 PM
Way cool! ;D
Title: Re: New find
Post by: Carolina Boy on March 17, 2009, 10:45:54 PM
Hey, nice car, showing off a little bit? Rotate the spare tire, it will start then. :lol:
Title: Re: New find
Post by: 78squirewagon on March 18, 2009, 06:56:12 AM
THANKS. I will try rotating the spare and see what happens  ;D  I might be looking at another Squire wagon as well but we will see. I do not have anymore room for stuff  ;D But if it's not a total waste, I will get it and store it somewhere for parts. ;D
As far as getting the coupe started, I am going to bypass the wiring harness and see if I can get it going with a toggle switch. If that works, then I will keep that until I find the actual problem. Either way it will not be until next week before I can even get the car to my house to see what I actually have (that's another long story invloving the owner  ;D
Title: Re: New find
Post by: 78squirewagon on March 18, 2009, 10:33:35 AM
After doing a VIN decode, I am finding out more fun information about the coupe. It was built at the same plant as my red wagon and the VIN's are only 62 numbers apart with the wagon being first ;D ;D  With that being said, I am probably going to take my time with the car and make it a nice restoration project. What are the odd's of two cars being built that close togther winding up so close to each other and both being painted factory red?  Cool but kinda scary at the same time  ;D
Title: Re: New find
Post by: beegle55 on March 18, 2009, 11:52:37 AM
I'll take ten of those $150.00 Pintos. If only I could find ONE.  :showback:  ;D But congrats on the find, what a steal.

     -beegle55
Title: Re: New find
Post by: 78squirewagon on March 18, 2009, 12:10:05 PM
Quote from: beegle55 on March 18, 2009, 11:52:37 AM
I'll take ten of those $150.00 Pintos. If only I could find ONE.  :showback:  ;D But congrats on the find, what a steal.

     -beegle55
It's not as nice as the pictures may show. The bottoms of the doors are rusty (peeling apart) plus there's a few other rust issues to deal with and it's got the dreaded cowl leak. But i am still happy with it and it will make a nice project this summer. It was going to be just a driver but now I am thinking a little bit more than that to match my other wagon  ;D
Title: Re: New find-Pictures
Post by: 78squirewagon on March 23, 2009, 02:34:07 PM
I am going to get the car tomorrow  ;D  I went over today and took a few more pictures and I doubt if I will sleep tonight. They moved it out of the garage for me so that will make it easier to put on a tow dolly for the short ride (less than 5 miles)to my house. I am looking forward to the stack of paperwork that goes with it.

Here are some pictures and a wants list. As you can tell, I need a left rear fender well lip molding. I am not too concerned about condition as slong as it's there. I also need gutter trim. I need doors but theres no way I can afford the shipping on those  ;D
http://public.fotki.com/losermark1/new-pinto/

Title: Re: New find-Pictures
Post by: 78squirewagon on March 24, 2009, 08:56:02 PM
I was able to get the coupe home today but because of the weather, I didnt do a lot to it. I went through the stack of reciepts that the previous (the one before the guy I got it from) owner had kept and it's amazing. He kept notes and track of EVERYTHING. It's pretty cool

http://public.fotki.com/losermark1/new-pinto-part-2/
Title: Re: New find-Pictures
Post by: dave1987 on March 24, 2009, 09:16:08 PM
So much rust! I would be afraid of getting a car in that condition, but for as cheap as you got it, I would have grabbed it too! :)

Are you planning to cut out the rust and weld in new sheet metal, or replacing the panels entirely?
Title: Re: New find-Pictures
Post by: discolives78 on March 25, 2009, 12:56:28 AM
It's all perspective Dave. I would've picked it up for a buck and a half too, just for the trim and interior. At this latitude that's a parts car. There was a 71 on craigslist for $300 a couple weeks ago, rust free body, white sedan like mine, motor smoked but ran. I didn't have $$$ so I didn't even go look. It's still a cool find Mark, I'm sure any Pinto pickin's are slim up north.

Chuck
Title: Re: New find-Pictures
Post by: 78squirewagon on March 25, 2009, 06:08:18 AM
I am going to do what I can with this one and probably drive it. IF I can find a set of doors, I will replace those and do what I can with the rest of the rust. you cannot fid rust free Pinto's in Wisconsin uless they are hiding is spots that I do not know about. Or at least within 50 miles of Milwaukee. Right now my goal is to get it started and have fun with it for a while.
Title: Re: New find-Pictures
Post by: larjohnson on March 26, 2009, 06:53:01 AM
WOW!!!  What a find.  I would have a blast 8) with that car, just getting it restored.  I'm working on a 1971 Pinto trunk model now, that I'm restoring back to it's original beauty.  By the end of April, the car will look new inside.  The paint, well it's not too bad, it's actually going to be showable this summer.  I hope to get the few minor body damage areas repaired, and have the whole car repainted by the end of summer.  Good luck...rare fine....I'd have bought it too :).  Larry :police:
Title: Re: New find-Pictures
Post by: 78squirewagon on March 26, 2009, 07:38:33 AM
Thanks for the nice complements and such. I mentioned in another post that I got it started and actually drove it around the block yesterday !!!  I felt like Rocky and even had the theme song going through my head. I knew that the radiator was bad when some of the fins fell out on the way home but for the short distance I drove it, it was OK.
Now to replace the radiator (temp fix with an older one) and get the brakes better than they currently are. It stops ok but the power assist is not working (not that I need it) and like was mentioned in a previous post, the parking brake is stuck on.
Today, it's off to the DMV to get a title and temp plate while my collectors plates are being ordered. At least this way I can drive it up and down my street LOL!!!
I will keep everyone posted