I drive my cruising wagon every day. Sometimes I forget that it's anything unusual and when I see people on the side of the road smiling and pointing I'll think "what's THEIR deal?"
Today a guy stopped me at the gas station to check it out and he told me he had found a Pinto wagon in a field with A TREE GROWING THROUGH IT. It had sprouted up through a hole in the floor, continued up through the sunroof and kept going. The guy said this car was several feet off the ground, embedded in this tree. I am now kicking myself for not asking where it was so I could get a photo.
Anyway, I thought it might be fun to start a thread about random encounters with people as a result of driving what we drive...
Quote from: Jef_Leppard on September 17, 2009, 11:41:14 AM
Today a guy stopped me at the gas station to check it out and he told me he had found a Pinto wagon in a field with A TREE GROWING THROUGH IT.
It's about time those Pintos start catching up with some of those old Studebakers....
:lol: Thats cool about the tree. I usually get a lot of stares and sometimes people stop me and tell about how they used to have one. It still cracks me up how many people stare.
It`s the girls that get me,,, they just about trip and fall from looking so hard!!!!!
I shared this in the Local Meets section, but thought I'd share it here too!! ;D
We were on the way to the Fun Ford Sunday car show and we were getting the thumbs up and other gestures (all good ones) on the way there. Then there was this guy in a pick up. He started to pass us, then before getting in front of us he drops back. I tell my hubby that I think he must have decided to get off the freeway at the next exit. After a few minutes, here he comes again. This time he is holding up a sign. He then slowed down again, and then sped up again, just to make sure we saw the sign! He was waving a made on the fly, AWESOME CAR sign!!!!!! ;D I mean this guy actually took time driving down the road to make a sign that just wasn't made of one line pen lines, but actually block letters!!!! We got off the freeway after the second pass, but I have to say that was the best I have ever gotten driving my Pinto! I even turned and asked my husband, what other cars has he ever driven that got that kind of attention? He had no reply!!! LOL
Even today, I went to my old bosses work to say hi, and his wife and I went out and looked at my Pinto. We were talking about it and a guy came up and started asking me about it, and then had to tell me how he had one back in the day. He told me that he had it loaded with family and camping gear. He went to pass a logging truck on the freeway, and had no power, then another truck came barreling down behind him. He said he thought he was going to get smashed, but luckily he made it around and the other semi kept going! LOL It's kind of fun to hear some of the story's people remember with their Pintos!!! :lol: ;D
Even when I take the rusty coupe out, it draws attention. People really get a kick out of it when I tell them I have a wagon built the same day at home. I have started joking with people and telling them that if they have a story, that it's going to cost them 1.oo so that I can restore the other two ;D
Quote from: Starsky and Hutch on September 17, 2009, 04:36:16 PM
It`s the girls that get me,,, they just about trip and fall from looking so hard!!!!!
My girlfriend/fiancee' is partial to the bobcats. Especially the wagon. According to her they are Just Sexy.. So she is ok with me getting more as long as she gets to help with picking out what we do to them
I have posted before but quickly since I have had my car out running I have gotrten thuimbs up from a biker, a 4 x 4 and a pro street duster. what really blows me a way is how many people in my area know about my pinto. if I am some where talking about it they say oh yeah you have the yellow Pinto in cortland.... amazing swimply amazing.
I just spent the weekend at the Jefferson car show and swap meet in Jefferson WI .To draw attention to my selling space I decided to park my still unrestored 78 Cruising wagon next to it.Boy did it get attention!! It was fun listing to all the "Pinto Stories".People were amazed to see one , as there are not that may left. The first night I camped there , while in my camper lying down trying to fall asleep people would come up to the car ans start talking to their buddys about the car.I wish I had a microphone recording all that was said!It was priceless !
here is a pick from the show
I had one guy come up and was upset he got rid of his, he got rid of it because of the reputation, funny thing, he got rear ended in his, and no boom!
Leaving Carlisle I got flashed by four girls in an explorer, don't tell my wife.
I got into it with someone was some drunk in a bar who started in with the Found On Road Dead, Pintos zoop nonsense. So I asked him what he had and he said a Mopar, I said oh one of those welfare car companies. Money Obama Spent Against the Recession. (Mopar)and we exchanged a few words. But basically my car was there and his wasn't, talk is cheap and so is a mopar Many Odd Parts Assembled Randomly :showback:
Gave a coworker a ride home, he said my car had attention defficit dissorder. (302, 4 barrell)He loved it.
Getting gas one time a kid (17?) came up to look at me, then said oh it's a Pinto, I thought it was a Vega? and left. The guy pumping gas said "what would he know, littl $h*%, what an a$$&*^%" So I laughed at him and asked him if he was such a Chevy guy, why was he driving an F-150?
Everyone else liked her, they bring back happy memories. A couple morons are always going to surface now and then. Most people just smile.
It's funny how many people have very fond memories of the Pintos. I have other very nice cars but the Pintos always receive more attention. Mopar Mostly Old Parts And Rust! I have a #s Matching 69 Dart Swinger 340 car,no disrespect, just thought I'd throw that one in. :D
Quote from: skunky56 on September 29, 2009, 06:56:34 PM
It's funny how many people have very fond memories of the Pintos. I have other very nice cars but the Pintos always receive more attention. Mopar Mostly Old Parts And Rust! I have a #s Matching 69 Dart Swinger 340 car,no disrespect, just thought I'd throw that one in. :D
I was given a hot rod magazine several months ago that featured the Dodge Dart. The sentence that caught my attention was the one where the author stated that the Dart was a car that a person either had or they knew someone who had one. Sounds like the article could've been talking about our lil' Pintos. Mostly unsung in their heyday but now well-loved. ;D
Very true!!!
Dwayne :smile:
I'll tell ya...my small-block '72 never fails to attract attention at the local rod runs and parking lot car shows when I bring it. People who get this car *really* get it. A couple months ago I had a guy in a flawless Super Stock Plymouth call over a friend in a pro-built Mustang pro streeter to take a look at it. They both showed a healthy respect for it's potential. Whenever somebody asks "Why a Pinto?", I ask them "Well....what does your Chevelle/B-Body Mopar/Tri-five Chevy/etc. weigh and how many other Pintos do you see here?" That usually quiets them down a bit...
Whenever somebody asks "Why a Pinto?", I ask them "Well....what does your Chevelle/B-Body Mopar/Tri-five Chevy/etc. weigh and how many other Pintos do you see here?" That usually quiets them down a bit...
Funny how that works! ;)
Whenever somebody asks "Why a Pinto?", I ask them "Well....what does your Chevelle/B-Body Mopar/Tri-five Chevy/etc. weigh and how many other Pintos do you see here?" That usually quiets them down a bit...
I have to ask as well. "Do you see another one around or know of another one in the area other than mine?" Also, I tell them, some people collect coins and baseballs while some of us collect Pinto's
I like to say, "If I have to expalin it, then you wouldn't understand!"
id have to agree with the lot of yall. they do get the attention!! my little orange 78 attracts alot of attention in stock form with just some appliance mags. i CANT WAIT to get my hot pants kit and my 302 and AOD in my little car!! i think it will snap necks then!! LOL!!! :hypno:
Quote from: Starsky and Hutch on September 17, 2009, 04:36:16 PM
It`s the girls that get me,,, they just about trip and fall from looking so hard!!!!!
Now we know how Blu hurt her elbow!! :devil:
HA! Wouldn't you like to be privy to how I wounded myself... ;) :devil: ;D
Quote from: blupinto on October 14, 2009, 05:47:00 PM
HA! Wouldn't you like to be privy to how I wounded myself... ;) :devil: ;D
Blu's doing hit and runs tonight.
Quote from: dholvrsn on September 17, 2009, 12:57:06 PM
It's about time those Pintos start catching up with some of those old Studebakers....
to me it seems as if the pintos are the modern version of the duce coupe, i love them. :D
Was helping a friend of my son with his Eclipse, we had to go to town for some parts so we took the Pinto. On the interstate people go by and wave or give thumbs up, then when we were in town going down the road a SUV pulls up beside us and the guy is taking a pic while driving! Matt is just shaking his head in disbelief! :lol:
I get that same reaction from people I take along with me in my 78 Sedan. They just don't understand why a *Pinto* gets more attention than any other car or truck they have driven.
My favorite thing to do is pull into the Ford dealership on a nice clear day while all of the sales people are outside enjoying the nice weather and fresh air. They all seem to follow me from the entrance of the parking lot to the parking space at the door. It reminds me of zombies from Dawn of the Dead chasing after fresh meat. I highly recommend doing this in the summer, everyone! :)
l` am going to do that at the ford dealer it was sold at this summer
Quote from: Starsky and Hutch on January 13, 2010, 10:15:16 AM
l` am going to do that at the ford dealer it was sold at this summer
Ask them if the warranty is still good!!!! :lol: :lol:
Ok i`ll try that and let you know the outcome k ;)
I have even had family members get jealous of my pinto saying things like ,,,,oh it`s just a swear word ford pinto .....Now i have deleted all my msn and face book page so they don't have to look at it anymore and they can keep their snotty remarks at there house.. God forbid I should see them on the street i may have to beat them up!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I know how family criticism can get. My older brother is always asking "that thing is still drivable?" or, "when are you going to send that to the junk yard where it belongs?". Quite irritating, but a drive around town in the Pinto calms me down pretty well. :)
Quote from: dave1987 on January 13, 2010, 03:08:36 PM
I know how family criticism can get. My older brother is always asking "that thing is still drivable?" or, "when are you going to send that to the junk yard where it belongs?". Quite irritating, but a drive around town in the Pinto calms me down pretty well. :)
I have 600 miles between my "family "and I, so the veiled derision was kept to out of state comments. However, can you imagine having a Pinto racer in the NAPA VALLEY in the '80s as the Bimmer status was at it's peak.
My car had license plates and a Race motor (due to "creative swaps" during Smog check years),and if the "words" slipped out of their lips, I just smiled and answered with a 7000rpm Burnout (with trac Lok rear) and chirps in second & third. Light weight and 7.5 inch steel wheels with 9 inches on each corner left no doubt that I meant business. 3" exhaust exiting just under the passenger door (Tunnelled floor pan) fairly shouted the song of Hooker Super Comp headers and My dual side drafts left the remaining fools clearly nodding their heads.
Getting attention? Oh you Bet! I plan to build another one like it for street duty (Import Intimidation) and It might have Duratec with no FI and big Carbs (245HP) Spendy UK conversion stuff.
Sadly it might have to happen outside the"golden" state..
But Drive we Must :fastcar:
Pintosopher, Blue Oval Horsey forever...
everywhere I go I get noticed. Half the people can't believe it. the other half want to buy it LOL
I get my chastising at home. The 10 year old boy is into exotics - and the wife just doesn't "get it". She swears she will NEVER be seen in it. She's a good woman, but the Pinto thing is wayyyy beyond her. The kid? Maybe some hope once I build the beast and take him for a ride.
Pintos are not for everyone. And, to that point, what's exciting about owning a car that >IS< for everyone? Sure, other cars are cool, but the Chevelles, Novas, Camaros, Mustangs, Tri-fives are everywhere. When the guy in your neighborhood who owns a '57 Chevy stops to ask you about your Pinto - THAT'S something!!
..and that's what it's about!!!!
Chris
Quote from: dave1987 on January 13, 2010, 05:24:35 AM
I get that same reaction from people I take along with me in my 78 Sedan. They just don't understand why a *Pinto* gets more attention than any other car or truck they have driven.
My favorite thing to do is pull into the Ford dealership on a nice clear day while all of the sales people are outside enjoying the nice weather and fresh air. They all seem to follow me from the entrance of the parking lot to the parking space at the door. It reminds me of zombies from Dawn of the Dead chasing after fresh meat. I highly recommend doing this in the summer, everyone! :)
Sounds like fun, but I don't think the folks at my local Ford dealership will be terribly impressed, thanks to 71pintoracer driving his little beauty back and forth to work at the same dealership! Oh well... if someone is going to steal my thunder, at least it's a PCCA member! :-\
Dwayne :smile:
Starsky, sock it to 'em! Who needs family like that anyway? If they can't say anything nice maybe they weren't taught to SHUT THEIR PIE HOLE! (gawd I love that saying! lol!)
Dave, who needs brothers sometimes? I should know... :P
You got that right
You know it is nice to be at the front for a change. the Pinto revolution is coming and they are becoming more popular all the time. like I said before, my Pinto is better known in my area than me. :lol:
Yesterday morning I was driving my green wagon to the bank (guess what for? lol) and some guy pulled up beside me and said he loved my Pinto. Then he said, "you probably have the only wagon in California." I told him no, there's a lady in Sacramento that has at least four! lol. When the light turned we parted ways, but it brought a smile to my face. :D
Quote from: blupinto on March 23, 2010, 05:27:08 PM
Yesterday morning I was driving my green wagon to the bank (guess what for? lol) and some guy pulled up beside me and said he loved my Pinto. Then he said, "you probably have the only wagon in California." I told him no, there's a lady in Sacramento that has at least four! lol. When the light turned we parted ways, but it brought a smile to my face. :D
I'm willing to be that "smile" was more like an ear-to-ear grin!!!
Dwayne (smiling right along with you!) :smile:
Ok, so I haven't driven my pinto in over 2 years... I have a trip permit today to get it smogged.. sadly failed the presmog... I pull into a Vons/Safeway gas station and there is a guy hootin, and hollerin across the parking lot... He gets my attention and yells nice car... I miss the days of driving my pinto... Always get looks... I forgot what it was like...
The other day I found a business card on my car. Called the guy he said He was lookin to buy one, asked if mine was for Sale, I said no but I knew of one. (hope hes called fred lol) but Hes lookin for one to make a sedan delivery one out of like he had back in 73. Thought it was nice to meet another pinto/bobcat lover out there. (this guy has a lot of nice restored cars)
Quote from: blupinto on March 23, 2010, 05:27:08 PM
Yesterday morning I was driving my green wagon to the bank (guess what for? lol) and some guy pulled up beside me and said he loved my Pinto. Then he said, "you probably have the only wagon in California." I told him no, there's a lady in Sacramento that has at least four! lol. When the light turned we parted ways, but it brought a smile to my face. :D
When i go to the bank they call me pinto guy and they say ,,,,like your car,,, seen you go by yesterday
Ive driven/owned alot of cars/trucks that draw lots off attention. my 68 gmc shortbed draws lots of attention,so did the 86 mazda truck i had that layed frame with air ride,but out of all them id have to say the biggest attention getter ive had so far would be my 85 chevy (actually sold it to buy my bobcat) it had 12 inchs of lift and would clear 40 inch tires and had a built 327 it would roll a set of boggers all day even did a few 4wheel drive smokey burnouts it was a mean truck. Im really hoping my bobcat gets more attetion then that truck and im betting once im done with it it will. I see a silver bobcat with a 300+hp 2.3t under the hood sittin on some draglites gettin alot of attetion. LOL just seeing it in my head makes me just wanna drool. :lol:
you will even have cops doing the head spin i sure do
Quote from: Starsky and Hutch on March 26, 2010, 09:33:25 AM
you will even have cops doing the head spin i sure do
LOL! A while ago I was driving west on HWY 76 near my home and an Oceanside Police Officer spotted Meanie... I swear he smiled!
Yesterday I went to put my pittance of a state tax refund in my checking account and TWO different guys stopped at the same time (we were on foot in the parking lot) and made very nice comments. One even invited me to lunch! lol. I guess they liked Ruby RedHot!
Interesting thread...
Since my Pinto is a daily driver in cool weather, I usually don't look for those noticing.
However, this one following incident yesterday was obvious...
I was first in line at a stoplight waiting to turn left and a middle age blond in a newer Porsche stared at my car and she drove the cross street. I mean up to a full 100* neck twist like an owl - I saw her clearly.
It proves that the Pinto DOES turn heads!
Everytime I'm in the parts stores and people come in behind me they are talking about the Pinto, little do they know that I, being a youngster 22 year old, drive it. They always seem surprised that someone so young has such interest in such an old car, much less it being a Pinto.
Just for the record, our 1976 wagon will be cruising in a well-attended show this June in Richland, Washington! We won't be showing it just yet, as it's really not show quality. But, we WILL cruise it in the Friday night cruise, along with at least 500 other hot rods!
We gotta keep the old ones on the road!!!! :smile:
I did not even have to be driving my Pinto to get attention, I just wore my Old Navy Pinto shirt! I wore it on my way back from my southwest trip on the road and plane , got smiles along with a few"Pinto stories".
LOL! Same here! Except it's been at Costco and AAA office when I was registering Ruby RedHot! The t-shirt started a dialogue of "my first car was a Pinto" stories! lol. Thank you Old Navy! lol!
Monday I went to the pet store in town and on the way home stopped at a 76 station for gas. After I fueled up and added the lead substitute in the tank I got in and while I was fastening my seat belts (the '71 has the two-part seatbelt system) this charcoal-gray Ford F150 pulls around me... and I'm giving him the stinkeye because he's AWFULLY CLOSE to scraping my red baby! I proceed to grumble to myself and finish the Great Seatbelt Saga and when I look up I see the truck's driver taking pictures unabashedly of me and my Ruby. He used a BlackBerry-looking thing to do it. He was pickin' and grinnin'. I couldn't stay too mad at him after that! lol.
I was picking up my step daughter from school (first grade) a couple days ago, in the Pinto, and a kid (also in first grade) yells out at the top of his lungs "SWEET RIDE DUDE!" while waving! :D
Ahhh from the mouths of babes... :laugh:
I have found out ,,,that native Indians like pintos ,,,but drive fast the female`s will chase you
Had a lady looking while she was driving,, and she went up on the curb with all four wheels and clipped a telephone pole.. i just shook my head,,,, and Becky thought i was crazy!!!!!
HA! I happen to KNOW you're crazy! :lol: :lol: :lol:
Was getting into my '77 wagon today and a young-ish girl asked "how did you get those seats in there??" I was confused and went "huh?" I drive this thing all the time and forget how alien it looks to people. The seats are red plaid. I told her the seats were made this way in 1977. She just seemed totally amazed.
how young? 20ish? she prolly thought they where gucci or sumthing like that HAHAHAHAHA!
Yeah, 20 seems right. The bubble windows got some ooh and ahh too of course. :amazed:
Been thinking I want to start a blog just to post little videos of people I have Pinto Encounters with.
Great thread! I had thought about starting one myself.
I live in a very "upscale" neighborhood with movie stars and people who drive all sorts of ridiculously expensive cars. I can tell you that without a doubt, my Pinto gets more positive attention than any other car. Just last night, a guy in a $125,000 BMW pulled up beside me at a light and motioned for me to roll down my window. I did so, and he said, "Wow! Way cool car. I drove one when I was a teenager." I said, "So did I, and I'm trying to re-live my teenage years". He laughed and said, "I think you ARE still a teenager!" :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: I guess he's right!
Aside from turning heads and answering questions on the car...
I was sitting at a red light one day and a man pulls up in a Ford truck and said "that's a mighty fine Pinto!!" Made me think it was an actual Pinto (horse.) Lol. I was also running errands on day and went to the hardware store when a man approached me with a flyer for a car show as he was the president of our local car club. He said that my car was great and would definitely take home a trophy if I can to the show! Like my grandpa said...people no longer care about new cars...its the old ones that get the attention.
I love my Pinto!!
-beegle55
I know this is an old post but I wanted to share with all of you. This past Sunday my oldest son Austin (who is 25) was fueling my Yellow 72 Runabout. He was in Gardnerville Nv. He was approached buy a guy that said he used to own a 77 and asked what year it was ,my son told him a 72, he said his good friend Steve Perry had one just like it , same color with mustang 10 holes like yours and a "booming" sound system. He asked my son if he knew who the band Journey was, Austin said sure I listen to Journey well then you must know who Steve is . Ahhhh yeah I do, then he said you don't recognize me do you? He winked and smiled and said I like your car it's cool, thanks man see ya. Austin calls me tells me the story and explains what the guy looked like I said it sounds like it Greg Rolie the keyboard player, he used his hi-tech phone with internet service looked up his picture and said yeah that was the guy.....
Just goes to show even (semi) famous people owned and love Pintos.
That is all....
Paul
All I can say is... WOW! :surprised: I'll appreciate Journey songs that much more! ;D
HOLY CRAP, your son was talking to Greg Rollie. He was the original keyboard player for Journey before Steve Perry even came along. He was in Santana as well (Black Magic Woman). That is such a cool story and honestly, I would have had an "accident" right there LOL!!!!
Yeah Santana also , guess what he was driving at the time...give up? A Scion, I had a good laugh at that. No matter what a Scion will NEVER be Cool!
PSSSH SCION Toaster are so cool! LOL they are cool to make fun of i make fun of my brothers all the time!
Today, while driving home on freeway 5 north as I was cruising in the #2 lane a young African-American couple in a late model white Cougar yelled for my attention, then (I think) yelled that they love my car. Then they gave me thumbs up and passed me. lol. We were going upwards of 65 mph.