Hey all. I was poking around at a local auction house when I almost literally stumbled into a 1976 Runabout. I saw the rear and the Pinto emblem and imediately ;D'd. Upon walking around the car four or five times... I found a couple things. I popped the very stiff door open to a musty interior to pull the hood release and check mileage... 40,000 odd miles on the speedo and the seats looked as if that was true. No pedal or carpet wear other than carpet fading. Deluxe interior, Auto, Air, with fold down rear seats. Opened the hood to find a fully intact w/ air V6. Exterior showed aging white paint with a blue vinyl top and some sort of deluxe trim down the side. Mag wheels! In good shape with not so good centers. The car has definitely seen weather...
Didn't know much else about the car... tags expired in 2008, newer exhaust and the engine bay wasn't terrible looking, tires had air and were in okay condition, so it looks as if it was running not too long ago. Come to find out via the auctioneer who personally bought the car, it's a ONE owner, 40,000 mile original Pinto that runs great. Came out of her estate that he performed the auction at. He is clearing up the title and it will be up for auction May 8.
I'm interested and hopefully we can debate over a worth on this forum as a group of independent collectors as these cars are getting more and more rare. This one especially is about the highest optioned Pinto I have ever seen and that is really even available. The car is 100% complete and untouched from original. THE BAD news is that it has seen a lot of Northeast snow and road salt...it has major rust on the rear driver quarter, and some on the bottom of the car on both sides. Seems solid really, with some really bad spots. The interior is so so, badly cracked dash pad, ripped headliner, seats are great! Blue deluxe seats. Door panels and most deluxe trim is good, steering wheel isn't so great, gauges good, A/C controls...A LOT OF VALUABLE PARTS. What is she worth in running yet rough condition? Needing basically a complete restoration with a lot of good parts to work with. I wish I took pictures, but until the auction listing is available this is the best I can do. Thanks! Sorry so long.
-beegle55
And I'm expecting a value consensus on basis of the car being considered as a parts car as much as I hate that. It would be a beautiful example fully restored, but I'm only looking into it as a parts car based on the rust issue. If I won the car, it might grow on me and I could do some welding and filling/sanding...we'll see.
I say break out the Superthrive and LET IT GROW! On you, that is! It sounds like it could be a gem with some TLC. ;D
I'm going to bid on it for sure...but I fear the rarity will cause bidders to overbid what the car is worth and I'll be priced out of getting it. I am highly interested because I have a '77-78, '79-80, so I need some '76 and below :D And it would be a great driver with some TLC. I want to try out welding body patches and a hand at body work, so if I could get it I could do that. There is a dent on the drivers side of the roof that worries me more than the rust...but I guess in a month I will see how the bidding goes and might own my 6th Pinto! Fingers crossed...
-beegle55
The location of the car will affect its value to some extent, particularly in today's economy. I'm assuming the car is in West Virginia? I personally would probably not bid more than $500, if that, based on your description. I'm sure others will have different opinons, but that's my two cent's worth.
Dwayne :smile:
The car is in West Virgina. The location will hopefully drive the price down somewhat. It is in a Northern part of West Virginia known as Terra Alta and they receive the largest amounts of snow in the whole state. Very high elevation and there isn't a huge desire for rear wheel drive cars. Hopefully I can get the car for around $500 as that is also the value I gave it. I would love to have it and make it my project, but I'm not going to overpay for it because it does need a considerable amount of work.
Has anyone welded patch panels on a Pinto with success? My only concern would be finding a car with good metal to scrap for this car... The quarters are in too good of shape to completely cut off and redo. I'll probably just try to work with what I have if I get it for cheap enough and turn it into a reliable driver.
-beegle55
Anyone notice this? The identical car, only in far better shape, is up for auction on eBay.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=260584082955&viewitem=&_trkparms=algo%3DLVI%26its%3DI%26otn%3D1&category=6057#v4-37 (http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=260584082955&viewitem=&_trkparms=algo%3DLVI%26its%3DI%26otn%3D1&category=6057#v4-37)
Thanks for the heads up! That is an identical car down to the color of the paint and roof. I guess it will be interesting to see what the auction ends for... It really may not be worth investing in this rust bucket even though I would like to.
-beegle55
Correction: Down to the EXACT PINSTRIPE! That's nuts. It's the same car minus the faded paint, dent in the roof, faded interior, and rust.
-beegle55
Quote from: beegle55 on April 12, 2010, 11:04:43 PM
Correction: Down to the EXACT PINSTRIPE! That's nuts. It's the same car minus the faded paint, dent in the roof, faded interior, and rust.
-beegle55
You could probably buy the one on eBay and make the minor repairs it needs for thousands less than it would cost to re-do the one you're looking at.
Dwayne :smile:
Quote from: beegle55 on April 12, 2010, 11:04:43 PM
Correction: Down to the EXACT PINSTRIPE! That's nuts. It's the same car minus the faded paint, dent in the roof, faded interior, and rust.
-beegle55
Even more nuts, it has about the same mileage.