Pinto Car Club of America

Shiny is Good! => General Pinto Talk => Topic started by: beicholz on April 16, 2010, 08:31:26 AM

Title: Found My Pinto - The Adventure Begins!
Post by: beicholz on April 16, 2010, 08:31:26 AM
 :) After two years of searching EBAY and elsewhere, I found my Pinto!

She was tied up in court for over 10 years, having accumulated only 40K miles beofre her owner passed away.

* 1977 Runabout, Blue and White
* Survivor - Original Everything
* Luxury Decor Group
* V6, Power Brakes, Power Steering
* Factory Mag Wheels
* Zero Rust CA car
* Automatic

As nice as she is, I'll need lots of help from the kind folks at this great site who gave me advice along the way.   First order of business...new tires, pass CA smog, tune-up, a nice coat of wax, and lots of Formula 303 a Aeroscapce Protectant to keep her looking new.   Going to be a busy weekend!


Title: Re: Found My Pinto - The Adventure Begins!
Post by: blupinto on April 16, 2010, 10:30:09 AM
Congratulations on your "new" Pinto!

It actually looks like a '76, according to the grille and headlight bezels but still she's a beauty! I love the wheels and vinyl-top!  I wish you could bring her to Knotts!  ;D
Title: Re: Found My Pinto - The Adventure Begins!
Post by: popbumper on April 16, 2010, 10:58:18 AM
An absolute beauty. Congratulations!!

Chris
Title: Re: Found My Pinto - The Adventure Begins!
Post by: 78squirewagon on April 16, 2010, 12:17:16 PM
Yeah, that's not a 77-78.   :lol:  Not to hijack but another person had a 76 on E-Bay that was listed as a 77


Nice little car you have there. Enjoy is as much as you can and DRIVE IT. Trailers are meant for Queens, not cars  ;D
Title: Re: Found My Pinto - The Adventure Begins!
Post by: flash041 on April 16, 2010, 12:28:58 PM
Great find!! You should drive it to Carlisle next year.
Title: Re: Found My Pinto - The Adventure Begins!
Post by: Pinturbo75 on April 16, 2010, 12:52:14 PM
what a beauty..... definitely a keeper..... nice snag.....
Title: Re: Found My Pinto - The Adventure Begins!
Post by: dga57 on April 16, 2010, 01:17:24 PM
Quote from: beicholz on April 16, 2010, 08:31:26 AM
:) After two years of searching EBAY and elsewhere, I found my Pinto!

She was tied up in court for over 10 years, having accumulated only 40K miles beofre her owner passed away.

* 1977 Runabout, Blue and White
* Survivor - Original Everything
* Luxury Decor Group
* V6, Power Brakes, Power Steering
* Factory Mag Wheels
* Zero Rust CA car
* Automatic

As nice as she is, I'll need lots of help from the kind folks at this great site who gave me advice along the way.   First order of business...new tires, pass CA smog, tune-up, a nice coat of wax, and lots of Formula 303 a Aeroscapce Protectant to keep her looking new.   Going to be a busy weekend!

Congratulations!  With cars this old you never really know what's been done to them and what hasn't, but the front clip on your car is a 1976, not a '77.  Enjoy!

Dwayne :smile:
Title: Re: Found My Pinto - The Adventure Begins!
Post by: beicholz on April 17, 2010, 10:55:48 PM
Thanks, everyone!   As you have all noted, yes, it's a 1976.  If it were a 1975, I wouldn't have to smog it.   Darn.

So far, I've put a coat of wax on it and lots of Formula 303.   The "luxury decor option" interior, which has never been altered, looks brand new.  Best $2,100 I've ever spent for a car!  Thnought I'd have to spend a lot more for a no-rust original owner 40K car.  Guess I lucked out.


Still has the orignal paint.  After a wax, it looks brand new, except the blue vinyl top, which gets replaced as soon as the smog is done. 

Can't wait until I get my CA plates and can drive my new Pinto!


Title: Re: Found My Pinto - The Adventure Begins!
Post by: dga57 on April 17, 2010, 11:08:08 PM
THAT car for $2100 must be the deal of a lifetime!  Wow! :surprised:

Dwayne :smile:
Title: Re: Found My Pinto - The Adventure Begins!
Post by: beicholz on April 18, 2010, 09:01:18 AM
Thanks for the welcome, everyone.   Yes, I got a deal, but let's see if she passes CA Smog next week.   I have my fingers crossed!

What's in Carlisle?????
Title: Re: Found My Pinto - The Adventure Begins!
Post by: lencost on April 18, 2010, 10:57:13 AM


Do you have the original blue license plates for the car?
With the original to this car license plates, and an original DMV document supporting this fact you can now retain you blue plates in CA.

Leonard
Title: Re: Found My Pinto - The Adventure Begins!
Post by: beicholz on April 18, 2010, 11:06:35 AM
Hey Leonard,

Thanks for the advice.   Unfortunately, the DMV took the plates when the car went through probate (the original owner died, and the car sat unused for 10 years).   All I have is the Pink Slip and the original Owners Manual.

Title: Re: Found My Pinto - The Adventure Begins!
Post by: blupinto on April 18, 2010, 09:11:21 PM
Some folks don't even get those...

Yeah, I'm sorry that '76 cars aren't exempt from the smog requirements. I'm glad you're keeping a vinyl-top on her. If I could I would put a vinyl-top on Wildfire.  My fingers are crossed for you to pass! ;D
Title: Re: Found My Pinto - The Adventure Begins!
Post by: dga57 on April 18, 2010, 09:25:11 PM
Quote from: blupinto on April 18, 2010, 09:11:21 PM
Some folks don't even get those...

Yeah, I'm sorry that '76 cars aren't exempt from the smog requirements. I'm glad you're keeping a vinyl-top on her. If I could I would put a vinyl-top on Wildfire.  My fingers are crossed for you to pass! ;D


And if you can't get it to pass, you can send it to me here in Virginia... no smog tests!!!

Dwayne :smile:
Title: Re: Found My Pinto - The Adventure Begins!
Post by: blupinto on April 18, 2010, 09:43:51 PM
Now there's an idea...trade your smog-exempt '72 for the doesn't-need-to-be-smogged-in-Virginia '76... ::)
Title: Re: Found My Pinto - The Adventure Begins!
Post by: beicholz on April 18, 2010, 09:47:40 PM
Or....I could move to Virginia!
Title: Re: Found My Pinto - The Adventure Begins!
Post by: dga57 on April 18, 2010, 11:02:11 PM
Quote from: beicholz on April 18, 2010, 09:47:40 PM
Or....I could move to Virginia!


That would work!  We could use some more Pinto people and their Pintos around here!

Dwayne :smile: