Pinto Car Club of America

Shiny is Good! => General Pinto Talk => Topic started by: turbo74pinto on March 18, 2008, 06:28:31 PM

Title: ford pinto ess
Post by: turbo74pinto on March 18, 2008, 06:28:31 PM
i read somewhere that these were only built in 79 and 80.  is this correct?  i saw one in a junkyard in southern ohio that was a 77 or 8.  it was all black with the guage package and aftermarket rims.  it had ess badges on the fenders and the sport steering wheel too.  i guess someone could have just slapped that stuff on there also or put a 77-8 nose on.  i have a pic somewhere of it but ive moved twice since i got it developed so finding it would be a miracle.  does anyone on this site own one?
Title: Re: ford pinto ess
Post by: High_Horse on March 18, 2008, 09:44:49 PM
I have never herd of an ESS... ???

                                                                                              High_Horse
Title: Re: ford pinto ess
Post by: gierhead on March 18, 2008, 10:23:02 PM
I've read about the ESS model before. Never seen one in person. Here's what my "90 Years of Ford" book mentions about them in 1979 and 1980 model years:

The 1979 section says, " New for the Pinto line was the ESS option, which attempted to give the little horse a look of European sportiness. Available on both the 2-door and 3-door models, the $260 package included a special black grille and window surrounds; special dark glass on the back door; black wheel lip moldings and side trim; dual black racing mirrors, and styled steel wheels with beauty rings and bright spokes."

The 1980 section says, "Even the little Pinto received dress up packages this year. Here the 2-door Sedan, Model 10, is shown with the $315 ESS package, which boosted its $4223 basic price a fair amount."

Dale
Title: Re: ford pinto ess
Post by: Tercin on March 19, 2008, 08:26:17 AM
I knew a Doctor that had a blue and black ESS. There was also a Granada ESS.
Tercin
Title: Re: ford pinto ess
Post by: crazyhorse on March 19, 2008, 11:10:26 AM
Here's a Granada ESS
(http://www.autowp.ru/pictures/ford/granada_(usa)/autowp.ru_ford_granada_4.jpg)

I looked high & low for a Pinto ESS pic, but no dice. I remember those when they came out. The Pinto looked especially sporty in ESS trim. The package looked a lot like the Rallye without the spoilers.
Title: Re: ford pinto ess
Post by: Norman Bagi on March 19, 2008, 11:39:25 AM
Wow, nice Granada, looks like a Rolls Royce with a Granda Grill.
Title: Re: ford pinto ess
Post by: bobscat on March 19, 2008, 12:29:18 PM
I have a pic of a Pinto ESS at home, I will try to dig it out.  I actually got to see one when I lived in Georgia, and tried to save it from the baking sun and cudsew(wrong spelling, I know)  that was half covering it, but there was never anybody around the house.
Title: Re: ford pinto ess
Post by: bobscat on March 19, 2008, 12:46:26 PM
hey, I found it!  Looks exactly like the one I saw in Georgia
Title: Re: ford pinto ess
Post by: High_Horse on March 19, 2008, 05:14:26 PM
WOW...That is nice.


                                                                            High_Horse
Title: Re: ford pinto ess
Post by: turbo74pinto on March 19, 2008, 10:02:11 PM
any idea on production numbers??
Title: Re: ford pinto ess
Post by: Smeed on March 20, 2008, 02:13:18 PM
It reminds me of the stallion paint job in a way.