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Welcome to FordPinto.com, The home of the PCCA => Member Polls => Topic started by: Scott Hamilton on September 04, 2012, 09:15:00 PM

Title: What Pinto Model was the best in your opinion?
Post by: Scott Hamilton on September 04, 2012, 09:15:00 PM
We all favor one specific Model of the Pinto/Bobcat, what's yours?
Title: Re: What Pinto Model was the best in your opinion?
Post by: blupinto on September 04, 2012, 11:04:38 PM
This was tough... I love Runabouts, and I almost picked it... but nothin' says cool (to me) like a '72 Squire wagon. Plus, more room for everything!  :)

Title: Re: What Pinto Model was the best in your opinion?
Post by: sedandelivery on September 05, 2012, 07:41:26 AM
I have had 3 Hatchbacks (Runabouts) and even though I love my Sedandelivery the Runabouts were my favorites.
Title: Re: What Pinto Model was the best in your opinion?
Post by: mrskydog on September 05, 2012, 09:36:59 AM
Like my 2-dr but...... I like the Cruzing Wagons as well.
Kirk
Title: Re: What Pinto Model was the best in your opinion?
Post by: Alpine615 on September 05, 2012, 02:31:44 PM
I've owned a trunk and Runabout...hav e to say I prefer the latter. Not really crazy about any of the wagons, but I'm warming up to them. Runabout gets my vote...
Title: Re: What Pinto Model was the best in your opinion?
Post by: Scott Hamilton on September 05, 2012, 04:49:10 PM
Added BobCat- it's a Pinto too!!
Title: Re: What Pinto Model was the best in your opinion?
Post by: r4pinto on September 06, 2012, 11:22:17 AM
I have had two Runabouts and one sedan but would really like to have a 77 Squire Wagon. That was the family car my parents had in the 80s and if I could get one just like it I would in a heartbeat.. Even if it meant giving up my 77 sedan & 80 Runabout.
Title: Re: What Pinto Model was the best in your opinion?
Post by: flash041 on September 06, 2012, 09:33:55 PM
Cruising Wagon!! I guess I am a bit bias.If I had another id like a 79/80 Rallye like mrskydog's.
Title: Re: What Pinto Model was the best in your opinion?
Post by: FlyerPinto on September 07, 2012, 01:39:56 PM
78 Cruising Wagon with the stripes...my favorite car of all time, and the car I met my wife in!
Title: Re: What Pinto Model was the best in your opinion?
Post by: old 1973 on September 07, 2012, 11:30:39 PM
I personally would have to say that I like all pinto's,by I would have to say my favorite would be the 73 squire wagon,because I own one!   (Don)
Title: Re: What Pinto Model was the best in your opinion?
Post by: DreamBean on September 23, 2012, 12:50:11 PM
I LOVE THEM ALL!!!
Title: Re: What Pinto Model was the best in your opinion?
Post by: postalpony on September 23, 2012, 10:02:11 PM
Me too also DreamBean----Pops
Title: Re: What Pinto Model was the best in your opinion?
Post by: 78squirewagon on September 24, 2012, 06:59:17 AM
It has to be the Squire wagons  ;D
Title: Re: What Pinto Model was the best in your opinion?
Post by: dholvrsn on March 25, 2013, 08:33:23 PM
Cruisin' Wagon!  8)
Title: Re: What Pinto Model was the best in your opinion?
Post by: JoeBob on March 25, 2013, 09:12:34 PM
My story is the same as most of you. I went looking for a pinto to re-experience my youth. I could not find a pinto that I thought was worth my time and money. I found a 77 bobcat instead. I was disappointed at first but now I am glad. It is much more rare, it drives and performs the same. It is more unique than a pinto but still fills that void in my life.
Bill
Title: Re: What Pinto Model was the best in your opinion?
Post by: chrisf1219 on March 26, 2013, 01:44:04 PM
well i would say wagons and looking at the poll wagons rule ;D  chris
Title: Re: What Pinto Model was the best in your opinion?
Post by: half pint on March 27, 2013, 08:37:36 AM
I would have to go with the 71-73 Runabouts. I love the early front ends (wasn't sure if they really changed in 74 or 75 so i just said 73) and i like the full hatch of the Runabout.  Honestly, the perfect blend to me would be a 71-73 with the latter (74-80) 2.3 and a 4-speed...i mean using all "original" Pinto/Bobcat parts...

 

Title: Re: What Pinto Model was the best in your opinion?
Post by: D.R.Ball on March 27, 2013, 09:34:15 PM
The one that runs....
Title: Re: What Pinto Model was the best in your opinion?
Post by: mrscott on July 30, 2013, 04:54:35 PM
Best one to modify would be a 2.0 71 to 73 Runabout because it's very light and has the german 2.0 engine with it's near bullet proof reliability and the fact alot of trick weber carb/intakes and various cams are available. It also is way more rev happy than the 2.3! minor bonus is that the capri (1972)manual trans has better gearing than the econ gearset in the pinto. I think ANY Pinto is good if a V8 is put in em! I had a 73 Runabout with a manual trans and a 2 liter. It had the cool steel sunroof panel that had to cranked to open. A very fun car.
Title: Re: What Pinto Model was the best in your opinion?
Post by: amc49 on September 27, 2013, 12:56:38 AM
Yeahm late like usual.

Real model or imagined?

I can't help but think a late model but PCMed with injection and a 2.3 ATX would be a nice car........... .......even a wagon would be fine.
Title: Re: What Pinto Model was the best in your opinion?
Post by: ETPinto on October 16, 2013, 02:52:22 PM
I have the best year and model :)
1971 Runabout, black interior, 2.0, 4spd, NO TRIM<----bleh on bumpers.   Just sleek shiney, shiney chrome.  Oh course all Pintos are nifty in my book.  But this was my dream pinto and I finally found and got one :D
 
Title: Re: What Pinto Model was the best in your opinion?
Post by: dianne on October 30, 2013, 06:48:14 PM
Pinto wagons rule!  ;D
Title: Re: What Pinto Model was the best in your opinion?
Post by: 74 PintoWagon on October 30, 2013, 09:39:18 PM
Pinto wagons rule!  ;D
Especially the "Cruiser" wagon. 8) ;) :D
Title: Re: What Pinto Model was the best in your opinion?
Post by: dianne on February 22, 2014, 10:39:12 AM
Especially the "Cruiser" wagon. 8) ;) :D

Yeah, just saw your reply. But I like mine with the windows blacked out :) I would have to start disco dancing again (never really did, I liked rock and roll) if I got one of those and date someone with big gold chains named Disco Stew with bell bottoms LOL ahahahaha
Title: Re: What Pinto Model was the best in your opinion?
Post by: dianne on February 22, 2014, 01:28:51 PM
For me, a 4 speed, radio delete, base model sedan. Bought two new red ones back in the day, a '74 and a '79. The red gas cap on my yellow '75 is from my old '79. Perfect blank canvas!

That's awesome LOL
Title: Re: What Pinto Model was the best in your opinion?
Post by: dianne on February 22, 2014, 05:55:21 PM
Thanks. At the time I bought the '79, there was a big gas shortage. People were stealing gas, so I bought a locking gas cap and tossed the original in the garage. Thirty-three years later...wah-lah! I was so glad to find that red cap. My '79 pinto was my favorite car of all.

That's even more awesome :D  LOL
Title: Re: What Pinto Model was the best in your opinion?
Post by: amc49 on February 27, 2014, 09:09:14 PM
Any wagon with a 2.3. The motor size in my view about as small as you want to go with a bigger car like that, you need all the passing and merging power you can get.

I have talked myself out of pickups about twenty times in my life, I have the need for them but not very common, the minuses far outweight the pluses to me. I found that by taking like Tempo 4dr. you could remove the rear seat to get to and remove the rear support/crossmember under the package tray to then be modded to bolt right back in and then you could completely bury a fairly decent chunk of 8 ft. long lumber completely inside the car with trunk closed. The looks at Home Depot when people saw you loading were priceless. The Contour rigged the same way.

Still past a certain point you need more and wagons get me 7/8ths to everything that can be done in a truck in my world and better gas mileage the rest of the year. I've carried refrigerators in the back of a Focus wagon as well as some pretty bigscreen TVs. The wagon has a mileage price too but not nearly as bad.

One thing I don't care for with a wagon is how the a/c degrades with age to not keep all that area cold like when new. I have no trouble getting the air ice cold, it's the crap fan blowers they make now that in no form or fashion blow half the air a new factory blower does. I'd thought a time or two about moddiing the inside of the Pinto wagon to put a divider right behind the seats to make the a/c'ed compartment area much smaller, one day I may do it when/if car comes back online.
Title: Re: What Pinto Model was the best in your opinion?
Post by: 74 PintoWagon on February 28, 2014, 07:25:00 AM
Had a Suburban once with A/C and the wife made a nice fancy curtain that matched the interior, and when you closed it the A/C would freeze your a$$ off in 110* weather no problem.
Title: Re: What Pinto Model was the best in your opinion?
Post by: amc49 on March 01, 2014, 02:25:32 AM
Then you get what I'm talking about......... ......should work great. Cut the area by 2/3 and freeze your butt off........... .

I removed the back seat to retain the back plate that extends the cargo loading 'flat' there, it now covers area I throw things in and to hide from view. Flipped back up, half the 'divider wall' is already there pretty much, I need to come up with some clear plexi to add to the top to be able to still use rear window. Shouldn't be hard or costly.
Title: Re: What Pinto Model was the best in your opinion?
Post by: 74 PintoWagon on March 01, 2014, 07:02:47 AM
That should work....
Title: Re: What Pinto Model was the best in your opinion?
Post by: raven1962 on March 06, 2014, 08:02:31 PM
Always wanted a wagon with the round headlights, but ANY with the round headlights, is better than the alternative...
Title: Re: What Pinto Model was the best in your opinion?
Post by: dianne on March 06, 2014, 08:30:07 PM
What's the alternative to round headlights? Didn't all Pintos have round headlights?
Title: Re: What Pinto Model was the best in your opinion?
Post by: 79prostreet on March 06, 2014, 09:58:33 PM
No, the really good looking ones had square headlights  ha-ha-  1979 & 1980 had square. My self I like the square,can say why for sure just do.
Title: Re: What Pinto Model was the best in your opinion?
Post by: Alpine615 on March 18, 2014, 11:37:31 PM
+1 prostreet - I agree!
Title: Re: What Pinto Model was the best in your opinion?
Post by: dianne on March 19, 2014, 08:53:01 AM
Round headlights with halos on skinny bumpers does it for me with a wagon ;)
Title: Re: What Pinto Model was the best in your opinion?
Post by: amc49 on March 22, 2014, 01:35:08 PM
Anything with real glass is fine. I'm sick of having to refinish plastic ones over and over. The replacement cost is simply retarded there. You used to be able to refinish to last a good while, they change the plastic up and now can't hardly do it worth your time any longer. One way Ford has really gone to crap now, but then they all have. I'd be putting glass in later cars if I could figure out some way to make the swap look good, but they've pretty much nixed that idea.
Title: Re: What Pinto Model was the best in your opinion?
Post by: 74 PintoWagon on March 22, 2014, 02:14:47 PM
It's like that with everything anymore, it gets worse and the price goes up..  >:(
Title: Re: What Pinto Model was the best in your opinion?
Post by: Marlin on April 03, 2014, 05:50:55 AM
1971 to 1973 are the best years in my opinion, as the styling is at it's most pure for those years. It's tough to decide between the sedan and runabout though, so I'm gonna say it's a tie!

Mind you, I love all pintos regardless of year or model (wagons, vans, and bobcats too of course!)

I think a 1972 runabout with the red/white/blue 'Sprint' option would be the pinto holy grail to me.
Especially if equipped with the 2.0l, manual transmission, and disk brakes.

Title: Re: What Pinto Model was the best in your opinion?
Post by: Reeves1 on April 03, 2014, 08:11:39 AM
IMHO - the 1972 BOSS 302 are the coolest   8)


 ;D
Title: Re: What Pinto Model was the best in your opinion?
Post by: 74 PintoWagon on April 03, 2014, 09:36:21 AM
IMHO - the 1972 BOSS 302 are the coolest   8)


 ;D
Sure about that???, Boss302 were made in 69-70 only, and the Boss351 was in 71 only.. Just fyi... ;) :D
Title: Re: What Pinto Model was the best in your opinion?
Post by: Reeves1 on April 03, 2014, 02:38:39 PM
FYI - There is also a 71 B2. I think only one or two were made though.

So, 72 is the year of a one of one B2 Pinto  ;D
Title: Re: What Pinto Model was the best in your opinion?
Post by: 74 PintoWagon on April 03, 2014, 03:18:04 PM
Hmmm, I'll have to look into that, never heard of or seen one and I worked at Ford at that time..
Title: Re: What Pinto Model was the best in your opinion?
Post by: 74 PintoWagon on April 03, 2014, 03:31:27 PM
Ok did a little research, there was one built but it was a prototype, guess there was supposed to be six but they never got built.

http://www.boss302.com/smf/index.php?topic=35251.0 (http://www.boss302.com/smf/index.php?topic=35251.0)
Title: Re: What Pinto Model was the best in your opinion?
Post by: A Alves on April 22, 2014, 08:07:14 AM
As I favor the wagons ( I've had 3 ) my favorite was my 77 crusin wagon that I drove for over 10 years.
Title: Re: What Pinto Model was the best in your opinion?
Post by: jonz2pinto on April 29, 2014, 05:28:05 PM
its a tie for me early sedans for best performance.wi th small bumpers and lighter doors.and wagons for their versatility.
Title: Re: What Pinto Model was the best in your opinion?
Post by: galaxiex2 on November 01, 2015, 10:57:06 AM
 I have to say wagon. I've owned two. Both 73, both green, first one a 4speed, current one auto. Have a 85 T bird turbo coupe 5spd downer car for upgraded drivetrain.
Title: Re: What Pinto Model was the best in your opinion?
Post by: pmfman on July 18, 2016, 11:32:22 PM
What about the Pangra? That is my favourite
Title: Re: What Pinto Model was the best in your opinion?
Post by: pushthepinto on October 17, 2016, 11:47:35 AM
All The Models Are Cool, The Wagon The most useful, But For My Turbo And V8 Pinto They Are The Best Looking And strongest Platform. Just My Opinion From Pintoland USA
Title: Re: What Pinto Model was the best in your opinion?
Post by: qq2ofus on November 04, 2016, 02:53:14 AM
My first wagon, I purchased from Grahm Ford (now defunct) she was sitting on the showroom, I was getting ready to sign papers for a Powder Blue Pony with a sunroof......  But when I saw this girl sitting on the showroom, SHE HAD MY HEART.....  I don't know what got my heart first....the porthole windows, or the 302cid sitting under the hood, the salesman told me she would cost me a grand more, and my payments were a little more than I wanted, but I DROVE HER HOME.....  my wife was disappointed until she drove her the first-time, and if I had known then what I know now, she was 1 of 350 units of production It was a special build from dealerships (only) I put over 300,000 miles on her and 1 rebuild, want a butt kicker.......  I sold her for $500.00  today she would have a COLLECTOR VALUE of $30,000.00 just because of the 8th digit of the vin......... since that year 1979, I have had over 30 the latest was 1996 she was sitting in the trade-in line one morning I came to work, I did not stop, I went to the used car office stole her keys, Deal-Packet, took them to Tim Mckelvey (Dealership Owner).... Tim told me to just take her home and don't tell the other guys !  I did I had her when I moved on this property after my house was built......... ..  woke up one morning in 2005 to an open and very empty garage, I cried all month for my little white 2300 Cruiser, she was FULLY RESTORED, I would imagine she is in Saudi Arabia now, every pinto wagon I see, I always check the VIN to see if she is mine ! no luck.......  still missing her today !
Title: Re: What Pinto Model was the best in your opinion?
Post by: Wittsend on November 04, 2016, 11:41:26 AM
So, there were 350, dealer modified, 1979, 302 powered Cruise Wagons? Am I interpreting this  L-E-N-T-H-Y sentence correctly?
Title: Re: What Pinto Model was the best in your opinion?
Post by: joel76 on February 08, 2018, 09:26:30 AM
If it was my only car, it would have to be the standard wagon.  I had one and it was fairly useful.   For a general run around town car or for road trips, I like the coupe version, a 77 or 78.
Title: Re: What Pinto Model was the best in your opinion?
Post by: pintoman1972 on February 11, 2018, 09:26:09 PM
Any Pinto that is still on the road or on the race track no matter what model or year.  Those will always be the best for me.
Title: Re: What Pinto Model was the best in your opinion?
Post by: pinto_one on February 13, 2018, 02:52:17 PM
Have to agree with pintoman1972 on any pinto is good ,, the runabout is kind of in the middle , good for stuffing a pile of stuff , the trunk if you want to hide things from sight ,(small things)  the wagon is the best , pack it up and haul stuff , better is the cruser wagon , hide a lot of stuff that you packed uo to haul , got both  ;D
Title: Re: What Pinto Model was the best in your opinion?
Post by: Lonny Candel on March 30, 2018, 12:26:02 PM
The Bobcat might as well be my favorite especially in the sedan/Runabout. The reason that I say this is that I came across a 76 Pinto sedan with the V6, and I chose to keep my 78 Bobcat over the 76 Pinto. The Pinto's engine was rebuilt in 2003, and the car had been entered in a couple car shows. The exhuast sounded like a little hot rod. It even had an engine block heater! The guy that I bought it from didn't really take care of it. He seemed like he had inherited it from his father-in-law who had done the work on it. It had an electric fuel pump in it that was leaking, and was in the engine bay next to the intake manifold! Luckily it didn't catch on fire. He had a huge speaker box in the back that covered the entire width of the back side to side with an amp. The car gave me issues: it would lose charge so I had to jump it every day; it stalled on me a couple of times in traffic, and at the time of the stall, it felt like it was not getting fuel (it was crawling down the road in 2nd/3rd gear). The car was an automatic.

I was thinking of replacing the 76 Pinto with the 78 Bobcat, but I didn't want to deal with another car with fuel issues. I had just spent a lot of money on a 76 Chevette with fuel issues that I never could fully resolve. I ended up selling the 76 Pinto after having it for a month. I kept the Bobcat, and had its 2.3L engine rebuilt with a Ranger cam. I like the 75 to 78 Bobcats b/c of the rarity of them even though Pintos are rare too. They seem like they are very far and few in between.

I recently came across a 77 Bobcat that is junked, and does not have a title. If I can get it, I may have it listed on this sight.  It has about 93,000 on the OD. It has no cylinder key lock. It has the 2.3L with a/c, and the full window hatchback. Faded mint green with surface rust mostly on the roof of the car. I think it can only be used for parts. According to the State of Colorado's DMV website, a car must be older than 1975 to get a rebuilt title for it. What a dumb law. But maybe in some other state, it would be possible to get a rebuilt title. :D
Title: Re: What Pinto Model was the best in your opinion?
Post by: PintoRoyL on April 07, 2018, 04:05:02 PM
I've only driven only two different pintos, my 74 runabout, and my parent's 72 wagon. To say that one model or another is the best would be to invite an argument.
Each clearly has it's place and it's best use according to it's owners needs. That said, I have very much enjoyed my runabout during the time it was my daily driver.
Title: Re: What Pinto Model was the best in your opinion?
Post by: davidpinto on January 08, 2021, 02:04:29 PM
i have owned a 75 model sedan,77 model wagon.bought an 80 model pony brand new.now i have another '80 .i like the 79-80 models best.look good with the front bumper tucked.