Here's a pic of my '73. I just picked it up from a buddy's house. I don't even remember when I dropped it off there..it was back during one of my many transfers over the years for business. Last license plate is 1988.
 
It was running well when I left it. He drove it for awhile, then it sat...then he got it running again...then it sat...etc etc.
 
My Dad bought it new at Trussell Ford in Athen's Ga in 1973. Traded in a '72 Pinto on it. I was with him on the shopping trip and we both liked the red and the Pony mags. It came with the 2.0, 4 speed and A/C, AM/FM radio..black interior.
 
I ended up with the car in High School. By then I had installed a 4.11 Zoom rear gear, Appliance headers (actually installed while he was driving it as a Father's Day present), head was milled .070" and it had a little hotter Melling cam in it. There were B-50x13 tires on the rear at the time on the ET mags (I still have the other 2 Pony's and all center caps). I drove it everywhere and it ran 14.60's in the 1/4 which was killer for a 4 cylinder back then. Had a blast picking on the late 70's Z-28's and Trans Am's! Ran one of the Offy intakes and Holley 390 cfm 4 BBL for awhile..but the factory 2BBL and intake was faster.
 
Over the years on into the late 80's it served as a reliable daily driver/commuter when my other Hot Rod stuff was broken..the Pinto would always fire up and go.
 
The years of sitting outside have definitely added some patina..but nothing too bad. The only rust is a couple of pin holes in lower rear 1/4's behind tire and a little spot on right door. The doors open and shut perfect...floo rs are perfect...all glass is good and works...even the park brake and regular brakes still work! We turned engine over by hand and that's good too.
 
Not sure which direction the restoration will take...but it's going to be fun! Will have to dig up the soft trim etc and some interior stuff.
 
JIM
 

 

Very cool.

Interior didn't do so well. Way too much heat and sun. I'll have to redo it all. Good news is it stayed dry inside. The poor 'ole original A-70x13 white letter Goodyear that was never used sat in the rear with sun beating on it and the sun cracked it terribly! Tx sun is rough stuff!

JIM

Fix all the mechanical stuff, put a nice interior in it and leave the outside like it is. Just make sure the glass is clean and the chrome shines. That patina is a badge of honor. Just my opinion.