Bring An Air Tank: 1978 Ford Pinto V6 Wagon Project – Sold?

September 22^nd Update – While preparing our latest Wagon Wednesday features, we confirmed the listing for this Classifind expired.  With no new listing found to replace it, we’re assuming this Pinto wagon has since sold.

Despised for many years, Ford Pintos are coming into their own as we’ve witnessed several low mileage survivors generate decent money.  This brown over tan 1978 example listed recently on Craigslist in Wauregan, Massachusetts represents the other end of the spectrum, as the private seller admits it could “use a little love” while asking $3,000 for it.   While Hagerty Insurance does not provide values for these Pintos, the NADA Guides Classic Car Online Valuation Tool confirms this private seller has his wagon priced at the low end of the “Low”, “Average”, and “High” retail value range of $2,750, $6,075, and $18,400, respectively.

Ford manufactured and marketed the Ford Pinto the 1971 through 1980 model years. The smallest American Ford vehicle since 1907, the Pinto was the first subcompact vehicle produced by Ford in North America. In February 1972, the Pinto station wagon debuted with an overall length of 172.7 inches and up to 60.5 cubic feet of cargo volume.  The first 2-door Ford station wagon since the 1965 Falcon, the Pinto wagon came equipped with flip-open rear quarter windows. Along with front disc brakes, the 2.0 Liter engine was standard equipment. A Pinto Squire wagon featured faux wood side paneling similar to the full-size Country Squire.

For the 1977 model year, the Pinto received its first significant styling updates with slanted back urethane headlamp buckets, parking lamps and grille. The tail-lamps were revised except for the wagons. Runabouts offered an optional all-glass rear hatch for the first time. Pinto wagons were given a new option package. Dubbed the Pinto Cruising Wagon, it was the sedan delivery version of the Pinto styled to resemble a small conversion van, complete with round side panel “bubble windows” and a choice of optional vinyl graphics.  Ford offered new sporty appearance packages similar to those found on the Chevrolet Vega and AMC Gremlin but were strictly cosmetic upgrades that added nothing to vehicle performance.  In 1978, the Pinto was no longer the smallest Ford sold in the U.S., as the company introduced the Fiesta. Nearly two feet shorter than the Pinto, the German-designed Fiesta was the first front-wheel-drive car sold by Ford in the U.S.

Bad press over exploding gas tanks combined with ever-increasing foreign small car competition left Ford no choice but to offer more standard features with a lower base price for 1978.  Here’s a commercial we found posted on YouTube:

With nearly all of the tires in need of air, we’re assuming you’ll need to bring an air tank and hire a flatbed in order to get this project Pinto back to your garage.  On the plus side, this example appears to make a good starting point for either restoration or a street machine build.  In addition to the vintage plaid interior that presents nicely, we like this example features the more powerful 2.8 Liter V6 that was optional in these cars.  Whichever path you choose, good luck with the purchase!

Here’s the seller’s description:

“Nice 2 door pinto, cool car its in pretty good shape could use a little love but overall its a nice car“

Do you have a Pinto Wagon story you’d like to share?  Comment below and let us know!