Some days shopping for a car with a five-grand max budget sucks. Between the hoards of silver sedans and ragged-out shells of what used to be desirable cars, you have to wonder if it is even worth looking for anything fun and exciting. Then there are the days where it’s like finding the perfect peach on the lowest hanging branch, every time, and for today, this baby-blue 1971 Ford Pinto is that peach. No, really, stop snickering.
If it’s good enough for a Mustang, it’s good enough for Ford’s wildly successful yet infamous compact car from the Seventies. This 289ci V8 is just the right amount of engine for a street-driven Pinto, sporting enough power to be on the edge but not enough that only specially-trained stuntmen could even attempt to move it. An automatic is a bit of a fun killer, but not as bad as some other cars, and the seller says that shifts will bark. That’s nice, no matter what transmission is in it. Your friend wants to keep making “kaboom” jokes? Have them hop in the passenger seat, mat the gas, let the 289 scream through it’s 351-sourced heads and don’t stop until they start crying for their mother.
For an added bonus, because it’s old enough, this puppy is legal for California! Sure, having no heater is annoying, and no radio kind of sucks, and yes, there is a little rust to deal with, but c’mon…narrowed rear end? Five lug swap? V8 Pinto?! How could you pass this up, especially with it sitting on Craigslist for $3500? That last $1500 could rectify all of the problems listed…or, at least, keep the rear tires fresh for a few months. The seller’s last line is the best: “This car is more fun in the first 50 feet than most cars are all day.”
Craigslist Link: 1971 Ford Pinto
aw hell yeah! ship it to Australia and I’ll give you 5 k all day long !!
A few years ago, I was at the Charlotte Autofair and saw a Pinto fitting that description to T! The only difference was it a darker blue and had 5 holes slots on the car.
That is so cool!
I would take it for $3500.
I’d eat that one up for sure! And “rust?” I just got back from Michigan – that ain’t nothin’.
Dan
All it needs is a subtle drop at the rear and to be in my garage!
My brother in law had one back in high school days with a 289. That little bugger was more fun than should be legal.
Just like this seller said about the first 50′.