WI the Pinto was built as originally planned?

PoD: When Ford decides to market the Ford Pinto, it decides to keep the airbags and plastic fuel cells that were in the prototypes.

Effects, anyone?
 
A much healthier Ford,that is willing and able to afford to mordenize and hold on to its market share in the 1980s.With people walking away from mangled Pintos airbags will become a popular feature on all Ford vehicles.
 
PoD: When Ford decides to market the Ford Pinto, it decides to keep the airbags and plastic fuel cells that were in the prototypes.

Effects, anyone?
The entire point of the Pinto was to be as cheap as possible. Something is gonna have to be sacrificed.
 
Pintos were no different from all the earlier Ford Falcon, Fairlane, Mustang, Comet and Torino, using the top of gas tank as the floor of the trunk.

What made the Pinto different was thinner gauge metal of the tank, and protruding bolts.
A fix not hard to do, but Ford didn't do it. Might have added $10 a car, tops.

Airbags and cells, a lot more than that.
 

Driftless

Donor
Didn't the Pinto and that era's Mustang share a lot of parts and assemblies? The biggest differences were the sheet metal and the interior amenities?
 
Didn't the Pinto and that era's Mustang share a lot of parts and assemblies? The biggest differences were the sheet metal and the interior amenities?

A lot of Fords had a lot of commonality under the body, but the front suspension and steering rack was new
 

CalBear

Moderator
Donor
Monthly Donor
That's a lot of engine for such a small car.
Yep.

Almost as good as a 327 in a Vega. Buddy of mine had one of those, with a shortened 12 bolt rear axle. Scariest damned car I ever rode in. way the engine was built he had at least 350hp on tap with single piston front disc brakes and 9" drums in back (and of course no ASB, Air Bags, etc). He had Simpson racing harnesses in it, but if he had ever hit something it was vaya con dios.

Ford actually put a V8 into the Maverick. The also dropped a 170 ci V6 into the Pinto, but that was so choked by early smog equipment it only had 115hp.

My basic world view is if it can't get to 60mph in under seven seconds it should never be built.
 
Yep.

Almost as good as a 327 in a Vega. Buddy of mine had one of those, with a shortened 12 bolt rear axle. Scariest damned car I ever rode in. way the engine was built he had at least 350hp on tap with single piston front disc brakes and 9" drums in back (and of course no ASB, Air Bags, etc). He had Simpson racing harnesses in it, but if he had ever hit something it was vaya con dios.

Ford actually put a V8 into the Maverick. The also dropped a 170 ci V6 into the Pinto, but that was so choked by early smog equipment it only had 115hp.

My basic world view is if it can't get to 60mph in under seven seconds it should never be built.

Oh my! I feel faint. I believe I shall lie down with my feet elevated
 

CalBear

Moderator
Donor
Monthly Donor
A buddy of mine did similar with a 260Z, with a 327, 4 speed Muncie and narrowed 9"
That caught a lot of streetlight warriors by surprise.
That is an impressive bit of car crafting. The Z's engine bay was crowded with the straight six and the struts coming right up into the engine bay. I had a 240 (no smog equipment, at least after I got my paws on it :p) and it was pretty quick as was. With 327 it must have been a beast.
 
That is an impressive bit of car crafting. The Z's engine bay was crowded with the straight six and the struts coming right up into the engine bay. I had a 240 (no smog equipment, at least after I got my paws on it :p) and it was pretty quick as was. With 327 it must have been a beast.

Didn't have to cut back the firewall or increase the size of the tranny tunnel much, but took some searching for a low profile intake and aircleaner, think he used an original Bronco air cleaner assembly to get the hood to close with no cutouts.

No clue it was a sleeper except for header dumps behind the front wheels, and traction bars in back

1st gear was worthless for all but doing burnouts.
 

CalBear

Moderator
Donor
Monthly Donor
Didn't have to cut back the firewall or increase the size of the tranny tunnel much, but took some searching for a low profile intake and aircleaner, think he used an original Bronco air cleaner assembly to get the hood to close with no cutouts.

No clue it was a sleeper except for header dumps behind the front wheels, and traction bars in back

1st gear was worthless for all but doing burnouts.
Nice.
 
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