Back then, most Ford Pintos were big. This one isn’t at all. This 1970s subcompact car has a 302-cubic-inch V-8 crate engine, making it ready to turn heads on the speed strip. The best thing about the change is how well it blends in. No one will ever know that your Pinto has a V-8 engine. You already know that the Pinto will never come back to life, but Ford brought back the Maverick name and has never let the Mustang go. Even though no subcompact car from the 1970s was ever really safe, the Pinto’s habit of bursting its gas tanks in rear-end crashes made it famously overshadowed and turned it into a sport that could never be taken seriously. It means that having one of your doors blown off at the drag strip will come as a huge surprise. That might not be the case with this very quiet 1974 Ford Pinto Runabout for sale on Bring a Trailer (which is owned by Hearst Autos, like Invoice Pricing). It seems about as safe as Eric Forman telling his parents that he won’t be out late on a school night. The paint job is Grabber Blue, and the roof is white. But there is a 5.0-liter stock engine under that hood that is ready to roar with the best of them. The Pinto came in a hatchback style called the Runabout. This 1974 model has a chrome roof rack that makes it even more useful. The same family has kept this strange little classic car from the time it was new. It is said to be from Arizona. It was fun to drive but could have been more interesting. In 2019, everything changed. A 302-cubic-inch V-8 engine from ATK engines was put in the Pinto after it had been taken apart. Other improvements that make the engine run better are the Weiand intake pipe, the PerTronix distributor, and the Holley Quick Fuel carburetor. The cooler for the FSR racing car is used to keep things cool. It’s not written above, but an ATK 302 should have around 375 horsepower. Most Pinto Runabouts are lighter than 2,000 pounds. You’re good at math. It’s not possible for Vredestein radials from the 165 series to play. This is not a hack job like Frankenstein’s Monster, though; it’s a well-done V-8 alternative. The gas tank has been updated with safety features appropriate for the time period, and the inside is correct and fully functional. The car still has its single back tailpipe to make it more stealthy. This Pinto is meant to really pour out the beans. July 9 is the last day of the auction.
