Our Stampede story by Wayne and Andrew
I have always liked the Ford Pinto, we bought our 1st one in 1973, a 4spd,
4cyl hatchback in dark brown, great little car.
So years later we find one on Craigslist, a 1979 Pinto truck model for $350.00 but it was wrecked in 1990 and sat until Nov. 2007. It needed a drivers side front fender, bumper and headlight trim, tires were rotten, but body was sound with no major rust and great undercoating. After 10 months it was on the road again with new carpet, hoses, fuel pump, timing belt, rebuilt sending unit and cleaned and sealed gas tank, gauges added and new paint. We got the body parts in New Mexico, in great condition and at a good price from a pick-n-pull salvage yard. About cleaned out the Pinto's they had there.
The car showed only 12,610 on it when we picked it up, sat all those years. So my grandson gets to drive it while getting the required training hours to get his license, says to me "Grandpa this is the best car I ever drove", like he drove alot of cars, only his mother's and school driver's ed car, at least he has good taste.
Shortly after that he asks me to find a Pinto for him... yes, a Pinto, not the hot Mustang or Charger... a quality little Pinto. We worked on his about 6 months, did replace a few things, hoses, fuel pump, carpet, my reserve gas tank because the tank leaked. It is also auto trans with the 2.3L 4cyl engine. We did replace the carb as someone tried to rebuild it and messed it up. I added an oil pressure gauge I had on hand. He is slowly paying me back the $450.00 the car cost or working it off doing projects. He loves his yellow Pinto with new paint.
He sure appreciated the drive with the stampede, so glad we could attend. We left his Pinto home as he does not have alot of highway driving experience, his mother did not think it was a good idea as well. She wanted to drive his car I think...
We were over packed with clothing I think, thanks to the wife and daughter, but we still managed to get some nice item's at the carlisle show, a spare gas tank for me and fancy white wheels for the grandson's Pinto. We carried a few hand tools, fuel filter, some perma gum if tank leaked, hose clamps, put screen in front of the radiator for bugs, jack and original lug wrench to cut weight, water bottles, distributor cap and rotor, a couple rags, folding lawn chairs, and a sun shelter we left with brother-in-law to make room on return trip. Two bags of clothing, a pocket knife and a gps unit we did not need. The Pinto ran well, got up to 80mph a few times on return trip, good for it. It was a real pleasure the entire trip, never enjoyed myself more, met alot of great Pinto members.
I know the grandson will always have fond memories of the Pinto Stampede with his grandpa and I was so pleased to see him get a Ford Pinto watch. I expect he will have his Pinto in the local car shows here beside my blue Pinto. We need to get our Pinto family together more often, it was just to enjoyable, appreciate all you did make it happen Norm. Better close before I write a novel.
Take care,
Wayne and Andrew
Pinto21 and Pintoteen
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So years later we find one on Craigslist, a 1979 Pinto truck model for $350.00 but it was wrecked in 1990 and sat until Nov. 2007. It needed a drivers side front fender, bumper and headlight trim, tires were rotten, but body was sound with no major rust and great undercoating. After 10 months it was on the road again with new carpet, hoses, fuel pump, timing belt, rebuilt sending unit and cleaned and sealed gas tank, gauges added and new paint. We got the body parts in New Mexico, in great condition and at a good price from a pick-n-pull salvage yard. About cleaned out the Pinto's they had there.
The car showed only 12,610 on it when we picked it up, sat all those years. So my grandson gets to drive it while getting the required training hours to get his license, says to me "Grandpa this is the best car I ever drove", like he drove alot of cars, only his mother's and school driver's ed car, at least he has good taste.
Shortly after that he asks me to find a Pinto for him... yes, a Pinto, not the hot Mustang or Charger... a quality little Pinto. We worked on his about 6 months, did replace a few things, hoses, fuel pump, carpet, my reserve gas tank because the tank leaked. It is also auto trans with the 2.3L 4cyl engine. We did replace the carb as someone tried to rebuild it and messed it up. I added an oil pressure gauge I had on hand. He is slowly paying me back the $450.00 the car cost or working it off doing projects. He loves his yellow Pinto with new paint.
He sure appreciated the drive with the stampede, so glad we could attend. We left his Pinto home as he does not have alot of highway driving experience, his mother did not think it was a good idea as well. She wanted to drive his car I think...
We were over packed with clothing I think, thanks to the wife and daughter, but we still managed to get some nice item's at the carlisle show, a spare gas tank for me and fancy white wheels for the grandson's Pinto. We carried a few hand tools, fuel filter, some perma gum if tank leaked, hose clamps, put screen in front of the radiator for bugs, jack and original lug wrench to cut weight, water bottles, distributor cap and rotor, a couple rags, folding lawn chairs, and a sun shelter we left with brother-in-law to make room on return trip. Two bags of clothing, a pocket knife and a gps unit we did not need. The Pinto ran well, got up to 80mph a few times on return trip, good for it. It was a real pleasure the entire trip, never enjoyed myself more, met alot of great Pinto members.
I know the grandson will always have fond memories of the Pinto Stampede with his grandpa and I was so pleased to see him get a Ford Pinto watch. I expect he will have his Pinto in the local car shows here beside my blue Pinto. We need to get our Pinto family together more often, it was just to enjoyable, appreciate all you did make it happen Norm. Better close before I write a novel.
Take care,
Wayne and Andrew
Pinto21 and Pintoteen
