Ford's Disaster: The Pinto
- Thread starter GURPS
- Start date
Misunderstood cars: The Ford Pinto
Such an aggressive development cycle required out-of-the-box thinking. Tooling had to be created as the design was being finalized, and early crash-test prototypes were derived from the in-production Maverick. Complicating things was a pending change to NHTSA safety regulations, and with this in mind, Ford subjected the Pinto prototypes to a more stringent regimen of crash testing than would otherwise be necessary, believing the rules would be amended as early as 1973.
The results were not encouraging. In 11 rear-impact tests, conducted at 31 mph, the Pinto leaked fuel in eight of them. In the three tests where the Pinto’s tank didn’t rupture, modifications to the basic design (including a plastic shield to protect the tank for the differentials bolts, a steel plate between the bumper and the tank, and a rubber bladder insert within the fuel tank), prevented such leakage, but re-tooling the line to incorporate these safer designs would have been both expensive and time-consuming. With the new NHTSA crash testing rules delayed until the 1977 model year, Ford made the decision to produce the Pinto as designed.
When I was in high school my friend's Pinto randomly caught fire and exploded in the school parking lot.
My friend had one. Pimped it out. Full length side-pipes, chrome wheels, raised rear suspension.... Did a tune up on it once, couldn't get it to idle down. There was some large, weird EGR thingy with a plastic 'X' on top about 2" across, had to use a screwdriver to twist it to lower the RPM. Never saw that before, have never seen it again.
The Vega debacle was used as a very detailed study case when I was in grad school taking an advanced Project Management course. It was picked because practically every possible error in planning, engineering and business management was all on display in that one project. But that aside, a buddy of mine that lived up the street from our farm bought one of the Vega wagons with 4-speed, right after his 16th birthday, and it was a fun ride.I had one, also had a couple Vegas..I was living large back in the day.
Had a '72 Kammback, lots of fun and even more so once it was bored out and had steel sleeves installed.
Actually the Mustang II has very little in common with the Pinto, mainly common parts such as brakes and hardware. It kept the Mustang name alive when it got bloated in size and during a time where gas was outrageous/short supply and people were flocking to imports. The 1st gen Mustang was based on the Falcon, the fox body was a platform shared by several Fords, Lincolns, and Mercury's. I own 2 II's (74 Ghia and a 78 King Cobra) and get nothing but thumbs ups, people wanting to talk to me about them, and wishing they kept theirs. They are actually coming around in value and being sought after since most rotted away or were chopped up for their front suspensions. It was also the Mototrend Car of the Year in 1974 and 74 was the second highest Mustang sold by volume, 1966 being the highest.
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When I was working in an automotive machine shop - early 1980s - we were sleeving a lot of Vega engines.
Interesting that the Japanese (Yamaha especially) perfected the coating of cylinders in aluminum blocks some years later. "Nicosil" is the term... Like the Vega engines, they cannot be bored if the coating fails or wears out. Unlike the Vega, the nicosil coating is amazingly tough and long-lived.
ontheriver
Well-Known Member
My husband had a Vega when we first met. He called it the blue goose. The first time we went to his mother's house I prayed the whole time that I would live through that ride. Fun times.I had one, also had a couple Vegas..I was living large back in the day.
I had a few cars like that. Bald tires, bad brakes, but a killer stereo. I would check the gas, fill with oil, and pray like crazy that I made it to where I was going and back. In my '69 Opel Kadett, I had one side of my rear axle start sliding out on my way to Charles County Community College. I hitch-hiked home, pulled one from a parts car, and swapped it out on the side of Rt 234 almost at the Rt 301 intersection. I should've heard the bearing screaming, but I had RUSH in my 8-track cranked to 11.
ontheriver
Well-Known Member
Again, good times.I had a few cars like that. Bald tires, bad brakes, but a killer stereo. I would check the gas, fill with oil, and pray like crazy that I made it to where I was going and back. In my '69 Opel Kadett, I had one side of my rear axle start sliding out on my way to Charles County Community College. I hitch-hiked home, pulled one from a parts car, and swapped it out on the side of Rt 234 almost at the Rt 301 intersection. I should've heard the bearing screaming, but I had RUSH in my 8-track cranked to 11.
Grumpy
Well-Known Member
I look back at those 'good times' and say to myself, 'what the hell were you thinking'..
Yup. Should been dead 10 times over. Stupid indestructible teenager.
ontheriver
Well-Known Member
I would not give back one minute of those times.
Kinnakeet
Well-Known Member
V8 cars?Actually the Mustang II has very little in common with the Pinto, mainly common parts such as brakes and hardware. It kept the Mustang name alive when it got bloated in size and during a time where gas was outrageous/short supply and people were flocking to imports. The 1st gen Mustang was based on the Falcon, the fox body was a platform shared by several Fords, Lincolns, and Mercury's. I own 2 II's (74 Ghia and a 78 King Cobra) and get nothing but thumbs ups, people wanting to talk to me about them, and wishing they kept theirs. They are actually coming around in value and being sought after since most rotted away or were chopped up for their front suspensions. It was also the Mototrend Car of the Year in 1974 and 74 was the second highest Mustang sold by volume, 1966 being the highest.
The 78 King Cobra is 5.0L V8 (1st year 5.0 badged on a Mustang), the 74 Ghia is a German Cologne 2.8L V6. 74 was only only year an American Mustang did not have a V8 option. Although you could get a 74 V8 in Mexico (without heat or AC, lol) The engine compartment was too short in 74.
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