Quote:
Originally Posted by t walgamuth
Nice smoke!
Whoever would think of putting a huge iron v8 into a pinto should be shot. The only nice thing about them was the nimble handling offered by the light weight and decent weight distribution and nice rack and pinion steering.
Tom W
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One of my father's buddies built a name for himself on the east coast in the late 70's-early 80's shoe-horning 427 BB Fords into Pinto's, mostly coupes but some wagons. They were (almost) stock appearing from the front and side (hood was slightly raised in the center to clear the low profile air cleaner), complete with painted rims and hubcaps. The minimal rollcages were painted to match or wrapped with like-color fabric and a fuel cell took the place of the lower rear seat cushion. The only clue from the outside was the view from the rear with the narrowed 9" Ford rear and wide tires (stuffed into tubs). He could sell them as fast as he built them.
The Pintos were "in their glory"
when I was in that 7-11 yo range and remember them to be the butt of all the jokes and rolling bomb comments. But I just remember popping into his garage once and walking around that dark metallic green coupe he was finishing up while he and my father were b.s.'ing when he fired it up. I remember thinking that was the coolest thing I had ever seen and heard. C'mon, give me a break, I was a pre-teen.
Violent was a word that my father use to throw around a lot when talking about them. I'm strange/dumb/crazy enough to want to get my hands on one of Donald's old creations.
(Actually I'm strange/dumb/crazy enough to want to get my hands on a stock mint coupe just...well I don't really know why.
)