I mean, do people despise them because they're ugly and stupid, or was there something truly horrible with these cars?

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1982 240D.
My name is Michael, and I am an 18 year old binge-drinkin', cigar-smokin', novel-writin', all around unsavory and unnattractive guy. I tell long-winded stories, and I only shave once a week, although I've had to do it every day since I was 16.

If you look at the back end the big black thing on the bottom is the fuel tank and it exploded when rear ended. Many horrific deaths.

Another better idea from Ford.

over 500 people died and ford knew it was a hazard before the first pinto was ever sold..........typical ford family mentality.

Back in high school (1974 or so) a friend had a Pinto with a 289 V8 and a 4:11 rear end. That Pinto wasn't so bad. It had the original gas tank, so you couldn't go very far without filling up, especially since it was humanly impossible to avoid pressing that go pedal to floor at every opportunity.

I had one of those. It was fully optioned, down to the FM stereo and vinyl top. Nice little car. Too bad the rear bumper was really a can opener for the gas tank. If you ever watched Top Secret there is a black humor segment that involves a Pinto being tapped from behind at about 1 mph.

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1985 380SE Blue/Blue - 230,000 miles
2012 Subaru Forester 5-speed
2005 Toyota Sienna
2004 Chrysler Sebring convertible
1999 Toyota Tacoma

Oh so it was the predecessor to the Crown Vic.

I SEES.

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1982 240D.
My name is Michael, and I am an 18 year old binge-drinkin', cigar-smokin', novel-writin', all around unsavory and unnattractive guy. I tell long-winded stories, and I only shave once a week, although I've had to do it every day since I was 16.

A favorite joke around the local racers . . . the plastic Jesus on the dash of a Pinto comes with a Nomex suit.

Another bit of trivia the famous 65 mustang has a similar problem with the gas tank

Just googled the topic and found a researcher claiming that the Pinto had no higher an injury from explosion rate than other models of its day.

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1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

What was really insidious was that they did a cost benefit analyisis and figured it would be cheaper to pay the wrongful death lawsuits than to fix the car.

Unfortunatly, someone forgot to shred the memo.

Then those evil trial lawyers got it.

Then the jury found out just how craven Ford was.

And it angered the jury.

And the evil trial lawyers made too much money and cost us all jobs and made our fords more expensve.

I think the trial lawyers did a crappy job, they should have owned the company.

Same thing with mid 70s GM pick-ups. There's a higher incidence of fuel tank ruptures and injuries/deaths stemming from fuel tank ruptures but overall no higher incidence of injuries/deaths from accidents. So the incidence of injury/death is no more likely than in a Dodge or Ford, only the mode of injury/death is more likely.

You'd think they'd welcome the opportunity to offer the safer vehicle.

But I understand the dilemma - admit it now and you're screwed, hide it and you'll probably retire leaving the next executive to be screwed.

Sixto
95 S420
87 300SDL

Henry must have been rolling in his grave.

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1982 240D.
My name is Michael, and I am an 18 year old binge-drinkin', cigar-smokin', novel-writin', all around unsavory and unnattractive guy. I tell long-winded stories, and I only shave once a week, although I've had to do it every day since I was 16.

That rear gas tank design goes back further than the famed Mustang. Ford used it in the Falcon for several million cars before the Mustang was ever made.
The problem is that when they did the Pinto, someone recognized that it was a potential safety issue, and wrote a memo. Ford did a cost/benefit analysis and decided the cost to improve was more than the likely cost of not repairing.
It is a shame, as Ford pioneered many safety items.
Safety glass in the 1928 Model A--an industry first.
Ford, in conjunction with Harvard did a lot of safety study in the early 1950's. the result was a package of safety designs starting on the 1956 Fords. This package included, "Bear Hug door locks to prevent doors from opening in a crash, LifeGuard steering wheel with a recessed center to reduce chest injuries, Seat Belt Anchors with optional seat belts , and a padded dash and sunvisors.
Chevrolet sold their new V8. Chevy outsold Ford as people were not ready for safety as a part of the car buying decision. It was said that "Ford sold safety; Chevrolet sold cars".
Ford had been burned once on safety and some of their decision makers were wary. Unfortunately they missed the shift in public awareness and desire for safer cars, and it cost them.