Pintostang. [pics]

[EmDee]

Yeah you know the ones.



They're woeful. I know this is very un-RR of me, but I can't stand the bloody things. In fact it's very unlike me because I do usually like awful cars.

Then today this popped up...















Built by A-Team Racing  www.a-teamracingllc.com/

I will admit that this is VERY NEARLY an actual Mustang. Almost wish Ken Block had started with one for his last thing, would proably be be 'maayzing.

Flame on.

[jeffeRS]

Blimey that's chuffing special. I'm glad that popped up today. It's gorgeous.

[markgenesis]

Needs a bigger engine i think

don't knock the Ford Pinto though, was offered one when i was visiting a car dealership in Southampton in the late 90's (when i drove a car transporter), one of the mechanics owned it, had spent an absolute fortune on it, was basically a road legal drag car with a 302 stroker motor (346 i think ?), very clean straight car for 2K, knocked him back, would have jumped at it now

[EmDee]

I feel the need to apologise.

I guess I was a bit harsh reading it back, but growing up in the US they had a real stigma that I don't think I'll overcome (partly down to the "StangII" owners). And then there's the whole emissions thing and the Pintosplosion rear end thing.

Point of this was just that it made me happy someone had turned one into the car it always deserved to be.

[rblote]

but I can't stand the bloody things

Don't like them either mate. Hate that thing.....but I am willing to look after it, keep it running, take it for a run so now and then but only because I am such a nice guy not that I actually think that it is a bloody cool car at all....

[gavs1]

Hold the press!!!!! That's a v10...
Don't like em but this, yum

[Clement]

Hell yes. I love how the headlights are offset from their original position, very unapologetic! I was wondering though, it does seem to be a V10 but the rocker covers say "powered by Ford"? I can't remember ever hearing about a Ford V10 engine.

[Colonelk]

That is er-mazin!

More engine info needed indeed.

great find

[dasleg]

Mar 7, 2015 8:56:09 GMT Clement said:

Hell yes. I love how the headlights are offset from their original position, very unapologetic! I was wondering though, it does seem to be a V10 but the rocker covers say "powered by Ford"? I can't remember ever hearing about a Ford V10 engine.

Triton V10? Truck engine. 


en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Modular_engine#6.8.C2.A0L_V10

[fogey]

That is an excellent job - it doesn't even look like the same model!; just goes to show what can be done with a little imagination and skill.

[ratchart]

Gordon Bennet that looks good!

I've not seen many modified versions before, so I suppose the stigma against them is fairly widespread. In fact they seem to have mostly been used as donor cars for street rods for the front suspensions, in the US at least. A quick bit of googling turned up this one which I quite like-




The main problem I can see with the stock version (at least as far as aesthetics go) is the wheels are too small, the suspension too high and the massive overhang at the front. Plus the typical '70s safety bumpers. Just imagine this one above with the front wheels further forwards and the rear ones a little further back in the body, just a few cm at either end. 

[optimusprime]

Oh dear .
I've just had a 'gentlemans trouser moment'

You really should warn us ... This is after all a family forum.





Suffice to say i really like that.
So much so ,you reckon they'll swap Peugeot 406 estate??

[Copey]

Never looked twice at these in the past...now I want one!! That's awesome!!

[79cord]

Awesome. Such a shame they are not modified more!
Have to love the underdog and these have been neglected for far too long whilst earlier models have become positively boring with overadulation. Sure the stangII was gutted by emissions but most earlier models have probably had their straight 6's dumped in the bin long ago too.
Granted they NEED bigger wheels , smaller bumpers & less frt overhang like many products of the era. Hope the front structure made more sense than earlier Mustangs with that wierd rust-trap gap between the frt frame rails & lwr firewall!
Great to see the similarly unusual engine choice in that custom to make people re-evaluate what they think they know.

[qwerty]

Mar 7, 2015 14:46:19 GMT ratchart said:

Glad you posted that one! I really like it.

I'm a fan mainly due to the fact they're unnderdogs. They must have massive potential. Loads of improvements available for the front suspension and V8 manual options, plus massively ugly. Whats not to like.

[ratchart]

This thread has reminded me of something I've wondered about for a while. Is there a "Retro" car scene as we know it in America? I mean I know a lot about the hot rod and custom side of things over there but do they have a separate culture of building the sort of cars that make up the majority of sites like this; 20 to 35 year old cars, and not overtly influenced by drag racing or hot rod culture. I suppose the two Mustangs above are close in concept but they do stand out as a minority from the stuff I know about.

Is there such a thing as the US equivalent of the MK1 & 2 Escorts, like cars that were neglected and dirt cheap for ages and now massively sought after with the accompanying scene tax. 

[EmDee]

Pretty much all AMC stuff.

[retroade]

Mar 8, 2015 17:22:36 GMT ratchart said:

This thread has reminded me of something I've wondered about for a while. Is there a "Retro" car scene as we know it in America? I mean I know a lot about the hot rod and custom side of things over there but do they have a separate culture of building the sort of cars that make up the majority of sites like this; 20 to 35 year old cars, and not overtly influenced by drag racing or hot rod culture. I suppose the two Mustangs above are close in concept but they do stand out as a minority from the stuff I know about.

Is there such a thing as the US equivalent of the MK1 & 2 Escorts, like cars that were neglected and dirt cheap for ages and now massively sought after with the accompanying scene tax. 

I go on R3VS forum a bit, it's a US E30 site, and the scene is huge. Guys are building cars using the same engine swaps and mods as over here, plus there's a huge E30 amateur track day series. The big thing in the US is E30 Tourings as they were never sold in the US and have to be imported from Europe mainly. Also have similar scenes for VW and Porsche from what I've seen.

Oddest thing is 16 year old kids driving modified 325i's as their first cars. 16 year old moped riding British kids reading that and looking forward at 17 to paying £3k to insure a poverty spec Saxo worth £500 must feel gutted!

Oh, and the forum has a sticky 'gun' thread. Maybe our version should be 'Swiss Army knives, pointy sticks and sharp insults'.