Pinto Cruising Wagon? Hell Yes! Can Someone Spot Me $3500?


Dear lord, could you pack any more style, finesse, panache, into a single package? Who wants to cruise for a run-in with law enforcement near an elementary school chicks?

Another example of the fine breed.

You’re looking at an honest-to-goodness ’78 Pinto Cruising Wagon, a factory built special that makes my perennial favorite, the Holden Sandman, almost look like an also-ran in the kitchy wagon world. Ford popped a bubble window into a panel version of the Pinto, added some bold graphics to the side and some extra interior and suspension pieces, and let it loose on a hormonal populace. I imagine you get a girl into the passenger seat of this here cruisin’ wagon, and her polyester blouse would instantly combust. Which would not be good for her bust, actually.
This example (the orange one) is for sale in Oregon, in pretty good – that is to say, unflambéed – condition. There’s some cosmetic work to be done, but if you get it the only cosmetics you should be worrying about will be smeared on your collar, if you catch my drift.
craigslist.org (Beaverton, OR)

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  1. Tanshanomi Avatar

    Just for the record, the Pinto Wagon did not have the fiery fuel tank flaw of the sedan and hatchback, and was therefore never part of the controversy or the recall.

    1. CptSevere Avatar

      What you just said makes me feel much better about having learned to drive in a Pinto wagon. With a four speed, not the slushbox that this little Cruiser has.

  2. BrianTheHoon Avatar

    I had this Hotwheels car! Mil swap a 302 w/manny, and add surf racks with two vintage Lightening Bolt boards and I am totally in!

  3. Tomsk Avatar

    Automatic and no 8-track? Pass.

  4. soo΄pәr-bādd75 Avatar

    I'd prefer to take my chances on burning in a hatchback than drive this hideous wagon!. Sorry, I love wagons, but these little Pinto wagonettes never really spoke to me. I did love the hatchback, and must confess a somewhat guilty affection for the Mustang II as well. I do have an excuse though, my parents both had them.

    1. Han_Solex Avatar

      Banned!
      … just kidding. Permanent hiatus!

      1. muthalovin Avatar

        Is he banned for liking the Mustang II or hating on this violent orange Pinto Wagon?

  5. KillerZomBee Avatar

    Man this thing is awesome! Yeay Orange!
    Cruising Wagons FTW!
    Once again, providing me with my daily hit of automotive crack. I love you Hooniverse…

  6. muthalovin Avatar

    For all the work that went into this, this is a very sweet deal. The laundry list of things… wait, I just looked up at the tags. Why is Venereal Disease on this???

    1. Han_Solex Avatar

      Do you really have to ask? I'm getting the clap just looking at it!

  7. Tim Odell Avatar
    Tim Odell

    Hang on, let me get my Foreigner tapes.
    Also: Beaverton…heh…

    1. muthalovin Avatar

      Foreigner tapes, or 8-Track?
      Oh sweet Jesus, I was going to totally make fun of Beaverton, but left it for someone far better than me. hehehehee

  8. Van Sarockin Avatar
    Van Sarockin

    Orange you going to be sorry if you waste your money on this!

  9. LYN LEISHMAN Avatar
    LYN LEISHMAN

    I own one of these and i would challenge anyone that sees one in person not to love this car,mine is identicall to the Tangerine one listed ( thats what Ford officially named the color )……Only mine is one bad ass car it has a turbo charged 2.3 litre 4 banger // t-5 5 speed trans // 8 inch diff with 4:10s lots of Mods…I call it the V8 &Tuner killer.People soil them selfs when this little wagon kicks there buts and they think it has a V8 in it.And oh yeah i pull into a 7-11 or wherever and this car gets mobbed just sitting there,people just love this car i cant tell you how many people have taken pics of this car just sitting in the parking lot.It has tons of personality unlike all the cookie cutter cars that are made today…..WHEN YOU SEE A PINTO YOU KNOW ITS A PINTO…..Peace

  10. Canaboost Avatar
    Canaboost

    I have this same car, It is my summer toy. I have a surfboard on the top that makes it so much cooler.

  11. Carl Ermert Avatar
    Carl Ermert

    I have an all original 77 Pinto Cruiser. Four Cyl., 4spd., PS, PB, air, and all smog equipment, one owner California rust free car. Original paint, orange in color, original wheels, wood wheel, roof rack, front spoiler, guages,etc. Have the original window sticker indicating all accessories and prices. Anyone interested? Carl Ermert CGERMERT@MLODE.COM The car is in Twain Harte, California…

  12. Greg Tinfow Avatar
    Greg Tinfow

    I had a '78, navy blue, manual transmission, ordered without any stripes or graphics. I consider it the precursor of the minivan. You could fit a twin mattress between the wheel wells and close the tailgate, with front legroom to spare (the back seat bottom didn't fold forward and eat up cargo bed length as with current cars). The width of the tailgate was sufficient to slide in 4' x 8' pieces of plywood or sheetrock, and I carried more than a dozen sheets of 5/8ths sheetrock on one occasion. It really was a great little hauler. I finally traded it in 1986 for a new Escort and regretted the decision (a woman was involved.) The engine got a bit pokey in middle age (had about 80k miles when traded), but it was quite the hot rod in it's early years. I fondly remember traveling Interstate 91 back-and-forth between Northern New Jersey and Hanover, NH, never letting the speedometer drop below 80. The fact that I never got a ticket is probably attributable to the logical disconnect experienced by the Connecticut, Massachusets, and Vermont state troopers who could not believe a Pinto could possibly be moving as fast as was indicated on their radar..