1972 Ford Pinto 2-Door Sedan
2022.0033.0001, Savoy Collection
Engine: 122 cu. in. (2L) Cast-iron block, OHC, I-4
Output: 86 HP @ 5,400 RPM
Transmission: Cruise-O-Matic 3-Speed Automatic
Wheelbase: 94 in.
Overall Length: 163 in.
Weight: 1,968 lbs.
Top Speed: 96 MPH
No. Produced: 181,002
Original Price: $2,575
Manufacturer: Ford
The Ford Pinto was the first subcompact vehicle produced by Ford in North America. Built from 1971 to 1980, the model was marketed in three body styles throughout its production: a two-door fastback sedan with a trunk, a three-door hatchback, and a two-door station wagon. Mercury offered a rebadged version of the Pinto as the Mercury Bobcat from 1975 until 1980. Over three million Pintos were produced during their ten-year production run, outproducing the combined totals of their domestic rivals, the Chevrolet Vega and the AMC Gremlin.
Since the 1970s, the safety reputation of the Pinto has been a source of controversy. Its fuel-tank design attracted both media and government scrutiny after several deadly fires related to the tanks rupturing occurred in rear-end collisions. A subsequent analysis of the overall safety of the Pinto suggested it was comparable to other 1970s subcompact cars. The safety issues surrounding the Pinto and Ford’s subsequent response have been widely cited as a business ethics and tort reform case study.