Why was the Ford Pinto a bad car?
Of course the Pinto goes on the Worst list, but not because it was a particularly bad car — not particularly — but because it had a rather volatile nature. The car tended to erupt in flame in rear-end collisions.
How many people died in a Pinto crash?
The poor design of the Pinto’s fuel tank and rear end made it vulnerable to crashes, even at low speeds, in which the fuel tank would suffer extreme damage and catch on fire, often trapping the car’s occupants inside. Twenty-seven people died in Pinto fires and countless others suffered serious burns. Advertisement.
What’s the maximum rev for a Ford Pinto?
The Pinto’s crank is able to out-rev the rods, which can be a weak link – 7500 is the absolute maximum we would recommend, although this really only applies to the later wider injection rods, which are stronger than the early type. The 2 litre heads have massive ports to start with so good gains can be had by merely fitting a Kent FR32.
When did Pintos really explode in the 1970s?
Did Pintos really explode in the 1970s? Despite Ford Motor Company’s efforts, they were ordered by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to recall the Pinto in 1978. The 1971 Ford Pinto was rushed into production to fight imported sub-compact cars.
Of course the Pinto goes on the Worst list, but not because it was a particularly bad car — not particularly — but because it had a rather volatile nature. The car tended to erupt in flame in rear-end collisions.
What kind of engine does a Ford Pinto have?
Offered with an inline-four engine and bucket seats the Pinto’s mechanical design was conventional, with unibody construction, a longitudinally mounted engine in front driving the rear wheels through either a manual or automatic transmission and live axle rear end.
Which is the most dangerous Ford Pinto tank?
And arguably the most dangerous fuel tank of all time was the rear-mounted vessel installed on the 1971 through 1976 Ford Pinto. It’s possibly the best example of what happens when poor engineering meets corporate negligence.
When was the Ford Pinto fuel tank recalled?
In 1978, all 1971-through-1976 Ford Pintos were recalled and upgraded with the originally proposed shielding and reinforcements. In the ensuing years, though, some doubt has been cast on the relative severity of the defect.
