Forgotten Kit Classic: 1973 Bremen Creighton

This next car is a bit of a puzzle to me -- it looks like the Bremen Mini Mark, which was a VW Type 1 Beetle based kit car that combined the aerodynamics of a 1930s classic with the reliability of the VW chassis...but it appears to have a front engine Chevy V8...so I don't know what I'm looking at.  There is an internet reference to a Ford Pinto based Bremen kit, but I can't find much detail on that other than a few pictures on a slightly abandoned theminimark.blogspot.com website. Ohhh...I just found a German Wikipedia page that says this is the Bremen Creighton.  Find this 1973 Bremen Creighton offered for $5500 in Swansea, MA via craigslist. Tip from Rock On!

Could Be Fun: 1972 Ford Pinto

When the Ford Pinto was first released for the 1971 model year, it was supposed to be a light weight import fighter, but a lack of power and a design flaw in the fuel tank relegated the little mini-pony to the back of the history books.  But today's example isn't your grandma's Pinto. Find this 1972 Ford Pinto offered for $8000 in Dallas, TX via craigslist. Tip from Rock On!

Pint Five Point Oh- 1973 Ford Pinto

The Ford Pinto was the idea of future auto legend and then Ford president Lee Iaccoca.  With a target weight of 2000 lbs, the Pinto was supposed to be a lightweight import fighter, but instead suffered the inglorious fate of being the butt of jokes for twenty years due to the company neglecting a known fuel tank design flaw .  The unloved but successful selling second generation Ford Mustang was actually based off of the Pinto.  Today's Pinto builder channeled their inner Xzibit and pimped out their ride with a bored over 5.0 engine, beefy driveline, flame paint scheme, side pipes, big sound system, and enough street glow lighting to cover three Christmas trees.  Find this 1973 Ford Pinto for sale in Branchburg, NJ for a hefty $17,000 via craigslist.

The Stanmobile: 1932ish Custom

The builder of this next car must have been inspired by Johnny Cash...no, not by Cash's dark days of cocaine & alcohol abuse (although that could be a factor) but the 1976 song "One Piece at a Time" where the singer describes a custom built car that used a variety of parts from his factory job at GM.  "Now, up to now my plan went all right, 'Til we tried to put it all together one night, And that's when we noticed that something was definitely wrong. The transmission was a fifty three, And the motor turned out to be a seventy three, And when we tried to put in the bolts all the holes were gone." You get the idea.  Find this 1932ish Custom here on eBay built from 32 vehicles offered for $25,000 in Bay City, MI.

Thursday Twister: $1k Solid Gold

Today for the Thursday Twister, I'd like to ask you people what you think is the best car for around 1000 smackeroos.  I will kick things off with two cars from tipper Sean.

Nice Paint Scheme: 1971 Ford Pinto

My old man always said that if you are going to do something crazy, do it right...wait...that's not what he said.  He said if you can't be smart, be colorful.  Which brings us to this next car, which is one of the nicest examples of a slushbox equipped Ford Pinto that you'll ever see.  Colorful, indeed.  Find this 1971 Ford Pinto offered for $5,900 in Thousand Oaks, CA via craigslist. Tip from Sean S.

A Hatchback By Any Other Name: 1974 Ford Pinto Runabout

In the words of the immutable Inigo Montoya: "You Keep Using That Word, I Do Not Think It Means What You Think It Means" applies to the next car because the seller lists it as a Ford Pinto Round About.  Find this 1974 Ford Pinto Runabout offered for $5,500 in Ft Myers, FL via craigslist.  Tip from Dascpcu.

Crowd Pleaser: 1980 Ford Pinto Rallye

The Ford Pinto doesn't have the best reputation among so called experts of the horseless carriage, but what does a scientific consensus really mean anyway?  There was a time when the scientific community agreed that the sun & stars revolved around the earth, so all the haters who think it's settled science that the Pinto was a poorly built pile of parts will get their comeuppance when the Pintocentric model of the universe is finally realized.  Find this 1980 Ford Pinto Rallye offered for $6,000 in Fayetteville, NC via craigslist.  Tip from Rock On!

Eleven 2nd Pony: 1980 Ford Pinto V8

Ford introduced their baby-pony Pinto for the 1971 model year, and while it might have shared a horse themed name with the Mustang, it was put together as cheaply as possible to keep the bean counters at Ford corporate flush with cash from their bonuses.  Unfortunately, this meant the subcompact didn't have the best quality record and has become the subject of many jokes about exploding gas tanks...but not today.  Find this 1980 Ford Pinto V8 offered for $8,500 in Somerville, MA via CMAutoSales. Tip from Johnnyhoo.

1923 Ford Model T, Pinto Power

The original Ford Model T is known for its basic rugged usability and the fact that anyone with a simple set of tools could fix it....but they were slow...really slow.  Why not shove a Chevy V8 later Ford 4-banger under the hood and reach freeway speeds with clean pants.  Find this 1923 Ford Model T with Pinto Power offered for $12,000 in Rhode Island via craigslist. This post is part of DT's 2016 Birthday Celebration of 100 cars; enjoy the ride!

Gotham City Cruiser: 1973 Ford Pinto Wagon "Batmobile"

There are some who might say that a labor of love is dropping 100K to restore a Porsche 356 that has been used as a planter box for the last 30 years.  These people are wrong.  Find this 1973 Pinto Wagon Batmobile for sale in Des Moines, IA for $1,550 via craigslist.

Proper Pinto: 1939 Jaguar SS100 "Duke" Replica

You and I are probably never going to drive a real 1939 Jaguar SS100.  In #1 condition, they can go for a million bucks.  If you like the shape and the very-open-air driving experience, however, you can come surprisingly close for a little money.  Find this 1939 Jaguar SS100 "Duke" Replica here for sale in Bennington, NE for $7,950 via craigslist.

Auction Watch: 1972 Ford Pinto

Take a look at this 1972 Ford Pinto here on eBay bidding for $2,025 with auction ending Sunday at 8:12PM PST.

Sunday Drive-In: Real American Hero -- The Pintobishi

Most of the stuff that you'll find on youtube is either professional produced stuff with a gazillionty views or one of the 80 million unwatchable piles of junk that languishes with 17 views .  However, for today's Sunday Drive-In, I want to highlight an unusually interesting series of videos that only has a handful of views, but is completely awesome.  It is the Pintobishi.

Auction Watch: 1986 March-Apache 86S-01

Check out this Pinto powered 1986 March-Apache here on eBay bidding for $8,600 reserve-not-met with auction ending on Sunday at 5:00PM.

Welcome To The Club: 1977 Ford Pinto

Until very recently, the Pinto was simply scrap metal on wheels. It was pilloried for its lack of build quality and its tendency to burst into flames upon impact. In the insane collector car world, it is difficult to determine if this car is gaining value in spite of these qualities or because of them.  Find this 1977 Ford Pinto here on eBay bidding for $6,801 in Parkersburg, IA with 2 days to go.

V8 Custom: 1975 Ford Pinto

The poor Pinto.  Always the butt of every other car joke.  It was the Pontiac Aztec of the 1970s, the Rodney Dangerfield of the automotive world, the Bill Cosby of date rape jokes...but not today. This Pinto has drank its gallons of milk, eaten its Wheaties, and signed up for CrossFit classes...it's all grown up now and ready to pummel all challengers (Camaros and Mustangs too!).  Find this 1975 Ford Pinto V8 Custom here on eBay bidding for $8,600 reserve-not-met with a few hours to go, located in Lakeland, FL.

Speedy Delivery: Custom 1979 Ford Pinto Wagon

Poor Ford Pinto.  You are the Rodney Dangerfield of the car world; endless fodder for car jokes.  Like this one:  A commuter's version of hell is to be stuck in bumper to bumper traffic with a Pinto in front of you and an Audi 5000 behind you.  But stuff a V-8 in a Pinto and write in all caps and you'll have the last laugh.  Find this V-8 swapped 1979 Ford Pinto Wagon for sale in Arlington, WA for $11,999 via craigslist.