Look at this survivor! Pinto content.

[dishdude]

Interesting to see a car that had no real appeal new turn into a survivor.
You have to wonder what this car's history might be?
My guess would be that it must have been owned for decades by someone who barely drove it.
This car cannot have very many miles, although you live in a more rust free area than many of us and the Ford Kent 1600 was reputed to last about forever and the German Ford 2 liter was also pretty stout.
Don't think that the Lima 2.3 existed yet when this car was built.

Unlikely survivors are my favorites. Most people bought these as commuter cars, the ones that didn't get used up I'm all about. I'd rather see a 1985 Tempo than a 1985 Corvette. (as much as I love the C4!)

 

[Legs4Arms]

Unlikely survivors are my favorites. Most people bought these as commuter cars, the ones that didn't get used up I'm all about. I'd rather see a 1985 Tempo than a 1985 Corvette. (as much as I love the C4!)

I feel the same way as I browse BaT. I was brought up to respect my stuff otherwise I wouldn't have anything. I treat cars differently (see my Benjamin Button '93 Sentra in other threads). Environment and use case has a lot to do with the longevity of a vehicle. The rest lies in the custodianship

This is my way...the instant you hear a noise or some deviation in the way the car performed the day before, address it.
If a car is simply a means of getting from A to B, figure 5-7 years max before the value reaches the point of diminishing returns. Sell or trade-in for a loss.

Otherwise lease and treat it like the "horse-on-the-spring-ride" at the county fair and start over.

 

[97prizm]

View attachment 348281

Didn't talk to anyone, but I would bet it is all original. Was the cleanest Pinto I have seen in 20 plus years.
Yes I was at Harbor Freight.

Because they were such throw away cars back in the day clean low mileage examples are starting to fetch real money.