While reliability was decent, the 20 MPG fuel consumption was good for the time. The Ford Pinto is far from the single worst car ever made, but the thoroughly mediocre quality , an abundance of cost cutting, and a fatal flaw that was willingly ignored make it hard to think of it as anything but one of the worst.
How bad was the Ford Pinto?
By conservative estimates Pinto crashes have caused 500 burn deaths to people who would not have been seriously injured if the car had not burst into flames. The figure could be as high as 900. Burning Pintos have become such an embarrassment to Ford that its advertising agency, J.
Why was the Ford Pinto so bad?
The 1971 Ford Pinto was rushed into production to fight imported sub-compact cars. ... 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.
Was the Pinto a dangerous car?
Marketed as costing just a dollar per pound, the Pinto's compact 2,000-pound frame clocked in at a modest $2,000, making the car affordable and popular. But later, the Pinto would gain a newer, darker sort of fame as one of the worst and most dangerous vehicles ever built .
How much money did Ford lose on the Pinto?
wishes he had stayed on the links. Last week, jury foreman Quinn read in state Superior Court here a verdict assessing $125 million in punitive damages against Ford in a case involving the rupour and explosion of the fuel tank on a 1975 Pinto.
What's the worst car ever made?
- Triumph Mayflower (1949–53) Triumph Mayflower. ...
- Nash/Austin Metropolitan (1954–62) Nash Metropolitan. ...
- Renault Dauphine (North American version) (1956–67) Renault Dauphine. ...
- Trabant (1957–90) Trabant P50 Limousine. ...
- Edsel (1958) ...
- Chevrolet Corvair (1960–64) ...
- Hillman Imp (1963–76) ...
- Subaru 360 (North American version) (1968–70)
How many Ford Pintos actually exploded?
Schwartz methodically determined the actual number of Pinto rear-end explosion deaths was not in the thousands, as commonly thought, but 27 .
What is the ugliest car in the world?
- Fiat Multipla. The original Multipla invented its own class back in 1956. ...
- Rolls Royce Cullinan. As Chris Harris from Top Gear once said, there are far too many tasteless rich people for it not to exist. ...
- Pontiac Aztek. ...
- AMC Gremlin. ...
- Nissan Juke. ...
- Ford Scorpio mk2. ...
- Lexus SC430. ...
- Plymouth Prowler.
How much was a Ford Pinto in 1971?
A hatchback became available on February 20, 1971, debuting at the Chicago Auto Show. In 1971, the Pinto brochure came with a paper cutout Pinto that one could fold to make a 3D model. Marketed as the Runabout, the hatchback went on sale five days later, priced at $2,062 .
How much did a Ford Pinto cost in 1972?
The popular Ford compact Runabout models carried a base price of just $2,078 brand new.
Is Ford coming back out with the Pinto?
While the automaker has been largely mum about the compact pickup program, all sources appear to agree that it will come to market late next year as a 2022 model to be dubbed the Ford Maverick. ... The name, of course, was meant to tie in with Ford's most venerable product line, the Mustang — as was the subcompact Pinto.
How much did a Ford Pinto cost?
The Pinto was to cost less than $2,000 and weigh less that 2,000 pounds. During crash tests which preceded the introduction of the Pinto to the public, it became apparent that the vehicle had a dangerous design flaw.
What ethical issues did the product Ford Pinto violated?
Ford Pinto case raises moral issue regarding withholding information and ignoring human rights for the sake of earning profit . Pinto used the data from NHSTA to analyze the cost-benefit analysis, and they ignore the safety of their customers.
Why didn't Ford recall the Pinto?
In April, 1974, the Center for Auto Safety petitioned the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to recall Ford Pintos due to defects in the design of the strap on gas tank which made it susceptible to leakage and fire in low to moderate speed collisions.
What happened to the Ford Pinto?
Ford Motor Company, 1981. The Pinto, a subcompact car made by Ford Motor Company, became infamous in the 1970s for bursting into flames if its gas tank was ruptured in a collision . ... A spark ignited the mixture, and the Pinto exploded in a ball of fire. Gray died a few hours later.
What happened to Ford Pintos when rear-ended?
On August 10, 1978, three teenage girls die after their 1973 Ford Pinto is rammed from behind by a van and bursts into flames on an Indiana highway. ... In May 1972, a California woman was killed when her Pinto caught fire after being rear-ended on a highway.
