2012 Nissan Rogue SV FWD: RideLust Review
As campaigned by Patrick Bedard in 1974
In 1974, Car and Driver magazine sponsored the construction of a Pinto race car for IMSA road racing competition. After studying every automotive option, the Pinto was chosen for its weight, handling, displacement and affordability. Pics after the jump.
Great vintage or track day car
The usual view for Rabbit or Scirocco drivers
The concept was simple: take an everyday car and convert it into a class winning race car on a shoestring budget. With Patrick Bedard behind the wheel, the Pinto ran four races in 1974, capturing two poles and one win. It was then campaigned in the US and Canada (under different livery) by Bob Leier, who stored it after the 1975 Daytona race. It remained parked until 2005, when Don Sherman (technical Editor at Automobile Magazine) purchased it and began a full restoration.
Ford's 2.3 liter motor was stout
Properly sorted interior
I’ve got it bad for Pinto race cars, since I raced a 1972 in SCCA ITB competition. The Car and Driver version is MUCH better prepared and ready to run for track days or vintage racing. It’s for sale on eBay, and if I had the coin it would soon be in my garage. Does anybody need a kidney? I may have one for sale.
Source: The Garage Blog
That thing is immaculate . . . and, I never thought I’d type this, one lust-worthy Ford Pinto.
And in that livery, it’s easy to see some Capri styling cues in the Pinto profile.
Dustin, see what I mean? You start thinking “affordable race car” and it all goes downhill from there.
This car would be so much fun to race, is probably bulletproof and cheap to run.
Sweet looking Pinto! It takes me back to my days in college when I built a 210 hp (at the crank) 2 L engine that used to blow away any of the Camaro’s and Firebird’s in the late 70s-early 80s, it dropped more than a few jaws. Those were the days, 21 mpg and it would haul the hay and eat very little of it!
Windscar, those 2.0 liter motors were great. Since they were used in Formula Fords, there were lots of go-fast parts for them, and you could buy a spare motor at a junkyard for about $50.
How did you get to 210 hp? I assume the motor was bored, with a hot cam and dual carbs, Did you turbo it, too?