"THAT 70'S CAR"
WELCOME TO THE LIFE OF RYSCAR
RYSCAR .... our mint 1973 Pinto Runabout has been in the family since it was purchased by my uncle on September 27, 1972.
The Pinto was born as Unit # 102,261 in the assembly plant in San Jose, California.
It was brought home from Musgrove Ford Sales Ltd., Vancouver, British Columbia, for a mere $2,697.06 Canadian (with tax, licence and a full tank of gas).
While it spent its first 15 years during the 70's and 80's in Vancouver, the "Baby Blue" Pinto was cared for meticulously as to its regular maintenance and special needs.
Being kept in the parking garage in Vancouver it neither experienced snow nor gathered any rust.
When the recall came in 1978 to have its infamous "Rear End Crash Problem" corrected, Uncle Don was not satisfied with the standard polyethylene shield "quick fix solution" being installed. He insisted on a 1/2 inch steel plate being welded between the rear end and the gas tank.
So far it hasn't been taken to the ultimate test.
With only 3 trips half way across Canada to Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario and local outings for the rest of its young life in the Vancouver area, the Pinto had reached only 39,962 miles when it became part of our family in 1988...
...that year uncle Don passed away. My aunt, who didn't drive, gave the Pinto to our son, Ryan, as a gift from the estate.
However, I had to fly to Vancouver and drive it home.
..... Thus, it became "Ryscar" (see plates).
On July 25, 1988 the Pinto arrived safely to its new home in Sault Ste. Marie, shining like the day it rolled off of the assembly line.
Ryan updated the radio with a tape deck unit (which now has been replaced by an orginal AM Ford Philco radio) and door speakers (which are now being removed , the door panels replaced and the bottom of doors welded and painted in preparation for the 40th. Anniversary of the Pinto in Carlisle PA in June, 2011)).
As Ryan only drove it during his summer holidays from University, it has always stayed close to home.
With Ryan now living and working in Denmark, I have been babying this "Sweet P", treating it with "TLC" and enjoying the reaction of people at car shows in Northern Ontario and Michigan when they see a virtually "mint" Pinto. It seems that almost everyone has had one (or more) , was their first car, or drove one into the ground, or went on their first date in one , or their parents or grandparents had a Pinto in the 70's ..... the reliving of their stories, the smiles the laughs, the jokes make owning the Pinto a real joy.
In May RYSCAR is awakened from the garage and is made to look prim and proper for the Northern Ontario and Upper Michigan car show scene.
Then, in September, it is tucked securely away back in the garage under its covers for the long winter's rest.
During the 21 years we have owned it, about 1,000 miles a year have been logged on its smooth running 4 cylinder, 2000 cc OHC engine.
Now that it has turned over the 60,000 miles mark I guess that the warranty has expired.
It had the original spare in the boot; an A78-13 Firestone Deluxe Champion white wall stripe tire with still plenty of tread.
With its fold down rear deck it comes by its "Runabout" name honestly. It truly is a utility vehicle which is used for carrying "2X4's", patio furniture and objects too large to haul in my Impala.
Needless to say, this little gem will be handed down to our next generation to enjoy as part of the family history.
So, now, with a new battery and 5 new tires, it remains basically as it came out of the factory .... the only one of its kind and condition in Northern Ontario. (as far as I know)
Ryscar is now back in the garage for its coming winter's rest.
We're looking forward to being in Carlisle, Pennsylvania in 2011 when the 40th. Anniversary of the Pinto is featured. Hope to see many other great Pintos there.
NORTHERN ONTARIO AND UPPER MICHIGAN CAR SHOWS
................................................... The Pinto Gets Some Respect
WINGS AND WHEELS
Bush Plane Museum
Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario
STRAITS AREA ANTIQUE AUTO SHOW
St. Ignace, Michigan
WHEELS ON THE WATER
Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario Civic Center
TAHQUAMENON VALLEY CAR SHOW
Newberry, Michigan
CRUISIN' DOWN THE BOULEVARD CAR SHOW
Casino Sault Ste. Marie (Ontario)
SUPERIOR SHORES AUTO SHOW
Brimley State Park, Brimley, Michigan
(RYSCAR meets his cousin .... a '73 Mustang from Cupertino, California)
Our Canada Magazine featured Ryscar in its article "This Old Car - A Family Heirloom with Varoom" in the April/May 2008 issue.
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PINTO TRIVIA FOR PINTO BUFFS
The first Pinto owner was Fred Pinto of Pinto, MD who took delivery of the first Pinto off of the production line.
St. Thomas, Ontario, Canada was the location of the first Pinto assembly line in August 1970 soon to be followed by lines in Ford plants in Metuchen N.J. and San Jose, California.
PINTOS IN THE MOVIES AND TV:
...... in the TV Series "CHARLIE'S ANGELS" one of the Angels drives an orange PINTO with a sunroof (Sabrina Duncan). The other Angels drive Mustang IIs. One of them is a yellow Mustang II Giha (Kelly Garret) and the other is a white Cobra II (Jill Monroe)
...... in "THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS" Clarice Starling, played by Jody Foster, drives a PINTO.
...... in "CUJO" a PINTO with a failing altenator is attacked by a rabies-infected St. Bernard.
...... in the movie "JOHNNY BRAVO" the main character, Johnny Bravo, drives a PINTO.
...... in "FRIDAY", the movie, Chris Tucker drives a PINTO which has a car alarm.
...... in "SPEED" when Jack asks Annie if she can handle the bus, she replies, "Sure, its just like driving a really big PINTO."
...... in "THIRD ROCK FROM THE SUN" a car salesman tried to sell Sally a PINTO, but she originally wanted a Viper. (Finances tell all.)
Perpetuating a bad reputation .....
...... in "SUPERMAN II", General Zod, Ursa and Non use their super-exhaling powers to quelch the uprising of the citizens of Metropolis after Superman is thought to have been killed by being crushed by a bus thrown by Ursa and Non. In this scene, a PINTO is seen being blown backward into a hole in the street. After falling in the hole, an explosion is seen coming from the rear of the car, and it is immediately engulfed in flames.
...... in "SPIRIT OF '76" another car stops just short of a PINTO's rear bumper. Two supporting characters drag the lead character to safety. He claims "But I didn't hit it!" and they reply, It doesn't matter!" The car then explodes in a fireworks stand.
...... in "MAD TV" there is a Price Is Right skit with a PINTO as an explosive car for a prize.
...... in "DARIA" there is an episode in which there is the line "Well it's no PINTO." talking about a dangerous car, with the response line "Those you have to hit before they explode."
...... in "THE BLUES BROTHERS" the 1980 movie has the Illinois Nazi Party's leader being chauffered in a red PINTO station wagon. A scene towards the end of the film requires an FAA UN airworthiness certificate for the PINTO.
...... in "SEX AND THE CITY" there was an episode where Steve wanted to get a fake but experimental testicle, but Miranda said not to do it. When the surgeon said that it was perfectly safe Miranda replied "Well that's what they said about the FORD PINTO. Do you want a PINTO by your ball?"
...... in "GRACE UNDER FIRE", Grace's car is a Pinto Wagon.
In one episode she tries desperately to sell it.
...... in the "GHOST WHISPERER" episode "Mended Hearts" (Season1 -Episode 4) the character of Cliff Aimes drives a Pinto.
...... in "CLERKS", during a look back at past idiotic questions people have asked, a guy comes in and asks "Do you have any hubcaps for a 1972 Pinto hatchback?
...... in "SPIES LIKE US" Austin Millbarge attempts to recall a Soviet ICBM enroute to the USA when Emmett Fitz-Hume asks "What do you mean recall it? You mean like a defective Pinto?"
...... In "CHiPS" in a flashback, two girls jumped into a Pinto, started it, threw it into what they thought was reverse, then flew forward through the wall in the garage and into a swimming pool, sinking to the bottom. Ponch and John dove into the pool to save them.
...... in "YOU CAN'T DO THAT ON TELEVISION" Senator Lance Pervert kept bragging that he can fix anything himself and didn't need to call a repair man. Finally the lights, (which he had worked on) go out, and he gives in and goes to call the repair man., but when he picks up the phone, it shorts out as well, so he decides to drive over to the repair man. At this point, his wife Valerie starts loudly begging, "Please don't take the Pinto! No! Not the Pinto!"
...... parodied in "TOP SECRET!" an East German army vehicle is wildly out of control until the driver realizes he's on a collision course with a PINTO that is inexplicably standing out by itself in the middle of an open field. Through dint of heroic effort the driver wrestles his vehicle to a stop -- almost. His front bumper ever-so-gently pings the rear bumper of the PINTO -- which promptly explodes and takes out both vehicles.
...... in"MAD MAGAZINE" ... there is a spot in one issue called "Average Speeds", and one of them was "17.3 mph.: The average speed of a Ford Pinto that is supposed to be in PARK."
...... also a "MAD MAGAZINE" article titled "Is The Pope Catholic"? asked "Do Pintos Explode?
...... in "FAMILY GUY"
a featured parody portraid Meg racing a man on a horse drawn carriage. The man loses control on a sharp turn and crashes through the guard rail. The carriage bursts into flame and the horse lands upright, notices what happened to the carriage, and flashes a nervous look to the viewer just before he too explodes.
We never find out whether said horse was a Pinto, however.... your guess is as good as mine
IN MUSICAL LYRICS
...... "PRETTY FLY" (For A White Guy) by The Offspring has the lyrics "Now Cruising in his Pinto, he sees homies as he pass...
...... "YOU SAW MY BLINKER" by Will Smith has the Lyrics "There was this lady in a Pinto Coupe..
...... "UUHHH" by Will Smith has the lyrics "I'm like a Porche you a Pinto"
...... "AM RADIO" by Everclear "Sometimes we go driving around in my sister's Pinto"
...... "I HOPE YOU DIE" by The Bloodhound Gang has the lyrics "I hope your Pinto begins to spin.."
Thanks for taking the time to check out RYSCAR ...
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