Talk:Ford Pinto
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[edit] Who designed the Pinto
The article credits Lee Iacocca for the car. At the time of its design, he was in charge of the Ford Division -- clearly responsible for executive oversight, but too high up to be the real design, engineering, or product planning force. I am trying to research who else was involved. He clearly was the leading executive sponsor, however. Paulmeisel 02:48, 2 January 2006 (UTC)
- Well, if you follow the link to the Grimshaw case, it was Justice Tamura who credited Iacocca. Of course, that could be incorrect, since there may be other evidence as to the management of the vehicle's design and production that didn't come into the trial for whatever reason (there are a lot of ways to exclude evidence). If you find a source with more detail than the Grimshaw case, be bold! --Coolcaesar 20:31, 2 January 2006 (UTC)
- the link for the Grimshaw case is no longer active, but here is a good URL http://online.ceb.com/CalCases/CA3/119CA3d757.htm use it how you will, hope it helps... Shane198three@aim.com Email | AOL Instant Messenger Shane198three 06:10, 29 August 2006 (UTC)
[edit] Thrifting
Iacocca had a policy known as "Thrifting", the act of economizing a cars design to increase profit. This may help explain the pintos early design problems. Iaccocas' plan called for a car waighing 2000 lbs for $2000.00. I once owned a 78 Pinto, waighing 2700 lbs, the difference being additional quarter panel supports, stronger rear fram members, and a plastic shield installed between the gas tank and the diffrential. Mine had the 2.3 coupled to a C-3 automatic and was an outstanding performerrandazzo56
I removed the paragraph about the Firestone/Bridgestone tires. Totally irrelevant to this article. BTW, I drive a 1975 Mercury Bobcat SW daily that has over 600,000 miles on it. It has become a very rare car these days. -Elaich 06:02, 22 April 2006 (UTC)
[edit] Popular Culture
The Pinto, along with the Yugo, AMC Gremlin, AMC Pacer, and arguably the Geo Metro, enjoys a reputation of being an American symbol for a "cheap economy car" or "cheapness", and the Pinto has made its way into popular culture because of this. Also, its reputation for being unsafe is frequently lampooned. Examples include:
I'm not sure how, in either of these productions, the car's "cheapness" or unsafe design is "lampooned." Other references are a bit more obvious.
In a Nash Bridges episode aired in 1996, the superstitious character played by Barry Bonds hires Nash and Joe to recover his Pinto, which was taken from him by an angry girlfriend. The Pinto blows up from a fuel leak (after being driven through a wall).
