MPC/Round 2 - Pony Express is back from the grave!

[Bob Ellis]

The Pinto 4 with a turbo was not a loser, it was pretty fast! Kits were about $300-600

[Young iron]

I want two of these : one built as a classic wagon, one with that Cruising Package !

[Faust]

I want two of these : one built as a classic wagon, one with that Cruising Package !

Amen to that! 

I actually think three would be great. 

1.) Conventional Wagon

2.) Cruising Package

3.) Rallye Package.

Did anyone ever figure out which colours were legit for the Cruising Package? I think we really need authoritative documentation on that!

[1972coronet]

Here's the Ford 1979 Wagons brochure :

http://oldcarbrochures.org/NA/Ford/1979_Ford/1979-Ford-Wagons-Brochure

[Rob Hall]

I'm thinking of doing one as in plain panel delivery style...in brown.

[Faust]

Thanks for the link to the brochure! 

I also have the '80 Pinto brochure, but it doesn't really say if you can get all the colours with the stripes or not. It shows a non-striped Cruising Wagon in Bright Caramel (why not just call it orange?), but no where does it call out if there are limits on the colours you can get with the stripes. 

Does anyone know for sure?

 

[Mark]

I sold an original kit years ago; the guy who bought it told me he wanted to convert it to a Mercury Bobcat wagon because he owned one.  There's another conversion idea; I'm surprised nobody mentioned it yet...

[unclescott58]

Thanks for the link to the brochure! 

I also have the '80 Pinto brochure, but it doesn't really say if you can get all the colours with the stripes or not. It shows a non-striped Cruising Wagon in Bright Caramel (why not just call it orange?), but no where does it call out if there are limits on the colours you can get with the stripes. 

Does anyone know for sure?

 

I'll pull my 1980 Ford factory salesman book in the next day or two, and get you guys an answer if it's in there.

[horsepower]

Chris, the list I put up is of the parts that are different between the two cars

 

[Nova-ss]

Thank you.........Chris 

[unclescott58]

Okay guys, this all my 1980 Ford salesman book (April 2, 1980) has to say on the Pinto Cruising Package. Nothing on colors, I'm afraid.

Cruising Package

Includes side panels (station wagon only), round tinted bubbled port hole windows near rear of side panels (station wagon only), multi-color bodyside quarter panel and rear decklid paint/tape treatment (lower body on Runabout), charcoal grille/headlamp doors, black liftgate louvers (station wagon only), blackout treatment on door frames - "B" pillar - windshield surround and backlite moldings (station wagon only) - rocker panel moldings (station wagon only) - forward portion of upper quarter panel (station wagon only), black dual sport mirrors, four white styled steel wheels with trim rings, Sports Package, carpeted hardboard inner panels (station wagon only), all glass third door with black hinges (Runabout only), and load floor carpeting. 

Narrow vinyl insert bodyside moldings deleted.

Available only on Runabout model, and station wagon model without Squire Option. Not available with wire wheel covers, exterior decor group, accent tape stripe, tu-tone paint/tape treatment, ESS Option, Rallye Pack, styled steel wheels with trim rings, and premium vinyl bodyside moldings.

Runabout model - use with 2.3 liter engine and manual transmission and interior decor group.... $370.0

Runabout model - use with automatic transmission and interior decor group.... $355.00

Station wagon model - use with interior decor group.... $579.00

Runabout model - use with 2.3 liter engine and manual transmission without interior decor group.... $398.00

Runabout model - use with automatic transmission without interior decor group.... $383.00

Station wagon model - use without interior decor package.... $606.00

Cruising Package Tape Delete.... (credit) ($70.00)

Deletes bodyside paint/tape treatment on Cruising Package. Available only on station wagon model with Cruising Package.

Edited June 23, 2016 by unclescott58

[unclescott58]

Prices for the Pintos themselves that could be had with the Cruising Package?

3 Door  Runabout.... $4654.00

2 Door Station Wagon.... $4941.00

 

The wheels that come in the MPC kit?

Wheels, Four Forged Aluminum

Spare tire equipped with standard wheel.

Use with Cruising Package or Rallye Pack.... $225.00

 

Sport Package mentioned as being part of the Cruising Package?

Sports Package

Includes tachometer-ammeter-temperature gauges, sport steering wheel, and optional ratio axle on sedan and Runabout  models with 2.3 liter engine and manual transmission. Standard with Rallye Pack, ESS Option and Cruising Package. Not availiable on Pony models.

Sedan and Runabout models - use with 2.3 liter engine and manual transmission.... $118.00

All other models.... $103.00

 

[unclescott58]

And last, what came with the Rallye Pack?

Rallye Pack

Includes charcoal grille and headlamp doors, black greenhouse moldings, black painted lower bodyside, black window frames, dual sport mirrors, front spoiler, rear spoiler (Runabout only) with "RALLYE" lettering tape, all glass door with black hinges (Runabout only), load floor carpet (station wagon only), four white painted styled steel wheels with trim rings, "RALLYE" bodyside tape, narrow tri-color border tape for black treatment, black luggage rack (station wagon only), inner and outer quarter panel filler panels (station wagon only), porthole on quarter panels (station wagon only), quarter filler panel carpet (station wagon only), sports package, and deleted standard narrow bodyside molding.

Not available on Pony models, 2 door sedan, station wagon with Squire Ootion, or with luggage rack, tu-tone paint/tape treatment, accent tape stripe, exterior decor group, Cruising Package, ESS Option, appearance protection group, or wire wheel covers.

Requires power front disc brakes.

Runabout model.... $369.00

Station wagon model.... $625.00

Station wagon model with - use with interior decor group.... $598.00

[Nova-ss]

Chris, the list I put up is of theChris that are different between the two cars

 

thank you mister horsepower......Chris

[Tye Brown]

Can anyone please tell me if there is any difference in the Pony Express & this kit??

Being from Australia I have no idea LOL

[Luc Janssens]

Can anyone please tell me if there is any difference in the Pony Express & this kit??

Being from Australia I have no idea LOL

The font clip is different, IMHO the worst looking snout of the Pinto generation.

[horsepower]

The font clip is different, IMHO the worst looking snout of the Pinto generation.

I have to agree with you on that, the '79, '80 Pinto's looked like someone took a chainsaw to the sleeker looking '77, '78 models. I owned Pinto's from the very beginning and had a body shop and when the '77 style first came out we did all the measurements and parts checking to see if the slope nose could be put onto the small bumper design of the'71-'73 style and it was possible but I didn't want to have to fabricate a front lower valance and air dam to keep the little bumpers so never went through with it, wish now I would have.

[Faust]

Yeah, it's the least-loved of all the Pinto front ends. The first one was the best, in my opinion.

That's why it's SOOOO great that Round 2 rescued this one! Not only do you get the sweaty man-horse option of "Pony Express", you also get to have a kit of the least-attractive, most unusual and shortest-lived Pinto! 

That is Loser Car Nirvana.

 

[unclescott58]

I have to agree with you on that, the '79, '80 Pinto's looked like someone took a chainsaw to the sleeker looking '77, '78 models. I owned Pinto's from the very beginning and had a body shop and when the '77 style first came out we did all the measurements and parts checking to see if the slope nose could be put onto the small bumper design of the'71-'73 style and it was possible but I didn't want to have to fabricate a front lower valance and air dam to keep the little bumpers so never went through with it, wish now I would have.

I like the small bumpers Pintos the best. But, in the big bumper Pintos I like '79s and '80s best. I never like the '77, '78 front end at all. It just goes to show that there are "different strokes, for different folks."

Scott

 

[Faust]

This might sound sacreligious to a bunch of folks, but those '77-'78 Pinto front ends reminded me of the late 2nd Gen Camaros. Maybe it was the lights in the grille? I don't know, but I always got a Camaro vibe out of them.

Being a Firebird guy, I didn't mind that in the least.

 

[Casey]

This might sound sacreligious to a bunch of folks, but those '77-'78 Pinto front ends reminded me of the late 2nd Gen Camaros. Maybe it was the lights in the grille? I don't know, but I always got a Camaro vibe out of them.

It's the "sugar scoop" headlight openings the Pinto and '74-'77 Camaros share, and he park bench sized, angular bumpers in part, too.

It's only a matter of time before Round2 unleashes the other loser cars, Adam-- AMC Matador coupe, Chevy Chevette, and *gulp* the dreaded L-body Mopars. You should be set for a few years at least. 

[unclescott58]

It's the "sugar scoop" headlight openings the Pinto and '74-'77 Camaros share, and he park bench sized, angular bumpers in part, too.

It's only a matter of time before Round2 unleashes the other loser cars, Adam-- AMC Matador coupe, Chevy Chevette, and *gulp* the dreaded L-body Mopars. You should be set for a few years at least. 

Casey what cars encompassed the "dreaded" L-body Mopars? Is this the Horizon, Omni, TC3, O24 bunch? If they are, I'd be kind of interest in adding a TC3 to collection. I didn't like the looks of the car at the time. But now, they have kind of grown on me. Maybe it's senility setting in?

Scott

 

[Faust]

It's the "sugar scoop" headlight openings the Pinto and '74-'77 Camaros share, and he park bench sized, angular bumpers in part, too.

It's only a matter of time before Round2 unleashes the other loser cars, Adam-- AMC Matador coupe, Chevy Chevette, and *gulp* the dreaded L-body Mopars. You should be set for a few years at least. 

I definitely hope the AMC Madator coupe comes back. That would be awesome, and I know my brother and I would get several between us. I wouldn't mind an earlier Chevette, that's for sure (since I have Bear Bait, the 1980). As for Omnis, I have the Red one, the "Silver bullet" one and the early Daytona Charger one. Still, can never have too many Omnis. I do wish they'd have brought the MPC Monza out instead of the AMT one, though. 

I have an AMT Monza, and it's a crappy kit. Typical AMT in that it's dodgy on detail and quality. I feel the MPC would be amazing, though. Who knows, we did get two flavours of Pacer, right?

 

[Luc Janssens]

 

I definitely hope the AMC Madator coupe comes back. That would be awesome, and I know my brother and I would get several between us.

Wasn't that tool altered to eject a stocker?

[Rob Hall]

Wasn't that tool altered to eject a stocker?

Well, the Bobby Allison stock car version seems to be the only version issued (a couple of times) since around 1980.  The stock version has never been reissued...