<VV> Not quite

[Tony Underwood]

At 04:09 hours 04/16/2006, Padgett wrote:

>>"Overnight (Jan 1, 1968) two entire classes of cars were completed wiped
>>out in the US. Small lightweight economy cars and low slung sports cars,
>
>Not really, they just evolved. The Vega/Pinto series were both 
>intended for the '70s and were smaller than the Corvair/Falcon. That 
>both the Pinto and the Vega had fatal flaws


Now:    For sake of mention...

The Pinto was not "fatally flawed".   The so-called fire hazard was 
trumped up to a severe degree, mainly because the Pinto was a very 
popular car and that made it a target, just like the Corvair.


By the way...   more people have been burned to death in Mustangs 
than Pintos.   More people have been burned to death in Crown Vics 
than in Pintos.    Ford built a freakin' LOT of Pintos, two million 
in fact.    Fewer than 60 people died from burns in Pinto crashes 
regardless of the circumstances.

More people have died from fires in 1st gen Mustangs, and almost that 
many in the Crown Vic platform (Merc Marquis and Lincoln Town Car) 
than have died in Pintos.    The lowly Pinto actually has no more 
percentage of deaths on average from fires than many other cars.

I myself have several burned up Fieros in junkyards.   I've seen a 
few Brit cars in junkyards burned up.  I have seen a burned out 
Mustang (hit in the rear) in a junkyard.   I've never seen a burned 
Pinto anywhere.

The Pinto "fire" crash tests done by the gubmint were about as 
believable as the Chrysler Minivan hatch crash tests.    Both were 
bogus... as if they were bound and determined to find flaws one way 
or another.

Just thought I'd mention it.   I'd drive a Pinto anywhere (and have), 
no problem.



tony..